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:

woman murders a man | woman murders a woman | woman strangles a man | murder | murderess | 

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Taglines:

A power beyond measure requires a protector without equal.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Filmax [Spain] MGM [United States]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English Tibetan Punjabi German

Release Date:

16 April 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alexisfairos kalogeros

Filming Locations:

Loblaws Warehouse, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$52,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,653,542, 20 April 2003, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$23,020,488, 26 May 2003

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,960,630, 7 November 2003

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

After Kar's failed attempt at forcing the Monk to leave, the two sit down to talk. The Monk (Yun-Fat Chow) tells Kar that his name is Cantonese, which was Yun-Fat Chow's first language.

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Goofs

When the bad guys show up in three cars in the rain to get the actual scroll, one of the cars has it's low-beams on- in the next shot from above, that car has on its high beams.

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Quotes

Monk With No Name: An enlightened man would offer a weary traveler a bed for the night, and invite him to share a quiet conversation over a bowl of Cocoa Puffs.

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Alternate Versions

German theatrical version was cut for violence (the torture of the monk) to secure a more commercial "Not under 12" rating. DVD release is uncut and has a "Not under 16" rating.

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Connections

References The Matrix (1999)

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Soundtracks

The Way You Dream
Written by Duncan Bridgeman, Jamie Catto, Michael Stipe, Whirimako Black
Performed by 1 Giant Leap featuring Michael Stipe & Asha Bhosle
1 Giant Leap appear under license from Palm

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.