Bulletproof Monk


release year: 2003
genre: action/adventure
viewing setting: home DVD, 1/9/2006

synopsis: After 60 years of wandering while protecting a source of great power, a monk confronts his enemies in America, with the help of a young thief.

impressions: This was like a mixture of Hong-Kong action and modern-day action and humor. It had people flying through the air and running up the sides of buildings, but it also had the wisecracks of a young punk. There was plenty of gunfire, lots of fighting, some nasty bad guys, and a bit of Eastern mysticism. All in all, it was a solid action movie with a pretty good plot. I had an issue with the fight near the end - how exactly did the Nazi gain that power? I may never know.

things to watch for: The subway fight with the gang was highly entertaining.

something this movie has that no other movie has: A water-powered brain-sucking machine.

acting: Chow-Yun Fat is very good as the philosophizing super-monk. Seann William Scott actually reins in his obnoxiousness (see Stifler in American Pie) and is half-serious here as a young thief who finds a higher calling. Jaime King is the love interest with secrets (and she can fight too.) Karel Roden and Victoria Smurfit are evil Nazis. Mako is an ancient theater owner who has befriended the young thief.

final word: solid action movie, worth seeing

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