Synopsis

Teenage kung-fu flick enthusiast Jason, is drawn to an ancient golden staff while buying bootleg DVDs from his favourite shop, run by Old Hop. Later that evening, a local bully forces him to help rob Old Hop, Jason escapes with the staff and finds himself magically transported to ancient China. Here he is rescued from the forces of the Jade Warlord, by Lu Yan, 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 to prevent the warlord's evil plans. The two are joined in their quest by kung-fu master Silent Monk, and a beautiful orphan named Golden Sparrow, who harbors her own personal vendetta. Despite their differences, the two masters teach Jason the ways of the kung-fu warrior. When Lu Yan is gravely wounded by the warlord's sexy assassin Ni Chang, the White-Haired Demoness, Jason is forced to face The Jade Warlord. But will his newfound skills and courage save the day?

What The Critics Say

"Combines outrageously entertaining fight scenes with just enough of an ancient Chinese legend to keep us hooked. Combining the kinetic directorial style of Minkoff ("Stuart Little") with choreography master Yuen Woo-Ping gives this film the spark it needs to catapult us through the story, while Chan and Li keep us entertained by doing what they do best: having fun." Rich Cline SHADOWS ON THE WALL "The characters know they're in a movie that references lots of other movies and they want to share with us how much fun those movies can be." Chris Hewitt ST PAUL PIONEER EXPRESS "When Chan and Li match wits, each celebrates the other's presence. This isn't just a martial-arts display; it's generosity and camaraderie in motion. Jackie Chan has said for more than 10 years that he's wanted to work with his friend Jet Li, but plenty of fans probably figured they'd have long white beards; or long white hair, before the two action stars finally got together. With "The Forbidden Kingdom," it's finally happened." Stephanie Zacharek SALON.COM "The first teaming of Chan and Li is a delightful, action-packed martial-arts fantasy. There's not an original idea in the whole thing, but this gorgeous Hollywood production presents all the surefire elements well. Watching Chan throw his Drunken Fist act up against Li's fast, classical kung fu stylings is a real treat." Bob Strauss LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS "The Forbidden Kingdom may not be a classic martial arts movie, but it's got heart, a certain sneaky charm and more than enough pure fun to make up for that." Michelle Alexandria ECLIPSE MAGAZINE

"Instead of hitting us with crouching tigers and hidden dragons, the kung fu action-adventure The Forbidden Kingdom features the monk versus the drunk. And it works. Martial-arts superstars Jackie Chan and Jet Li team up for the first time in a time-bending amusement-park ride of a movie. Two things surprised me about this fun-loving romp. It is written and directed by Americans. And Asian kung-fu masters are behind the camera and choreographing the rapid-fire fight action." Larry Ratliff SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS "The first onscreen meeting of screen legends Jackie Chan and Jet Li is possibly reason enough to see this fantasy, whose extravagant martial arts sequences are choreographed by Woo-ping Yuen." Louise Keller URBANCINEFILE "One of the more entertaining movies we’ve seen in recent months." Richard Roeper EBERT AND ROEPER "Jackie Chan and Jet Li together for the first time in a martial arts film - the perfect formula for a winner!" Jackie K Cooper JACKIECOOPER "I loved this type of story as a kid, and watching "The Forbidden Kingdom"; an unapologetically old-fashioned fantasy that pairs this structure with the setting and action of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon": made me nostalgic for the first times I ever saw "The NeverEnding Story" or "The Princess Bride". An unapologetically old-fashioned fantasy, solid enough entertainment for grown-ups, but something that many kids will absolutely adore." Michael Dance THE CINEMA SOURCE

