In an period earlier than Netflix, B-tier motion films used to come back out in theaters, moderately than being ported straight to streaming. Assume “Timecop,” “Beneath Siege,” “Kickboxer,” or just about another film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal. You might even add some Sylvester Stallone films like “Cobra” into that blend. By 2001, a number 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 one more 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, a daily police officer on a daily 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 bunch chargeable for maintaining all issues in stability cosmically. However Yulaw goes dangerous 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 develop into “the one,” a supremely highly effective being who wields the power 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 current success of multiverse movies, particularly “All the pieces All over the place All at As soon as,” as each films mix the kung fu and sci-fi genres. The movie can also be notable for being considered 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, alternatively, had been performing 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 taking part in 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 finances of about $49 million. It did not earn terribly excessive marks from critics both and at the moment holds a dismal 13% on Rotten Tomatoes. However when you benefit from the schlock of a great ol’ sci-fi kung fu film made barely on a budget (and who would not, actually?), it is nonetheless a enjoyable watch. And it is solely extra attention-grabbing due to how carefully particulars just like the M.V.A. mirror plotlines just like the TVA from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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The One continues 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 dangerous evaluations, certain, however it’s nonetheless a disgrace. Hollywood was a spot the place you possibly can make small-to-medium-budget style films with lackluster scripts however a number 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 offer “The One” a watch. Is it considered one of one of the best Jet Li films? No, however is it the most effective Jason Statham films? Additionally no. Nevertheless it’s higher than “Timecop,” and that has to depend for one thing, proper? I am doing a nasty job of promoting this, I can inform.
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Look, if for no different purpose, the movie is value revisiting for the ultimate scene alone, which entails Jet Li preventing off an limitless 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.