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Posted: 12 Apr 2007, 18:08
by EvaUnit02
Yi-Long wrote:It's his own fault for going to America and dropping his standards.
It's got nothing to do with that. He's just a difficult arsehole and no wants to work with him.

Posted: 25 Aug 2007, 20:10
by dragonhero005
The film wrapped yesterday and is now in post-production.
"Forbidden Kingdom" is due to be released in April 2008.

Here's something I just caught up on a different forum:
AP Interview: Jet Li says keep expectations low for fight scenes with Jackie Chan

HONG KONG (AP) - Jet Li is urging audiences to keep expectations low for his eagerly anticipated fight scenes with Jackie Chan in the upcoming Hollywood movie «The Forbidden Kingdom» because it's not that kind of movie and they are both getting too old.
In a phone interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, 44-year-old Li said he and Chan, 53, talked about working together for more than a decade.
«When Jackie Chan and I first wanted to work together 15 years ago, our passion was at its peak. We were both in our 30s. Our desire to succeed was very strong,» Li said. «Now we joke that when we watch the 'The Forbidden Kingdom' our combined age is 100. But, he added, if the audiences still want fight scenes, «we'll oblige.
The martial arts stars come to blows in «The Forbidden Kingdom» because of misunderstandings rather than genuine animosity, and that the story doesn't really call for anything more, Li said.
«How intense are the battle scenes? My mentality is to not have high expectations,» he warned.
«The Forbidden Kingdom,» due out in the U.S. on Friday, is about an American teenager's fantasy journey to ancient China to rescue a mythological monkey king. The idea for the film originates from the classic Chinese novel «Journey to the West,» in which a monkey king, a pig and a friar guard a Buddhist monk in search of religious texts.
Li plays the monkey king and a silent monk, while Chan will play another monk called T'sa-Ho.
But audiences should no longer look for reflections of Li's true character or beliefs in the films that he appears in.
«I'm done talking about my aspirations for martial arts,» he said.
Li said «Fearless», a 2006 film about a brash, proud young man's transformation into a sage master captured his true philosophy of martial arts, but that all his movies since then have merely been a means to an end.
«I don't necessarily identify with the stories I act in. I don't necessarily have to agree with their handling of violence and life. I'm just an actor. ... I just do my job,» he said. «Often when I go back to the hotel after shooting I reflect on why I'm doing this.
The actor's focus, he says, is One Foundation, a charity he launched recently to promote disaster relief and mental health among youngsters and that acting gives him the profile to promote the cause.
«If I don't have the platform of movies, how can I get the chance to promote my beliefs?» he said. «It's quite a painful choice.
Li, a former Chinese kung fu champion, made his name in Hong Kong movies with the «Once Upon a Time in China» series before moving to Hollywood.


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Posted: 26 Aug 2007, 00:38
by Markgway
Hey, when the star of the movie says don't expect much fight action, I would be inclined to pay attention. He's refreshingly honest about his career and viewpoint. If Forbidden Kingdom is any good it'll be because of the story and acting.

Posted: 10 Sep 2007, 10:51
by dragonhero005

Posted: 10 Sep 2007, 13:35
by bradavon
:D Jackie looks so stupid, does he have to always pull that face?

I get the feeling Li is no longer interested in fights on screen. I don't much like the idea of the story, does it really need a part modern setting? I guess we'll find out soon enough.

When are Warlords and War out? Warlords sounds more interesting to me.

Posted: 21 Oct 2007, 13:43
by thelostdragon
Cool! Jackie will be using the drunken fist technique in this film:

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Posted: 15 Nov 2007, 17:44
by degeneration
Here's a trailer, or something like that frmo the film..

I don;t think it looks that bad!

http://www.empireonline.com/news/feed.asp?NID=21477

Posted: 15 Nov 2007, 22:30
by thelostdragon
Really looks good, even though they used music from CTHD. The shock moment was at the end of the footage when Jackie speaks in English. Reminded me of the fact that the film has been entirely shot in English. D'oh!

Posted: 15 Nov 2007, 22:37
by bradavon
It's in English! OMG that's so wrong.

That trailer makes it look good and awful in equal measures. WTF is that white guy doing in it.

Posted: 15 Nov 2007, 23:12
by degeneration
bradavon wrote:It's in English! OMG that's so wrong.

That trailer makes it look good and awful in equal measures. WTF is that white guy doing in it.
From what I've read (on that link) about the plot - he is zapped back in time when he discovers the monkey king staff. Or something like that.

