Unveiling the Legendary First Collaboration of Jet Li and Jackie Chan - An Absolute Must-Watch!

Jet Li and Jackie Chan, two iconic action stars, have captivated audiences with their dynamic martial arts skills. Their impressive filmography includes classics like Drunken Master, Police Story, Fist of Legend, and the Once Upon a Time in China series. In an exciting turn of events, The Forbidden Kingdom not only pays tribute to Hong Kong martial arts cinema but also unites Li and Chan on-screen for the first time. Unfortunately, this film remains vastly underestimated despite its potential.

What is The Forbidden Kingdom about?

The Forbidden Kingdom centers around Jason Tripitikas, a teenager from South Boston who is an avid fan of martial arts films. Jason often purchases wuxia DVDs from a pawn shop in Chinatown, owned by an elderly Chinese man named Hop. One day, a group of bullies forces Jason to lead them to the pawn shop in order to steal Hop's money. Unfortunately, in the process, Hop is shot by the leader of the group. Despite his injuries, Hop urges Jason to retrieve the golden staff from the shop and return it to its rightful owner.

Fleeing from the bullies, Jason finds himself being mysteriously dragged off the roof by the staff, and soon awakens in ancient China. It is there that he encounters Lu Yan, a knowledgeable scholar who comes to his rescue when soldiers attempt to seize the staff for their malevolent leader, the evil Jade Warlord Erlang Shen. Lu divulges to Jason that the staff actually belongs to Sun Wukong, also known as The Monkey King – a formidable warrior whom Shen detested and challenged to a duel. While Sun initially overpowers Shen, the Jade Warlord cunningly manipulates the Monkey King into relinquishing the staff, subsequently transforming Sun into a lifeless stone statue, as he possesses immortality.

Lu also explains to Jason that a "Seeker" is the only one who can locate the staff and liberate the Monkey King. As Jason possesses the staff, his intention is to release Sun so that he can return home. Lu, the Silent Monk (who has dedicated years in search of the staff and the Seeker), and the Golden Sparrow (whose parents were killed by Shen), all assist Jason in his mission to confront the Jade Warlord and awaken the Monkey King. Additionally, Jason receives martial arts training from his newfound mentors, Lu and the Silent Monk.

Who do Jackie Chan and Jet Li play in The Forbidden Kingdom?

The Forbidden Kingdom features numerous standout moments, particularly highlighting the captivating chemistry between Chan and Li. They bring a delightful blend of humor and sentimentality to their respective roles, while also enchanting audiences with their graceful yet power-packed fight sequences. Remarkably, each actor takes on multiple characters in the film. At the start and end, Chan portrays the kind and wise pawn shop owner, Hop. Throughout most of the feature, he becomes the spirited character of Lu Yan. Both Hop and Lu Yan forge deep connections with Jason and become his mentors, guiding him on a transformative journey of strength and self-discovery.

What is Jackie Chan's Next Project?

Lu Yan exhibits a remarkable blend of humor and combat prowess, effortlessly engaging in duels with his enemies even as he indulges in the pleasures of wine. Jet Li's portrayal of the Monkey King is equally noteworthy, as he skillfully embodies the character's unbeatable fighting skills, infectious laughter, and exhilarating acrobatics. Additionally, Li's portrayal of the enigmatic Silent Monk adds depth to the narrative, particularly during the exhilarating confrontation with Chan's Lu Yan as they clash over possession of the coveted golden staff and exchange banter about Jason's combat training.

Earlier this year, Jackie Chan was featured in the Chinese-American action comedy Hidden Strike alongside John Cena, receiving unfavorable reviews. Nonetheless, his voice performance as the mutant rat Splinter in the highly acclaimed animated film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem has garnered him praise.

What is Jet Li's next project?

Chan is set to reprise his role as Master Monkey in Kung Fu Panda 4, the highly anticipated sequel. Known for his comedic timing, Master Monkey is a beloved member of the Furious Five, the renowned group of warriors in China. Inspired by Jet Li's memorable Monkey King character from The Forbidden Kingdom, Master Monkey wields a staff with finesse in combat. In addition, fans can look forward to the return of Chan and his co-star Chris Tucker in Rush Hour 4, as the iconic duo reunites for another action-packed adventure. This upcoming installment holds special significance as it coincides with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the original film, which marked one of Chan's early triumphs in Hollywood.

Jet Li has been absent from the big screen for quite some time. His most recent appearance was in the live-action adaptation of Mulan, where he brilliantly portrayed The Emperor of China, a character facing imminent danger while the film's protagonist fights to protect him. Playing the role of Mulan was Liu Yifei, known for her performance as the Golden Sparrow in The Forbidden Kingdom, a movie where she shared the screen with both Li and Chan. Prior to Mulan, Li made a noteworthy impression as Yin Yang in the first three installments of The Expendables series, joining forces with the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham in a star-studded cast.

Li currently does not have any upcoming film projects, but it would be captivating to witness him take on another menacing antagonist role, reminiscent of his memorable characters in films like Lethal Weapon 4 and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Considering Li's successful collaborations with other action stars such as Chan and Statham, there is potential for him to join forces with them in future action-packed thrillers and/or comedic ventures. Although The Forbidden Kingdom may appear as a familiar wuxia martial arts film, it artfully combines elements of action, adventure, fantasy, and comedy, featuring intriguing characters embarking on a quest for enlightenment and exploring themes of morality and eternal life.