6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.3 |
While hunting down bootleg kung-fu DVDs in a Chinatown pawnshop, Jason makes an extraordinary discovery that sends him hurtling back in time to ancient China. There, Jason is charged with a monumental task: he must free the fabled warrior the Monkey King, who has been imprisoned by the evil Jade War Lord. Jason is joined in his quest by wise kung fu master Lu Yan and a band of misfit warriors including Silent Monk.But only by learning the true precepts of kung fu can Jason hope to succeed and find a way to get back home.
Starring: Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Collin Chou, Bingbing Li, Michael AngaranoAction | 100% |
Adventure | 48% |
Martial arts | 31% |
Fantasy | 31% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy (on disc)
Bonus View (PiP)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
How good is your Kung Fu?
To this movie lover who has always glossed over the Kung Fu genre, The Forbidden
Kingdom comes as a pleasant surprise and will likely serve as a springboard through which I
dive into this genre that never before struck my fancy. Here's a movie that is crafted in such a way
so as to appeal to audiences who never gave the Kung Fu genre a chance, while offering
established fans an entertaining, action-packed, well-written, well-played, and touching movie that
seems to offer plenty of nods and homages to those that came before it. The Forbidden
Kingdom blends high-flying, physics-defying action in the tradition of Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon with more traditional fight sequences. There is also a dose of the mystical and
the supernatural, and it all comes together to create 104 minutes of pure movie magic.
4 For Texas, er, I mean, 4 For China.
The Forbidden Kingdom arrives on Blu-ray with a dazzling 1080p, 2.35:1 transfer. The film begins in South Boston after a brief introductory sequence featuring the Monkey King, and the image is splendid. The fine detail of Jason's room is a tribute to both the set designers and the awe-inspiring clarity of the Blu-ray. We're privy to all sorts of niceties that adorn his walls, namely in the form of a fine collection of posters. A few outdoor shots look nice, and the nighttime and shop interior sequences hold up nicely with solid shadow detail and true black levels. Once Jason is transported back in time to ancient China, we are treated to jaw-dropping colors that are lush and pleasing to the eye. The image jumps straight off the screen and offers incredible depth in every shot. It's also a very natural, pleasant image that is bright and attractive without resorting to over-saturated hues. Detail is also glorious. One not need struggle to find examples of the pristine transfer and the exquisite detail seen in so many shots. The armor worn by the Jade Warlord is intricate and flashy, with fabulous textures and undeniable brilliance and clarity. Likewise, the ornate decorations on the weapons seen throughout the movie, particularly the Monkey King's staff which is central to the story, are highly impressive. The battle in chapter 10 is an absolutely striking visual experience. Abounding with the brilliant colors of the sky, the purple leaves, the costumes, and the natural lighting, the image is astounding and will serve owners of the disc well as demonstration-quality material. Although a fabulous transfer, there are a couple minor complaints that keep it from receiving a perfect score. Definition in longer distance shots often lacks, and objects such as dense foliage appear muddled and undefined. Also, flesh tones sometimes appear more of a reddish color instead of a natural tint. All in all, however, The Forbidden Kingdom looks amazing in Blu-ray high definition, and Lionsgate once again proves that they are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the quality of their new releases.
The Forbidden Kingdom's DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless soundtrack is a fine example of just
how incredible high definition audio really is. Featuring hard-hitting bass, amazing clarity, plenty
of discrete information, amazing atmospherics, and plenty of surround sound action, this track
never allows for a dull moment. The theme that plays over the open of the film is not only clever
and entertaining, but it sounds wonderful over your sound system, providing hard hitting sound
with awesome bass and a full surround presence. It mixes a tense, exhilarating orchestral score
with a fun, 70s style Kung
Fu, Far East theme, with the occasional scream of a Kung Fu fighter tossed in. It's truly the
perfect
theme for the movie, and its presentation on this disc is fabulous. Focused up front but with
plenty of it drifting into the back, it sounds terrific as every speaker blares it out to wonderful
effect. Surrounds are put to constant use during action sequence with both discrete effects and
atmosphere. Thunderous bass during the film's action sequences, and notably during its finale, is
present. Dialogue is natural and distinct with no volume or imaging problems. From the most
subtle background noise that help create the perfect atmosphere, to the most powerful moments
of the exhilarating action sequences, The Forbidden Kingdom truly brings high quality,
better-than-your-average-multiplex sound into your home.
