On a whim, I decided to cough up RM18 and test out the GSC Signature cinemas at The Gardens. I’ll talk a lot here about the cinema first before I get to the movie so those who haven’t seen Forbidden Kingdom and who don’t like spoilers, can then leave before reading further. Aren’t I considerate?
Yes, no kidding. RM18 for a movie. It’d better be good 
The GSC Signature cinema at The Gardens is GSC’s premier line of cinemas for those who don’t want to mingle with the masses and who want more comfort and are willing to pay for it. Each cinema is very small with only about 10 rows of seats. Each row only has 6 seats in pairs of 2 so you have 3 rows of seats. What this means is larger more comfortable seats. There is even a little table attached to the side of the chairs for your popcorn or snacks. However, because its so small, I felt that the screen was too small to do justice to a truly epic movie. It might be good for some light fun but not if you want to enjoy and truly appreciate the full effects of the movies.
I could curl up in the chair so yes, its a large comfy chair. The back can recline if you are heavy enough to cause it to. I can only make it recline if I physically push against it which makes for an uncomfortable time. But I’m ok with it even sitting upright.
The exterior of the cinema is kept dim. Perhaps, its to keep with the “premier” theme. After all, expensive and privileged places are always kept dim with low lighting. The ticket queue is practically non-existent which of course is great if you don’t want to stand in queue for hours to buy the usual RM11 ticket. Downstairs is a bar/cafe for drinks and snacks and the cinema halls are upstairs. There are only 5 premier halls and 1 Gold Class. Gold class tickets are RM60 each. I’d pay those prices if they run the Lord of The Rings trilogy back to back! Otherwise, forget it!
When you go upstairs, you’ll see your cinema hall number and the words “Now Seating” which will light up when its time to seat you. If its dim, its not ready. I’m not sure how that helps anything, but everyone there quietly waited until the light came on before approaching the ushers.
Even the popcorn is different. It comes in a black cup instead of the usual yellow box. Unfortunately, the popcorn was either not caramel coated, or not fresh. It tasted bland and musty. You know how cardboard tastes? No? Go pop some corn, don’t mix it with anything and chew on it. Now, you know how cardboard tastes. Awful! I don’t recommend the popcorn at GSC Signature.
For all the extra cost and air of exclusivity, I noticed that the place was subtly crowded. Yes even the crowds are classy No, its because the cinema halls are so small, that the crowds won’t overwhelm, no matter how crowded it gets. It makes going to the movies fun but a pricey affair.
GSC Signature premier cinemas at The Gardens are at the end near Robinsons. Take the escalators all the way up right to the top of the building, and you’ll see it… or maybe not. Its so “classy” and dim, its easy to miss, but for the subtle touches of some movie posters on the walls.
Now, read on for my take on Forbidden Kingdom the movie. Please leave now if you don’t like spoilers.
Let me first say that when I was told about Forbidden Kingdom, the only thing I knew was that it starred Jet Li and Jackie Chan and it involved the Monkey God. I love the Monkey God tales - they are so much fun even if they come with a moral. So, I said, ok, lets go.
To my surprise, the movie opens up in America. When I saw that the director was Rob Minkoff, my spidey sense was already tingling. No Chinese Kung fu movie I have ever watched has been directed by a “gwailo”.
So anyway, it turns out to be a very unique Kung fu movie in that it is 95% in English. The actors (90% of them anyway) are all Chinese, the kung fu moves are all typical of Hong Kong made fare and everything feels like a normal Chinese Kung Fu movie, except the language.
In some ways, I was enchanted. For the first time ever, I can watch and understand a seemingly Chinese kungfu movie without once having to read the subtitles or bear with atrocious subtitles that don’t mean anything.
On the other hand, I felt that the magic of the Kungfu movie was lost. I personally feel that despite wanting to cater to and break into Hollywood, a kungfu movie isn’t a kungfu movie unless its in Chinese - be it Mandarin, Cantonese or any Chinese dialect. It must be in Chinese. There are nuances and a musical lilt to the spoken Chinese language that suits the movie and genre. English just feels too stark and stiff … it feels too American.
Storywise I feel its just so-so. American boy picks up relic and gets transported into kungfu period in China and helps to defeat the bad guy almost by accident. The relic in this case being the magical staff of the Monkey God.
Despite all the magnificent displays of kungfu fighting, I felt that Jackie Chan was the one who truly carried the movie. I suppose this was due to the fact that he was his usual amusing self and the fact that he had most of the dialog among the Chinese actors. Jet Li truly failed in the dialog sector, only showing his action moves. And that girl… Sparrow (?) was redundant as far as I was concerned except to act as the sort-of romantic female lead. That said, I think she (played by Liu Yi Fei) was really lovely albeit in a rather vacant sort of way… Oh, and what’s with that white-haired woman?
Anyway, I’m not here to review the movie. I’m bad at movie reviews. All I’ll say is, watch it if you have nothing much to do and are the sort who doesn’t expect a movie to offer a lot except some escapism from reality. Else, don’t bother.
What I’d really like to know though, is this: Why was the Jade Warlord the only main actor in the movie with eyeshadow on? Not even the female lead had that much eyeshadow on.
I can’t find a nice clear picture of it, but if you watch the movie its clearly there. A shimmery dark green that’s almost black. Really gorgeous! Ideas on what it might be?! 
Yours fluffily
7 comments ↓
I don’t mind paying extra for super classy cinema. Afterall, if I want to watch movie cheaply, I can always buy pirated cd of USD 0.60 a piece and watch it in the comfort of my bedroom. And make myself some popcorn. LOL.
I haven’t watched the movie, so I skipped reading your review. Thanks for the warning!
Kung fu movie in Engrish??? Cannot, cannot. I’d rather have awful subtitles. Otherwise, it’s all tak kena.
Guess what PB… this is the film that TM wanted to watch. I can’t imagine why. LOL
Ah, you hit the feeling spot on! It’s weird to see a kungfu movie in English. But I did think the writers gave Jackie most of the good lines.
But then again, I’m just biased. LOL.
Hmm, I wonder if I should catch the upcoming Indiana Jones movie at the Signature Cinemas?
I had to quickly mouse the page down to avoid reading the spoiler :p Initially I did have reservations about watching this movie. I thought, wow Jet Li’s back with all his no-shadow kicks thingies and whatnots, and THEN I found out it’s in ENGLISH! I think I just gotta go watch it without expectations.
I hope :p
What a nice post this is! I don’t go cineplexing nowadays, so this was like a trip there and back…. but the popcorn sounds atrocious la…for RM18, they should give free-flow popcorn ma…maybe that’s how the classy people like their popcorn….like cardboard?
I just went and watched Prince Caspian at Garden’s Premier Class this afternoon - it was quite a nice experience. But my ticket price was RM20. How come you paid only RM18??
[…] it too much. So much fun that I bought tickets for my parents to go and see it on Sunday at the GSC Premier Class cinema at The Gardens, because I know my dad loves watching Indiana Jones and he would never be able […]