Preview: The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

• Poster: B-

Review:

It's almost impossible to tell what the film's about simply by looking at the poster. You wouldn't even realize that it features a fish-out-of-water story. The colors are bland and the setting uninteresting.

• Trailer: C+; B

Review:

It's "A Connecticut Yankee in Jet Li's Court". Although Li said he was quitting the genre, he seems to be returning more frequently to martial arts films than I expected. The movie looks horribly unoriginal.

That "Connecticut Yankee" feeling is still there, but its supplanted by the glorious visuals that are so characteristic of the Japanese martial arts style of filmmaking. Unfortunately, Jackie Chan's mere presence in the film and his poor delivery of English comic dialogue ruin an otherwise interesting trailer.

Oscar Prospects:

For martial arts fans, this will be a blessing, but the Academy doesn't favor them. It could hold on for Art Direction or Costume Design nominations, but I can see that at the Guilds, not at the Oscars.

Release Date:

• April 18, 2008

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (December 22, 2007) Original

-Wesley Lovell (February 16, 2008) New Trailer