Two Legends Born Li Liánjié in Beijing, China on the 26th April 1963, Jet Li began studying the art of Wushu (the general Chinese term for martial arts) at the young age of eight. After three years of extensive training, Li was rewarded with his first national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team. Li's celebrity status in China was so great, the government selected him to represent the country in over fourty five countries, performing martial arts at various state functions. The most historically notable was his 1974 performance on the lawn of the Whitehouse for President Richard Nixon, after the President had just reopened American diplomatic relations with China. For the next five years (1974 -1979), he remained the All-Around National Wushu Champion of China. Shortly after retiring from the sport at the age of seventeen, Li was offered many starring roles and subsequently began his film career with director Chang Hsin Yen for "Shaolin Temple". The success of "Shaolin Temple" propelled Li from a martial arts master to a full-fledged Chinese movie star and an overnight celebrity. His star shone so bright that almost any picture with his name attached became an instant success. "Kids From Shaolin" and "Martial Arts Of Shaolin", Li's second and third films respectively, also enjoyed box-office success. He completed twentyfive successful Asian films before his crossover to America and his first major exposure to worldwide cinema audiences when he starred opposite Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in his first English language film, "Leathal Weapon 4". Lee's first wife was Beijing Wushu Team member and Shaolin Temple series co-star Huang Qiuyan with whom he had two children. His second wife is Shanghai-born, Hong Kong-based actress, Nina Li Chi (born Li Zhi) with whom he has fathered two daughters. Born in Hong Kong on April 7th 1954, Jackie Chan was enrolled in the China Drama Academy at age seven where he spent the next ten years training in the art of Peking Opera and learned the acrobatics, martial arts, acting, and singing that would later help him become an international superstar. When Chan left the Academy at the age of seventeen to pursue stunt work over the gradually fading Peking Opera industry, he gained a reputation as a talented and fearless stuntman. Within a few years, he was acting, directing, and choreographing stunts for dozens of films. In 1978, the films "Snake In The Eagle's Shadow" and "Drunken Master" were the first to showcase Chan’s genre of action comedy, which transformed the Hong Kong film industry. Two years later, Chan made his major feature film directorial debut on "The Young Master", which marked the start of his long association with producer Raymond Chow, whose Golden Harvest Company made many of Chan’s subsequent films. After a series of attempts in the 1980s to break into the American movie market, Chan returned to Hong Kong to focus on making films in his hometown. He was extremely successful and his film credits in the 1980s includes "Super Cop First Strike", the "Police Story" series and "The Accidental Spy" to name only a few. In 1995, he returned to the USA to film "Rumble In The Bronx" which was a huge hit when released in 1996. Since then, Chan has starred in a succession of American productions, including the blockbuster "Rush Hour" series with Chris Tucker and director Brett Ratner, as well as the hit action comedy Western, "Shanghai Noon", followed by its sequel, "Shanghai Knights" which Chan also executive produced. Other box office successes include the film "Highbinders", "The Tuxedo" and a remake of the classic, "Around The World In 80 Days". Over his nearly four-decade film career, Chan has received hundreds of awards for his acting, directing, writing, and stunt work. No one could ever deny that he deserved every one of them. Those numerous honours include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the MTV Movie Awards, which was presented to him by Quentin Tarantino in 1995; the Actor of the Year Award at the 1999 Hollywood Film Festival; two Best Actor Awards at the Golden Horse Film Festival; three Hong Kong Film Awards; two additional MTV Movie Awards; a Taurus Honorary Award at the World Stunt Awards and an Innovator Award from the American Choreography Awards in 2002, and most recently, a Special Jury Award at the Asia Pacific Film Festival as well as an Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Cinema Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2005. For the past 20 years, Chan has devoted much of his spare time and energy to charity work. In 1988, he established the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation and has since worked tirelessly for dozens of charities both at home and abroad. In recent years, he has focused his energies on his Dragon’s Heart Foundation, which builds schools in remote areas of China. Chan's voice is currently starring in the highly successful animated film "Kung Fu Panda", bringing life to the character Monkey. Chan has a