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Movies / On DVD / Bulletproof Monk
Bulletproof Monk

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Bulletproof Monk (2003)

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22 %
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Reviews Counted: 124

Fresh: 27

Rotten:97

Average Rating: 4.3/10

Consensus: Chow Yun Fat is the only saving grace in this silly action flick.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for violence, language and some sexual content

Runtime: 1 hr 44 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:Apr 16, 2003 Wide

Box Office: $23,020,488

Synopsis: BULLETPROOF MONK begins in the 1940s, as a Tibetan Buddhist monk, charged with protecting an ancient scroll, passes on his legacy to his pupil. As the student receives the power to safeguard the... BULLETPROOF MONK begins in the 1940s, as a Tibetan Buddhist monk, charged with protecting an ancient scroll, passes on his legacy to his pupil. As the student receives the power to safeguard the scroll, his aging process is halted and he gives up his name, only to be known as the Monk (Chow Yun-Fat). Suddenly, the monastery is raided by Nazis, led by the ruthless Strucker (Karl Roden). As they attempt to seize the relic, the Monk is shot and falls off a cliff, taking the scroll with him. However, six decades later, the Monk appears in America and crosses paths with Kar (Seann William Scott), a tough city kid with a talent for picking pockets. Together the unlikely duo must contend with the forces of the now-elderly Strucker, still determined to possess the mystical scroll. As Strucker's granddaughter, Nina (Victoria Smurfit), leads his thugs to track down Kar and the Monk, the two heroes receive help from the mysterious Jade (Jamie King). Based on the comic book of the same name, BULLETPROOF MONK is a lively action film that features elements of Buddhist philosophy and Hong Kong cinema. The movie allows the typically goofy Scott (star of the AMERICAN PIE films and DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR?) to try out a more straightforward hero role. Meanwhile, Yun-Fat (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON) shines as the nameless monk, exuding the same effortless charisma that made him a superstar in Asia. A fun buddy romp filled with martial arts, BULLETPROOF MONK joins the ranks of RUSH HOUR as an entertaining East-meets-West adventure. [More]

Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Seann William Scott, Jaime King, Karel Roden

Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Seann William Scott, Jaime King, Karel Roden, Victoria Smurfit, Marcus J. Pirae

Director: Paul Hunter

Director: Paul Hunter
Screenwriter: Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Voris
Producer: Charles Roven, Terence Chang, John Woo
Composer: Eric Serra
Studio: MGM/UA

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Release:

Apr 21, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • NTSC
  • Keep Case
  • Letterbox - 2.35
  • Widescreen - 2.35

Audio:

  • Dolby 5.1 Surround - English
  • Dolby Stereo Surround - Spanish, French
  • Subtitles - Cantonese, English, French, Mandarin, Spanish - Optional

Additional Release Material:

Alternate Scenes:

  • 1. Deleted Scenes (w/Commentary)
  • 2. Alternate Ending (w/Commentary)

Audio Commentary:

  • 1. Screenwriters
  • 2. Paul Hunter - Director; Charles Roven, Douglas Segal - Behind the Scenes - 1. "The Tao of Monk" (5)
  • 3. "The Monk Unrobed" Producers

Text/Photo Galleries:

  • Stills/Photos: Behind-the-Scenes
 
 
 
 

Reviews for Bulletproof Monk

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review

The fight scenes are routine, the humor juvenile, and the Toronto locales rendered drab through muddy cinematography.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
05/03/07
Bill Stamets
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's painful to watch.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine

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.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out

… bringing music-video director Paul Hunter was a good move for pacing, but he could use a few lessons in filming fight scenes.

Full Review Source: Las Vegas CityLife | comment Comment
04/21/04
Matt Kelemen
Las Vegas CityLife

The bottom line is, this qualifies as a guilty pleasure.

Full Review Source: Atlantic City Weekly | comment Comment
02/12/04
Lori Hoffman
Atlantic City Weekly

very childish, and just a little trashy.

Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment Comment
09/27/03
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs

Chow Yun-Fat delivers stylish action and finally shows American audiences a sense of humor, but watching Stifler get his kung fu on is just a little too hard to swallow.

Full Review Source: Radio Free Entertainment | comment Comment
09/09/03
Andrew Manning
Radio Free Entertainment

An uneasy combination of self-help bromides, poorly edited fight sequences and music video-style flash.

Full Review Source: Las Vegas Weekly | comment Comment
09/06/03
Josh Bell
Las Vegas Weekly

...nonstop fighting, kicking, punching, and killing, with a dollop of juvenile humor thrown in.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
08/26/03
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

If you're a fan of martial arts, and fancy an alternative to the heavy going comic adaptations ahead, then this is your bag.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
07/31/03
Clint Morris
Film Threat

In honor of Yun-Fat’s Zen calm, let’s say, 'Just because one has directed countless Mariah Carey videos does not mean one can film kung-fu, Lotus Blossom.'

Full Review Source: State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) | comment Comment
06/26/03
Nick Rogers
State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
06/20/03
Sydney Morning Herald

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
06/08/03
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons

. . . a mishmash of B-movie clichés and horribly shot sequences assembled as a pre-emptive strike on the summer movie season which instead lands clumsily in theatres as a forgettable diversion. . .

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
05/30/03
Todd Gilchrist
FilmStew.com

While some of the buddy sequences between Monk and Kar have a sweetness to them, as soon as Jade gets into the mix it turns sour.

Full Review Source: Zap2it.com | comment Comment
05/30/03
Vanessa Sibbald
Zap2it.com

Bulletproof Monk proposes that the enlightenment of Tibetan monks can be sucked out of their heads by the same method that our collective energy is harnessed by the Matrix. Hmph.

Full Review Source: Film Snobs | comment Comment
05/28/03
Stephen Himes
Film Snobs

After the terrific opening sequence it's downhill all the way.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
05/20/03
Jonathan Ross
Daily Mirror [UK]
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Latest News for Bulletproof Monk

April 05, 2006: Stifler Becomes "Gary the Tennis Coach"
Seann William Scott, best known for playing horny goofball Steve Stifler in the American Pie series, will soon play a janitor who becomes an inspiriational tennis coach in ...... More...

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