Bulletproof monk
Threat advisory: Elevated - Significant risk of entertaining activities
Movie propaganda
A power beyond measure requires a protector without equal.
The Monk (Chow Yun-Fat) is a Zen-calm martial arts master whose duty has been to protect a powerful ancient scroll. Faced with finding the scroll's next guardian, the Monk's quest brings him to New York City where, to his disbelief, it appears his successor is a smart-mouthed pickpocket named Kar (Seann William Scott). Kar's a charming, street-tough wild card who enjoys his life of no responsibility. As the Monk instructs Kar the unlikely duo become partners in protecting the scroll from a power-monger who's been chasing it for 60 years. Amidst high-flying acrobatics and martial arts action, this comical odd couple has to work together to keep the scroll - and humankind - safe.
Persons of interest
- Chow Yun-Fat .... The Monk
- Seann William Scott .... Kar
- Jaime King .... Jade/Bad Girl
- Karel Roden .... Strucker
- Victoria Smurfit .... Nina
- Marcus J Pirae .... Mr Funktastic
- Mako .... Mr Kojima
- Roger Yuan .... Master Monk
- Chris Collins .... Sax
- Sean Bell .... Diesel
- Kishaya Dudley .... DV
- Rob Archer .... Buzz
- Mauricio Rodas .... Wicho
- Bayo Akinfemi .... Shade
- Russell Yuen .... Brother Tenzin
- Ethan Reiff .... Screenwriter
- Cyrus Voris .... Screenwriter
- Paul Hunter .... Director
Cinematic intelligence sources
Intelligence analyst
Special Agent Matti
Theatrical report
The thing I noticed most about Bulletproof monk was the dodgy special effects. The opening scene - a rope bridge battle between Chow Yun-Fat and Roger Yuan - is so fake it looks like pre-CGI. Worse, it is obviously CGI: the monks' bodies are manipulated in ways that bodies simply do not move. It's the same problem as occurred in Daredevil.
Otherwise, Bulletproof monk is a standard "Americans grew up watching old kung-fu movies and always wanted to make their own" kind of flick. Cheesy, crass, silly... it ain't The Matrix, but what is? Mostly harmless if you ignore the attempts at deep meaning.
Media intelligence (DVD)
- Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound
- Disc: Single side, dual layer
- Languages: English
- Picture: Widescreen (2.35:1/16:9 enhanced)
- Special features:
- Commentaries: Director Paul Hunter and producers Charles Roven and Douglas Segal
- Deleted scenes
- Featurettes:
- The tao of Monk: behind-the scenes on the making of the movie with cast and crew interviews
- The monk unrobed: behind-the scenes on the making of the movie with cast and crew interviews
- Galleries: Behind-the-scenes photos
- Picture disc
- Trailers: Theatrical
Security censorship classification
M (Medium level violence, low level coarse language)
Surveillance time
104 minutes (1:44 hours)
Not for public release in Australia before date
Film: 12 June 2003
DVD retail: 8 October 2003 - Collector's edition
VHS rental: 8 October 2003
Cinema surveillance images
