In an period earlier than Netflix, B-tier motion films used to return out in theaters, reasonably than being ported straight to streaming. Assume “Timecop,” “Below Siege,” “Kickboxer,” or just about some other film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal. You could possibly even add some Sylvester Stallone films like “Cobra” into that blend. By 2001, lots of the camp type of the late ’80s and ’90s was fading from the style, however that did not cease Jet Li and Jason Statham from including yet another ridiculous, critically panned, however nonetheless enjoyable sci-fi actioner.
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“The One” is a film in regards to the multiverse lengthy earlier than that was cool. Directed by frequent “X-Recordsdata” scribe James Wong, it follows Li as Gabe Legislation, an everyday police officer on an everyday model of Earth. Li additionally performs Gabriel Yulaw, an evil model of Gabe from one other universe. Yulaw was as soon as an agent of the MultiVerse Authority, or M.V.A. — a gaggle accountable for preserving all issues in stability cosmically. However Yulaw goes unhealthy when he realizes that for each model of himself that he kills, he turns into stronger.
The title of the movie comes from this concept. Yulaw seeks to homicide each different occasion of himself throughout the multiverse — 124 situations in whole — to change into “the one,” a supremely highly effective being who wields the energy of all of them in a single physique.
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The One is traditional sci-fi nonsense
It is attention-grabbing going again to “The One” now given the latest success of multiverse movies, particularly “Every part In all places All at As soon as,” as each films mix the kung fu and sci-fi genres. The movie can also be notable for being certainly one of Jason Statham’s first main movie roles, with “The One” premiering simply three years after his debut in Man Ritchie’s “Lock, Inventory and Two Smoking Barrels.”
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Li, then again, had been appearing for a few years, however he was simply beginning to get larger within the American market after having a ton of success in Chinese language and Hong Kong martial arts films. Previous to “The One,” Li had begun to dip his toes extra into Hollywood with films like “Deadly Weapon 4” and “Romeo Should Die,” proving himself within the English-language market. Additionally featured within the forged are Carla Gugino, finest identified lately for her collaborations with horror maestro Mike Flanagan, and Dean Norris, who would later attain main fame by enjoying Hank Schrader on “Breaking Dangerous.”
“The One” did not do horrible on the field workplace, however it did not do nice both, grossing just below $80 million on a reported funds of about $49 million. It did not earn terribly excessive marks from critics both and at present holds a dismal 13% on Rotten Tomatoes. However in the event you benefit from the schlock of a great ol’ sci-fi kung fu film made barely on a budget (and who does not, actually?), it is nonetheless a enjoyable watch. And it is solely extra attention-grabbing due to how intently particulars just like the M.V.A. mirror plotlines just like the TVA from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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The One remains to be value watching 20 years later
They only do not make ’em like “The One” anymore. That is in all probability due to all of the unhealthy opinions, positive, however it’s nonetheless a disgrace. Hollywood was once a spot the place you could possibly make small-to-medium-budget style films with lackluster scripts however lots of oomph and a few stars good at kicking, and that was sufficient. For anybody nostalgic for that age passed by, possibly that is your signal to present “The One” a watch. Is it certainly one of one of the best Jet Li films? No, however is it among the finest Jason Statham films? Additionally no. But it surely’s higher than “Timecop,” and that has to rely for one thing, proper? I am doing a foul job of promoting this, I can inform.
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Look, if for no different cause, the movie is value revisiting for the ultimate scene alone, which entails Jet Li preventing off an countless stream of interdimensional criminals from the highest of a ziggurat in house, all backed by Papa Roach’s “Final Resort.”
So yeah, it is fairly good.
