The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

Short of preview showings, I seldom drag myself to the cinema to watch new releases.  However the long-promised pairing of martial arts superstars Jackie Chan and Jet Li was sufficient lure in this instance.  While the fight choreography by the fabled Woo-Ping Yuen was everything I could hope for (with neither of them getting the upper hand against each other), I couldn't help but despair at the American mindset that feels that Asian stars must be paired with American ones to appeal.  The American in this instance isn't even a well-known one, but a youngster called Michael Angarano who certainly does not deserve to be in such exalted company.

After some bullying and violence in his Boston neighbourhood, he is magically transported back to ancient China where he is fated to restore the Monkey King back to life by returning the staff that he has brought with him.  He encounters Chan's drunken fighter, Li in the dual role of the Monkey King and a monk, a succulent local lass seeking revenge, the evil Jade Lord, and a witch reminiscent of the bride with white hair.  Despite a number of scenes in subtitled Mandarin, most of the dialogue is in English which remains something of an effort for the two main leads and the audience.  Further disbelief occurs when the youngster seems to become a kung fu adept in a matter of days under Chan's tutelage.

Despite these quibbles, I did enjoy the film.  The American writer and director obviously have a reverential soft spot for the genre and the fight scenes were pretty spectacular.  Both Chan (also playing an aged pawnbroker in the Boston scenes) and Li were excellent.  Li seemed to be particularly enjoying himself -- not something we see often -- with the Monkey King antics, although I could have done without the scene where he pissed on Chan as the latter prayed for water!  All of the remaining Chinese cast and technical staff were fine as well.  It's just a shame that the lustre of this long-awaited pairing was slightly dimmed by the emphasis on the nerdy youngster whose story it was.