Bulletproof Monk

Bulletproof Monk is a 2003 martial arts action-fantasy film starring Chow Yun-Fat, Seann William Scott and Jaime King. The film was directed by Paul Hunter. It is loosely based on the comic book by Michael Avon Oeming.

The film was shot in Toronto, Ontario, and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and other locations that look closely like New York City.

For 60 years a mysterious monk with no name has zigzagged the globe to protect an ancient scroll - a scroll that holds the key to unlimited power. Now the Monk must look for a new scrollkeeper. Kar is an unlikely candidate, a streetwise young man whose only interest is himself. But when he inadvertently saves the Bulletproof Monk from capture, the two become partners in a scheme to save the world from the scroll's most avid pursuer. Packed with spectacular special effects and martial arts action, the Monk, Kar, and a sexy Russian mob princess called Jade must struggle to find, face, and fight the ultimate enemy.

Tropes used in Bulletproof Monk include:

Action Girl: Jade.
- Dark Action Girl: Nina.
Arrogant Kung Fu Guy: Kar meets one after joining the Monk.
Artifact of Doom: What the Scroll is in the wrong hands.
Anti-Hero: Type II. Let's just say Kar is not what The Monk was looking for when he set out to find a successor.
Badass Longcoat: The Monk wears it.
Battle Couple: Kar and Jade, after they fight each other.
Daddy's Little Villain: Nina is just as cruel and wicked as the Big Bad.
Death Seeker: The Monk, though more of a 'find a successor and retire' thing than a 'die in battle' thing.
Designated Girl Fight: Between Jade and Nina
Gosh Dang It to Heck: Bulletproof Monk was originally going to have an R rating, during the switch to a PG-13 rating, one of the characters was renamed Mr. Funktastic from his previously, more offensive moniker. His original name is still noticeable where his necklace has been suspiciously affixed to his chest to cover up his tattoo.
- The TV edit has old, seasoned police officers calling each other "silly beast" in anger.
Humans Are the Real Monsters /HumansAreGood: The Monk's Order hides the Scroll because humanity as a whole is 'not ready' for its power, but at the same time, they imply that they might be eventually, which is why they don't destroy the Scroll.
Love At First Punch: Kar and Jade; its described in the movie as Battling for love in the palace of Jade.
Mafia Princess: Jade.
No Man of Woman Born: The prophecy sounds specific but there's actually a lot of wiggle room. To be specific, the titular Monk must have completed three rather unlikely tasks:
- Defeat an army of enemies while a flock of cranes circle above.
  - Kar does this in the opening - Funktastic's gang, under a dozen lifting cranes. So does Jade - by discreetly throwing Kar a weapon and then persuading Funktastic to stand down.
- Battle for love in the palace of jade.
  - The two have a fight in Jade's mansion.
- Free brothers he never knew with the family he never had.
  - Both of them rescue monks from Strucker - Kar fights him directly alongside the Nameless Monk, while Jade frees the captives from their bonds. In a deleted scene, all this is done with the help of Funktastic's gang.
No Immortal Inertia: Former Scroll Guardians simply look older when they pass the mantel; 50 years older in about 5 seconds.
Plot Armor: In-universe justification for the Monk; he literally can't die until he finds a successor. Time won't let him.
Prophecy Twist: The viewer is early on shown how the prophecy can be interpreted for Kar, but its not until later that it works for Jade at the same time. Then there's the whole 'chinese prophecy translated into english' issue.
Retirony: The guardian of the scroll in the opening of Bulletproof Monk hands over the responsibility, declares that after sixty years he is finally going to take a vacation, and is promptly gunned down by Nazis.
Warrior Monk: The Monk, and others.
Xanatos Gambit: The Monk's goal and plan is 'keep the Scroll from anyone else's hands' but whether he succeeds or not (and the Scroll is stolen) is ultimately irrelevant. Because the final word is missing, thus making the Scroll useless on its own. This failsafe was made because the Monk anticipated the possibility of his failing as a guardian.