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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

Bulletproof monk official movie site
Bulletproof monk QuickTime movie trailers
Awards and film festivals:

Cannes Film Festival 2002: Screening

Studios and distributors:

MGM * Hoyts Distribution

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