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Movie review: The Forbidden Kingdom |
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Written by Lisa Miller/special to the World
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Tuesday, 22 April 2008 |
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Seeing Double
(Note: ratings are out of four stars)
THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM
(2008)
* * *
Directed by Rob Minkoff
Starring Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Angarano, Collin Chou, Liu Yifei, Li Bing Bing
Lionsgate/Rated PG-13/Comedy, Fantasy/113 min
Martial arts stars, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, each play dual roles in this family adventure film. The story depends upon their big personalities to augment the duo’s extra-large Kung-Fu skills. Chan, 54 and Li, 45, may be past their physical primes, but their comedic skills have never been sharper.
 In the present day U.S., Chan portrays old Hop Sing, a Chinatown purveyor of both Eastern antiquities and pop culture. Most importantly, Hop Sing guards a magical fighting stick awaiting return to its rightful owner. The catch is that its Monkey King (Jet Li) owner is stuck hundreds of years in the past where the evil Jade Warlord (Collin Chou) has encased him in stone.
It’s obvious from the outset that high school student, Jason (Michael Angarano), a frequent purchaser of Hop Sing’s Kung-Fu DVDs, will undertake the Monkey King’s rescue. Jason has no fighting skills and therefore must be saved from the Jade King’s soldiers by drunken master, Lu Yan (Chan again). One of the eight immortals, Lu Yan sips wine from a gourd to maintain his powers. Though effervescent and controlled during battle, during ordinary activities Yan is wobbly, and sometimes cowardly. It takes a trio of skilled fighters to deliver Jason to the Monkey King, so his quest is joined by Golden Sparrow (Liu Yifei), a young woman seeking revenge against the Warlord, and by Silent Monk (Li again), drawn to the power of the stick.
 It’s charm against charm when Li and Chan square off in a high-ceilinged wire-work-friendly temple that accommodates leaps and body slams against its army of supporting columns. Chan mugs warmly while Li’s straightforward power is transformed into wilder swings and broad farce. No sooner does the pair join forces than the foursome is attacked by Ni Chang (Li Bing Bing), a sorceress wielding an Indiana Jones style whip and using her long white tresses as a long, grasping arm.
An adventure for anyone attracted to Chinese lore, the film is supported by incredible sets and persuasive Chinese locations. One fight scene, set in a grove of Cherry blossoms, is astoundingly beautiful. Though it lacks the emotional heft of Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings,” sequels have been built on less than these fetching characters and locations. Hope springs eternal.
COMING SOON
(CR = Critics’ Consensus Rating (where available), PR = Lisa’s Predicted Rating)
BABY MAMA
(2008)
PR: * * *
Directed by Michael McCullers
Starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Sigourney Weaver, Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard, Maura Tierney, Steve Martin
Universal/Rated PG-13/Comedy/96 min
By the time unmarried, high-powered business woman, Kay (Fey) realizes her biological clock is ticking, pregnancy is no longer an option. Encouraged by an agent for surrogate mothers (Weaver), Kay hires Angie (Poehler) to incubate Kay’s baby, but their professional relationship becomes intensely personal when needs a place to live and moves into Kay’s perfectly appointed apartment. While shopping for upscale baby items, Kay meets a handsome and available juice store owner (Kinnear). However, her efforts to pursue romance and prepare for the baby’s arrival are hampered by Angie’s juvenile behavior and by Kay’s underdeveloped social skills. It isn’t the sort of movie you’ll want to coo at, but “Baby Mama” scores one for the unconventional woman.
HAROLD & KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY
(2008)
PR: * *1/2
Directed by Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
Starring John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris
New Line/Rated R/Comedy/102 min
Zany idiots, Harold and Kumar (Cho and Penn) reunite for this sequel to the 2004 sleeper hit. While jetting to Amsterdam and the promise of legalized drugs, these stoners are caught with a high-tech bong that looks a lot like a bomb. Hopeless during their interrogation, the hapless duo is shipped off to Guantanamo Bay. Once there, Kumar masterminds an escape to Texas where he hopes a politically well-connected friend can right their legal woes. Along the way the Asian/Indian buddies are captured by KKK members who mistake them for Mexicans. The film’s political overtones are washed away by drug and sexually oriented jokes -- the franchise’s much beloved calling cards.
DECEPTION
(2008)
PR: * * *
Directed by Marcel Langenegger
Starring Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Michelle Williams, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Maggie Q, Charlotte Rampling
Fox/Rated R/Thriller/108 min
The promise of Hugh Jackman as a deceptive attorney is augmented by Ewan McGregor as a bland accountant. When Jonathan (McGregor) complains of loneliness, playboy Wyatt (Jackman) hooks him up with a sex club. Jonathan enjoys the anonymous one-nighters until he falls hard for S (Williams). However, their night together ends with Jonathan awakening to blood on his pillow and S mysteriously gone. Wyatt demands Jonathan perform illegal services if he wants to see S alive. With the police hot on his trail, the accountant must redirect his number-crunching skills to find her and extricate himself from the suspect list. Nicely lensed, with brisk night action that remains sharply focused while taking viewers into the realms of fantasy and betrayal.
