A teenager is magically transported to China and learns to convert his video game skills into those of a Kung Fu warrior.

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A_Different_Drummer from North America
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The word on the street was that this was a riff on one of my all-time favorite films, Forbidden Kingdom 2008, so I could not resist checking it out.

(Word to the wise, if you have not already seen FK, and you like MMA and/or Wushu and/or Fantasy and/or Adventure, check it out. FK has humble beginnings, features two of the greatest cinematic martial artists of all time - Jackie Chan and Jet Li -- a killer script, great scenery, and solid performances. Some reviewers, including this one, think it is one of the best of its kind ever done.)

Let's start with what Warriors Gate was intended to be, and work from that.

The production team clearly thought they would "improve" on FK by adding more "teen humor." Presumably they also felt this would more than compensate for the film's considerably lighter "feel" and the awkward void formed by not having ANY famous film martial artists at all.

Also, Forbidden Kingdom had a certain edge of malice and unpredictability in the script which, oddly, only increased its impact and its fan base. This film lacks those features as well and, on its best day in its best suit, comes across more as "Forbidden Kingdom Lite," or perhaps even a Disney knockoff of the original.

Which is not to say it is not worth a watch. A lot of effort was put into the humor aspect (as explained above) and this does keep things moving along.

(For example -- if you are film buff, you will remember fondly the famous tag line from Airplane 1980 - "Don't call me Shirley" which became a sort of iconic inside joke for years afterwards. This script contains a number of attempts to mimic that sort of dialog, my favorite being -- "KILL HIM! -- slashing noise -- "NO, NOT HIM. HIM.")

Bottom Line: One hour and 45 minutes of reasonable entertainment. However, it suffers from the "curse" common to all knock-offs. Unless you see the original, you will never know what you are missing.

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Arvin John Galeno (nhojnivra12@gmail.com) from Philippines
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A bit funny, but trying too hard only to give us a mindless entertainment. With the presence of a very good actor Dave Bautista and an action-packed trailer, it's very unfortunate to get what seems to be a spoiled food out of a sought after delicacy.The cast has a lot of potentials however they were all murdered by poor scripting, and exaggerated acting by some actors.The plot is somehow interesting, to see some kind of a gamer turned to be the actual hero himself, but only turned out to be a cheesy fantasy action film that only exists if there's a beautiful woman to be saved.Another downside of the film were its special effects, where it seems to forget that it's already 2000's and we are in the era where visual effects are one of the most significant factors when it comes to fantasy films.Anyway, despite these disadvantages, the movie delivered decent action sequences (martial arts and sword fights) and a cool bike chase scene.

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subxerogravity from United States
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Especially like Dave Bautista as the villain in this movie. Bautista's proving to be a very entertaining guy. Not on the level of The Rock just yet when It comes to wrestlers turn actors but definitely someone I will look out for if he's in a movie.

The warriors gate is the wishful fantasy of all gamers. That the skills they required while putting in long hours in front of a game screen could possibly pay off in real life. Of course we don't want gamers going around mimicking Grand Thief Auto or thinking combat from your couch playing Call of Duty is as real as real combat.

Which is why the movie used a backdrop of ancient China (That and the movie was backed by Chinese mula). It's a classic game plot of a young hero having to though the Terran, battle an army of warriors, and get to the last master in order to save the princess and free her world, and the movie plays out like a group of geeks talking about the stereotypes of video games on some YouTube video.

Aiding this gamer is a Chinese Kung Fu warrior breed Form birth to protect the princess and a wizard who gives you special potions and stuff along the way. Both of these characters are actually greatly underused in this film to. The movie holds a resemblance to 2008's the Forbidden Kingdom, which also under uses it's primary characters(Those characters being played by superstars Jackie Chan and Jet Li). I would actually recommend seeing that movie over this one.

The best part of the Eneters the Warriors Gate is the relationship between the gamer and his Kung fu master guide. The gamer is suppose to be a fish out of water, but mostly the movie is about the gamer trying to loosen up his uptight warrior friend. Like I said the film's whole persona is basically geeks talking about the basics of every game.

