I went to see The Forbidden Kingdom, starring martial arts film stars Jet Li and Jackie Chan, with a couple of friends this weekend, and as I predicted, the movie fell short of expectations. I give it a 3 out of 5.
You know, I actually like this poster. (Although, Jackie’s hair does look a trifle odd…)
I’m still not sure about this one.
After watching the final trailer for this movie, I have a strong feeling this movie’s going to be really and truly awful. (You can read my earlier post and watch the trailer here.)
Still, I’m probably going to end up seeing it in theaters, if only because it’s the first time these two martial arts superstars have appeared in a film together. Also, there haven’t been a lot of martial arts films coming out recently, and I love me my martial arts films.
Here’s hoping the fight sequences (with choreography by Yuen Woo-Ping) make up for any other failings the movie may have.
(On a related side note, I just watched Rush Hour 3 with a friend the other day. The trailer for that movie was actually pretty funny, and I was hoping it might actually be a bit funnier than the previous two films in the series. Unfortunately, and predictably (when, oh, when will I ever learn?), the funny bits in the trailer were also the best bits, the story and dialogue was generally on par with its predecessors, i.e., terrible, and what’s worse, the action sequences were actually a noticeable step down from the mostly mediocre action sequences I’ve come to expect from the Rush Hour franchise.
I know Jackie Chan’s getting a bit too old to be doing all of his own stunts, but man, was I surprised, first of all, by the sheer number of times an obvious stand-in was used, but also by the amount of really badly disguised effects used to create some of the more ridiculous, hard-to-swallow stunts in the film.
I give it a 2 – avoid it, if you can.)
Somebody recently posted a copy of the original, unused ending for last year’s I Am Legend starring Will Smith, and I have to say, the mostly unseen footage (part of the original ending was used in trailers leading up to the film’s release) is far superior to the version shown in theaters.
See for yourself. The entire clip runs a little under 7 minutes.
I like this ending. A lot.
I just got through watching Rambo, the fourth, possibly final, installment in the Rambo series of movies.
It’s been awhile; the last film, Rambo III, came out twenty years ago.
I haven’t seen First Blood, the very first film in the series (I actually intend to, just haven’t gotten around to it yet), I don’t really remember much of Rambo: First Blood Part II, although I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it all the way through at least once, and I know I’ve seen bits and pieces of the final act of Rambo III on cable TV, you know, when there wasn’t anything better on.
Let’s just say I’m not exactly a diehard Rambo fan.
Finally got around to seeing Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem, the sequel to 2004′s Alien Vs. Predator.
It’s about as bad as the first one, possibly worse. Either way, I’d avoid the movie altogether.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson