Jackie Chan and Jet Li together

This Saturday afternoon, after coffee and chocolate cake at Figaro Coffee at Greenbelt 3, we caught the The Forbidden Kingdom at Cinema 2.

This is the latest martial arts-adventure film directed by Rob Minkoff and is the first time, Jackie Chan (as Lu Yan / Lu Dongbin) and Jet Li (as The Silent Monk / Sun Wukong), appear together as foe and friends in the screen. Yup, both actors had dual roles.

Must admit that the movie brings back memories of other martial arts films like Drunken Master, Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow and even the Karate Kid, where Ralph Macchio learns kung-fu from Pat Morita. Now, Jackie Chan and Jet Li teach the young American various moves and steps.

The action sequences were choreographed by Yuen Woo-ping and the fight scene between Chan and Li is more than enough to keep the audience glued to their seats. I think each had equal hits and blocks, falls and slides, jumps and leaps, and to think that Chan’s character was drunk. Remember Drunken Master? And did you know that Woo-ping also did the scenes from "The Matrix."

According to news reports, when Chan and Li did film action scenes together for the first time, they both expressed how easy it was to work with one another. Jackie Chan says, “ I have not worked with someone whom I’m comfortable with, in terms of movements, rhythm and natural reactions, in the last 10 years. I have done many fight scenes with others but there were usually more than 10 takes, which is a waste of time as the person may forget his moves and unnecessary injuries. When I fought with Li, our actions were quick. We also didn’t have to do the same stunt over 20 times.”

After the movie, I quickly texted Bob Novales to bring his boys to catch the movie. And I might watch it again it Miguel.

Yes, it is worth your pesos! Catch the movie soon and enjoy the presence of two of filmdom’s most respected and admired martial arts actors, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Plus Liu Yi Fei as Golden Sparrow is cute! That would be another blog! All the four heroes are seen in the above picture as they prepare to fight the warlord's army.

Check out the movie website at http://www.forbiddenkingdommovie.com/

Photos of fight scenes of Jackie Chan and Jet Li and movie poster courtesy of Liongate Films.