Forbidden Kingdom

In their first ever big screen pairing, Jackie Chan reprises his role as the Drunken Master, actually he's called the Drunken Immortal in The Forbidden Kingdom but they're not fooling anyone, and Jet Li plays Monkey (minus pink flying cloud sadly). They both play other parts too.

For big kids (especially those who have refused to grow up since the 80s when they were fans of the Monkey TV series) this is a dream come true. Which is perhaps why that is the central premise of The Forbidden Kingdom. A teenage kung fu movie geek (Michael Angarano from 24) falls from a rooftop and wakes up in a mystical realm where he goes on a quest to return King Monkey's magic staff to it's rightful owner.

In an old Chinese curiosity shop (Gremlins?), Jason Tripitikas witnesses a kind old man (Chan again) get shot (Back To The Future ?) and is transported into the past to Ancient China (erm, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III?).

Jet Li as Monkey

Aided by the Drunken Immortal, the Silent Monk (Li again) and the beautiful Golden Sparrow who is out to avenge the murder of her parents (played by Yifei Liu), Tripititaka (sorry, Tripitakas) must return the staff to King Monkey who has been turned to stone by the evil Jade Emperor (played by Colin Chou from The Matrix Reloaded).

Mums and dads will probably be reassured that it is directed by Rob Minkoff (Lion King, Stuart Little) but I wouldn't want that to put older fans off the movie. It's Written by John Fusco who has done the screen play for a new version of the Seven Samurai due out next year.

A drunken Jackie Chan

TFK was filmed on location in two Chinese provinces of outstanding beauty with additional studio sets that are at times wonderfully kitsch. Deliberately suggestive of old TV shows, I'm guessing, but without looking low-budget.

The cast is spot on, especially Li Bing Bing who plays whip cracking villainess The White Haired Assassin. The inevitable Jackie/Jet fight is both great fun and lives up to expectations.

Comparisons with Bulletproof Monk (which I like incidentally) are inevitable. However this  is more traditional, unapologetic feel-good fodder that will take kids on a wild ride and make adults feel 10 years younger (or in my case more like 25).

It is no Crouching Tiger or House of Flying Daggers (the Forbidden Kingdom doesn't take itself too seriously) but it's ninety minutes of your life you won't be wishing you could get back.

The Forbidden Kingdom has already been No 1. in the movie charts in the USA (guess where I saw it) and is set for UK release on July 11 according to some sites but I have seen no official announcement here yet and no glimmer of the hype I would have expecting. Look at my Gallery section for more pics.

Visit the official movie website and watch the trailer