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WSR Detailed DVD Review
Forbidden Kingdom, The


Two-Disc Special Edition
Genre: Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 135 (Oct 2008) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Collin Chou, Liu Yifei, Li BIng Bing & Michael Angarano

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 4.5
DD Sound Rating: 4.5
DTS Sound Rating: NR
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: 2
Internet Links
forbiddenkingdommovie.com

Special Features
Special features include a commentary track by Director Rob Minkoff and Writer John Fusco; the following featurettes: The Kung-Fu Dream Team (11 minutes), Dangerous Beauty (six minutes), Discovering China (eight minutes), Filming In Chinawood (eight minutes), and Monkey King And The Eight Immortals (nine minutes); a complete storyboard; eight minutes of bloopers; six deleted scenes; previews; and a digital copy of the film to download to your Mac or PC.


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): Lionsgate Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 23835
(MPAA Rating): PG-13
(Rating Reason):

Sequences of martial arts action and some violence.
(Retail Price): $34.98
(DVD Type): Two-Disc Set: DVD-9 & DVD-5
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): No
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 104
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 2008
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 09/09/08
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): Rob Minkoff
(Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
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  DVD Picture Information

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  DVD Sound Information

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  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Teenage martial art film enthusiast Jason Tripitkas (Angarano) has just purchased the latest bootlegged kung-fu film at Old Hop's (Chan) pawn shop, when he is confronted by bullies who force him to help rob the old shopkeeper. Jason escapes the thugs with one of Old Hop's mysterious weapons, a golden staff, which inexplicably transports the American teenager back in time to ancient China. Once in China, Jason is aided by a drunken traveler, Lu Yan (Chan), who aids Jason on his quest to find The Forbidden Kingdom and return the golden staff to its righful owner, the immortal Monkey King (Li). (Stacey Pendry)

DVD Picture:
With sharp resolution and nicely saturated colors, the anamorphically enhanced 2.40:1 DVD can look very impressive. Black levels are slightly elevated, though, but shadow detail is captured well. Fleshtones appear natural, and source element artifacts are not problematic. Edge enhancement is rather minor, but can be recognized on occasion. (Danny Richelieu)

Soundtrack:
The Dolby