Il regno proibito

A cowardly, kung fu-obsessed teenager is transported to a mystical kingdom in China, where he is destined to return a powerful staff to it's owner, the immortal Monkey King, who was turned to stone 500 years earlier by the evil Jade Warlord.

If you're not particularly a fan of the kung fu genre, couldn't give a monkey's (pun intended) whether the script craps on a few Chinese legends from a great height, and don't care too much that Chan and Li seem to have sold out to the almighty dollar (again), then this big-budget Hollywood martial arts epic for the masses will probably do fine for a Saturday night, along with a takeaway and a few brews.

If, however, like me, you've been patiently waiting for the on-screen pairing of the legendary Jackie Chan and Jet Li for the best part of twenty years, then this plot-hole ridden, formulaic and clichéd effort (did I really just see the American kid learn kung fu within a week?) will definitely prove to be something of a disappointment.

Although Li and Chan do get to show off their impressive fighting skills (even going one-on-one against each other in order to keep fans happy), seeing Hong Kong's greatest kung fu stars of the last three decades playing second fiddle to an obnoxious wimp from New York is really tough to stomach. Jackie and Jet have proved time and time again that they are more than capable leading men and don't need a Caucasian actor centre stage to help boost ticket sales.

Furthermore, having a family-friendly director like Rob Minkoff calling the shots is also pretty galling; I liked Stuart Little—I really did—but is Minkoff really the ideal choice to call the shots on Jackie and Jet's first fight flick together? Not as far as I'm concerned! I wanted to see Li and Chan in something much more hard-edged—something for those fans who've followed the guys' careers since the early days (rather than those who are only familiar with their Hollywood output) and the man who gave us a talking mouse isn't who I would pick to do it.

Still, it's not all gloom and doom: some of the combat scenes are well handled (and they should be, with industry legend Yuen Woo Ping behind the choreography); there is some nifty wire-work; the CGI backdrops are stunning to look at; and there are a couple of pretty gals for us blokes to drool over (Yifei Liu is hubba-hubba delicious, whilst white-haired beauty Bingbing Li makes for a very watchable villainess).

Perhaps now that Chan and Li have made their guaranteed 'blockbuster'together, they might chance their luck next time with something a little grittier for their long-term followers.

We can but hope.

5.5 out of 10, rounded up to 6, 'cos Jackie and Jet are cool, whatever the film.

I have been a big fan of Jet Li/ Jackie Chan since I can remember. All I have to say is that they deserve better. A movie that consists of both these remarkable actors should be incredible and unforgettable, but, in my opinion, this movie can only be remembered probably because it's their first tandem. I don't know what the writers in this movie are thinking. They should have watched the old movies of these two and studied it. They should have written a story that will compliment both their strengths in the screen (not just their martial arts techniques), and the tone of the movie is well-off. Needless to say, if you want to see a feel-good, relatively entertaining then this movie is definitely your cup-of- tea.

This movie will be enjoyed by any Jet Li or Jackie Chan fans, certainly. The cinematography is wonderful, with stunning views, excellent use of CGI without overdoing it, and decent acting. Jet Li plays his role marvelously, and the continuity of the various plot themes is fantastic. There are subtleties to this movie that will require multiple viewings to catch! Pros include the acting and scenery, and the way language is dealt with. The only con is that the viewing I attended was a bit rough around the edges, with a couple of minor bobbles in editing and film quality. I'm sure this will be corrected in the final production for the theaters, though! Overall, this is a good action/fantasy movie. For those who like the "chop suey" kung fu flicks, this will be a blast from the past. Jackie Chan shows off his unique style of martial arts, while keeping the laughs rolling. Jet Li is NOT playing the 'baddie' for a change, and has a surprisingly entertaining role in this film. There isn't a lot of wire work in this film, and what is done on wires is done judiciously.

A must-see film for this summer!

The Forbidden Kingdom strikes me as a Kung-Fu version of the brilliant "The NeverEnding Story" I saw as a kid in the 80's. The parallels are obvious.

Like "NeverEnding Story", it's a fantasy movie that tells the tale of a boy's coming of age journey, from picked-on weakling to warrior and savior. On the way friendships are woven, difficulties are overcome, and lessons are learned. Both films cater to children audiences, but will satisfy grown-ups as well. Both bring to the table a good mixture of fantasy, action, comedy blended with a dash of romance and drama - Baked just right and garnished with magnificent special effects and stunning visuals.

