Story
Jason Tripitikas (Michael Angarano) is a teenager with a great passion for Kung Fu films, which he buys from a dusty old shop in Chinatown run by an old Chinese man called Old Hop (Jackie Chan). Old Hop has an antique Chinese fighting staff, which, he tells Jason, has been in the shop for more than a hundred years. It will one day be claimed and returned to its rightful owner.
While walking home after visiting Hop’s shop, Jason is set upon by a group of local bullies. The leader of the bullies, Lupo (Morgan Benoit), forces Jason to deceive Old Hop so the gang can get inside Old Hop’s shop to rob it. During the robbery, Old Hop is shot in the chest. While lying on the floor, he gives Jason the staff, telling him that it is he who must return the staff to its rightful owner. Jason is pursued by Lupo and his gang. Through the magic of the staff, he finds himself being pulled away from the gang. He is hurled off a rooftop, but before he hits the ground, the film blacks out.
When Jason wakes up, he finds that he has been transported back in time to a small village in China where he is befriended by a wine-soaked beggar named Lu Yan (also played by Jackie Chan). Through narration and imagery, Lu Yan tells Jason the story of the Monkey King, an immortal who was deceived and turned to stone by the Jade Warlord (Collin Chou), an evil immortal who has caused much death and destruction. For the Monkey King to be set free, his magical staff must be returned to him by the Seeker. Lu Yan then tells Jason that he is the Seeker who must return the staff to The Monkey King. To free the Monkey King, Jason must outrun a witch and the Jade Warlord’s henchmen, cross a desert, and find the Jade Warlord’s palace at the top of Five Elements Mountain. Jason sets off with Lu Yan. They are joined by Golden Sparrow (Yifei Liu), a girl seeking vengeance against the Jade Warlord, and a mysterious silent monk.
During their journey, the Jade Warlord’s witch, Ni Chang (Bingbing Li), confronts Jason and his friends. Although the group manages to escape, Lu Yan is shot in the back by a magical arrow. Jason believes that the only way to save Lu Yan’s life is for him to go to the Jade Warlord and offer him the Monkey King’s staff in exchange for the Elixir of Life. Jason makes it to the Jade Warlord’s palace, but instead of receiving the Elixir of Life, he is challenged to a fight to the death by the witch Ni Chang. When it appears that Jason has lost, Golden Sparrow, the Silent Monk and a host of Kung Fu monks arrive and do battle.
Themes
Kung Fu and Chinese folklore
Violence
Most of the violence depicted in Forbidden Kingdom is heavily stylised action violence with minimal blood and gore. At other times, the violence is intimidating and realistic. For example:
Sexual references
There are some sexual references in this movie. For example:
- Old Hop makes a reference to ‘Spanky Monkey’, referring to masturbation.
- Lu Yan tries to conjure up rain, and it appears as if rain is falling, but then the camera shows that the Silent Monk is urinating on Lu Yan’s head
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
There is some use of substances in this movie. For example:
- Old Hop swigs from a hip flask.
- Lu Yan drinks wine from gourds he carries with him at all times, and always appears somewhat intoxicated.
- Several customers are seen drinking wine at an inn.
- Lu Yan refers to his martial arts style as being ‘Drunken Fist’ and says that it is secret Kung Fu.
Nudity and sexual activity
There is some nudity and sexual activity in this movie. For example:
- There is a scene in a brothel with lots of Chinese courtesans wearing skimpy tops that reveal cleavage and midriffs, and see-through dresses that reveal their thighs.
- Two women stand in front of the Jade Warlord apparently for inspection with the inference that the Jade Warlord will later force himself upon them.
- Ni Chang wears low-cut tops that reveal her cleavage.
Product placement
The following products are displayed or used in this movie: older Kung Fu (Bruce Lee) movies and video games (Virtual Fighter 2).
Coarse language
This movie contains some mild coarse language.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Forbidden Kingdom is an action adventure fantasy film that features the martial arts skills of the film’s two major stars Jet Li and Jackie Chan. Fans of Chan and Li will not be disappointed with their performance, and all of the film’s cast members perform well.
The main messages from this movie are that:
- Seeking vengeance may not always achieve the desired effect.
- Greatness lies within and we are all capable of achieving it, but only the individual himself can free that greatness.
- Kung Fu is a way of life and thinking that can be applied to every aspect of life.
Values in this movie that you might wish to reinforce with your children include loyalty, camaraderie, self-sacrifice and endurance through adversity and respect.
This movie could also give you the opportunity to discuss with your children the harmful real-life consequences of pursuing vengeance and using martial arts skills to harm others rather than for protection.