Forbidden Kingdom
Rated PG-13
Directed by Rob Minkoff
Starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li (and some kid who looks suspiciously like Shia LeBouf).
What was in the briefcase from “Pulp Fiction?”
What was Ethan Hunt running after during “Mission: Impossible 3?”
What was Darth Vader getting his mask all foggy about in Star Wars: A New Hope?
I’m willing to bet. You don’t know, didn’t realize, or didn’t care while you were watching these films.
Even before the days of Hitchcock and “Maltese Falcon” there has been a “MacGuffin.” (Maybe. I’m no historian.) An object in a film that all the characters desire but really hold no particular interest to the viewer because the conflict is more engaging than the subject. The filmmakers know this. And now so do you.
The Macguffin in the, cinematic, kung fu-movie, love letter “Forbidden Kingdom” is two things. It’s the staff of (actual folk legend) the Monkey King and it’s also, actor, Michael Angarano. A “Southie” who spends a lot of his time obsessing over Kung-Fu films, he’s transported to a Crouching Tiger-esque world, after a series of “Never Ending Story” cliches.
The premise (which is wisely not hinted at in trailers) falls somewhere around “Last Action Hero,” but the film belongs, purely, to the Dream Team of Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and choreographer Woo Ping. The trio invites some of Martial Arts brightest to help create the action-film-to-beat this upcoming summer season.
Seemingly desultory, family-friendly, American director Rob Minkoff ( “Lion King?!”) has his hands full directing, the effortlessly charismatic, Chan and Li. Yet somehow he manages to keep the wire-work tasteful, the action pronounced, the sets vivd, and the plot details brief. He deserves credit for that. Especially, in the midst of two talents that usually, dictate productions like these. Direction of this nature is tough and Rob Minkoff has joined a short list of American filmmakers that can handle a project like this.
Rated PG-13
Directed by Rob Minkoff
Starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li (and some kid who looks suspiciously like Shia LeBouf).
What was in the briefcase from “Pulp Fiction?”
What was Ethan Hunt running after during “Mission: Impossible 3?”
What was Darth Vader getting his mask all foggy about in Star Wars: A New Hope?
I’m willing to bet. You don’t know, didn’t realize, or didn’t care while you were watching these films.
Even before the days of Hitchcock and “Maltese Falcon” there has been a “MacGuffin.” (Maybe. I’m no historian.) An object in a film that all the characters desire but really hold no particular interest to the viewer because the conflict is more engaging than the subject. The filmmakers know this. And now so do you.
The Macguffin in the, cinematic, kung fu-movie, love letter “Forbidden Kingdom” is two things. It’s the staff of (actual folk legend) the Monkey King and it’s also, actor, Michael Angarano. A “Southie” who spends a lot of his time obsessing over Kung-Fu films, he’s transported to a Crouching Tiger-esque world, after a series of “Never Ending Story” cliches.
The premise (which is wisely not hinted at in trailers) falls somewhere around “Last Action Hero,” but the film belongs, purely, to the Dream Team of Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and choreographer Woo Ping. The trio invites some of Martial Arts brightest to help create the action-film-to-beat this upcoming summer season.
Seemingly desultory, family-friendly, American director Rob Minkoff ( “Lion King?!”) has his hands full directing, the effortlessly charismatic, Chan and Li. Yet somehow he manages to keep the wire-work tasteful, the action pronounced, the sets vivd, and the plot details brief. He deserves credit for that. Especially, in the midst of two talents that usually, dictate productions like these. Direction of this nature is tough and Rob Minkoff has joined a short list of American filmmakers that can handle a project like this.
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