Kung Fu Rules Friday Box Office as Forbidden Kingdom Debuts at #1

The Forbidden Kingdom had a dream opening as it knocked over its competition in true kung fu style to occupy the top slot at the Friday box office. If you are a martial arts buff, then this movie is a must-see, as it brings together the two hottest martial arts stars in recent times, Jackie Chan and Jet-Li, on the same screen.

The Forbidden Kingdom, from the Lionsgate and Weinstein Co. stables, opened ahead of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, a comedy from Universal. The Forbidden Kingdom had an opening day take of $7.6 million from the 3,151 theaters it opened in, while second placed Forgetting Sarah Marshall brought in $5.9 million from 2,798 theaters.

Last week’s topper, Sony’s Prom Night saw a 64% drop in its earnings on its second Friday, sliding down to third place with $3.5 million from 2,700, bringing its cumulative income to $26.9 million in eight days.

The Forbidden Kingdom enjoys a PG rating, as the film has several action and fight sequences, some of which are very bloody. Forgetting Sarah Marshall, produced by Judd Apatow, on the other hand, enjoys an R-rating, as its comedy is mostly of the risqué variety.

The Forbidden Kingdom is a kung fu movie that stays true to its Chinese origins and therefore, the result is a convoluted plot with heavy brush strokes of honor and mysticism. Add to that some complicated and original fight sequences and you have a fair idea of what I am talking about.

The central character in the movie is Michael Arangano, who plays Jason, a teenager from Boston with an almost obsessive liking of kung fu cinema. Both Jackie Chan and Jet Li have dual roles in the movie.

Chan plays an old junk dealer in Boston in the 21st century and also a fighter in ancient China who uses the drunken fist style of kung fu. Jet Li plays the role of the Monkey King, who specializes in the monkey style of kung fu fighting. The second role he essays is that of a monk.

After the monk has a fight with Chan’s fighter character, the two get together to help Jason, who has somehow come to their world thanks to a magic staff that belonged at one time to the Monkey King. Accompanying these three is Golden Sparrow, a young woman and fierce fighter, played by Liu Yifei. The evil side of the equation comprises Collin Chou as the evil warlord and Li Bing Bing as a white-haired witch.

The movie is directed by Rob Minkoff, with the screenplay by John Fusco. The fight sequences are choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping, a master of his craft, with cinematography by Peter Pau, whose earlier works include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.