Forbidden Kingdom

Jackie and Jet's new movie  is opening April 18th......it's  awesome!!  I got an invitation from Tiger Claw and Lionsgate to attend a sneak preview of the Forbidden Kingdom.  Simu and I arrived at 5:30pm............at the Sundance Kabuki Theatre....people were already in line with chairs and food waiting for the showing to begin.  About 6pm Gene and Gigi  from Tiger Claw arrived with friends and staff..........we waited and chatted briefly about CMAT and the Torch Ceremony........Gene wanted to know how it ended since he left earlier.  At, 6:30pm, they began letting us in groups of 25...........it so nice to be a VIP...........they had seats set aside for us right in the middle of the theater.  Before the show we were reminded by the theater not to take photos or video...and shut off all cell phones......thank you!!  finally, we were treated to meeting Director Rob Minkoff, screenwriter John Fusco, and actors Collin Chou and Crystal Liu.......who is definitely cute as she got plenty of wolf whistles!!  The story is basically a prequel to the Monkey King Story in Journey to the West.............though, we go really far west to America.........Jason the nerdy martial arts movie fan is the hero......he must go on a quest to return the magic staff to free the Monkey King from his prison in the Metal Palace of the Jade Emperor.  The film has numerous references to old kung-fu flicks made by Shaw Brothers.........most prominent being: Come Drink with Me, and the Golden Swallow, and references to Drunken Master, Shaolin Temple, Witch with the White Hair,Crouching Tiger, House of the Flying Daggers, and the story is loosely inspired by the Wizard of Oz.  The action is intense and all out...there are fights in the Bamboo Forest, the Tea House, the Temple, and finally in the Throne Room....somewhat recalling the Hero..........and on the bridge used in Crouching Tiger.  The scenery is spectacular.........which is why many movies are being shot in mainland China nowadays.  Look closely...no pollution.....it's all green!!  One of the places they used was Wuyi Shan.........which in 2005 my students and I had the opportunity to visit.  The mountains are beautiful being a kind of purple color many with unusual shapes..........the scenery is just pristine and calming.  This region used to be off limits to tourist and was used only by members of China's Communist Party as a resort.  This movie will appeal to the Martial Arts Movie aficionados, has lots of action .........and lots of jokes and wisecracks by our two stars..and a bit of philosophy about living life. At times the story might seem a little hokey but the characters of Jackie and Jet hold the movie together.  Don't miss it, go check it out.........it's a good escape from our world! 

The line in front of the Sundance Kabuki Theatre for Forbidden Kingdom started at 4pm......the theater was fully packed about 300 people.

The special invitation........nice to br treated as a VIP every now and then!!

Remember don't miss Forbidden Kingdom!  Cya, peace everyone!!