The Kung-Fu battles are dazzling, and having both Jet Li and Jackie Chan sparring in this movie is just the sugar on top of the wholesome family fun.

¨Forbidden kingdom¨ is a rich , enjoyable and romantic take on the Chinese Martial Arts genre with inventive choreography and it also belongs to ¨Wusia¨ theme, China's heroic swordsman subgenre. Regarding a kung fu obsessed American teen, Jason Tripitikas (Michael Angarano), makes an extraordinary discovery in a Chinatown pawnshop run by an elderly man (Jackie Chan): the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King. And he then escapes into a world of romantic adventure with mysterious and strange characters. With the lost relic in hand, the teenager unexpectedly finds himself traveling back to ancient China and sends him on a risked adventure, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors (Jackie Chan, Jet Li) in order to free the imprisoned Monkey King (Jet Li) and along the way facing off villainous Jade Warlord (Collin Chou) and Ni Chang (Bingbing Li) . All of them clash over a magic staff, a stealen priceless old relic as a mark of defiance. Meantime, they have to reach the mountain of the five elements. The path is unsafe !. The place is unknown !. The journey is unbelievable !. The battle for eternity is the fantasy of a lifetime !.

This amusing film is packed with fantasy, magic, art martial fights, silly laughter, great entertainment and lots of fun. A fantastic film including a deadly confrontation and a martial arts love story that satisfies on both accounts, concerning some heroes on a dangerous quest to free the imprisoned Monkey King. Rob Minkoff imbues every look, every gesture with grace and resonance, he has always been a filmmaker of finesse and fine feeling, directing competently this film, but his touch is just as deft even as he extends his grasp to show the timeless Chinese legends, being based on the enjoyable script written by John Fusco. The first fifteen minutes offer dense exposition, introducing the naive young Michael Angarano, the righteous pawn shop seller and the legendary alcoholic warrior Lu Yan, his steemed partner of adventures. This is an immortal story of strength, secrets, and dealing with some warriors who would never surrender. Action , adventure , romance , drama , heroes , heroines, tradition and martial arts blend in this attractive movie that belongs to Oriental genre. Providing overwhelming images, impressive production design, sense of style and revealing the breathtaking vistas of mythic China. The emotional impact of the fantastic adventure is as real and spectacular as the choreographed figh scenes are grateful and brilliant. The magnificent fight scenes were choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping who performed the same duties for ¨Brothers Wachowski's Matrix¨ and ¨Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill¨and the Oscarized : ¨Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon¨. Providing gorgeous chases in glamorously modulated set pieces across the palaces, and forests, while defying the gravity in exhilarating leaps and bounds . Once it takes flight the film never touches the ground , spinning myriad duels of the body and spirit ; only relaxing to stage with some touches of slapstick and ironical aplomb . Stars a stunning cast with notorious Chinese and American actors , such as: Jackie Chan in a double rol as Old Hop and drunken immortal Lu Yan , as well as Jet Li as The Monkey King/ The Silent Monk , Bingbing Le as nasty contender Ni Chang and Collin Chou as Jade Warlord, but the real starring is Michael Angarano as an american teenager who is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kung-fu classics to join a crew of warriors from martial arts. Most of them performed their own stunts, CGI was used to remove the wires holding them up. A great and successful movie which was a complete hit on Western/Eastern screens. Adding a spectacular y luxurious photography by cameraman Peter Pau who previously won an Oscar for 'Crouching tiger, hidden dragon' ; furthermore, a nice artistic direction, and great musical score David Buckley,

This decent motion picture was compellingly directed by eclectic filmmaker Rob Minkoff, but nothing special, because the situations we see we had already seen before, and there're too much struggles. Minkoff is a successful filmmaker with several hits, such as: "The Lion King", "Haunted mansion", "The Forbidden Kingdom", "Stuart Little I and II" , "Adventures of Peabody and Sherman", "Flypaper" and his last one: "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" (2022). Rating: 6/10. Well worth watching. Essential and indispensable watching for Jackie Chan and Jet Li fans, it's a feast for the senses and 100 per cent sheer cinema.