The One (2001)

A rogue Multiverse agent goes on a manhunt for versions of himself, getting stronger with each kill. With only one version remaining, he races against the clock to finish him and become "The One."

Director:

James Wong

Writers:

Glen Morgan, James Wong

Stars:

Jet Li, Carla Gugino, Delroy Lindo

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jet Li	...	Gabe Law / Gabriel Yulaw / Lawless
Carla Gugino	...	T.K. Law / Massie Walsh
Delroy Lindo	...	MVA Agent Harry Roedecker / Gas Station Attendant
Jason Statham	...	MVA Agent Evan Funsch
James Morrison	...	LAPD Officer Bobby Aldrich / 'A' World Inmate #1
Dylan Bruno	...	Yates
Richard Steinmetz	...	D'Antoni
Steve Rankin	...	MVA Supervisor
Tucker Smallwood	...	Prison Warden
Harriet Sansom Harris	...	Nurse Besson
David Keats	...	MRI Technician
Dean Norris	...	Sgt. Siegel
Ron Zimmerman	...	Rotten Ronnie
Darin Morgan	...	Hugo
Mark Borchardt	...	Cesar

Storyline

There is not one universe, but there are many, which is a multiverse. Supposing you are just one person, there are many other versions of you in the other universes, there are ways to travel, but only a police agency, MVA, can travel only for police procedures. Gabriel Yulaw is a former MVA agent, who killed another version of himself in self-defense. It made the other versions of him stronger. When Yulaw found out about this, he became power-hungry killing the 122 other versions for two years. After killing Lawless and getting captured by his former partner Roedecker and a new MVA agent Funsch, Yulaw managed to escape the prison and is trying to kill his last target, Gabe Law who is a police officer. He is also at Yulaw's strength. Roedecker and Funsch now have to arrest Yulaw before he can kill Gabe. There is a possibility that the universe could die or make Yulaw invincible. After encountering Yulaw for the first time, Gabe thought that it was his split personality, but it wasn't. ...

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Plot Keywords:

criminal | convicted criminal | law enforcement officer | multiverse agent | running from police | 

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Taglines:

In order to save the universe, he will have to fight the fiercest enemy he has ever faced...himself.

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense action violence and some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

El único

Filming Locations:

Edison Generating Station, Redondo Beach, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$49,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,112,404, 4 November 2001, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$43,905,746, 16 December 2001

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$72,689,126

Company Credits

Production Co:

Revolution Studios, Hard Eight Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 85 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was originally going to star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and was going through development at New Line Cinema.

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Goofs

In the first chase where the police of the Anubis Universe are chasing Yulaw, the first car goes under the partly raised garage door and hits its lights on it. The siren dies and the light and siren get broken off. When the car drives on, however, the top is sparking but the lights and siren are intact.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: There is not one universe. There are many: A multiverse. We have the technology to travel between universes, but travel is highly restricted and policed. There is not one you. There are many. Each of us exists in present time, in parallel universes. There was balance in the system, but now a force exists who seeks to destroy the balance so he can become The One.

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Alternate Versions

German theatrical version was edited for violence to secure a "Not under 16" rating.

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Connections

Features Final Destination (2000)

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Soundtracks

Awake
Written by Sully Erna
Performed by Godsmack
Courtesy of Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

User Reviews

Highlander with Kung Fu and alternate dimensions!

Jet Li and Jet Li star in this goofy sci-fi flick about a power-hungry sociopath Yulaw (Jet Li) who goes dimension-hopping on a killing spree focused on his alternate universe counterparts. As Yulaw finally comes to what I must assume is our universe to kill the last remaining version of himself - Gabriel Law - both his and his counterpart's strength, intelligence and agility have been increased to superhuman levels by the deaths (quickenings?) of previous counterparts. Predictably, the pace is furious and deadly. Many people are caught up in the violence of the ensuing battle, and , of course, since the honest, hard-working and altogether decent Gabe Law appears to be responsible for all of it, he becomes a wanted fugitive. Besides being pursued by this earth's police, both men are also sought by an inter-dimensional police force seeking to imprison Yulaw on a far-off prison planet.

Gabe Law is a likable character who works as a prison guard and has a loving wife. The few minutes of character development permitted by the furious pace of this film are what makes it work. And although the plot seems a bit like a pastiche of recent sci-fi clichés, at least the combination of clichés assembled for The One is original.

Recommended for sci-fi action and martial arts fans.