“The Forbidden Kingdom” (功夫之王) is the first film collaboration between 2 Asian superstars – Jackie Chan and Jet Li. The martial arts fantasy movie is scheduled to premier in April 2008.

The movie is directed by Rob Minkoff; starring Jackie and Jet, Michael Angarano, Crystal Liu, Li Bingbing and Collin Chou etc.

The official story plot is not yet released. From my understanding, here is how it goes…

Jason, a Boston teenager (Michael Angarano) who is obsessed with martial arts movies, has found a mysterious golden staff in a Chinese pawnshop and was transported by mysterious power back to ancient China.

Jason then meets with Kungfu master Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), who told him that according to a legend, a foreigner would come with a secret weapon to rescue the Monkey King from the evil Jade Emperor (Collin Chou)… and that Jason is the person (with the golden staff).

Jason and Lu then started their adventure, and on the way meet with a silent monk (Jet Li) and Golden Sparrow (Crystal Liu). All these people have different agenda but with one same goal, to destroy the Jade Emperor…

Frankly, I don’t really like the story line; and it’s quite bizarre that The Forbidden Kingdom is an English movie despite with mainly Chinese cast. Still, having Jackie and Jet in the same movie is already a good enough reason to get me into the cinema… will see how it goes in April 2008.

The Forbidden Kingdom – starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li

The goal of the special representative program is to allow celebrities with interest in UNICEF vision to use their fame to draw attention to important issues. Won Bin is expected to help promoting various UNICEF events (in Korea) and to appear in some UNICEF promotional videos.

Won Bin is officially appointed on September 6 (Image courtesy of Chosun)

Dedicated UNICEF Special Representatives will later be named as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors. Famous Asian stars that are goodwill ambassadors include Jackie Chan, Leon Lai, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kelly Chen etc… while Korean ambassadors include celebrities like Ahn Sung-ki, Ryo Si-won and others.

Picture of Crystal Liu

Crystal Liu Profile

Name: Liu Yifei, Crystal
Chinese name: 刘亦菲 (劉亦菲, 刘茜美子, 劉茜美子)
Birth name: An Feng (安风)
Nickname: Xixi (茜茜), Baozi (包子)
DOB: August 25, 1987
Birth place: Wuhan, China
Height: 170cm
Blood type: B
Profession: Actress and singer

(Also known as Yifei Liu, Liu Yi Fei, Liu Xi Meizi)

Crystal Liu Biography

Crystal was born in China, but moved to USA in 1998 with her mother (her parents divorced when she was 7). She came back to China when she was 15 to study at the prestigious Beijing Film Academy.

Shortly after her admittance to the academy, Crystal was offered her debut role in TV drama “The Story of a Noble Family”. Her performance in the drama gained some notice and soon landed her role in another drama, “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils”, which established her as a rising star in China.

Crystal starred in a couple of movies in 2004 (“The Love Winner” and “Love of May”), and also in popular TV drama “The Legend of Sword and Fairy” (also known as “Chinese Paladin”).

Her major breakthrough came in 2006 with her leading role in TV drama “The Return of the Condor Heroes” which makes her a superstar in Asia region.

Subsequent with her fame she also inked a record deal and released her debut album, “Mayonaka no Door” (oddly enough, a Japanese album) in July 2006. She released her first Chinese album in September 2006.

Crystal has finished filming Forbidden Kingdom (also known as “King of Kungfu) in late 2007. The movie is scheduled to release in April 2008 and could possibly boost her fame in Hollywood… another Zhang Ziyi in making perhaps?

Crystal Liu Related Websites

Crystal Liu Forum ll Buy Crystal’s dramas & movies ll Buy Crystal’s albums