Jet Li in "The One."

MOVIE INFORMATION

With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a: Stars: Jet Li and Delroy Lindo Director: James Wong Rated: PG-13, with frequent bloodless violence Length: 88 minutes

ROCHESTERCRITIQUE

Having seen this film, how would you rate it? 10 5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(November 2, 2001) -- Martial arts star Jet Li has finally found a worthy adversary: Jet Li.

At least, that's the gimmick in The One, a confusing but action-packed sci-fi romp that seems to put The Matrix through a Waring Blender and toss in a bit of Star Trek just for good measure.

The One proposes the existence of 123 alternate universes, linked together in a world called the Multiverse. Li stars as Gabriel Yulaw, a former Multiverse law officer who has gotten power-hungry.

He has discovered that if he can travel between universes and kill all his "alternate selves," he absorbs their power, developing superhuman speed, strength and intelligence.

As the film opens, Yulaw is in the process of eliminating No. 121, leaving only one other alternate Yulaw in the Multiverse. This Yulaw is a good guy, a Los Angeles cop (also played by Li).

Thus, the stage is set for a convoluted tale of alter egos at each other's throats, not unlike the old Star Trek episode about battling white-and-black-striped twins from alternate universes.

Pursuing the bad Yulaw and trying to help the good Yulaw are two Multiverse cops (Delroy Lindo and Jason Statham) who often get as confused as we do about who's swirling kicks their way.

Another factor is the wife or girlfriend of each Yulaw, each played by Carla Gugino.

With a plot constructed more like a video game than a drama, there's hardly any room for character development. The various Yulaws and other folks move across the landscape like so many game pieces.

Action fans, though, will enjoy the multilayered fighting, the clever use of stunt doubles and the Matrix-like motion capture and flying rigs. Reportedly, the final confrontation that found Li in combat with himself took a month to shoot.

If you like to know a little bit about characters in a story, The One isn't the one. But, if you like to see Jet Li fire up twin engines, this might be for you.