If you'll humor me for a moment, I'd like to contrast this experience to one I had at the local
cinema the other night. Screening The Dark Knight, I
found myself constantly yearning for my home theater set-up (and trust me, it's nothing flashy).
In that experience, dialogue was muffled and literally unintelligible, sound effects were
nondescript, bass was muddy, and surrounds were used to minimal effect. I know it wasn't the
movie because I've had equally bad experiences at that theater before during screenings of Wall●E and Indiana Jones and the
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, most recently. In stark contrast, The Forbidden
Kingdom's lossless soundtrack is what movies that call for an abundance of action and
adventure should sound like. With its incredible clarity, a seamless presence, and the ease
through which it engages the audience in the film, it comes across as so natural that it never
feels phony or forced. The bad theater experience literally takes you right out of the movie, and
to
the contrary, high quality tracks like this one suck you right in. Well done Lionsgate.
The Forbidden Kingdom leaps onto Blu-ray as a two disc special edition. Disc one is
highlighted by a feature-length commentary track with director Rob Minkoff and writer John
Fusco.
These two active and engaging participants never fail to entertain listeners. Fusco begins the
track
with an interesting tale of how the story came about. The track continues with filming in China,
including the film's bookends where China had to substitute for Boston, the involvement of stars
Chan and Li and their competitive nature, and plenty more that fans will eat up.
A picture-in-picture track is available on this disc. Users will need a profile 1.1 compatible player
to utilize this function. Appearing in a box on the bottom right hand corner of the screen, this
feature offerers plenty of interviews with both the cast and crew, behind-the scenes footage, and
more. There are plenty of interesting tidbits here, such as Jackie Chan discussing under what
circumstances he would make the film and his excitement to have Jet Li on board. We're privy to
sequences of these two legends working together on their choreography before shooting,
discussing the long wait the two shared to work together, and more. Fans of Chan and Li will be
thrilled with this feature.
Moving along, we find Storyboarding and Previz: The Movie Before the Movie (1080i,
6:29). This short feature examines the storyboarding process and the new technique of creating
a "previz," a three-dimensional computer-animated storyboard. This process helps filmmakers
design and execute shots before actually filming them, and engender new ideas beforehand.
The Kung Fu Dream Team (1080i, 10:37) looks at the dynamic duo of Jet Li and Jackie
Chan and their involvement in the film. Next up is Dangerous Beauty (1080i, 5:46)
which
looks at the White-Haired Demoness (Li Bingbing, whose character was not part of the original
script) and the Golden Sparrow (Liu). Discovering China (1080i, 8:06) is a look at the
filming process in some of the most "exotic natural locations" throughout China. Filming in
Chinawood (1080i, 7:43) examines the film's set designs and filming large segments of the
film at China's largest studio, Hengdian World Studios. Monkey King and the Eight
Immortals (1080i, 9:12) examines writer John Fusco's personal journey into Chinese
culture, philosophy, and martial arts and the origins of his story. This material is touched on in
the commentary, but expanded on in this piece. This disc is Molog equipped, but the
feature was unaccessible at time of writing. Concluding the extras on disc one is a blooper reel
(1080p, 7:39), six deleted scenes (1080p, 7:47) with optional commentary by Fusco and
Minkoff, and trailers for Bangkok Dangerous, War, and The Bank Job.
Disc two of this
set contains a digital copy of the film for playback on personal computers and select
portable video devices.
The Forbidden Kingdom is a highly entertaining Kung Fu fantasy/adventure film that makes itself accessible to audiences who generally don't enjoy such movies. It might even pique your curiosity and have you hunting down anything from Enter the Dragon to more obscure Hong Kong cinema. With its impeccable action sequences, amazing visuals and cinematography, well-paced story, likable characters portrayed by engaging and skilled actors, and fantastic music, The Forbidden Kingdom makes for delightful cinema. Likewise, this Blu-ray presentation is another first-class offering from the good folks at Lionsgate. Featuring a stellar video presentation that is surpassed only by its accompanying lossless soundtrack, the disc is a visual and aural delight. Fans in search of a solid array of extra materials will find them here, too. This disc has no major shortcomings, and the package is a fine one. The Forbidden Kingdom comes highly recommended!
冰封俠:重生之門 / Gap Dung Gei Hap
2014
2012
西游记之三打白骨精 / Xi you ji zhi: Sun Wukong san da Baigu Jing
2016
2011
封神传奇
2016
2010
2010
2013
2012
Theatrical Edition
2001
2013
Director's Cut
2005
2014
2008
2011
Extended Edition
2012
2012
2013
2003
2017