Bulletproof Monk (2003)

Director:

Paul Hunter

Writers (WGA):

Ethan Reiff (written by) &
Cyrus Voris (written by)

Release Date:

16 April 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy

Tagline:

A power beyond measure requires a protector without equal.

Plot:

Based on the very underground comic book, a Tibetan monk becomes a mentor to a young street kid whom he can teach to protect a scroll.

Plot Keywords:

Scroll | Monk | Tibetan Monk | Martial Arts | Secret Scroll

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Dec. 14

7:00 PM

SPIKETV

Cast

Yun-Fat Chow	...	Monk With No Name (as Chow Yun-Fat)
Seann William Scott	...	Kar
Jaime King	...	Jade
Karel Roden	...	Strucker
Victoria Smurfit	...	Nina
Marcus Jean Pirae	...	Mr. Funktastic
Mako	...	Mr. Kojima
Roger Yuan	...	Master Monk
K.C. Collins	...	Sax (as Chris Collins)
Sean Bell	...	Diesel
Kishaya Dudley	...	DV
Rob Archer	...	Buzz
Mauricio Rodas	...	Wicho
Bayo Akinfemi	...	Shade
Russell Yuen	...	Brother Tenzin

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Tibetan | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Malaysia:18SG | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:15 | India:UA | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:PG | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 (cut) | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #38899)

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Cub Five Productions

Trivia:

The conclusion of the movie originally had Mr. Funktastic's gang leading Jade and Kar underground to battle Nina's goons and rescue the monks. This ending finished with a climactic fight underground, not on top of a skyscraper. The alternate ending and deleted scenes featuring Mr. Funktastic and co. can be found on the DVD.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After the monk has been thrown against a brick wall by Strucker, the bricks crumbling from the impact can be seen to be actually brick tiles.

Quotes:

Kar: So, I figured it out, why hot dogs come in packages of ten and hot dog buns come in packages of eight. See, the thing is, life doesn't always work out according to plan so be happy with what you've got, because you can always get a hot dog.

Movie Connections:

References Wo hu cang long (2000)

Soundtrack:

Chronopolis

Good Action Movie

In 1943, in Tibet, a monk (Yun-Fat Chow) renounces his name and becomes the new guardian of a powerful scroll. Meanwhile, a troop of Nazis leaded by a sick commander invades the monastery and kills the other monks, trying to steal the scroll. The monk without name spends the next sixty years protecting the scroll and looking for his successor, who shall be a person who fulfills three prophecies. In USA, he meets the lonely pickpocket Kar (Seann William Scott), and he believes that Kar may be the next protector of the scroll. Kar stays with the monk and falls in love with the beautiful Jade (Jaime King), while the monk is chased by a gang leaded by the former nazi commander and his daughter Nina. I found this film a good entertainment. There are lots of action, funny moments and in the end, it is a good action movie. The beauty of the unknown Jaime King is very impressive. I really did not understand why the scroll is not simply destroyed, since neither the guardians nor the monks use its power except for keeping the youth of the protector for sixty years. Further, the motives for the parallel life of Jade are simply ridiculous. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): 'O Monge à Prova de Balas' ('The Bulletproof Monk')