The Forbidden Kingdom

The Forbidden Kingdom is an outdated, unremarkable and unoriginal film.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. (05/11/2008)

A fantasy fairy tale with a pleasant eighties feeling to it. It does try to be something it isn’t, but as a whole it's actually quite playful. For me, the experience of the expedition to the petrified Monkey King was determined mainly by nostalgia. If you manage to tune into the era when children’s movies like The NeverEnding Story (it has surprisingly much to do with it and it is no coincidence that it is mentioned so often here), Willow, or The Golden Child were popular, then you’re half way there. Plus, if you can fine-tune your nostalgia so precisely that you forget how agile Jet Li and Chan used to be, and that they can of course no longer bend like young branches, then you are completely good to go. In terms of physique, here they are merely a shadow of their former glory, but they are still absolutely enjoyable to watch with their charmingly imperfect English. The technical aspects are ok; the screenplay does not deviate from the confines of the genre; the musical selections are perfect; the pacing works overall; and so the only downright bad element is the actor in the main role, Michael Angarano. Even the German soccer team is more likable and has more charisma. He is no new Bastian. Overall, however, I was satisfied, although, as I have already mentioned, mainly thanks to that tricky beast that calls itself nostalgia. (31/05/2008)

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. (11/10/2008)

For it to be truly special, it shouldn't have been so clichéd from the beginning. However, I just love the legend of the Monkey King, no matter which version it's presented in. The story is quite straightforward, but the fight scenes are fantastic, which is thanks to the Chinese co-production. I really liked the exteriors, which are sometimes simply beautiful. Other than that, though, I probably won't remember this movie for very long. It’s something like a version of The Karate Kid in a fantasy fairy tale. (28/03/2014)

Impatiently awaited for years by many fans of Asian action movies, the meeting of Jackie Chan and Jet Li on the silver screen ended up being a bizarre update of the nineties fanboy’s wet dream Sidekicks. (17/03/2013)