“Bulletproof Monk” (MGM)
“Bulletproof Monk” is another movie made using comic book characters, which ends up being a disappointment in every way. Just as “Daredevil” made a quick splash and disappeared, “Monk” will be gone and forgotten in an even shorter time.
The mysterious “monk” is played by Chou Yun-Fat, a solid actor and a believable action figure. In this film he plays a man who is both serene, and anxious; both happy and sad; both immortal and vulnerable. With all of these adjectives you never know exactly who he is. Suffice it to say he has been protecting a sacred scroll for sixty years and it has made him “bulletproof” and non-aging.
Now it is time to find someone else to carry on the task of protecting the scroll. The Monk comes to America and bumps into a petty crook named Kar (Seann William Scott). You might remember Scott as “Stiffler” in “American Pie.” He is not nearly as interesting or charismatic in this role as he was there.
The Monk and Kar team up to protect the scroll from a group of Neo-Nazi’s who want it. They are joined by a girl named Jade (James King) who has some unknown reasons of her own for wanting to help.
The action sequences are those slo-mo type where even bullets travel at turtle speed. Yun-Fat is great at doing these ballet type action moves but Scott is a little rusty on them. King is never believable in her role or her moves.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
For an action movie, “Bulletproof Monk” is awfully slow. There are long pauses for transition scenes where you think the movie is coming to a total stop. Yun-Fat’s knowledge of English is fractional, while Scott’s acting ability in this movie is too. Jamie King, formerly known as James King, is just totally miscast.
“Bulletproof Monk” has a plot, which is full of holes, and in this season of instant hits and misses it sinks without a trace. Chou Yun-Fat better head home and regroup while Scott better race to film the next “American Pie.” As for King, well she had better find another career. This movie star thing just isn’t working out.
I scored “Bulletproof Monk” a holey 4 out of 10.
©2003 Jackie K. Cooper