NOW PLAYING
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
(2008)
CR: * * *
Directed by Nicholas Stoller
Starring Kristen Bell, Jason Segel, Paul Rudd, Russell Brand. Bill Hader
Universal/Rated R/Comedy/112 min
The Joke of “Sarah Marshall,” is that Peter (Segel) can’t get away from his ex girlfriend, TV star Sarah (Bell). She has ended their 5-year relationship in order to be with Aldous, a Fabio knock-off. Hoping to make a fresh start, Peter heads for a Hawaiian resort where he runs smack into Sarah and Aldous (Brand) and discovers he’s booked in the suite next door to their’s -- the only room to be had. Sarah isn’t about to let Peter’s proximity dampen enthusiastic sexcapades or romantic dinners with her new beau, though Aldous hopes that he and Peter can be good friends. Segal, who co-wrote the screenplay, gathers laughs aplenty with his dough boy physique. Yet another Judd Apatow (he produces) acolyte, Segal’s male-centric comedy contributes to a brand that’s beginning to feel like “the movie of the week.”
88 MINUTES
(2007)
CR: *
Directed by Jon Avnet
Starring Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Benjamin McKenzie, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, William Forsythe, Deborah Kara Unger, Benjamin McKenzie, Neal McDonough
Columbia Tristar/Rated R/108 min
Al Pacino tries to hide from the inferior execution of a cliche plot beneath his 80’s mop. He plays FBI forensic psychiatrist, Jack Gramm, responsible for convicting serial killer, Jon Forster (McDonough). On the eve of Forster’s scheduled execution, Gramm receives a call stating the psychiatrist 88 minutes to live. As Gramm races around Seattle trying to prevent his own death, it becomes clear he is being set up for a string of killings replicating Forster’s M.O.. Not only is it impossible to buy Pacino as a victim, the only mystery is how the actor keeps his hairdo looking so Covergirl in all that Seattle rain.
STREET KINGS
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by David Ayer
Starring Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie
Fox Searchlight/Rated R/Thriller/109 min
On the surface, Tom Ludlow (Reeves) is a cop’s cop, but on the job he does whatever it takes -- rules be damned. He’s an alcoholic, secretly suffering from pre-shift panic attacks. Ludlow despises his blabbermouth partner, detective Washington (Terry Crews), but when Washington is murdered -- most likely by another cop -- Ludlow is determined to bring his partner’s killer to justice. Ludlow’s unofficial investigation puts him on a collision course with both Internal Affairs, and his cop friends, but he’s a force to be reckoned with. Whitaker appears as Capt. Wander, Ludlow’s friend, while Hugh Laurie plays the enigmatic, Internal Affairs investigator, James Biggs. Reeves delivers a dark, multifaceted performance, finally bringing the actor’s promise to fruition.
SMART PEOPLE
(2008)
CR: * * 1/2
Directed by Noam Murro
Starring Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Page, Ashton Holmes
Miramax/Rated R/Comedy/95 min
An academic burnout and arrogant S.O.B., college professor Lawrence Wetherhold (Quaid) suffers a head injury that forces him to confront his past. Wetherhold’s loser brother, Chuck (Church), shows up to freeload off his brother and provides colorful commentary, in exchange for acting as the brother’s chauffeur. Janet, Wetherhold’s ER doc, turns out to be his onetime Victorian Lit student, one of the many coeds with a crush on him “back in the day.” Ellen Page, fresh off her “Juno” boat, appears as Wetherhold’s conservative, sarcastic daughter -- a chip off the old block. While Janet romances Wetherhold, Chuck makes it his goal to put Vanessa in touch with her inner rebel. Though the story holds few surprises, its smarmy, off-kilter humor is expertly manipulated by the eccentrics, Church and Page.
PROM NIGHT
(2008)
CR: *
Directed by Nelson McCormick
Starring Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup, Dana Davis
Screen Gems/Rated PG-13/Horror/90 min
The fourth film of this title, Screen Gems Studio green-lit an unwarranted remake of 1980’s schlock. The studio’s motivation is surely the PG-13 rating allowing teens to buy tickets to the horror genre they favor. Having survived a stalker attack several years ago, Donna (Snow) excitedly prepares to attend her senior prom with her boyfriend and friends. The night unfolds like a dream come true until one of the students is murdered. Donna, her date, and two other couples make a run for their hotel suite only to discover that Donna’s stalker is back. There’s plenty of chasing and screaming, capped off by mild PG-13 gore. Once word gets out about the film’s unintentionally funny effort to create suspense, few teenagers will dance on over to see it.
