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Forbidden Kingdom, The - BLU-RAY Version (2008)

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Average rating: 66%
1516417182058
3.5
from 200 members
 
Starring: Jet Li, Crystal Liu, Ye Xiaokeng, Jackie Chan, Michael Angarano, Collin Chou, Crystal Liu Yi Fei, Li Bing Bing, Li Bing
Director: Rob Minkoff
Studio: LIONS GATE HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 104 mins
Certificate: 12
Collections: Blu-ray
Genres: Action/Adventure
Languages: English
Released: 17/11/2008
Also Available on:  Also Available on: DVD

Brief synopsis of Forbidden Kingdom, The - BLU-RAY Version

East meets West and kung-fu legends collide as Jackie Chan and Jet Li square off in the fists-a-flying, family-friendly FORBIDDEN KINGDOM.
Based on the classical Chinese novel JOURNEY TO THE WEST, the film begins in modern-day Boston. There, while teenage kung-fu flick enthusiast Jason (Michael Angarano) is buying bootleg DVDs from his favourite shopkeeper, Old Hop (Chan, aged by prosthetic makeup), he is drawn to an ancient golden staff. When a local bully forces weakling Jason to help rob Old Hop, Jason escapes with the staff and is magically transported to ancient China. He is soon rescued from the forces of the Jade Warlord by Lu Yan (Chan), a raggedy wanderer whose wine-guzzling ways conceal his kung-fu mastery. Yan reveals the truth of the staff, and that Jason is the fabled Seeker who must return it to the Monkey King (Li) to prevent the warlord's evil plans. The two are joined in their quest by a kung-fu master, Silent Monk (Li), and a beautiful orphan (Liu Yifei) who harbours her own personal vendetta. Despite their differences, the two masters teach Jason the ways of the kung-fu warrior. And when Lu Yan is gravely wounded by the warlord's sexy assassin, Jason must bring his newfound skills and courage to bear if he is to save one world and return to his own.
Choreographed by action impresario Woo-ping Yuen (THE MATRIX, KILL BILL) and shot on location in China, FORBIDDEN KINGDOM is an appealing family adventure about the importance of working together and the value of believing in one's abilities.

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Critics Reviews

New York Times

FORBIDDEN KINGDOM is a faithful and disarmingly earnest attempt to honor some venerable and popular Chinese cinematic traditions

Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 1 starsThis movie should be forbidden

A customer from London , 21/11/2008

After enjoying the likes of Crouching Tiger, Hero, House of flying daggers and Fearless I foolishly thought this may be a humorous version of this movie genre. I guess it is but I am extremely reluctant to put this anywhere remotely close to the same league. What we have here is a feeble, half hearted cross between the karate kid (namely the spotty american teenager) and a the previously mentioned titles. But it fails...in every conceivable way. Its not funny, the acting is poor (with the possible exception of Jackie and Jet), throw in a few over choreographed kung fu fights, which just seem dull, and even more ridiculous story-line and hey presto...you have one lame movie called the Forbidden Kingdom. Unfortunately it was so bad I turned it off not even half way through it. My recommendation would be to steer well clear.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsHighly Entertaining

A customer from Harrow , 26/11/2008

It did start slowly and awkwardly, but it's a cracking martial arts film once it gets going. It looks fabulous, the fight scenes are excellent, and both my wife and I were really pleased with it. Then gave it to my mother in law/father in law who both love kung fu films - and they hated it!

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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