The Ultimate Martial Arts Adventure Uniting Chow Yun-Fat and Seann William Scott

Highlights

"Bulletproof Monk" was an underrated movie that took big risks by pairing Hong Kong star Chow Yun-Fat with American comedy actor Seann William Scott.

While the critics on Rotten Tomatoes rated the film poorly, the general audience still found the story to be enjoyable, even with some generic moments. The film is an adaptation of Brett Lewis and Avon Oeming's comic book, sharing the same title.

Released in 2003 during a time when movie studios were more willing to take risks, Bulletproof Monk defied expectations with its unique blend of action and comedy. The film brought together the unlikely pairing of Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-Fat, known for his roles in classic action movies, and comedic talent Seann William Scott, known for his work in raunchy comedies like American Pie. Making his directorial debut, Paul Hunter brought the comic book world of Brett Lewis and Michael Avon Oeming to life, resulting in an underrated gem.

What Is Bulletproof Monk About?

In the midst of World War 2, a Tibetan Monk is chosen as the rightful guardian of an ancient, powerful scroll. He must forsake his identity and sacrifice everything to protect the scroll's youth-giving, strength-enhancing, and almost immortal abilities from falling into the wrong hands. Urgently, a Nazi leader named Strucker launches an attack on the monastery to seize the scroll, but the Monk manages to escape before the power can be stolen.

Jumping forward six decades to 2003, the same Monk becomes intrigued by a young thief named Kar, recognizing his potential as the next protector of the scroll. Kar's attention is captivated by Jade, a resilient and formidable young woman who initially rebuffs his advances. To ensure a future encounter with Jade, Kar steals her necklace. Meanwhile, it is revealed that Strucker's granddaughter, Nina, has taken on her grandfather's mission, putting the Monk in grave danger. In order to evade capture, Kar and the Monk seek refuge among a collective of other monks, eventually leading Kar to commit to training under his newfound Monk mentor.

After a close encounter with Nina's forces, Kar finds himself in a personal battle when she obtains a fake copy of the scroll. Constantly on the run and betrayed by a monk who knew their location, Kar and his ally are pursued by Nina's forces. In a desperate situation, they turn to Jade for assistance, but their plea is interrupted by Nina who captures the powerful Monk, as the scroll is tattooed on his body. Determined to take down Nina, Kar and Jade launch an attack on her base of operations where she is attempting to restore her grandfather's youth. They initially surprise her forces but get separated, leaving Jade to face Nina alone. Despite Nina's skill, Jade prevails and eliminates her, before helping the captive monks. Now, Jade can only hope that Kar reaches the Monk in time to save him and prevent Strucker's plans.

What Is Bulletproof Monk’s Rotten Tomatoes Score?

Bulletproof Monk has received unfavorable reviews from both critics and fans on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have given the comic book film a low rating of 23%, primarily criticizing its overall visual appearance, poorly executed shot compositions, inconsistent CGI, and excessive editing. However, they acknowledge that the film does have moments of enjoyment and humor, thanks to the performances of the two lead actors.

On the other hand, the general audience has been more forgiving, rating the film at 38%. Despite sharing similar criticisms as the critics, the general audience seems to appreciate the film's story and is fond of the cheesy elements found in the plot and action sequences. It is considered another one of those films that some may dub as a mindless entertainment, although there are those who take issue with that perception. Among the general audience, one of the main complaints is that the movie can be predictable or lacking originality at times.

How Does Bulletproof Monk End?

Things take a turn for the worse when Strucker successfully obtains what he desires. Armed with the scroll, he begins to read from it, hoping to reverse his aging. However, things are not as straightforward as Strucker had hoped. The scroll is incomplete, forcing him to extract the information directly from the Monk. This is when Kar returns to the scene, determined to assist the man with whom he has formed a unique bond.

Kar and the Monk confront the revitalized Nazi, engaging in a comically inept battle. Despite the chaos featuring a perilous platform and scattered pipe pieces, Kar and the Monk ultimately triumph over Strucker, hurling him off the rooftop in what appears to be his demise. In the midst of the fight, Jade works tirelessly to rescue her captive fellow monks. When the heroes reunite, Kar is bestowed with the scroll's power. However, their triumph is short-lived as Strucker unexpectedly reemerges, prepared to take his adversaries down with him, even if it means his own demise.

Strucker attempts to shoot Kar, but to his surprise, Kar effortlessly dodges the bullets and delivers a powerful kick, sending the Nazi crashing into a nearby statue. The impact is so strong that it not only damages the statue, but also causes it to collapse on top of Strucker, putting an end to his life once and for all. Despite being hit by Strucker, Jade miraculously remains unharmed, thanks to the power she has gained from the scroll. This event solidifies both Jade and Kar as the rightful protectors of the scroll. As they fulfill their respective prophecies, they become deeply connected through their shared responsibility and the guidance of the Monk. In a later scene, the Monk addresses Jade and Kar, who have aged significantly and are prepared to carry on with their lives. The Monk trusts that these two new heroes will faithfully continue his life's mission, allowing Bulletproof Monk to come to a satisfying conclusion.