THE RUINS
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Carter Smith
Starring Shawn Ashmore, Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker
DreamWorks/Rated R/Horror
Two young American couples take a self-guided tour of picturesque, vine-covered, Mayan ruins. When the visitors attempt to leave, an attack by spear wielding natives forces the tourists to take refuge atop a tumbledown temple. While the couples regroup, wormlike invaders find their way beneath one visitor’s skin, freaking out the others who can see the critters freely wriggling about. From the book by Scott B. Smith (of “A Simple Plan”), the assault, occurring miles from civilization, forces the unprepared visitors to rely on their wits. In other words, they are rare intelligent protagonists appearing on the horror genre’s endangered species list.
LEATHERHEADS
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by George Clooney
Starring George Clooney, Renee Zellweger, John Krasinski
Universal/Rated PG-13/Comedy/112 min
George Clooney seeks to capture the early, anything goes era of football in a screwball comedy. The actor directs and stars as Dodge Connolly, an aging football player on a team competing in a league where flexible game rules invite playing field brawls. Hoping to put his team on the map, in 1925, Connolly recruits young Princeton star and WWI hero, Carter Rutherford (Krasinski). Suspecting there’s more to Rutherford’s heroics than he’s telling, sassy journalist, Lexie Littleton (Zellweger) saunters onto the field decked out in high heels and a sexy red dress. Instantly infatuated, Connolly is torn between managing his newfound star’s PR and trusting his heart to the lady in red.
NIM’S ISLAND
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
Starring Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, Abigail Breslin
Fox-Walden/Rated PG/Fantasy, Comedy/91 min
A violence free adventure from the children’s book by Wendy Orr, Nim’s island takes viewers to a fantasy destination -- the idyllic home of young Nim (Breslin), her marine biologist father (Butler) and her many animal friends. Nim adores author Alex Rover’s (Foster) stories centered around a macho wilderness adventurer. When Nim’s father goes missing on the very day thoughtless tourists invade her island sanctuary, Nim pleads for help from the author who she believes is the rough-and-ready hero of Indiana Jonesy adventures. In reality, Alexandra is an agoraphobic -- never venturing beyond her own front door. Egged on by her courageous alter ego Alex (also played by Butler), the author braves a dangerous world -- and a wild heliocopter ride -- to come to Nim’s aid. It’s no surprise when Nim must repeatedly rescue her scardey-cat savior.
SHINE A LIGHT
(2008)
CR: * * *1/2
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Starring Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Paramount Vantage/Rated PG-13/Documentary/120 min
Senior citizen director, Martin Scorsese, captures senior rockers, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, preparing for and performing in concert at New York City’s Beacon Theater during the Rolling Stones’ 2006 “Big Bang Tour.” The director intercuts the band’s archived, youthful interviews with their present day performance, but seems happiest when filming, and worshipping, the band in concert. Visitors include the Clintons, Christina Aguilera, and throngs of rocking New Yorkers.
21
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Robert Luketic
Starring Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey
Columbia Pictures/Rated PG-13/Drama/123 min
Based on a true story, the screenplay follows a band of MIT mathletes in their journey to become card counters and win millions from casinos by playing blackjack. Kevin Spacey appears as Mickey Rosa, the professor hatching the idea and recruiting the brightest students to join. Jim Sturgess portrays Ben Campbell, a member of the group and card counting genius who refuses to take orders. Bosworth plays Campbell’s girl and fellow team member. The heady experience of taking down the house is countered by an old school security man (Fishburne) who is serious about his work. While the film’s appeal to college kids is a given, casting Fishburne and Spacey in the same movie is a high roller play that should pay off.
RUN, FAT BOY, RUN
(2007)
CR: * *1/2
Directed by David Schwimmer
Starring Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria, Dylan Moran
Picturehouse/Rated PG-13/Comedy/99 min
Dennis, a British slacker with commitment phobia, is finally ready to commit to Libby (Newton). Five years earlier, Dennis left pregnant Libby at the altar, so to make him to prove his sincerity, she sets him up to compete against Whit (Azaria), a charming American who seems steady and kind. When Libby boasts that Whit is running a marathon, Dennis (Pegg) replies, “So could I,” and the game is on. Having bet his savings on Dennis to win, best friend, Gordon (Moran), signs on as trainer, but he’s even lazier than Dennis. Directed by “Friends’” David Schwimmer and well-received across the pond, the film’s springtime US debut feels just right.
