"Bulletproof Monk has more going for it than a promising title. It has a life and style that other buddy action movies lack."
Mick LaSalle SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
"A popcorn pleasure -- an action movie with a little wit, a lot of spirit, and some kick-butt kick-boxing."
Nell Minow MOVIE MOM
"Riddled with awesome fight scenes, outfitted with a great tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, and equipped with one of the screen's most interesting duo's of recent times, Bulletproof Monk translates very well from the pages of a comic."
Clint Morris FILM THREAT
"I can't help it -- I like this movie for the sheer chemistry between the two leads."
Holly McClure CROSSWALK.COM MOVIES
"Not bad, but it has a combination of little things that when added together had the cumulative effect of dulling my enjoyment to the point that I was just ambivalent about it."
Mike McGranaghan, AISLE SEAT
"If you like your chop-sockey with a healthy serving of cheese, corn and a few giggles, you won't be disappointed."
Roger Moore ORLANDO SENTINEL
"An action-packed popcorn movie that never pretends to be anything but fast, loose and funny."
Mack Bates MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
"It is good to watch Chow Yun-Fat step on the stairs of air in his high-flying acrobatic moves, but even more enchanting to listen to his glints of Eastern wisdom spoken on busy city streets."
Frederic and Mary Ann SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH
"It's a testament to Chow's star power that, even with an accent more than casually reminiscent of Elmer Fudd's, he comes off charming, handsome and cool in a movie as ridiculous as Bulletproof Monk."
Hazel-Dawn Dumpert LA WEEKLY
"The very teaming of Chow Yun-Fat and Seann William Scott suggested we were in for Dude, Where's My Monk? or Crouching Stoner, Hidden Dude; the fact that we got anything else is little short of miraculous."
Ken Hanke MOUNTAIN XPRESS
At A Glance
Yes it's a buddy film. Yes it's a marshall arts film. Yes there are some spectacular fight scenes. Yes, it is true that Bulletproof Monk stars that man from "Crouching Tiger:Hidden Dragon" Chow Yun-Fat. And yes, Seann William Scott, star of such comedy classics as "American Pie I & II", the hilarious "Road Trip" and of course "Dude, Where's My Car" co-stars with Chow Yun-Fat in what is an East meets West adventure. It is not true however that this is a 'big' martial arts film in the tradition of "Crouching Tiger:Hidden Dragon". No, "Bulletproof Monk" is not a purists film, rather it is a film which has an Indiana Jones feel about it. You know what I mean don't you? Yes, that little splash of attemtped seriousness mixed in with plenty of high spirited adventure and always fleeing the bad guys. "Bulletproof Monk" derived from the three comic series by Flypaper Press is a film that never attempts to take anything too seriously, especially its storyline. And, neither should its audiences. "Bulletproof Monk" is a desperately fun filled film with a lot of chemistry to be felt. There's chemistry between the two leads whose relationship developes from the first moment they meet in the subway. There's definately a lot of chemistry between Sean William scott and Jamie King which will certainly put a 'smile on the dial'. And then there's the baddies, not one but two baddies to boo and hiss at. By films end, most viewers will have achieved two things. They will have had their fill of adventure and feel that they have gotten their monies worth out of this film. It may not be, as already pointed out a 'big' film, but it certainly has a big heart and if you enjoy films in the spirit of "Rush Hour I & II" and "Shanghai Knights" you'll enjoy what "Bulletproof Monk" has to offer.
"Bullettproof Monk" is directed by Paul Hunter, Written by Ethan Reiff & Cyrus Voris, its producers include John Woo ["Broken Arrow" & "Face Off"]and Terence Chang ["Mission Impossible II" and "Replacement Killers"] with cinematography by Stefan Czapsky ["Ed Wood", "Edward Scissorhands", and "Batman Returns"].
The Story
It is time for a changing of the guards at the Buddhist Monastery where the scared scroll is kept. To be selected as the scrolls guardian, one must have have accomplished much including fulfilling the three criteria and giving up ones name. The Monk With No Name [Chow Yun-Fat] is now entrusted with keeping the scoll from the hands of those who would use its power for evil. But an evil Nazi named Strucker [Karel Roden] has other plans for the scroll. He mounts a raid on the monastery in an attempt to take possession of the scroll. To swarth Struckers plan, the Monk With No Name throws himself off the edge of a periously high cliff. Strucker believes the scroll has gone with the monk to his grave. Some sixty years later the Monk With No Name surfaces in America. Here he meets Kar, a streetwise young man who suppplements his income by picking pockets. There is something about Kar [Seann William Scott] that the Monk With No Name can identify with. The Monk With No Name believes that Kar is destined to be the next guardian of the scroll. But evil forces are at work and they want the scroll now. Can good triumph over evil or will the awesome powers of the scroll be unleashed on an unsuspecting world?
The Verdict
"It's a light hearted film within which beats a carefree heart. Spectacular martial arts scenes in the opening set the pace for "Bulletproof Monk". If action comedies are your genre then check out "Bulletproof Monk". But remember, to get the best out of this film you need to have low expectations and let it do the thinking for you."
The Cast & Crew
Yun-Fat Chow
Seann William Scott
Jaime King
Karel Roden
Victoria Smurfit
Marcus J Pirae
Mako
Roger Yuan
Chris Collins
Sean Bell
Kishaya Dudley
Rob Archer
Mauricio Rodas
Bayo Akinfemi
Russell Yuen
Albert Chung
Karis Han
Angela Seto
Paul Fauteux
Raven Dauda
Isys McKoy
Peter Snider
Suresh John
Geoff Williams
Michael Yanover
Chad Camileri
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Monk With No Name
Kar
Jade/Bad Girl
Strucker
Nina
Mr Funktastic
Mr Kojima
Master Monk
Sax
Diesel
DV
Buzz
Wicho
Shade
Brother Tenzin
Young Monk
Boy Monk
Old Sho Girl
Subway Cop
Young Mother
Little Girl
Three Piece Suit
Cabbie
Breathless Cop
Hotdog Vendor
Merc
Directed by Paul Hunter
Written by Ethan Reiff & Cyrus Voris
Original Music by Eric Serra
Cinematography by Stefan Czapsky
Film Editing by Robert K Lambert
Casting by Mindy Marin
Production Design by Deborah Evans
Art Direction by T Arv Grewal & Eric Norlin
Set Decoration by Clive Thomasson
Costume Design by Delphine White
Rated MA15+ [AUST]
Run Time 104 minutes
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