The Forbidden Kingdom | 
 enlarge | Director: Rob Minkoff
Actors: Jet Li, Michael Angarano, Jackie Chan, Yifei Liu, Juana Collignon
Studio: Lions Gate
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $17.99
You Save: $11.96 (40%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  39 reviews
Sales Rank: 176
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 104
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.7
UPC: 031398101093
EAN: 0031398101093
ASIN: B001BEK8HO
Theatrical Release Date: April 18, 2008
Release Date: September 9, 2008 (In 4 Days)
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Promotion: Save $5.00 when you spend $25.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Amazon.com. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout. Terms and Conditions
Availability: Not yet released
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Getting martial-arts superstars Jet Li and Jackie Chan together in the same action film is like a fantasy come true, even if The Forbidden Kingdom is more of a children's movie than an instant kung-fu classic. Yes, Li and Chan square off in a lengthy, acrobatic fight scene that is a lot of fun, though it can't be what such a scene might have been even a decade ago: careful editing now compensates for the 54-year-old Chan's slower moves and reflexes. Still, Chan doesn't disappoint as Lu Yan, a drunken immortal in ancient China who mentors a modern-day American kid, Jason (Michael Angarano), the latter having slipped into the past while in possession of a magical staff that belongs to the imprisoned Monkey King (Li). In order to get back to his own time and help an old friend (also Chan) wounded by thugs, Jason accompanies Lu Yan and a lovely warrior, Golden Sparrow (Liu Yifei), on a journey to return the staff. Along the way, a (mostly) silent monk (Li, again), who has spent his life in search of the staff, joins their mission. He helps Lu Yan train Jason in fighting and adding more muscle to the party as it comes under siege from a violent witch (Li Bing Bing) and pathological warlord (Collin Chou). Screenwriter John Fusco (Hidalgo) and director Rob Minkoff (The Haunted Mansion) have made a slightly chintzy, Western version of a Chinese swords-and-sorcery tale. The gravity-defying, flying-through-the-air-while-fighting choreography looks pretty choppy and graceless compared to, say, the martial arts films of Zhang Yimou. But The Forbidden Kingdom is really aimed at kids, not aficionados of epic fight movies. On that score, the movie aims to please and does so for the right audience. -- Tom Keogh
Beyond The Forbidden Kingdom on DVD 
Soundtrack | 
on Blu-ray | Stills from The Forbidden Kingdom (click for larger image)
Description
Individually, they've starred in the most adrenaline-pumping martial-arts adventures ever. Together for the first time, Jet Li and Jackie Chan join forces to create the greates epic of them all- THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM. As ancient Chinese warriors, they must train and mentor a 21st century kung-fu fanatic who's been summoned to fight a centuries-old battle and free the imprisoned Monkey King. If you're a fighting fan, the wait is over. The team is ready. The Kingdom has arrived.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 34 more reviews...
 THE WORST FILM I HAVE SEEN IN A VERY LONG TIME August 31, 2008
0 out of 9 found this review helpful
What a disgraceful film. Just worthless, I walked out. I am a huge fan of martial arts films such as: House of Flying Daggers, Hero, Ong Bak, Fearless, Unleashed, Flash Point, Kill Zone, Iron Monkey, Dragon Tiger Gate, The Legend of the Drunken Master, any many others. This on the other hand was like watching two burnt out actors jump from strings like the puppets they've become.
SKIP THIS.
 Kick A$$ August 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed this movie... I have been a Jackie Chan fan since I can remember and it's so great to see him make a movie with another Master like Jet Li --- you can distinctly see the difference with their fighting style and it's amazing to see it on the big screen --- I do hope that this won't be the movie they will make together -- this is definitely a must on your DVD collection!!!
Great Action Movie August 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I think people should not be taking this movie seriously. I think the story line is too far fetch (to connect somebody from New Jersey to ancient China) but the actions are awesome. It's an "OK" spin off from the story "Journey to the West."
