Rating: 
Summary: Wax On, Wax Off
Review: Bulletproof Monk is a tried and true martial arts action comedy, made better than the script would have you think, thanks to the rock solid Yun-Fat Chow.For 60 years, tibetan monks have protected an ancient scroll that holds the key to unlimited power. The current protector, The Monk With No Name (Yun-Fat Chow) is content with his duties. But, while in New York City, a streetwise punk named Kar (Seann William Scott) saves him from capture by his enemies, and the monk thinks he's found a replacement protector for the scroll. Reluctantly Kar, under the watchfull eye of the monk, must learn what his true potential as a warrior is. Of course the pair must also save the world from the scroll's most ardent hunter. Director Paul Hunter allows Chow to do his thing. His martial artistry is as always a joy to watch. Scott appears as comic relief of course but suprisingly holds his own with Chow. Any problems with the film though, lie solely with the script, and the predictable nature of the story. Scripters Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris play it very safe for this buddy pic. The DVD has a rather extensive amount of bonus material. What's even more shocking is just how much I enjoyed it--given my take on the film itself. There are 2 audio commentary tracks. The first commentary, features Hunter and producers Charles Roven and Douglas Segal--and offers a pretty good take on the whole process. The second commentary by writers Reiff and Voris was obviously less enjoyable for me. Next up, are a few ho-hums worth of deleted scenes, and an alternate ending, that for me works better than the theatrical ending. There's also a series of behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a stills gallery to top it all off. Bulletproof Monk does have its share of problems, but it's still solid enough to enjoy as a mindless rental, with some cool martial arts action
Rating: 
Summary: Bulletproof Monk -Theatrical release
Review: The reasons I enjoyed this movie are: 1. Chow Yun Fat. This superb actor never fails to give his best to any type of role he undertakes. He often overcomes any flaws in the script itself, and I feel that is what he did here. He has played many different types of characters and never repeats himself. I enjoyed his humour as well as his action scenes. They were suberbly choreographed. I believe that the presence of John Woo had much to do with that.
2. I was delighted to see that this movie, unlike many others today, was more than just a lot of action but had some plot, laughs,excitement,and genuine fun for the audience.
3. I liked that the heros did some good deeds such as saving a person from the wheels of a subway train, and returning a wallet to a man on the street,etc. But then, when Mr. Chow has played the bad guy in many of his Asian films, he always had the persona of a villian with a heart, such as going back into a burning building in one old film to save a baby
4.I was a bit disappointed in the lack of a lot of lush scenery and sets, but what was there was appropiate to the plot.
5. The fight between the two women reminded me of "Crouching Tiger, ....." Go see it you'll like it!
Rating: 
Summary: What was Chow Yun-Fat thinking!?
Review: This is not a commentary on the DVD itself (which I'm sure is very nice object) but about the movie that's on it. This is perhaps the WORST movie I have EVER seen. I was dupped into seeing it by my boyfriend and his friends. I figured, anything with Chow Yun-Fat couldn't be all bad. Oh, how wrong I was. I actually TRIED to fall asleep during this movie to make it go faster. Stiffler should stick to the American Pie genre, and Chow Yun-Fat should not stoop to the level of sub-mediocre cinematic drivel.
Was the movie predictable? OH YEAH!
Too long? YUP!
Exceedingly contrived? You bet!
