The Forbidden Kingdom

Jul 11 2008 by Peter Leathley, The Journal

THE Forbidden Kingdom is a hugely entertaining and self-consciously daft yarn that sees martial arts titans Jet Li and Jackie Chan share the screen for the first time.

Fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping once again orchestrates a series of dazzling, gravity-defying action set pieces including a skirmish on a mountain top and the long awaited face-off between the iconic Chinese and Hong Kong leads.

After a prologue to explain the mythology of The Monkey King (Jet Li), the film begins in Chinatown, New York, where kung fu crazy misfit Jason (Michael Angarano) often goes to rifle through DVDs at a pawn shop run by doddering Old Hop (Jackie Chan).

Weakling Jason is a prime target for a gang who use the youngster as bait to force their way into Old Hop’s shop, fatally wounding the owner.

With his dying breath, Old Hop instructs Jason to return one item – a golden staff – to its rightful owner, the legendary Monkey King.

The boy flees and is magically transported to ancient China where the Jade Warlord (Collin Chou) seeks the talisman in the boy’s possession.

Thankfully, drunken master Lu Yan (Jackie Chan again) rescues Jason from the warlord’s minions and begins to tutor the schoolboy in the art of fighting so he can fulfil a prophecy and deliver the staff to Five Elements Mountain.

The Forbidden Kingdom is a rollicking romp for the whole family, playing Jason’s Rocky-style training under Lu Yan for laughs.