IMDb RATING
6.5/10
111K
YOUR RATING
A discovery made by a kung fu obsessed American teen sends him on an adventure to ancient China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors in order to free the imprisoned Monkey... Read allA discovery made by a kung fu obsessed American teen sends him on an adventure to ancient China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors in order to free the imprisoned Monkey King.A discovery made by a kung fu obsessed American teen sends him on an adventure to ancient China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors in order to free the imprisoned Monkey King.
- Awards
- 5 nominations
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to Jackie Chan, when he and Jet Li shot their fight together, they found it relaxing and easy: "I have not worked with someone who I'm comfortable with, in terms of movements, rhythm, and natural reactions, in the last ten years. I have done many fight scenes with others, but there were usually more than ten takes, which is a waste of time, as the person may forget his moves and unnecessary injuries. When I fought with Jet, our actions were quick. We also didn't have to do the same stunt over twenty times."
- GoofsThe silent Monk tells Jason they should attack "In two nights, when the moon will be darker." But later that night in the balcony scene with Jason and Golden Sparrow the moon is clearly waxing, and will be almost half full in two nights - brighter not darker.
- Quotes
Jason Tripitikas: He needs wine. It's his elixir.
Medicine Monk: We will send a walking monk.
Lu Yan: Don't you have a running monk?
- Crazy creditsJackie Chan and Jet Li are credited together before the title. Jackie Chan's name is spelled out horizontally, but Jet Li's is spelled out vertically, and the same "J" is used for both.
- SoundtracksDeng Zhe Ni Hui Lai
("Waiting 4 U")
Written by Yan Kuan
Performed by Bai Kwong
©EMI Music Publishing Hong Kong
avec l'autorisation d'EMI Music Publishing France
Featured review
A cowardly, kung fu-obsessed teenager is transported to a mystical kingdom in China, where he is destined to return a powerful staff to it's owner, the immortal Monkey King, who was turned to stone 500 years earlier by the evil Jade Warlord.
If you're not particularly a fan of the kung fu genre, couldn't give a monkey's (pun intended) whether the script craps on a few Chinese legends from a great height, and don't care too much that Chan and Li seem to have sold out to the almighty dollar (again), then this big-budget Hollywood martial arts epic for the masses will probably do fine for a Saturday night, along with a takeaway and a few brews.
If, however, like me, you've been patiently waiting for the on-screen pairing of the legendary Jackie Chan and Jet Li for the best part of twenty years, then this plot-hole ridden, formulaic and clichéd effort (did I really just see the American kid learn kung fu within a week?) will definitely prove to be something of a disappointment.
Although Li and Chan do get to show off their impressive fighting skills (even going one-on-one against each other in order to keep fans happy), seeing Hong Kong's greatest kung fu stars of the last three decades playing second fiddle to an obnoxious wimp from New York is really tough to stomach. Jackie and Jet have proved time and time again that they are more than capable leading men and don't need a Caucasian actor centre stage to help boost ticket sales.
Furthermore, having a family-friendly director like Rob Minkoff calling the shots is also pretty galling; I liked Stuart LittleI really didbut is Minkoff really the ideal choice to call the shots on Jackie and Jet's first fight flick together? Not as far as I'm concerned! I wanted to see Li and Chan in something much more hard-edgedsomething for those fans who've followed the guys' careers since the early days (rather than those who are only familiar with their Hollywood output) and the man who gave us a talking mouse isn't who I would pick to do it.
Still, it's not all gloom and doom: some of the combat scenes are well handled (and they should be, with industry legend Yuen Woo Ping behind the choreography); there is some nifty wire-work; the CGI backdrops are stunning to look at; and there are a couple of pretty gals for us blokes to drool over (Yifei Liu is hubba-hubba delicious, whilst white-haired beauty Bingbing Li makes for a very watchable villainess).
Perhaps now that Chan and Li have made their guaranteed 'blockbuster'together, they might chance their luck next time with something a little grittier for their long-term followers.
We can but hope.
5.5 out of 10, rounded up to 6, 'cos Jackie and Jet are cool, whatever the film.
If you're not particularly a fan of the kung fu genre, couldn't give a monkey's (pun intended) whether the script craps on a few Chinese legends from a great height, and don't care too much that Chan and Li seem to have sold out to the almighty dollar (again), then this big-budget Hollywood martial arts epic for the masses will probably do fine for a Saturday night, along with a takeaway and a few brews.
If, however, like me, you've been patiently waiting for the on-screen pairing of the legendary Jackie Chan and Jet Li for the best part of twenty years, then this plot-hole ridden, formulaic and clichéd effort (did I really just see the American kid learn kung fu within a week?) will definitely prove to be something of a disappointment.
Although Li and Chan do get to show off their impressive fighting skills (even going one-on-one against each other in order to keep fans happy), seeing Hong Kong's greatest kung fu stars of the last three decades playing second fiddle to an obnoxious wimp from New York is really tough to stomach. Jackie and Jet have proved time and time again that they are more than capable leading men and don't need a Caucasian actor centre stage to help boost ticket sales.
Furthermore, having a family-friendly director like Rob Minkoff calling the shots is also pretty galling; I liked Stuart LittleI really didbut is Minkoff really the ideal choice to call the shots on Jackie and Jet's first fight flick together? Not as far as I'm concerned! I wanted to see Li and Chan in something much more hard-edgedsomething for those fans who've followed the guys' careers since the early days (rather than those who are only familiar with their Hollywood output) and the man who gave us a talking mouse isn't who I would pick to do it.
Still, it's not all gloom and doom: some of the combat scenes are well handled (and they should be, with industry legend Yuen Woo Ping behind the choreography); there is some nifty wire-work; the CGI backdrops are stunning to look at; and there are a couple of pretty gals for us blokes to drool over (Yifei Liu is hubba-hubba delicious, whilst white-haired beauty Bingbing Li makes for a very watchable villainess).
Perhaps now that Chan and Li have made their guaranteed 'blockbuster'together, they might chance their luck next time with something a little grittier for their long-term followers.
We can but hope.
5.5 out of 10, rounded up to 6, 'cos Jackie and Jet are cool, whatever the film.
- BA_Harrison
- Jul 13, 2008
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- El reino prohibido
- Filming locations
- Anji bamboo forest, Jiangsu, China(Exterior)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $55,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $52,075,270
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $21,401,121
- Apr 20, 2008
- Gross worldwide
- $128,792,411
- Runtime1 hour 44 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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