Movie Review : The Forbidden Kingdom

From the beginning, "The Forbidden Kingdom" seems like a film from another era. It takes place in the present day, but the gang of toughs harassing young Jason look as if they should be drag racing with Kenickie in "Grease" or preparing for the rumble with Ponyboy from "The Outsiders," not walking the streets of New York in the 21st century.


The new martial arts film is notable mostly because it's the first Jet Li and Jackie Chan collaboration, teaming the Hong Kong martial arts stars who have had the most success crossing over into American films. But with the exception of the special effects, it resonates mostly as a throwback to the days of films such as "The NeverEnding Story," when ancient fantasies were book-ended by tales of modern-day misfits who get their lunch money taken but later exact revenge on their tormenters with a furry flying dragon.


"The Forbidden Kingdom" feels a bit too much like six hours of movie packed into 113 minutes - imagine if New Line had made Peter Jackson cram the entirety of "Lord of the Rings" into one film. Ultimately, though, it's difficult to resist, especially if you're a 12-year-old boy whose parents won't let you rent "Once Upon a Time in China" or the "Kill Bill" movies.


Michael Angarano is Jason, a teen who likes to hang out in a junky store owned by Old Hop (Chan, underneath convincing old-guy makeup). He gets in a scrape, picks up a magic staff from Hop's store and is transported back in time to Hong Kong, where he meets a wine-swilling fighter named Lu Yan (Chan, underneath Whoopi Goldberg's hair) and a stoic monk played by Li. There's also something about the legend of an immortal called the Monkey King, who is also played by Li looking like a cross between Hugh Jackman in "The X-Men" and an Oompa Loompa. Collin Chao is a bland warlord villain, and Yifei Liu is a young hottie named Golden Sparrow.


There are many more characters crammed into the plot, but why go on? A movie like this comes down to the fighting, and it's pretty good considering that the collective age of the two key participants is few years shy of 100. The inevitable clash between Chan and Li doesn't live up to the impossible hype, but choreography legend Woo-Ping Yuen keeps everyone looking young with his usual martial arts smorgasbord, along with some special-effects trickery that is worked in seamlessly.


It's particularly good to see Chan doing the "Drunken Master" thing again. The movie also adequately answers the question why Chan and Li haven't yet done a movie together in their collective 55-year careers: Chan is a much better actor. As for the fighting, and the movie, it's pretty much a draw.


Action drama. Starring Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michael Angarano and Yifei Liu. Directed by Rob Minkoff.