lauriesue.com

Today marks the debut of LaSue’s Movie Reviews - in keeping with M&M over at incremental updates I will use a 4 point rating system. Instead of gliomas I will use the much harsher “nursing caps” rating system. I have always thought the reviewers at M&M were a little liberal with their gliomas. I don’t think anything has gotten less than 3 gliomas and most movies are 4 gliomas in their mind. The nursing world is a little more critical. Think white sensible shoes, white hose and white caps. Sounds intimidating doesn’t it?

Forbidden Kingdom marks the first collaboration between current martial arts greats Jackie Chan & Jet Li. Each master of kung fu has their own style that they bring to theaters and they seem to maintain it with this film. Chan has somewhat reprised his comedic role of Drunken Master while Jet Li plays the more somber Silent Monk. Although it was his alter ego as Monkey King that Jet Li shines with his great monkey smile and monkey kung fu.

The plot line of the film is about when an American teen obsessed with kung fu gets sent on an adventure to ancient China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors in order to free the imprisoned Monkey King. The cinematography, costumes and sets are spectacularly beautiful. It is nonstop Kung Fu from beginning to end. No gratuitous sex or violence, strictly great pole fighting and flying kicks. I definitely consider this movie a must see film. It was a great way to beat the heat and to escape into another time and space.

Although I thought it couldn’t be done. My first movie review gets 4 nurse caps and the prescription of “See this film in the movie theater to appreciate the wonderful action and cinematography.”