STUDIO: Lionsgate
RELEASE DATE: April 18, 2008
STARRING: Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Angarano, Collin Chou, and Crystal Yifei Liu
WRITTEN BY: John Fusco
DIRECTED BY: Rob Minkoff
GENRE: Action / Adventure / Kung Fu
RATING: PG-13

Believe it or not, prior to the new kung fu action / adventure flick, The Forbidden Kingdom, cinema’s top two martial arts heroes, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, had never before shared the screen. I’ll admit that because the two of them have previously made so many films in Hong Kong, I had always just assumed they had worked together, but I’d missed it. So does the long-awaited meeting between these two legends live up to expectations? The answer to that question depends entirely what sort of moviegoer you are. If you’re in your early teens, probably so. If you’re a martial arts fanatic, maybe. If you’re just a fan of great movies, generally, probably not.

The Forbidden Kingdom follows Jason Tripitikas (relative newcomer Michael Angarano, of Snow Angels and Sky High), a south Boston teen who loves martial arts films and often visits his favorite pawnshop in Chinatown, looking for copies of hard-to-find movies. One night, the shop is invaded by thieving hoodlums and Jason grabs a fighting staff from the wall in an attempt to defend himself and the elderly owner. But it just so happens that the staff has magical properties, which transport him back to ancient China, where he awakens to find he’s in possession of a powerful artifact sought by nearly everyone he meets. It seems that dark times have fallen on the common people of the land, ruled ruthlessly by the vicious Jade Warlord. Jason learns that only returning the staff to its rightful owner, the mischievous Monkey King, whom the warlord currently has imprisoned in stone, can set things right. At first, of course, he is reluctant to believe he’s capable of completing the task. But it eventually becomes clear that he’s got no choice if he wishes to return home. So he sets out to defeat the warlord and free the Monkey King, befriended on his quest by three kung fu warriors, each with their own motives for joining the cause: a drunken master (Jackie Chan), a mysterious monk (Jet Li), and a beautiful, young musician with daggers for hairpins, by the name of Golden Sparrow (Crystal Yifei Liu). The three of them proceed to train Jason in the ways of kung fu (and love!), in an effort to prepare him for the insurmountable odds ahead.

I know a few Hong Kong action junkies who were excited to see that Chan and Li would be working together, but disappointed to learn it would be targeted at kids and directed by the guy who did Stuart Little. But have no fear; I’m pleased to report that the film contains a number of lengthy action sequences, including a one-on-one battle between the two stars early on that lasts for nearly ten minutes. And most of the fighting is terrific, as it was choreographed by Woo-ping Yuen, who did so for The Matrix and Kill Bill movies. Also, while the modern digital effects commonly found in martial arts sequences do play a role in some scenes (flying, slow motion, shooting flames, etc.), there’s thankfully a balance, as others rely more on impressive agility and creative choreography. Though I should note that compared to most martial arts films, this PG-13 picture contains very little graphic violence - so little, I’m surprised they didn’t score a straight "PG" - in case that’s what you’re looking for.

However, it should be no surprise that the storyline, itself, feels pretty rehashed. Nearly every scene reminded me of something taken from another film - its closest relatives being The Karate Kid and The Neverending Story (in which the protagonist, for those who haven’t seen it, is whisked away to a faraway kingdom by a magic storybook, where he happens to represent that world’s only hope for survival). Even the acting strikes that rehashed tone. As usual, Chan handles the film’s comic relief, while Li mans the more stoic role,, making it feel as though much of the cast is sleepwalking through their roles. And it certainly doesn’t help that the dialogue is a silly combination of pseudo-spiritual nonsense and jokey one-liners. But to be fair, few of Chan’s and Li’s films ever provide them with material suitable for their talent and charisma. So in that sense, the movie isn’t committing any new cinematic offenses. Angarano comes off looking the best here; for a rising teen film star, he’s got an atypical and somewhat awkward appearance that makes him easy to root for. I expect we’ll see plenty of good things from him in the future.

The Forbidden Kingdom is the sort of film I have a feeling I would’ve absolutely loved, had I seen in my youth. The Karate Kid was a favorite of mine back then and, as if its premise wasn’t cool enough, here, things are taken up a notch: our hero actually gets to fight ancient Chinese warriors for the fate of the people (rather than simply sparring with a brat in a bandana for a tournament trophy). But, as an adult filmgoer, I’m looking for original characters and invigorating stories. So without those and without a magic staff of my own, I’m afraid I wasn’t quite swept away.