“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 novel was made into dramas and movies in numerous occasions; among of the adaptations, the 2006 drama produced by China Central Television (CCTV) is arguably the most successful version.

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The Return of the Condor Heroes (2006)

ROCH 2006 is produced by Zhang Jizhong; starring Huang Xiaoming, Crystal Liu Yifei, Meng Guang Mei and Yang Mi etc.

The Return of the Condor Heroes Synopsis

The story is set at the end of Chinese Song Dynasty, about the forbidden love between Yang Guo (Huang Xiaoming) and Xiao Longnu (Crystal Liu), as well as the heroic epic (fictional) of some martial art masters and a mystical condor.

There are a few storyline in the drama, with the hero and heroin at the centre of the stories…

Xiao Longnu (the heroin) became the master of Yang Guo under odd circumstances despite their similar age. Love prospered between the young couple but their master-apprentice turn lover relationship was seen as taboo in the ancient Chinese, and they had to overcome lots of obstacles to stay with each other…

It was a period of war and chaos, with the remaining of the Song Dynasty’s military against the Yuan’s armies from the north… the lovers were caught within the war and Yang Guo faced the dilemma of losing his lover or to betray his compatriots…

Yang Guo met with a mystical condor after losing his arm; and managed to learn some great martial arts with the help of the condor. He soon became a martial art expert and in the end helped the Song’s armies to defeat the Yuan’s army in a crucial battle…

A bit of spoiler… it is a happy ending at the end of the drama.

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ROCH is the highest rated drama of the year in China; and probably the most popular TV drama in East Asia region as well for 2006.

The Return of the Condor Heroes is a great novel; and the adaptations from the novel can’t be too bad because of the amazing story plots; but what makes ROCH 2006 so successful is the build-up of the romantic and hardship between the lovebird, and the massive CGI effect in battles and martial art duels.

The chemistry between the leading actor and actress, Huang Xiaoming and Liu Yifei, has work wonders and make both of them superstars in Asia.

A must watch movie for Chinese drama fans.

(The drama is also known as “The Condor and the Lovers” and “Love of Condor Heroes” in other Asian countries)

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