Posted: 15 Nov 2007, 23:19
by thelostdragon
It's actually his dreams I think. And as we dream mostly in the languages we think in, this makes absolutely sense for this film. But still, Chinese settings and Chinese costumes and Chinese actors all combined together, don't go well with English language dialogue in my head. :D

Posted: 15 Nov 2007, 23:44
by bradavon
degeneration wrote:From what I've read (on that link) about the plot - he is zapped back in time when he discovers the monkey king staff. Or something like that.
What a completely bollocks plot.

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 09:29
by thelostdragon
Why?

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 10:55
by grim_tales
Trailer looks quite good! Apart from the fact it's shot in English. As for the CTHD music it doesnt mean that music will be used in the film. The HOFD trailer stole music from Gladiator.
As for the plot - oh dear.. sounds like Bulletproof Monk/The Myth.

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 15:17
by bradavon
thelostdragon wrote:Why?
You have to asked? -

* It's in English
* It features some dumb memory plot line
* It's part contemporary and part now - Is that really necessary?
* It has a completely out of place White kid
* Jackie has dreadlocks

Why cannot it not just be a period epic in Cantonese or Mandarin? Simple and it would be so much more effective.

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 15:43
by grim_tales
Agreed, it should be in Cantonese or better still Mandarin IMO.
The Myth had similar points (numbers 2 and 3). I enjoyed that though :)
JC has dreadlocks, so? :D

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 16:06
by bradavon
The thing is it's not good enough a film is okay, enjoyable or just good enough. I want proper film making with real thought, artistic merit and passion.

Not another "it will" do type film. Too many films are made nowadays that will "just do".

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 16:20
by grim_tales
Fair enough.

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 16:25
by thelostdragon
bradavon wrote:
thelostdragon wrote:Why?
You have to asked? -

* It's in English
* It features some dumb memory plot line
* It's part contemporary and part now - Is that really necessary?
* It has a completely out of place White kid
* Jackie has dreadlocks

Why cannot it not just be a period epic in Cantonese or Mandarin? Simple and it would be so much more effective.
I asked why you thought the plot was bollocks.

The fact that it is in English makes sense when you consider the fact that it is all the dream of that "completely random guy" (who happens to be the lead character of that film).

You aren't into such kind of movies anyway, brad, so I guess it's ok. I prefer criticising a film after I have actually seen it, though.

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 16:28
by bradavon
thelostdragon wrote:I asked why you thought the plot was bollocks.
Being in English isn't part of the plot? Even if remotely.
thelostdragon wrote:The fact that it is in English makes sense when you consider the fact that it is all the dream of that "completely random guy" (who happens to be the lead character of that film).
Except like I said the story is bollocks.
thelostdragon wrote:You aren't into such kind of movies anyway, brad, so I guess it's ok.
What gave you that idea? I dislike some so called martial arts classics and that means I hate them all.
thelostdragon wrote:I prefer criticising a film after I have actually seen it, though.
Well done Mr. Obvious. Like you've never commented on a film before seeing it.

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 16:35
by Yi-Long
LD: Do you think it has a realistic chance of being GOOD!?

...I sure dont.

It's just a kids-movie. Nothing wrong with kid-movies... but we should expect more from Jackie and Jet. They team up for the first time ever, and THIS is what we get? Plus some unknown white brat has the starring role (who will most likely annoy the fuck out of us), and it has a lame-ass director...

Ah well... maybe I might one day see it with my kids, but I think I rather let them watch Jackie's and Jet's better movies ...

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 16:47
by thelostdragon
All I know is that I'm gonna watch it and it looks like I will enjoy it. I might not, but that's gonna be my own personal problem. If anybody here has a problem with that, good for you, because I don't care.
Yi-Long wrote:Plus some unknown white brat...
Why do actors in films always have to be known already? Every known actor had to start at one point. If I decided which movies to watch by whether there are popular or unknown actors in them, I sure would miss out on a hell lot of awesome films. For example "Brick" or even "Lord of the Rings". Honestly, who knew about Viggo Mortensen and Orlando Bloom before LotR?

Also, who knew Shia LeBouf before "Transformers"? Because back then he was also just "some unknown white brat". :|

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 16:53
by grim_tales
Well said LD, I reckon I might enjoy the film too, the trailer looks nice :)

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 16:53
by Shingster
You know, the way Grim and Brad are moaning in this thread you'd think this was a HK/Chinese produced film taking a serious artistic spin on the Journey to the West story, and not a U.S Popcorn Film! It's been written, produced, directed by Americans, and the target audience's age range is young kids - young adults!

I also have to point out that it's certainly not the first American popcorn film set in a foreign country, with mixed American & foreign leads that was shot in English.

Common sense, people. Use it! :lol:

Posted: 16 Nov 2007, 17:00
by thelostdragon
@Shing:
Yi and brad. :D

But you're right with the other stuff you've said.