The Forbidden Kingdom

At times it's more of a comedic farce than a solid action kung-fu movie, but Jackie Chan plays the drunkard so enthusiastically that it's impossible to be angry at him. The guys prove that they still know how to handle themselves excellently, and even though there are many shots (especially the entire Mythology) and scenes that could be seen as copied from The Lord of the Rings, the whole thing is so likeable and heartfelt that you are willing to turn a blind eye to the mess. Sometimes, I might imagine less flying and more solid action, but you cannot expect from Eastern warriors what is commonly done in Europe or in the US. (10/11/2008)

In order for it to be something truly special, it shouldn't be clichéd from the beginning. However, I simply like the legend of the Monkey King, whether it is presented in any version. The story is quite straightforward, but the fights are fantastic, which is due to the Chinese co-production. I really liked the exteriors, which are sometimes simply beautiful. Otherwise, I probably won't remember this movie for long. It's like "Karate Kid" tuned into a fantasy fairytale. (03/28/2014)

At first, I wondered why Rob Minkoff got the job, but as it started to follow the storyline of The Neverending Story, I regretted not being twelve because then I would have definitely appreciated it. The film was actually made for one scene, but it's unnecessarily overwrought and you’ll forget the rest of it with the closing credits. Minkoff is just a dry routinist that throws up one pretty image after another, but there’s nothing to it. The plot doesn't resolve much and Yuen Woo-Ping can't do much without wires. In an Asian production, it would have been the battle of the decade, but this is a fairy tale that I watched for less than two hours that doesn't entertain the kids and doesn't excite the adults. At least it went by fairly quick. (10/25/2008)

The Forbidden Kingdom is an outdated, unremarkable and unoriginal film. At the same time, however, it is harmless and without any specific mistakes, so there’s simply nothing to criticize. Despite that, I will probably only remember it because of the actors who appear in it. And I appreciate that the screenwriter treated them fairly, providing them with really nice roles that made use of their respective characters. (11/05/2008)

NeverEnding Story with Chinese motifs. If it weren’t for Jet Li or Jackie Chan, I doubt the producers would have ever approved a screenplay like this. All possible clichés fill out the “journeying" breaks between fights which, luckily (thanks to Yuen Woo-Ping), are really good. Perhaps the next collaboration between Jet and Jackie will (allegedly for China) turn out better. This is just slightly above average. (05/25/2008)