strong connection to Australia. His mother and father made the country their home and both passed away here. Chan's parents settled in Canberra in the early 1970s. His father took a job as the head chef at the United States Embassy before becoming a successful local owner of the Charlie Chan Restaurant. A young Chan lived in Canberra for a couple of years, attending college and working as builder's laborer, where he was given his now famous name Jackie as a nickname by fellow workers. His mother Lily (Lee-Lee) passed on February 28th 2002 in Canberra. His father Charles passed on February 25th 2008 in Hong Kong. They are buried side by side at Gungahlin Cemetery in Canberra. The Inside Story "The Forbidden Kingdom" has brought together, for the first time, the two most revered martial arts film stars in the world today, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. While both Jet Li and Jackie Chan, who are close friends, have long expressed a mutual desire to work together, it wasn’t until this film came along that either had found an appropriate project that featured two strong roles and memorable fight sequences. But when Li read screenwriter John Fusco’s script for "The Forbidden Kingdom", he knew the time had finally come. "I was immediately impressed by the extensive knowledge of various ancient Chinese legends," says Li. "Stories like the Monkey King, which "The Forbidden Kingdom" is based on, are completely unknown to most Western audiences. But the script got so many details right, and it created this great fusion of Eastern and Western sensibilities. It seemed like the perfect way to bring this character to an international audience." Jackie Chan readily admits that his attraction to the production hinged on Li’s involvement. "I have always hoped to make movies with some people whom I really admire, like Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, before I retire from this business," he said. "Jet Li is someone with whom I have wanted to work for more than ten years." "Ladder 49" producer Casey Silver also saw the great potential in Fusco’s script that could bring the two martial arts giants together for the first time. "As soon as I read the screenplay, there seemed to be parts that would be perfectly suited to both of them. So thus began the journey of trying to get two big stars who hadn’t worked together to collaborate, join the adventure and I think it was a testament to the strength of John’s screenplay." When the momentous day finally came for Chan and Li to shoot their first fight sequence together, the chemistry was palpable. "It was seamless," Chan declared. "With most people, you have to practice. But with Jet, I don't know why, we both looked at each other and we just said, 'Let’s just do it, yeah.' And we did it. The first two takes were so fast that everybody had to tell us to slow down or they’d have to use slow motion." Having Jet Li and Jackie Chan on set provided a major bonus. Chan revealed, most fight sequences require about ten to fifteen takes per segment; but his sequences with Li required only three to five. "All I did was tell Jet I’d do these few strokes and let him know my rhythm. He would pick up my rhythm and just react with his strokes. That kind of chemistry is rare." What both men have achieved to date is also rare. For action superstar Jet Li, who has two young daughters (Jane and Jada to second wife Nina Li Chi), the wide appeal of the film had an advantage. "Having made so many violent movies in my career to date, I thought it was about time I made a film that families with children will be able to enjoy together. This is the film that I am making for my two girls." Screenwriter John Fusco ("Hildago") first conceived of "The Forbidden Kingdom" as a bedtime story for his young son. Fusco first shared the story with producer Silver on the Moroccan set of the film, "Hildago". "I was deeply motivated to introduce such rich Chinese legends as the Monkey King to a global Western audience for the first time," says Fusco. "By bringing back some of these classic Chinese ideas and characters, we hope to expose Chinese culture and history to a whole new audience. If we can get the younger generations and the Western moviegoers to develop an interest in exploring these classics further after watching the movie, we’ve achieved our goal." "Being both a martial arts film and a contemporary American film makes this unlike any martial arts film before," notes executive producer Raffaella De Laurentiis, who produced Arnold Schwarzenegger career defining films: "Conan the Barbarian" (1982) and "Conan the Destroyer" (1984). "All we wanted to do is make a fun, good movie that will appeal to both the East and the West, and I think we’ve done it." Michael Angarano ("Almost Famous", "Seabiscuit" & "Sky High") was cast as the 'Seeker' Jason Tripitikas recalls: "After my initial audition for Rob, I was put through a physical test of three hours of kung fu training together with several other kids. It was to test our martial arts learning potential. Following