Well, I'm a bit bummed. I know they're older (though, Li is only a year older than me, and I guaranteed you *I* still got it!) but this is Hollywood. I was hoping that amble retakes, breaks, and splicing together of different shots would allow for something more action packed. If Li says, though, that it's not "that kind of movie" in the first place, then someone needs to tell the production company to stop marketing it as such. The stuff i've already read and scene emphasize these two martial arts masters.
While we're on the subject I was watching "Enter the Dragon" for the eleventy millionth time with my wife, musing anew at Bruce Lee's presence and influence. We started discussing who if anyone in the martial arts cinema world comes closest to Bruce's star power. I could only think of two people. One is Chow Yun Fat, who isn't even a martial artist. But if you talk of the Hong Kong cinema world that was so influential in helping Lee and others, and expand past pure fighters, Fat definitely applies. He holds your attention onscreen like few Asian actors outside Ken Watanabe. But sticking to trained martial artists, the only person I can think of in the last few decades is Jet Li. He has the skills, the looks, the attitude that makes me take notice of him no matter what he's in. Not quite Bruce Lee, perhaps, but who is? I don't pretend to be an expert on Hong Kong cinema or martial arts movies, but who would you pick as the closet to having Bruce Lee's aura? On the female side, I've always like Michelle Yeoh, but danged if I can think of any other men... ****************** Jet Li: I'm Getting Too Old for Fighting By Associated Press 2 hours ago HONG KONG - Jet Li is urging audiences to keep expectations low for his eagerly anticipated fight scenes with Jackie Chan in an upcoming film. He says it's not that kind of movie _ and they're both getting too old. "When Jackie Chan and I first wanted to work together 15 years ago, our passion was at its peak. ... Our desire to succeed was very strong," the 44-year-old Li told The Associated Press. "Now we joke that when we watch the `The Forbidden Kingdom' our combined age is 100." (Chan is 53.) The martial arts stars come to blows in "The Forbidden Kingdom," about an American teenager's fantasy journey to ancient China to rescue a mythological Monkey King, but Li warns: "How intense are the battle scenes? My mentality is to not have high expectations." The film is tentatively scheduled for U.S. release next spring. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
