The Forbidden Kingdom

synkr0nized · 04-21-2008, 05:28 AM

I did a search, both with these sacs of fluid-filled, light-absorbing tissues called eyes and the forum search tool, and saw no thread for this movie. Apologies if I still managed to miss it.

I had a great time at this movie.
It had appropriate amounts of fights, silliness, and mythos.
A friend that I saw it with described it really well after it was over; he said, "It was like a clever blend of Pirates of the Caribbean, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and The Karate Kid."

I could see some folks perhaps feeling disappointed with the plot, maybe expecting a bit more than it gives, but I didn't see that as an issue. Maybe I let myself be suckered by the feel-good coming-of-age aspect.

I guess, long story short, go see it and have a good time.

EVILNess · 04-21-2008, 05:31 AM

It was a horrible movie unless you really like cheesy kung-fu flicks.

Fortunately, I love cheesy kung-fu flicks. So 10/10!

Demetrius · 04-21-2008, 06:55 AM

I saw it and loved it, I will be paying money fro the DVD when it comes out. That's right, paying for easily acquirable material because I can!

Ogianres · 04-21-2008, 09:19 AM

It was a kung-fu movie that starred Jackie Chan and Jet Li and had a campy B-movie plot. Important character and story development seemed rushed and disjointed, and the ending was a major cop-out. The acting by many of the characters were severely under-toned or overdone, and the main villian is completely "kill bad news-bearing messengers and burn down random villages" one-dimensional. Almost all of the fights featured "hey let's show you kung-fu masters beating up redshirts/stormtroopers" and the ultimate fight ended in deus-ex-machina-but-the-main-character-is-still-the-one-who-actually-did-it-by-him-self.

It was fucking awesome.

Lord of Joshelplex · 04-21-2008, 12:27 PM

Isnt Jet Li supposed to be retired?

Demetrius · 04-21-2008, 03:47 PM

...No.

He had said a couple years ago that Fearless (I think) would be his last full on Kung-Fu movie, but I guess even he is too much of a fanboy to resist a Jackie Chan, Jet Li movie.

Savage Thinking · 04-21-2008, 04:26 PM

Well, what he said was he was not going to make "martial arts epic" movies anymore (Which deal with more philosophical and religious issues), such as Fearless and Hero. But he'll continue making movies.

Not sure if these are spoilers or not so I'll just hide it anyway:
I thought Jackie's makeup as the old man was rather convincing. I didn't even know it was him until the end (Hence why I'm hiding this with the spoiler tags) where he's on the stretcher and says "Of course I'll live.. I'm immortal.." pretty much put the biggest smile on my face (As cheesy some may have seen it) and it was what made me enjoy the ending.

synkr0nized · 04-21-2008, 05:50 PM

I'm with you, Savage. I felt pretty stupid for not catching that earlier.

mauve · 04-21-2008, 11:46 PM

I felt stupid for not recognizing Jet Li as Monkey King before he "died" and transformed into the piece of hair. TOTALLY didn't see him through the makeup. -_-

As for the film itself, I liked the fight scenes, although the plot left a little to be desired in terms of development. BUT!!! I was really freakin' excited to learn that they were using the Monkey King in the story. Monkey comes from an actual Chinese tale called "Journey to the West," in which a normal monkey rises to the title of Buddhist Immortal. After crashing the Heavenly Emperor's peach banquet, stealing a magic staff from the palace of a river dragon, etc, the Heavenly Immortals transform him into a stone. The goddess of mercy, Guanyin, sends a young monk to revive him, after which point the Monkey King joins the monk on his quest to retrieve ancient Buddhist texts from India. Hilarity and adventure ensues.

But yeah, the movie was decent enough. I loved Jackie Chan's character, and the fight scenes were pretty good.

Good lord I'm a nerd.

G.I.R. · 04-22-2008, 07:59 AM

I saw this over the weekend and really enjoyed it. I have to give props to Jackie Chan for playing a very convicing old man! The action was fantastic, the story was alright, and I thought it had just the right touch of comedy.

and I've heard that Jackie Chan has stated that if the movie did well, he'd be down for a sequel. If they do, I hope Jet Li will star too!

