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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.
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