'The Forbidden Kingdom'

For true fans of martial-arts flicks, the first-ever pairing of the genre's two biggest stars, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, might have generated more sparks in a tougher, meaner film. Instead, "The Forbidden Kingdom" is a family film, aimed at those who have probably never seen earlier chop-sockies like Chan's "Drunken Master" or Li's "Shaolin Temple." That means the action is slowed down for younger eyes, mostly bloodless and often played for laughs.

BY RAFER GUZMÁN

April 18, 2008