The One

Name: The One
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: November 2, 2001
Duration: 87 min
Rating: 25
Cast: Carla Gugino, Jet Li

2001

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 81 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 81 Ratings

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The One

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: November 2, 2001 | PG-13

Starring: Carla Gugino, Jet Li

Summary: This supernatural action bonanza from director James Wong showcases martial arts expert Jet Li in a dual role as a police officer battling a sinister version of himself that has escaped from a parallel universe.

Director: James Wong

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 87 min

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Critic Reviews

Loren King

Hits the ground running and never lets up. Read full review

Charles Savage

When one actor plays both hero and villain, the viewer knows that what is being shown is not an authentic dance. Read full review

Jonathan Foreman

Overall, this sci-fi/martial arts hybrid has the stale aura of a product assembled out of bits of other action movies. Read full review

Jan Stuart

Li's far too unthreatening a presence to cause much of a stir amid the din of hard rock music and the pall left by fight choreography that has had every last bit of life digitally drained away. Read full review

Stephen Holden

So narratively garbled and its screenplay so underwritten that you have to strain to piece together the story. Read full review

Carrie Rickey

A stunt that fails. Read full review

Robert Koehler

The combo of cheesy effects and martial arts choreographer Cory Yuen's unimaginative staging results in something that's martial artless. Read full review

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User Reviews

JosephS.

Jan 16, 2008

Jet li has really rocked in this movie,This is all time movie, action packed,sequence revealed and most importantly the sfx used in this movie were certainly great.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

AkeemG.

Oct 25, 2007

The one is definitely one of the best movies that Jet Li has ever acted in.For starters I would like to say that this movie has nothing to do with the Matrix in fact The One is whole lot more better than any movie in the matrix series.My most favorite parts of the movie are the introduction The one is definitely one of the best movies that Jet Li has ever acted in.For starters I would like to say that this movie has nothing to do with the Matrix in fact The One is whole lot more better than any movie in the matrix series.My most favorite parts of the movie are the introduction and the ending because they had the most wicked fight scenes that I have ever seen in my life.I loved seeing the Cops getting their A$#ES kicked around in the beginning and then seeing prisoners get their tails kicked in the end.I am EXTREMELY glad that the creators didn't get the rock to star in this movie because The Rock's street fighting style isn't anywhere as cool as Jet Li's martial arts and he can't act as good as Jet either. I also annoyed the music that played for each fight scene because it really helped to bring the movie to life.The sound effects were also very nice, especially the lightning sounds that you hear in the final chapter in the movie when yu law got sent to the stygian penal colony.The last but not least thing about this movie was the purple lighting and other things that the creators used used in the introduction to separate the differences between the parallel universes.The concept of parallel universes has made a very interesting story and script. By the way the review that Taylor B. wrote me laugh a little.I'm just happy to see that there are other people that enjoyed the movie as much as i did, because most critics are A#$ES who wouldn't know a good movie or video game when they see one. I still watch this movie a couple times a week from time to time.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

JoshB.

Dec 16, 2007

this is a great movie filled with hard hitting action the whole tine it will keep you thinking what will happen next

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Valgeth

Jan 8, 2020

Great sets, great props and descent dialogue, CG was top notch, still noticeable but descent. Only problem: it was too stretched out, the overall story is quite short with just a lot of filler, a faster version of the movie might have been better.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Kai82

Sep 20, 2021

I like the ideas and it is a solid and entertaining movie. My main critique is that they do not enough with the ideas. Basically there is not much development and resolve if you look at it after the conclusion. Luckily it has still good scenes, martial arts and actors that deliver a goodI like the ideas and it is a solid and entertaining movie. My main critique is that they do not enough with the ideas. Basically there is not much development and resolve if you look at it after the conclusion. Luckily it has still good scenes, martial arts and actors that deliver a good performance. It uses the theory of parallel universes. This is the idea that our universe is just one of many that create a multiverse. For each possibility you can imagine there might be an entire universe. In “The One” travel between universes is possible as in some universes Earth scientists have discovered the technology to do it. However not every Earth has it and in many the governments do not know about it. In one universe the “Multiverse Authority” exist which polices interdimensional travel. The problems for them started before the events of the movie when one of their agents Gabriel Yulaw killed another universes version of himself in self defense. This made him and all other alternate versions stronger. So he chose to kill all other versions of himself in the 124 universes to become what he calls “The One”. He was pretty successful and the only remaining alternate is Gabe Law. This is the excellent set up of the story. The ideas is interesting and well done. Like I already said the conclusion could be better but to be fair I cant criticize the final scenes as those are awesome too. It just lacks a bit of resolve. The fights are well choreographed and those are truly enjoyable. These go hand in hand with the special effects and stunts as they use the set up of the story to do more. Character wise we have Jet Li as Gabriel Yulaw and Gabe Law. He delivers a good performance in both roles and I was surprised that he can be such a good bad guy. As a side note: Dwayne Johnson should actually play the main role. Maybe this will be used in one of his movies. Then we have Jason Statham as Agent Funsch. He also delivers a good performance. Sadly I would rather prefer a full team up or being antagonist wit Jet Lee. I specially praise Carla Gugino as T. K. Law for her performance. Other than those Delroy Lindo’s performance is also good. I see no missteps here and say all did a good job. I want to praise the soundtrack too. It has tracks from Papa Roach, Disturbed and Drowning Pool which is awesome and hits my taste in music. I value this as additional strength. Overall this is an awesome movie but also a disappointment. I will no go into a rant as I was well entertained. It is one of the rare movies that I would describe as entertaining disappointments if that makes sense for you.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FrederickS.

Dec 17, 2005

Not a great martial arts movie but an interesting concept.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TomM

Sep 27, 2005

Practically unwatchable. Not even worth wasting any more time relating how bad it is. As action film go, this one is a yawner.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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92	#92 Most Discussed Movie of 2001
92	#92 Most Shared Movie of 2001