The Take
Skip The Forbidden City. It strings together decent martial arts sequences in Rome but buries them under a sluggish revenge story and an unnecessary romance that never earns its screen time.
The one-child policy backstory adds flavor without depth, leaving the film as vengeance tourism that signals action cred while delivering mid-tier execution.
The Verdict
The Forbidden City coasts on fight choreography while its middle section sags under derivative plotting and an unearned romance. The Rome setting and one-child policy hook promise more cultural bite than they deliver.
Skip it. Watch 'The Raid' instead — tighter fights, zero padding.
Common Questions
Is The Forbidden City based on a true story?
No. The one-child policy backstory is fictional framing for the revenge plot.
What is The Forbidden City about?
A Chinese woman hunts her missing sister in Rome and teams up with a local chef against the underworld.
Are the fight scenes in The Forbidden City any good?
Yes. Choreography stands out as the film's strongest element amid weaker plotting.
