‘Forbidden Kingdom’ opens wide

Lionsgate rolls out THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM in 3,151 screens across North America today, making it the biggest release of the weekend. In the English-language film, which is loosely based on “Journey to the West,” Hong Kong native Jackie Chan and Chinese mainlander Jet Li appear onscreen together for the first time in the last 26 years that both icons have been busting up bad guys with their hands and feet.

This is the Godzilla versus King Kong, the Jason versus Freddy moment that martial arts movie fans have been waiting for years to see, a chance for the world’s two most popular (living) martial arts movie stars to mix it up onscreen. Making it even better, both actors also play an alternate role in the film, behind heavy make-up.

Early mainstream reviews have been mixed with the martial confrontation between Chan and Li largely considered the high point and Michael Angarano’s vanilla character the low point. AICN posted a flattering fan review that suggests the negative aspects can be overlooked. Either way, I’d say it’s worth seeing. It’s not every day that you can walk into a multiplex in Anytown, America and see Jackie Chan and Jet Li, together, doing what they do best on the big screen.

THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM is rated PG-13 for martial arts action and some violence.