Just OK, but Jackie Chan and Jet Li did do it batter a few years ago in The Forbidden Kingdom. The action and adventure escalates perfectly like a game getting more difficult, but at times it does get far too long as it's a lot of talk that does not seem to end when it should, but it's worth taking a look just to see Bautista's perfect cartoon villainy.

http://cinemagardens.com/

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moviexclusive from Singapore
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It may wear its tag of being the first significant 'French-Chinese co-production' proudly on its sleeve, but 'The Warrior's Gate' is really no more than a rehash of another East-meets-West action comedy that you may remember from about a decade ago called 'The Forbidden Kingdom'. Like the latter, it sends an American teenager back to ancient China where he learns to summon the warrior inside of him and teams up with a noble companion to save a kingdom from the clutches of an evil warlord. Like the latter, its humour is based on self-aware anachronism and its action of the traditional 'wushu' variety. And last but not least, like the latter, it lets its modern-day Caucasian male protagonist fall in love with a steely yet gentle female from that era, the inter-ethnic coupling not only to pander to the teenage demographic but also to ensure its appeal to audiences on both sides of the continent. And yet, if you're willing to put aside the obvious similarities, you're likely to find this reiteration more entertaining than you're expecting it to be.

Such faint praise however is also premised on little expectation at the start, which is a prerequisite for any manner of enjoyment. You should not, in the first instance, expect it to make much sense, for it gives scant regard to logic or coherence. As its hero Jack Bronson (newcomer Uriah Shelton) does, you should simply accept with little question that the English-speaking Chinese warrior Zhao (Mark Chao) in steel armour and straw hat who suddenly appears next to his bedside one evening has indeed travelled through a time portal in a waist-height drum-shaped chest he had received as a gift from the antiques dealer he helps out at after school. You should also accept the warrior's explanation that the young lady who shows up with him dressed like a princess (Ni Ni) is indeed one, and that she is on the run from some very terrible people. And while we're at it, you should accept that you are the hero they seek called 'The Black Knight' – because that is the name of your avatar in a similar video game – and not hesitate to journey back in time to fulfil your destiny. Like we said, disbelief is pointless if you intend to buy into its premise.

And so begins a fantasy adventure that sees Jack jump into the portal when said Princess Sulin is kidnapped by fierce-looking Mongol and Viking-like warriors and taken back to ancient China, where the barbarian named 'Arun the Cruel, the Horrible, the Terrible, the Miserable' (or 'Arun the Cruel' in short, played by Dave Bautista) has arranged their forced marriage in order to become Emperor. Jack thus teams up with Zhao to journey across the undulating lands to Arun's lair, with some timely help here and there from a trickster wizard named Wu (Francis Ng) who may or may not have something to do with Jack's current predicament. Theirs is a buddy trip, where encounters with a vile mountain spirit (Kara Wai) and a trio of wicked witches (think Macbeth) will foster the bond of brotherhood between them, such that Zhao will come to teach Jack the basics of kung fu and Jack will impress upon Zhao how the latter's life could be a happier place if he simply learnt to have fun from time to time.

It is no mystery whether Jack and Zhao will rescue Princess Sulin in time before her fateful marriage with Arun, or for that matter if Jack will eventually turn out to be the valiant 'Black Knight' that prophecy had foretold. Neither the climactic rescue on the morning of the forced union nor the ensuing one-on-one between Jack and Arun will raise your pulse – you've probably seen bigger, better and more exciting ones from China/ Hong Kong period war epics like this year's 'Call of Heroes'. Indeed, what's more notable is how director Matthias Hoene balances comedy and drama to keep the tone jocular without being satirical and thoughtful without being melodramatic. That is really more difficult than it looks, considering its far- fetched premise and the tendency of such East-West mishmashes to end up reinforcing the worst cultural stereotypes of each. It is these same sensitivities that inform the somewhat multiple endings, which suffice to say are specifically crafted in order not to land up forcing Jack and Sulin to choose his or her world over the other.

In the end, the fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously is essentially why this potential misfire turns out a pleasant surprise by being mildly winning. Like we said at the start, we weren't expecting much from this rip-off of 'The Forbidden Kingdom', which was itself diverting but disposable entertainment. The same can be said of 'The Warrior's Gate', but at least not Hoene or its French co-writers (Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen) or its East-West cast deny. Heck, even the typical over-the-top villain such as Arun gets in on the fun with a running joke about his over-enthusiastic but dull right-hand man Brutus who keeps executing the wrong person. The young lead cast of Shelton, Chao and Ni Ni also have good chemistry between them, such that we root for the Shelton and Chao as well as Shelton and Ni Ni as buddies and lovers respectively from two different eras. As long as you keep your expectations right, you won't end up disappointed, which is pretty much already an accomplishment for a movie like this that you're probably thinking will bomb.