No Title August 28, 2008
Since I've been studding martial artes(Kung Fu, 7 Star Praying Mantis) for a year or so now, I thought it'd be cool to view the latest kung-fu flick. Obviously, as all Kung-Fu movies are, the main feature of Kingdom is sparring, and throughout, my inner nerd came out to say "Bad Ass!" on more than one occasion. But, as all martial artes movies are, fightings the strongs suit, while the story was lack-luster. Start off with a average joe who's fix is Hong Kong Hollywood, and soon, that's his reality, he trys to escape while fighting the immortal emporor. Which is fine, I'm not looking for a Metal Gear style story. But when you have two legends from the genre(Chan and Li), I'd expect everyone to step up their game(I'm looking at you Liu Yi Fei). But more importantly, why even have the American here? You have Jakie Chan(looking like the Chinese Jack Sparrow) and Jet Li fighting? Heck, I'd make that the whole movie. Never the less, it was neat to see the diffrent philosphy and items, that I've studied, talked about and used throughout.
Besides being an imspirational source for me me in technique, the Kingdom has a fine frequency of fighting for a film, but just blah in between.
Iconic August 25, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Two of the biggest icons in 20th Century martial arts band together for the first time in a great adventure film. We are all familiar with Jet Li's work as being primarily serious and very intense, whereas Jackie Chan's movies tend to be more comical when using his style of Kung Fu. This film blends the two styles together brilliantly in a fun, moving and intense fantasy adventure film.
Relatively unknown actor Michael Angarano plays Jason Tripitikas, a martial arts fanatic who, one day while making another regular visit to Lu Yan's Pawn shop discovers a legendary staff previously owned by the Sage and Warrior The Monkey King. That night Jason is forced into tricking the owner into letting in a group of robbers who shoot the elderly owner. Jason is told by the owner that he must take the staff and return it to its rightful owner, so he runs off with the staff in hand. On the roof he's dragged over the edge by an unseen force which transports him a few hundred years into ancient China.
Jason wakes up in ancient China completely bewildered by what just happened. He wakes up in a small village which is then attacked by Jade Warriors but is saved by the drunken immortal Lu Yan (Jackie Chan). Yan tells Jason the story of the staff and how it used to belong to the immortal Monkey King (Jet Li), but whilst in a battle with the Jade Warlord (Colin Chou) he's tricked into putting down his staff and is encased in a Jade prison. Managing to cast the staff away, a prophecy foretells that the staff will one day be returned to the King and the battle can be ended once and for all.
I have to be honest and say that this film isn't something we haven't seen before. It's simply a blend of the 20th and 21st century martial arts based movies, such as The Karate Kid and Crouching Tiger. Crouching Tiger in the choreography and style of the fight sequences, The Karate Kid in the way of geeky kid becomes a master at the martial arts. This type of thing could put a lot of people off, and to be honest I wouldn't blame them. Personally, the main appeal of this film is the fact that it stars both Jet Li and Jackie Chan.
Now Michael Angarano I think to some will just be a small time actor given a surprisingly big role. To many people including myself, he's simply an actor we've never heard of that kind of looks like Shia Labeouf. Although he's not really a big name movie actor, he certainly delivered in this role and it should lead to much bigger things for the 21 year old. Chan as always is great in his fighting sequences and his general comic role, this time as the loveable, yet skilful drunk. Li is as always quite the serious character, but at times breaking his own cliche and actually becoming quite fun.
The fight sequences, especially the one pitting Chan against Li is something to be experienced and the skill of the two is just astounding. It's genuinely hard to believe that, Jet Li at 45 and Chan at 54 can still pull off some of the amazing moves that they did at the start of their careers. It's by no means a bad movie, but it's one only for those that are fans of both Li's and Chan's previous work. I wouldn't say it's quite suitable for the whole family as there is quite a big of graphic violence in it. That being said, as long as a responsible parent is making the decision, then I have no doubt this can be enjoyed by the whole family anyway.
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