The One Movie (2001)

     Here isn't one universe. There are many. A multiverse. The technology exists to travel between them, but it’s highly restricted and heavily policed. Across these parallel existences a dark presence seeks to destroy the balance, exploiting the mixture of multiple identities’ energies into a godlike being who can unleash the complete potential of multiverse domination.

     In one particular reality (the Anubis Universe), LAPD officers escort a prisoner referred to as Lawless (Jet Li) for a routine transfer. But within the parking zone , a shadowy figure not only murders Lawless, but also the whole squadron of Special Forces , managing to maneuver faster than any human, making use of some exceptionally unconvincing CG-based fight choreography, wirework, and slow-motion. It’s intended to be the primary of the many jaw-dropping action scenes, but it sets the stage for embarrassing absurdities instead.

     The deadly assassin is Gabriel Yulaw (also Jet Li), who flees from a pursuing police unit sent from an alternate dimension. Multiverse Agents Harry Roedecker (Delroy Lindo) and Evan Funsch (Jason Statham) apprehend the multiverse-traveler, trapping him during a vortex of computer-animated disintegration/shattering and lights and noises – yet one more display that's alleged to be impressive but is bizarre and unsatisfying at the best . Yulaw has slaughtered 123 iterations of himself across 123 universes using illegal quantum jumps, and with the assistance of a suspiciously attractive woman (Carla Gugino, wearing what can best be described as a Jessica Rabbit costume), he escapes sentencing to pursue a final victim: Gabe Law (Jet Li, of course), whose death could cause apocalyptic consequences.

     The setup suggests that each person has the same persona in every universe, which makes little sense when it involves the infinite, random components and influences of life. Fortunately, most universes aren’t aware that the multiverse exists. For people who do, alternate identities are of an equivalent age and appearance, and sometimes serve in similar roles or jobs and partner with an equivalent people – or, at the very least, happen within the very same places (or conveniently cross paths) throughout the varying timelines, making it simple enough to trace movements and recognize equivalencies. it might seem that the infinite multiverses are rather closely related (some nearly indistinguishable from one another), thereby negating much of the amusement of a multiverse within the first place.

     “Nobody’s got all the answers.” Perhaps what’s strangest about this premise is that “The One” is small quite a martial arts-infused cop drama. the utilization of heavy sci-fi themes and rip-offs of “The Matrix,” “Timecop,” “The 6th Day,” and other futuristic thrillers that linger over doppelgängers and doubles and “wrong men” (including smaller films like “Impostor”) are somewhat wasted here. instead of developing the weightier speculative concepts, much of the short time period is dedicated to battles and shootouts, which are momentarily diverting but largely forgettable.

    The biggest shame, however, is that Li isn’t allowed to point out off his considerable Kung Fu talents without CG augmentation that ludicrously obscures his hand-to-hand combat techniques. whenever he engages during a duel, props or bad slow-motion or the invasive heavy metal soundtrack interfere, dulling the intensity of what could are genuinely exciting action. The inevitable showdown, during which Li fights Li, finishes up being the worst of the bunch – because of the awkwardness of staging split-screen effects, angles during which the stunt double’s face can’t be seen, or plainly pitiful editing choices intended to blur the logistical difficulties of 1 person fighting against himself.

– Mike Massie