Jet Li says he and Jackie Chan are getting old and audiences that view The Forbidden Kingdom should not expect too much from the martial arts scenes.

"When Jackie Chan and I first wanted to work together 15 years ago, our passion was at its peak. ... Our desire to succeed was very strong," the 44-year-old Li told The Associated Press. "Now we joke that when we watch the The Forbidden Kingdom our combined age is 100." (Chan is 53.)

The martial arts stars come to grips and blows in The Forbidden Kingdom, about an American teenager's fantasy journey to ancient China to rescue a mythological Monkey King, but Li warns:

"How intense are the battle scenes? My mentality is to not have high expectations."

The film is tentatively scheduled for US release next spring.

(Xinhua News Agency via agencies September 1, 2007)