In short, if there were negative stars, I'd give it -18 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Mystical Elements Lift Film
Review: I've enjoyed "Bulletproof Monk." The mystical elements lift the film a cut above the action picture genre, of which this is not a great example. However, the scroll, which contains a secret message that could be used for good or bad and gives special powers including youth to its protector, is an interesting premise. Obviously, day-to-day embrace of spiritual values of truth, beauty & goodness would not be enough to entice Hollywood production; so this little Hollywood placebo is great where being spiritual transforms one into being able to spin around and jump up to a second story window. Paul Hunter keeps the pace jumping, despite the film's inconsistencies. Chow Yun-Fat is a great actor who has yet to be fully appreciated. I've watched "Corrupter" 5 times just to see the edgy depth he brings to a part. Here as the nameless monk he offers considerable depth, humor and sparkle to what is fairly flat material. Seann William Scott from "American Pie" is amazingly likeable for a pickpocket; and carries his weight as the romantic lead. James "Jamie" King from "Blow," "Pearl Harbor," "Slackers," and numerous magazine covers does a great job as Bad Girl Jade who lives a split life between wealth and the street, although one is never quite sure why. Karel Rodel as Strucker the Nazi is fairly flat and predictably evil. Victoria Smurfit as his granddaughter Nina is irritatingly evil with a one-note role. Mako makes a nice cameo as Mr. Kojima. It's been a long time since he was nominated for an Oscar in "Sand Pebbles" with Steve MacQueen back in 1966; and it's good to see him again. The special features on the DVD include a discussion with the comic book writers who are delighted that this is a film and a documentary about training Seann & Jamie as action heroes. This is one of those films I enjoy because good wins in the end. The action keeps the film moving quickly and breezes to a quick climax. While not classic, it's one to enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Amusing but fairly forgettable
Review: Kind of like a slightly less goofy version of SHANHAI KNIGHTS. Set mostly in modern times, the movie features buddhist monk Chow Yun-Fat having bestowed upon him the responsibility of spending the next 60 years protecting a scroll from unscrupulous hands. This scroll, apparently, if read aloud, will bestow upon the reader total control over the world. Why such a scroll exists at all isn't explained, nor why these monks don't just destroy it and save themselves the trouble!! Seann William Scott is the scrappy young American pick-pocket, whom Fat thinks might be his successor. The two make an unlikely, somewhat comic duo, of course, and have many amusing fights and spats. Eventually, the Nazi who 60 years earlier tried to kill Fat for the scroll, rears his ancient, evil head, and the movie becomes a kind of low-rent James Bond flick, with a subterranean lair filled with torture chambers, secret passageways, etc. The movie is fun in the parts that are supposed to be light-hearted and the relationship between the two men is a bit more engaging than your typical mis-matched buddy movie. Seann William Scott, who usually plays goofballs, in movies like AMERICAN PIE, OLD SCHOOL, EVOLUTION, etc., is very believable here. I don't see him as a major action star in the future, but he has credibly stretched himself with this role. Fat continutes to riff on his CROUCHING TIGER persona, but its a wonderful riff. He carries himself with dignity yet with a very amuzed twinkle in his eye. His English is still rough, of course, but it is improved from movies such as THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS. The movie is full of grandiose fights with lots of slow motion, ridiculous moves, bullet dodging, etc. This MATRIX stuff is getting a bit old now. It is cool looking, yes, but is fast losing its ability to amaze. Also, the plot of the movie is really pretty predictable, and the villains aren't terribly compelling. We don't hate them too much, they're just there. We never worry too much that our heros will come to harm. It's the kind of movie that will pass from your memory almost as you're walking out of the theatre. I get the feeling that the creators of the movie were hoping for a comedy/action movie with more convincing drama that something like SHANGHAI KNIGHTS. They don't pull that off, but lucky for them they have two charming stars. Fat is an excellent screen presence, and he is aging gracefully, and I look forward to him continuing to grow in his ease with English, much like Jackie Chan has. If you're looking for a pleasant two-hour diversion, you could do worse. If you're looking for anything weight at all, then this is the wrong movie. It is rated PG-13, but the language is minimal, the sexuality is mostly silliness and the violence, though ample, is not bloody in particular. I think you can safely take anyone aged 10 and up.
Rating:
Summary: "It's not about anger; It's about peace."
Review: Ever wonder why hot dogs come in packages of ten, while hot dog buns come in packages of eight? Well, obviously that's a question that has plaqued us all for eons, but BULLETPROOF MONK may have found the answer. 60 years ago in Tibet, The Monk with no name (Chow Yun-fat), a mighty martial arts warrior, has been entrusted with the Scroll of the Ultimate, which has some kind of incantation written on it. If anyone were to read it aloud in it's entireity, they would gain ulimited power. Obviously, not everyone would use this power for good, like the evil Strucker (Karel Roden), who wants it to rule the world. He's been chasing the Monk every since he obtained the right to protect the scroll. Now, in present day New York City, Strucker is still chasing the Monk, who must soon find a replacement protector for the scroll, since one person can only guard it for 60 years at once (One of the perks to guard the scroll is that for that 60 year period, you don't age one day.) And the Monk may just have found the right man for the job. Kar (Seann William Scott) is a poor pickpocket with impressive martial arts skills, which he has gotten from imitating kung fu movies at the theatre (aptly named the Golden Palace) where he is the projectionist. Kar, it seems, keeps on fulfilling prophecies that the next protector of the scroll must. All the Monk has to do now is teach Kar how to use his skills for good, and that if you truly believe that the laws of gravity don't exist, then they don't. BULLETPROOF MONK is one of those movies based on a comic book that nobody has ever heard of (along with TIMECOP, MEN IN BLACK, THE MASK.) But loaded with more (...)to satisfy any martial arts buff, it is simply not a movie you should allow yourself to not see. You can count on it.
