Bulletproof Monk (2003)

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.

Director:

Paul Hunter

Writers:

Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Voris

Stars:

Yun-Fat Chow, Seann William Scott, Jaime King

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

For 60 years a mysterious monk with no name has zigzagged the globe to protect an ancient scroll - a scroll that holds the key to unlimited power. Now the Monk must look for a new scrollkeeper. Kar is an unlikely candidate, a streetwise young man whose only interest is himself. But when he inadvertently saves the Bulletproof Monk from capture, the two become partners in a scheme to save the world from the scroll's most avid pursuer. Packed with spectacular special effects and martial arts action, the Monk, Kar, and a sexy Russian mob princess called Bad Girl must struggle to find, face, and fight the ultimate enemy.

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Plot Keywords:

scroll | monk | tibetan | nazi | monastery | 

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Taglines:

A monk. A punk. A chick. In a kick-ass flick.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Filmax [es] MGM [us]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English Tibetan Panjabi German

Release Date:

16 April 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alexisfairos kalogeros

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$52,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$131,427 (Brazil) (6 February 2004)

Gross:

$131,427 (Brazil) (6 February 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Lakeshore Entertainment, Mosaic Media Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The visual effects for this film was handled by "Boy Wonder Visual Effects", a company headed by Burt Ward.

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Goofs

When Jade and Nina fight in the tunnel, one of the blades is seen wobbling indicating an obvious rubber prop knife.

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Quotes

Cabbie: [playing ethnic music with no words] Do you guys like this music?
Kar, Monk With No Name: ...Yea!
Cabbie: It's the bomb diggity.
[phone rings]
Cabbie: Excuse me I have to talk to my baby-mamma-to-be.

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Connections

References Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Diamonds and Guns"
Written by Tim Armstrong, Rob Aston, Jason Vasquez
Performed by The Transplants
Courtesy of Hellcat Records

User Reviews

You want fun, this is fun; you want Lawrence of Arabia, rent Lawrence of Arabia.

I'll be brief.

The movie starts with a bang, and ends with a boom, with plenty of pops and kabangs along the way.

You want a movie that's fun, with likable actors, good action, a light plot that moves right along, and more than a few genuine chuckles? This is one of those.

Watching Chow Yun Fat work is fun, whether he's giving life to a substantial, full orbed character such as in Crouching Tiger, or to a more stereotypical one as the Monk with No Name.

Don't confuse the movies, and you'll have fun. As for all the vitriolic, acidic critics... maybe some folks just need to take themselves just a tad less seriously.

Or a few tads.