Jet Li and Jackie Chan are two of the greatest martial artists to come out of China - however, they have never been in a film together and certainly not “fought” in any film or show. That changes in The Forbidden Kingdom, a film they have been promising their fans since 2001. Kung Fu fans have been buzzing about this event since the first trailer, their enthusiasm reminding me of seeing Star Wars III in a packed theater. The moment Yoda took light saber in hand to duel Christopher Lee the entire theatre let out a thundering cheer of dreams come true. Seven years after the Li/Chan promise, kung-fu dreams are coming true.

If that isn’t sufficient reason to see this film, consider that The Forbidden Kingdom has reinvented The Karate Kid for a new generation. Michael Angarano (Sky High’s charming hero returns to play another charming hero) is Jason, a kung-fu movie fan from Boston. His friendship with an old Chinese pawnshop owner means he gets classic martial arts films cheap, a peek at an authentic battle staff, and a beating from the neighborhood thugs. The thugs use Jason to rob the pawnshop, where one thief shoots the resisting owner. Helplessly overpowered, Jason grabs the staff and runs for his life. Thugs on his heels, he gains the roof only to fall over the edge. He lands – or wakes – in medieval China, wearing monk’s robes, staff still in hand.

It turns out Jason is ‘the seeker’ destined to return the staff to the Monkey King’s immortal hands. This will free the King from imprisonment as a stone statue and send Jason home. Jason encounters a drunken kung-fu master (Jackie Chan), a beautiful girl, and a silent monk (Jet Li); together they teach Jason kung-fu, bravery, self-sacrifice and discernment, especially as the group fights and avoids the minions of the evil Jade Warlord.

I preferred this movie to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I liked the complex yet clear plot, the humor, the duel between Chan and Li, and particularly liked Jason’s journey from a decent but scared young man to a heroic protector of others. The film is rated PG-13 for violent kung-fu fights.