04-21-2008, 05:28 AM	#1
synkr0nized synk-ism Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: throughout the Wired Posts: 6,861	The Forbidden Kingdom I did a search, both with these sacs of fluid-filled, light-absorbing tissues called eyes and the forum search tool, and saw no thread for this movie. Apologies if I still managed to miss it. I had a great time at this movie. It had appropriate amounts of fights, silliness, and mythos. A friend that I saw it with described it really well after it was over; he said, "It was like a clever blend of Pirates of the Caribbean, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and The Karate Kid." I could see some folks perhaps feeling disappointed with the plot, maybe expecting a bit more than it gives, but I didn't see that as an issue. Maybe I let myself be suckered by the feel-good coming-of-age aspect. I guess, long story short, go see it and have a good time. __________________ Find love.

04-21-2008, 06:55 AM	#3
Demetrius In need of a vacation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Vermont Posts: 3,236	I saw it and loved it, I will be paying money fro the DVD when it comes out. That's right, paying for easily acquirable material because I can! __________________ DFM, Demon seed of Hell who fuels its incredible power by butchering little girls and feeding on their innocence. Demetrius, Dark clown of the netherworld, a being of incalculable debauchery and a soulless, faceless evil as old as time itself. Zilla, The chick. ~DFM Wii bishie bishie kawaii baka! ~ Fifthfiend

04-21-2008, 03:47 PM	#6
Demetrius In need of a vacation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Vermont Posts: 3,236	...No. He had said a couple years ago that Fearless (I think) would be his last full on Kung-Fu movie, but I guess even he is too much of a fanboy to resist a Jackie Chan, Jet Li movie. __________________ DFM, Demon seed of Hell who fuels its incredible power by butchering little girls and feeding on their innocence. Demetrius, Dark clown of the netherworld, a being of incalculable debauchery and a soulless, faceless evil as old as time itself. Zilla, The chick. ~DFM Wii bishie bishie kawaii baka! ~ Fifthfiend

04-21-2008, 04:26 PM	#7
Savage Thinking Yeeeah, son. Join Date: May 2005 Location: Stranded in the middle of the ocean with no desire to be rescued. Posts: 755	Well, what he said was he was not going to make "martial arts epic" movies anymore (Which deal with more philosophical and religious issues), such as Fearless and Hero. But he'll continue making movies. Not sure if these are spoilers or not so I'll just hide it anyway: I thought Jackie's makeup as the old man was rather convincing. I didn't even know it was him until the end (Hence why I'm hiding this with the spoiler tags) where he's on the stretcher and says "Of course I'll live.. I'm immortal.." pretty much put the biggest smile on my face (As cheesy some may have seen it) and it was what made me enjoy the ending. __________________ The artist formerly known as 'ZutsuJin'. "It is not necessary for the public to know whether I am joking or whether I am serious, just as it is not necessary for me to know it myself"

04-21-2008, 05:50 PM	#8
synkr0nized synk-ism Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: throughout the Wired Posts: 6,861	MONKEY KICKSSSSSS I'm with you, Savage. I felt pretty stupid for not catching that earlier. __________________ Find love.

04-21-2008, 12:27 PM	#5
Lord of Joshelplex Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bird's Hill MB Posts: 4,055	Isnt Jet Li supposed to be retired?

04-21-2008, 11:46 PM	#9
mauve So Dreamy Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Someplace magical Posts: 6,863	I felt stupid for not recognizing Jet Li as Monkey King before he "died" and transformed into the piece of hair. TOTALLY didn't see him through the makeup. -_- As for the film itself, I liked the fight scenes, although the plot left a little to be desired in terms of development. BUT!!! I was really freakin' excited to learn that they were using the Monkey King in the story. Monkey comes from an actual Chinese tale called "Journey to the West," in which a normal monkey rises to the title of Buddhist Immortal. After crashing the Heavenly Emperor's peach banquet, stealing a magic staff from the palace of a river dragon, etc, the Heavenly Immortals transform him into a stone. The goddess of mercy, Guanyin, sends a young monk to revive him, after which point the Monkey King joins the monk on his quest to retrieve ancient Buddhist texts from India. Hilarity and adventure ensues. But yeah, the movie was decent enough. I loved Jackie Chan's character, and the fight scenes were pretty good. Good lord I'm a nerd. __________________ Yoo Hoo!