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dawgsfan92 from United States
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I saw previews for this movie and it originally caught my interest but I came with no high hopes of it being significantly good. While it's not the most amazing movie I've seen to date, it is an original story that includes martial art elements, comedy, action and overall fun. I thought the fight scenes were very well choreographed and they threw in some lol moments throughout the movie to keep the tone light and easy going while still having enough action to keep the pace going. I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie. The lead actress is also stunningly beautiful and the main kid actor did a very good job holding his own with actors like Dave Batista also in the movie. Overall, a fun, lighthearted, interesting and original movie.

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tabuno from utah
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Enter the Warrior's Gate is Matthew Broderick meets The Neverending Story (1984) and Big Trouble in Little China (1986). This entertaining coming of age adventure movie joins East and West in a nice cultural fusion. There are hints of comedy with the cultural clashes between East and West, between old and new as well as between magic and practical human endeavor. While not as epic or dramatic on scale as Yimou Zhang's Hero (2004) with Jet Li, Enter the Warrior's Gate offers breath taking landscapes, typical American commerce and juvenile bullying, and the martial art adventures of a young protagonist that at times seems to be pretty fumbling like Kurt Russell's character in Big Trouble in Little China but in a youthful, dumb sort of way like a younger Matthew Broderick. The movie script is stretched in a few places to make the pacing and the plot seem to connect and just manages to keep the entire movie intact. For an enjoyable, if not spectacular, feel-good movie, this is one of those movies to watch.

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facesofine from United States
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Sorry to see so many negative reviews, but I enjoyed it very much. At first, it seemed to be a knock-off of Forbidden Kingdom, but it isn't. The only similarity is that the hero is being transported back in time. But story and plot are so different. This one is light-hearted, humorous, and, most of all, fun. At least, this one is more believable (within its fantasy premise). If you're looking for a serious take, it's not for you. But if you appreciate movies like Shaolin Soccer, you may enjoy this one.

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zzk2001 from United States
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This is maybe the worst movie of 2016... wait this was made in 2016? It looks like a 90s Nickelodeon straight to DVD movie with CGI that was made from 3D Movie Maker program.

The acting is not to bad if this was 1995. (sadly it's 2016 made) The over all plot is good and would make for a nice story. (if done correctly)sadly it wasn't.

We see our hero ask for help in fighting as he has zero skills to speak of. So the skilled worrier teaches him... 1 thing. Only 1 simple move (hold hands out). Then somehow magically he becomes a super fighting ninja that's taking down 50 to 60 guys with no problem.

Top that off with what looks like half the movie cut out (very bad editing) They free the princess and use a catapult to get away, The next scene you see the princess locked up and the main bad guy walking into frame to attack our hero...WTF just happened? The main bad guy should be miles away from them and where the heck did the wizard and warrior go?

Anyways... He saves the day and goes back home all to some how make his own video game in 1 night..1...NIGHT! based off his "adventure" to only sell the game for $25,000 to save their house from getting taken away.

Even by 1990s standers this was a bad movie. Don't waste your time.

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Michael Ledo from United States
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Jack Bronson (Uriah Shelton) is very good at video games, not so good when bullied (Dakota Daulby). His character is the Black Knight. His single mom (Sienna Guillory) has serious financial woes. Jack helps out by working for Mr. Chang, who gifts Jack with an ancient chest, or basket. Through a series of circumstances, Jack finds himself in magical ancient China needing to save the princess (Ni Ni) from Arun the Cruel and Terrible (Dave Bautista). He is aided by a fighter (Mark Chao) and a wizard (Francis Chun-Yu Ng).

The film is designed for the tween crowd. It has funny moments while it moves like a video game. Side kick Brutus (Zha Ka) provides humor.

Guide: No F-words, sex, or nudity. Urination scene. Language like "the shitz" my LOL moment

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donpuj
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skip this one looks like china is turning its focus on to fantasy land for boy gamers

It just ruins the ancient china aspect of it. Any time you see people who were obviously not in Ancient China, it just turns into a scifi movie and it becomes absolutely classless. Trash to say the least.

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