The Forbidden Kingdom Release Date: April 18th, 2008 (USA) MPAA Rating: PG-13 Michael's Role: Jason Tripitikas Also Starring: Jackie Chan, Jet Li Directed by: Rob Minkoff Produced by: Ryan Kavanaugh, Michael Paseornek, Lynwood Spinks. Screenplay by: John Fusco Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance Running Time: 104 min. Distributors: Lionsgate U.S. Box Office: $128,970,658

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An American teenager who is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kung-fu classics makes an extraordinary discovery in a Chinatown pawnshop: the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King. With the lost relic in hand, the teenager unexpectedly finds himself traveling back to ancient China to join a crew of warriors from martial arts lore on a dangerous quest to free the imprisoned Monkey King.

American teenager Jason, who is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kungfu classics, finds an antique Chinese staff in a pawn shop: the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King. With the lost relic in hand, Jason unexpectedly finds himself transported back to ancient China.

The film was filmed entirely in the area around the Gobi Desert in China between May 2007 and August 2007.

Michal trained in martial arts for upwards of 8 hours a day prior to filming.

The characters in John Fusco’s screenplay were inspired from classic Chinese ideas and characters, including Taoist cosmology, swordplay novels, and vintage kung-fu movies.

The film marks the very first time Chinese superstars Jet Li and Jackie Chan starred in a movie together.

“I play a kid named Jason Tripitikas, it’s Greek, who he lives in contemporary America. He’s a huge martial arts fan—obsessed with it—it’s all over his walls, but if only he could use some of the values and stand up for himself like his heroes do, but he doesn’t and he gets picked on a lot by kids. And basically he gets transported back to ancient China because he finds this ancient bow-staff, which turns out to be the weapon of The Monkey King,”

"This has to be the ultimate adventure for anybody. It is classic martial arts, with a blend of Chinese cinema, literature, tradition, history and actors, but with American storytellers - a mix that has never been seen on film. And this, combined with the ultimate timeless story about a boy who, finding himself in a totally unfamiliar world, journeys and grows to become a stronger and better person, is what’s mesmerizing."

"One of the more entertaining movies we’ve seen in recent months."

-- Richard Roeper | Ebert and Roeper (Full Review)

"If you want to break the kids in easy to the whole martial arts thing, this may be the way to go. After all, clean fu never killed anyone."

-- Tom Long | Detroit News (Full Review)

"This is the long-awaited teaming of superstars Jackie Chan and Jet Li, and it's an occasion to applaud for those who like a few yuks with their kicks."

-- Peter Howell | Toronto Star (Full Review)

"Forbidden Kingdom is a faithful and disarmingly earnest attempt to honor some venerable and popular Chinese cinematic traditions."

-- A.O. Scott | New York Times (Full Review)