The One 2001

Critics score:
14 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: Fans of Li's Hong Kong films may just be embarrassed; how can you mount a defense for an actor this bad in two roles? Read more

Charles Savage, Miami Herald: When one actor plays both hero and villain, the viewer knows that what is being shown is not an authentic dance. Read more

Loren King, Chicago Tribune: The pace and inventiveness -- the epilogue is surprisingly touching -- and the eye-popping moves of Jet Li make it easy to hang on and enjoy the ride. Read more

Ebert & Roeper: Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Read more

Susan Stark, Detroit News: Read more

Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News: A blast of first-rate entertainment. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: Even by the grunting and grimacing standards of comic-book action films, the performances in The One are undernourished. Read more

Melanie McFarland, Seattle Times: It's The Matrix's less-refined cousin, the one that didn't pay full attention in cool school. Read more

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Read more

Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle: A martial-arts flick that transcends its genre with surprisingly strong sci-fi concepts. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: We watch good Jet battle evil Jet ... and the difference between the characters boils down to... blank and slightly less blank. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: [Wong] drains the artistry from the martial arts, shooting the aerial work without the requisite grace, and adding a plebian array of not-so-special effects. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Bad action, worse drama, and excruciating science fiction. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Offers brainless high-tech action without interesting dialogue, characters, motivation or texture. Read more

Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle: Don't worry about Jet Li. He can take care of himself. His latest American movie, however, needs triage. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: It's the kind of movie ... where the hero is cheered not for the grace of his moves but for the number of rounds of ammo he can spray and the punches he can land. Read more

Time Out: Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: Fans of The Matrix will hold their noses, as will those who put down sparring Arnold Schwarzeneggers in The 6th Day (now looking better). Read more

Robert Koehler, Variety: Read more

Ed Park, Village Voice: Wong's efficiently creepy Final Destination was as much memento mori as teen disposal unit, but in The One the maze of death leads only to exhaustion. Read more