neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Bulletproof Monk
	Paul Hunter Chow Yun-Fat, Seann William Scott, Jaime King, Karel Roden, Victoria Smurfit 2003		For all of the acclaim he received when he starred in the martial-arts drama "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," Chow Yun-Fat is no kung-fu champion. The actor rose to fame as a conflicted anti-hero in a series of action-packed Hong Kong dramas directed by John Woo. Chow is more Bogart than Jet Li, Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan, but Hollywood still hasn't found a way to tap the depths of his moody magnetism. Chow's latest English-language movie "Bulletproof Monk" is an unsatisfactory, effects-laden package of mystical mumbo-jumbo, martial-arts levitation and comic-book dialogue, with simpering teen-appeal co-stars Seann William Scott ("American Pie") and Jaime King ("Slackers"). An ageless, nimble Tibetan monk (Chow) survives a 60-year assignment to protect a magic scroll bearing an all-powerful incantation coveted by evildoers. Seeking the next warrior in line to guard the scroll, the monk visits the U.S. and decides that an amoral pickpocket (Scott) is The One. A slavering villain plots against them. Even with Woo as co-producer, over-the-top wire-work/fight choreography, Chow's élan and a kidding tone, "Bulletproof Monk" is shooting blanks.