Review of The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) by Jackson S — 03 Jan 2019

On paper, a movie that had potential, but failed to capture our imagination through a main character who felt miscast, costume design that felt cartoonish, and magic that was inexplicable and lackluster in implementation.

We finally get Jackie Chan and Jet Li on screen together but 15 years too late and are left with A Karate Kid fairytale that fails to follow through. Perhaps this is a bit harsh nevertheless the set design, costuming, and shotty CGI makes it very difficult to become immersed in their world; especially with the weird Lionsgate filter that saturates the entire film.

Lionsgate and WB do this a lot and when you make the lighting monochromatic in your entire film it must serve a purpose and if it doesn't function as a vehicle to enhance intended tones from scene to scene it feels not only lazy but hackish.

I truly wonder if someone experimented with different filters that this film would sit better on one's pallet...their color pallet that is.