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(1 - 38) of 38 OFCS Rating: 61% Fresh Page   1   B "Chan and Li both deliver in their own unique ways, and there's enough action and humor to satisfy even the less enthusiastic martial arts fans out there."   FromTheBalcony   Bill Clark 3/5 "Is it possible to recommend a movie based on a single scene alone? If it's The Forbidden Kingdom, the answer is an obvious "Yes.""   Filmcritic.com   Bill Gibron D "Kingdom is a stiff, disturbingly ill-conceived fantasy film more consumed with playing slack-jawed fanboy than telling a compelling story worthy of these two giants."   BrianOrndorf.com   Brian Orndorf B- "From a philosophical viewpoint it's fitting that the inaugural movie to unite martial arts legends Jackie Chan and Jet Li is a fantasy film for young teenagers. Forbidden Kingdom" may not be "Enter the Dragon," but it's not supposed to be."   ColeSmithey.com   Cole Smithey "Jason's relationship with Golden Sparrow stays pretty locked in first gear, such that the movie might attend to kung fu%u2014sort of."   PopMatters   Cynthia Fuchs 4/5 "Fortunately, Minkoff has one talent many of his American predecessors have lacked: When Chan or Li is fighting, he knows how to hold the camera still."   eFilmCritic.com   Dan Lybarger 4/5 "The Forbidden Kingdom is a movie that has Jackie Chan and Jet Li kicking each other. And that is why it is awesome."   eFilmCritic.com   David Cornelius C "If you're an adolescent boy and kung fu flicks are your bag, this convoluted one is probably watchable."   Ozus' World Movie Reviews   Dennis Schwartz "Ignore puff and nonsense about kung fu philosophy...and enjoy 'The Forbidden Kingdom' for the youth-oriented wish fulfillment that it is."   ReelTalk Movie Reviews   Donald J. Levit .5/4 "A drab exercise in poor storytelling, empty-headed characters, low-grade aesthetics, and forgettable action sequences. This isn't 'so-bad-it's-good' we're talking about; it's 'so-bad-it's-bad.'"   TheMovieBoy.com   Dustin Putman B- "Part of the charm, yes, is the goofiness of it all -- but the film would have been better if it were more cohesive, streamlined, and focused."   Film.com   Eric D. Snider 1.5/4 "From The Lion King to the Monkey King director Rob Minkoff goes and along with him goes the reverse evolution of the American martial arts epic."   eFilmCritic.com   Erik Childress C+ "Minkoff and Fusco blur the line between homage and laziness."   Film Blather   Eugene Novikov B "A reasonably entertaining throwback for the younger set, which nostalgic adults can also enjoy if they don't go expecting too much."   One Guy's Opinion   Frank Swietek 3/4 "The Forbidden Kingdom is for those who like plenty of kung fu action with an epic fantasy setting and a little humor thrown in. When all is said and done, the dream team combination of Chan and Li is just a nice bonus."   ReelViews   James Berardinelli 7/10 "[Chan and Li] punch, kick, jump, and fall all over in an extended sequence that never feels too long."   ReelTalk Movie Reviews   Jeffrey Chen 2/4 "For their first co-headlining film, Jackie Chan and Jet Li have chosen a rote piece of chop-socky that's liable to please only their most devoted fans. And even them, not so much."   Big Picture Big Sound   Joe Lozito 7/10 "Think of it as a kung fu fairy tale almost anyone can appreciate."   DVDTown.com   John J. Puccio 3.0/4.0 "Cliché title, fun movie... a premium wire-fu fantasy."   MovieCrypt.com   Kevin A. Ranson B+ "Every time I thought it was getting too serious for its own good, the film gives a wink and a nod to the audience to let them know that it still has a sense of humor."   Film School Rejects   Kevin Carr B "The ever-impish Chan is perfectly suited to the wine-reliant wanderer and his agility still impresses at 50 ...a unique blend that offers something for everyone while respecting its origins."   Reeling Reviews   Laura Clifford 3/4 "Chan is terrific in a familiar role and Li is right at home in the role of the warrior monk, though less so as the Monkey King; cheeky humor isn't his forte. But to see the two of them on screen together, even past their primes, is a delight"   TV Guide's Movie Guide   Maitland McDonagh C+ "A slapdash but amiable crossbreed of The Karate Kid and The Wizard of Oz, The Forbidden Kingdom functions as a martial arts cinema primer for American youth."   Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema   Mark Pfeiffer "Hilarious... And cheeky and cheery and so popcorn-a-licious a fantasy historical action comedy that you want to stand up and cheer."   Flick Filosopher   MaryAnn Johanson 2/4 "I'm totally in the target audience for this film, having long been a fan of both actors as well as the genre itself. But the fact is that this thing just didn't work for me, and I'm completely frustrated by that."   Aisle Seat   Mike McGranaghan B- "It does not take itself too seriously but it does take the action scenes seriously."   Beliefnet   Nell Minow 2/4 "Forbidden Kingdom serves up convoluted mythology with mild indifference."   Slant Magazine   Nick Schager 1/5 "Finally, the martial arts genre gets its own version of "City Heat.""   eFilmCritic.com   Peter Sobczynski 4/5 "Combines outrageously entertaining fight scenes with just enough of an ancient Chinese legend to keep us hooked"   Shadows on the Wall   Rich Cline 4/5 "Good low-calorie fun."   eFilmCritic.com   Rob Gonsalves C+ "Toto and Scarecrow were dropped from the project after demanding excessive residuals on the back end."   Flipside Movie Emporium   Rob Vaux B "An enjoyable big budget film with lots of fancy sets, special effects and great fight scenes."   Laramie Movie Scope   Robert Roten B "The Forbidden Kingdom may lack the grace of Crouching Tiger or the grandeur of Hero, but [Rob] Minkoff's affection and respect for the film culture is genuine."   Seattle Post-Intelligencer   Sean Axmaker 2.5/4 "(Minkoff) botches the film's fantasy elements, saturating these segments with cheesy effects."   Charlotte Weekly   Sean O'Connell "When Chan and Li match wits, each celebrates the other's presence. This isn't just a martial-arts display; it's generosity and camaraderie in motion."   Salon.com   Stephanie Zacharek "... despite falling prey to some of the anticipate problems, it ultimately emerges victorious, perhaps wobbling a bit, but only in the giddy manner of the drunken master played by Chan."   ESplatter   Steve Biodrowski 4/10 "It's simply tedious, butt-kicking, cliche-ridden, chop-schlocky action."   SSG Syndicate   Susan Granger "Click here to see review"   Wolf Entertainment Guide   William Wolf  (1 - 38) of 38 OFCS Rating: 61% Fresh Page   1