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Bulletproof Monk (2003)

Director: Paul Hunter

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From Time Out Film Guide

An invulnerable Buddhist monk (Chow Yun-Fat) is protector of a scroll that could bring infinite power to any man reading it. Sixty years after inheriting this priceless artefact in Tibet, the Monk with No Name is walking the streets of New York, doing good where he may, when he crosses paths with pickpocket Kar (Scott). Kar may seem an unlikely candidate as the Monk's successor, but at least he's got the teen fanbase sewn up. Co-produced by John Woo and based on a '90s Flypaper Press comic, this doesn't aim very high yet still struggles to replicate the stunning wire stunts beloved of HK martial arts fans. Chow was never a martial arts star back home, but he's a good enough actor - and an engaging enough personality - to pass for one here. The mentor/wayward pupil pairing also works well, deflecting the fortune cookie clichés with ironic bravado while generating genuine affection.

Author: TCh 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide


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