Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
0.5/4
Gimmicky, Cliched, and Just Plain Stupid
JLFM - wrote on 02/18/2013
I have seen relatively few karate/kung-fu oriented films, so The Forbidden Kingdom, I knew, was going to be a bit different than what I was used to seeing in films. But if the average kung-fu film is anything like The Forbidden Kingdom, I will certainly be staying far away from the genre for a very long time.
In a cliche-ridden plot, as preposterous as it is formulaic, kung-fu nerd, Jason, finds a mysterious looking staff in a video store, that sends him back in time to ancient China where he meets Lu Yan, an immortal and intensely skilled kung-fu master who, along with a girl named Sparrow and The Silent Monk, go on a long journey to free the Monkey King.
Yup, you read that right; the Monkey King.
There are so many things that I disliked about this film and so many things it …
Rating of
3/4
"The Forbidden Kingdom" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 02/16/2012
An American kung fu movie geek is entrusted with an ancient staff which transports him to a magical world where the mystical kung fu characters of his movies are real. The Forbidden Kingdom is a throwback to the wish fulfilment fantasies of the 1980s, sharing a lot in common with the likes of The Karate Kid, Big Trouble In Little China and even Indiana Jones. Making the hero of the film an American will no doubt irritate many and he is certainly the least interesting character in the film, but he is for the most part a figure of fun in the same way as Jack Burton was in Big Trouble. Jet Li strikes up a great buddy partnership with Jackie Chan who revives his Drunken Master routine, and their face off is impressive as you'd expect. And having grown up on cheesy 70s TV show Monkey, I'd …
Rating of
3/4
Mindless Fun, Nothing More
Franz Patrick - wrote on 09/09/2008
Even though the story is cheesy and the script isn’t as sharp as it should have been, this was fun to watch because it has so much energy and there are so many exciting action sequences. I also liked the exotic locations, may they be CGI or not. The duel between Jackie Chan and Jet Li was nothing short of epic; I’m still surprised that they haven’t been in a kung fu film together until this one. As for Michael Angarano, I couldn’t take him seriously because, to me, he’ll always be Jack’s son in “Will & Grace.” (I also saw him in “The Brainiacs.com” on Disney Channel back in 2000.) Nonetheless, he wasn’t bad at all. Most of the time, he was just there either getting beat up or being teary-eyed. Thankfully, there were some girl-power here–one good, one evil. As much …
Rating of
2/4
The Forgettable Kingdom
TheSteelCat - wrote on 07/09/2008
I am glad to see I am not the only one to hold such views to this movie.
Jackie Chan and Jet Li's meeting in a film is a clash of the titans on epic proportions and when it was announced that they would be in a martial arts film together people where expecting something special.
It is too bad that it really wasn't the case with this film really didn't deliver on what could and really should have been a classic.
The storyline was carefully picked right out of the "Generic Martial Arts Film" category, a boy gets bullied by a group of nasty kids, who embarrass and beat him up in front of a girl he likes, then he is transported to a different time and place all together with a magic staff.
Sure Jet Li and Jackie Chan had a sparring scene, which was visually quite pleasing, but I …
Rating of
2/4
Butt kicking is good but story is not
BryanFury - wrote on 06/08/2008
There's something really wrong about having Jackie Chan and Jet Li in the same movie. For one both of them can't speak fluent English and half of what they say I can't understand. Another thing they lack much off is the chemistry part. Yes they kick the crap out of everybody even amongst themselves but I felt it was not enough for me to be wowed. The only element I liked was the old school kung fu with all the famous animal stances. And Jackie doing his infamous drunken master style just makes you feel nostalgic about his younger days. Story wise it did not worked for me. I’m disappointed about how shallow the story is and it could have used some more depth. The new comer kid is not that bad and he kind of reminded me of Ralph Macchio’s character in Karate Kid. What I did not like …
Rating of
2/4
The Forbidden Movie
GeminiSixty6 - wrote on 05/06/2008
When I first heard that Jackie Chan and Jet Li were going to be starring opposite each other in a martial arts film I screamed with excitment. Then after the film I died a little on the inside.
From the time the film started to the time it finally ended I just kept saying to myself that they could not have cast anyone else more horrible than Michael Angarano as Jason Tripitikas (not Jason Williams as the plot outline above says). He was one of the most annoying things ever but on the big screen! That along with some of the worst dialogue I have ever heard make for a very unpleasant experience.
The fight scenes were pretty good, but honestly I like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and The Legend of Drunken Master's better. It was just cool tho to see Jackie Chan and Jet Li square …
Rating of
2.5/4
Review - The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
Delorted - wrote on 04/30/2008
For decades, fans have been waiting for a filming involving both Jackie Chan and Jet Li in what would potentially be the most epic fight (or fights?) ever seen on the silver screen. "The Forbidden Kingdom" delivers what the fans want, but not too much more.
The story centers on Jason Tripitikas, played by Michael Angarano, a teenager obsessed with kung-fu flicks. He finds a stick in a pawn shop one day and it transports him back in time to Ancient China, where he meets Lu Yan, a drunkard played by none other than Jackie Chan. He tells the teen that he needs to return the stick to its original owner, The Monkey King, played by, you guessed it, Jet Li. The kid is taught to fight and goes off on the adventure of a lifetime.
I've never liked kung-fu movies. Unless it has a good story …
Rating of
2/4
Not forbidden, but take caution
kcvidkid - wrote on 04/21/2008
Had I grown up watching martial arts movies, I may have loved "The Forbidden Kingdom". I may have identified with its hero, a young boy who has seen every move, from "the crane" to "the praying mantis", but must learn to use them when he is transported from present day to ancient China in order to return a magical staff to its original owner. As it is, I'm more of a "wax on, wax off" kind of guy, so I experienced no extra value in what I can only rate as an average movie.
"The Forbidden Kingdom" contains exhilarating highs with its fantastical fight sequences, but excruciating lows with its modern-day "Karate Kid" drama. It has energy to spare, but may be artificially propelled by an overeager musical score.
Skin Rating = 2 (out of 4). After many teasing scenes with chest hair …
Rating of
2.5/4
The promised action delivers.
FZero - wrote on 04/20/2008
The only reason to see this movie is to witness the great fight sequences as everything else is sorely lacking. Usually the opposite can be said about American films that attempt to film fight scenes, due to the inept director and action choreographer settle for quick 1/2 second shots where you have no idea what is happening. But with the legend Woo-ping Yuen at the helm of the action there was no chance of the aformentioned happening. Despite both of our stars being out of their prime you couldn't tell them as they kicked ass all over the place. The same can't be said about the story with its seen one million times before bullshit, get this there's a girl who wants revenge because the evil war lord killed her family when she was young. Riveting stuff. Jet Li as the monkey king was …