STOP-LOSS
(2008)
CR: * * *
Directed by Kimberly Peirce
Starring Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant
Paramount/Rated R/Drama/112 min
Brandon King, having returned home from Iraq to a Texas style hero’s welcome, soon learns he’s being ordered back to Iraq under the stop-loss policy. King (Phillippe) gets no sympathy from his war buddies, thuggish Shriver (Tatum), and screw-up Burgess (Gordon-Levitt). With his buddy’s girl (Cornish) in tow, King heads for Washington to complain to his senator. A VA hospital stopover feels manipulative, but otherwise, the film makes an honest effort to examine all sides of the stop-loss policy.
SUPERHERO MOVIE
(2008)
CR: *1/2
Directed by Craig Mazin
Starring Drake Bell, Leslie Nielsen, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald
Weinstein Co./Rated PG-13/Comedy/85 min
In a spoof of the “Spider-Man” films, Drake Bell plays high school loser Rick Riker. After being bitten by a genetically altered dragon fly, Rick crawls up buildings, hangs from the ceiling and grows guard hairs in the most unlikely places. Wearing an ultra tight, prone to tearing, green latex suit, heroic Rick falls for lovely Jill (Paxton). Meanwhile, an experiment transforms Lou Landers (McDonald) into the evil “Hourglass,” devourer of life forces. With the popular Spidey currently on hiatus, fans may jump at a chance to revisit familiar stomping grounds through comedy -- or more likely, will avoid not this lackluster satire. Competition to win the film’s teen audience is tighter than a superhero’s costume.
DRILLBIT TAYLOR
(2008)
* *
Directed by Steven Brill
Starring Owen Wilson, Josh Peck, Alex Frost, Leslie Mann
Paramount/Rated PG-13/Comedy/102 min
Listed as the film’s producer, Judd Apatow has his fingerprints all over the screen treatment cowritten by his Knocked Up star, Seth Rogen. Three freshman tormented by bullies at school, advertise for protection. After interviewing a handful of weirdos, they choose Drillbit Taylor (Wilson), unaware he’s a homeless bum posing as a solider-of-fortune. One of the lads loans Drillbit his father’s suit, causing the imposter to be mistaken for a substitute teacher. While instructing class, Drillbit catches the eye of a pretty teacher (Leslie Mann, Judd Apatow’s wife). Meanwhile, the boys discover that Drillbit lacks fighting skills, but has taken the job hoping to find something he can steal. Same goes for Wilson who steals the film as its chief BS’er.
HORTON HEARS A WHO!
(2008)
* * *
Directed by Jimmy Hayward, Steve Martino
Voiced by Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Dan Fogler, Jonah Hill, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler
Fox/Rated G/Animated/88 min
Brilliantly animated in muted colors, “Horton” is dark and moody one minute, sunny the next. Jim Carrey and Steve Carell lead a voice talent dream team that would have made Dr. Seuss proud. While lounging beside a pool, Horton the elephant (Carrey) discovers microscopic Whos living in a speck lodged on a flower. Horton signs on as their protector, a job made more difficult by his disbelieving friends and by Vlad (Arnett), a nasty vulture. While Horton searches for somewhere the Whos will be safe, The mayor of Whoville (Carell), his wife (Poehler) and their 94 children go about their normal routines unaware of Vlad’s plot to destroy them. A humorous object lesson for the kiddies, these lively characters from two very different, yet similar worlds will energize the whole clan.
NEVER BACK DOWN
(2009)
CR: *
Directed by Jeff Wadlow
Starring Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Djimon Hounsou, Cam Gigandet, Evan Peters, Leslie Hope
Summit Entertainment/Rated PG-13/Drama/106 min
Two buffed high schoolers duke it out for the title and the girl (Heard). Football jock, Jake (Faris), is lured into an underground fight club after taking a beating from Mixed-Martial Arts Champ, Ryan McCarthy (Gigandet). Having recently lost his father, Jake asks a well-known master, Jean Roqua (Hounsou), to train him, but the physical challenges are only half of a battle that requires Jake to control his anger. Every generation craves its own version of the “Karate Kid,” in this case, beefcake for teens. We can only hope that one of these films will raise “Kid’s” shopworn philosophy to the next level.
10,000 B.C.
(2008)
*1/2
Directed by Roland Emmerich
Starring Camilla Belle, Steven Strait, Marco Khan
Warner/Rated PG-13/Action, Fantasy/109 mins
The story is set during early civilization, a time when relatively primitive man and prehistoric beasts coexisted. Young tribesman, D’Leh (Steven Strait), has pledged his love to Evolet (Camilla Belle) when she is stolen, along with other tribe members, by mysterious men on horseback. D’Leh and friends begin a rescue mission that takes them over snowy mountains, through the jungle, and across a vast desert. When they reach Africa, D’Leh meets other raided tribes. Impressed by D’Leh’s saber-tooth tiger protector, more warriors join his quest. Big budget CGI effects fail to conjure realistic beasts, and the climactic battle is a big snooze.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 22 April 2008 )
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