Rating:
Summary: Got it for free, and felt I had spent too much.
Review: I got this movie for free in a buy two get one free type of deal (couldn't find a third I really wanted, so took a shot with this).
First off, the dialogue is so bad it is almost painful to listen too. Granted, I expected as much and, for the most part, got the movie because I heard it had good action scenes. Wrong. The action scenes were mediocre at best, and they seemed few and far between as well. (I don't know why they picture Monk with guns on the cover anyway. He uses them once and spends the majority of his time running away rather than fighting.) To sum up, I'm quite frankly embarassed to have this movie in my possession. Maybe I'll donate to the local library so other people curious about this trash may only have to waste their time and not their money as well.
Rating:
Summary: Our Family Highly Enjoyed Watching the Film Together
Review: My 10-year-old daughter chose this film as a rental, having seen part of it at a friend's house. She said, "Mom, I know you'll love it!" And I did. I have traveled extensively in Tibet, and anything Tibetan, or Buddhist, grabs my attention. As we live in Morocco, our version was dubbed in French. I was a bit surprised by some of the language, which I did not feel was appropriate for children, but now seeing the PG-13 rating, feel that this rating is appropriate. It wasn't the best film I've ever seen, but it definitely held my attention, and our whole family enjoyed it together.
Rating:
Summary: TELL ME THIS DIDN't HAPPEN!!!!
Review: After watching the trailer, seeing Chow-Yun Fat with twin desert eagles, I was thinking, Chow-Yun fat was bringing his good ol' gun blazin' action to USA films. Even though it was PG-13, I was thinking it might be a movie like the transporter, only better. But I was wrong! Chow-Yun Fat is definitly losing it or sellin-out!! He only used the guns once(And didn't kill anybody)!!! WTF!!!! I was hoping I could get a laugh or two out of it with Sean-William Scoot in it, but he was hardly funny!! The only time I laughed at this movie, was when I realized how much this film made a fool out of me!! To waste money to watch it! What ever happened to Chow-Yun fat in the good ol' days, like where he was a stright up killer, in the Killer, and a criminal killing machine in hard boiled!!? I just wish that one day, Chow-Yun fat and John-Woo(Who's slipping too, but no as bad as Chow!) can colaborate again, and bring some of the good ol' days to the future with justice. Anyway, if you want a action movie,get Hard Boiled, the Killer, Face off, or Bad Boys 1&2, but not this; if you want a comedy movie go get Clerks, Road Trip, Billy Madison, or Friday, but not this, if you want a good fantasy, get Crouchin Tiger Hidden Dragon, the Crow, or Spirited Away, but not this, if you want a good martial arts film, get Enter the Dragon, The Matrix, The drunken master, or Once upon a time in china but not this. Just avoid this movie!! Peace
Rating:
Summary: Based on a true story
Review: So bad it goes beyond bad to that special hell of movies where the director finds a way to inflict crap at a whole new level. This is ubercrap taken above the level that most stupid directors can only dream about. The possibility of a normal human watching the entire movie without some sort of massive hemorrhage is very slim since the brain would be acting in the best interest of the human. If you inflicted this movie on someone who had just regained their sight, they would be praying for a quick and merciful return to the former state of blindness. The music in the movie is so bad that many people, who were though deaf, cried out in pain. Not hearing, but feeling the sonic defecation as it de fouled the very molecules air around them. If you have a enemy in your life, send them this movie. After they see this your enemy will know you are without mercy. They will fear you. A bag of wet rocks shows more range and depth of acting skill that Seann William Scott. His acting is so bad it makes you question not only the existence of a god, but any reason for anything in life at all. I truly belive that when CUT was called, he would stand stone still and drool, waiting for commands from the director. Amused by things with lots of bright colors and balls of tinfoil. The screenwriter has all the skill that only some grade 3 children have. Only those children in a very short bus. I notice the DVD comes with a directors commentary. I can only assume that it contains the unintelligent yelps and screams of the director as hurls his tattered notes at the microphone and removes his eyes after seeing what he has done. Chow Yun-Fat looks as if doing this movie was as much fun as a man who is striped naked in public and has his manhood laughed at by passing crowds. The story you ask? It has Nazis stealing the youthful power of monks to become all powerful! Even retarded people would think this movie was stupid.
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