that, I met Jackie Chan on the set of RUSH HOUR 3. That was the final step of the audition and before I knew it, I had the part and I was in China." The 2007 Method Fest Award winner ("Black Irish") says his character Jason learns to face his fears while learning the deeper meaning of kung fu. "Kung fu is a philosophy. It’s a way of life; not just a way of fighting, but a way of thinking. It’s a way to find yourself and be at peace with everything around you." Canadian-based casting director, Poping Auyeung ("Tai-Pan") short listed three asian actresses for the role Ni Chang. The role went to acclaimed Chinese actress, Li Bing Bing ("Cat and Mouse" & "Dragon Squad"). "When Rob, Casey and Raffaella first saw me, they couldn't reconcile my looks with their impression of the White-Haired Demoness. They were under the impression that she was to be an older woman with flowing white hair. It was only after I showed them how I would perform the role that they became convinced I was right for the part." When it came to shooting the film, Minkoff, Silver and de Laurentiis were fully convinced that renowned director of photography Peter Pau ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") was the only one for the job. "It was very important to me that the film didn’t end up being an Americanized version of a Chinese story," says director Rob Minkoff ("Stuart Little" & "Stuart Little 2"). For all of his experience shooting in China, this is by far the biggest film Pau has shot there. "I had to put up two units with more than fifty crew members each for the cameras, lighting and grip departments," Pau ("Bride Of Chucky" & "Dracula 2000") says. When it came time to find an action choreographer, the filmmakers agreed there was only one choice: Three time Hong Kong Film Award winner (2001, 05 & 07) for Best Action Choreography, Woo-Ping Yuen who also picked up the American Choreography Award for his work on "Kill Bill: Vol 2". "The only choreographer who could truly stand in the middle between these two giants, Jackie and Jet, and serve each of them was Woo-Ping Yuen," Silver stated. While much of the film was created on the sound stages of Hengdian World Studios, numerous spectacular locations in China were chosen for exterior scenes: the Gobi desert in Dunhuang, the Nine Bends River, the waterfall at Xianju, the greens of the Wuyi Mountains, the Bamboo Camp at Anji and the Plum Blossom Garden at Fangyan. The Verdict "Is there anybody out there who doesn't love Jackie Chan? I doubt it! Hands up all those who are fans of Jet Li. As I suspected, Li to has a huge following. So how awesome would it be to see 'the' star of chop chop films who appeared in the "Rush Hour" franchise, "Shanghai Noon", "Fist of Fury", "Dragon Fist", "Police Story" and "Drunken Fist II", teamed up with the star of "Fearless", "Hero", "The One" and "Lethal Weapon 4"? Pretty awesome I'd say! And while there is nearly a decade difference in their ages (Chan is 54 and Li is 45), they are so entertaining. The stunts, wire-work, SFX, cinematography and the setting (it was shot in China) are superb. As you'd expect the film has plenty of good natured humour, fighting scenes and yes, a happy ending. "The Forbidden Kingdom" is a film that will delight younger viewers and provide families with a fun day out at their local multiplex. Chan's appeal crosses many generations and when you add that to the pulling power of Li, "The Forbidden Kingdom" should attract a wide audience. Don't take it too seriously. "The Forbidden Kingdom" is a fun-filled, spectacular experience. Highly recommended for cinemagoers of all ages. 4 STARS." Crew Bytes "THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM" was .......
directed by Rob Minkoff ["Tummy Trouble", "The Lion King" and "The Haunted Mansion"]; screenplay by John Fusco ["Crossroads", "Hidalgo" and "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron"]; director of photography by Peter Pau ["Legend of Wu", "Au revoir mon amour", "Treasure Hunt" and "Shoot 'Em Up"]; original music by David Buckley ["Sleeping Dog", "A Stray Glance" and "Sammy Shortcut"] production design by Bill Brzeski ["Matilda ", "As Good As It Gets" and "The Bucket List"] and costume design by Shirley Chan ["Warriors Of Virtue", "Hitman", "The Accidental Spy" and "Kung Fu Hustle"]. Who's Who?

Jackie Chan Jet Li Michael Angarano Yifei Liu Collin Chou Bing Bing Li Juana Collignon Morgan Benoit Bingbing Li Jack Posobiec Thomas McDonell Zhi Ma Gui Shen Shou He Shaohua Yang Yu Yuan Zeng Deshun Wang XiaoLi Liu Xiao Dong Mei

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Lu Yan/Old Hop The Monkey King/The Silent Monk Jason Tripitikas Golden Sparrow/Chinatown Girl Jade Warlord Southie Girl Lupo Ni Chang Southie Young Southie Old Woman Farmer Young Village Man Jade Soldier Inn Keeper Jade Emperor Queen Mother Inn Keeper's Wife

Run Time 103 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2008 - Hoyts Film Distribution - All Rights Reserved ©2008 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.