THE ONE
In some parallel universe, if the premise of James Wong's The One is to
be believed, Al Gore is president. That's how close the Florida recount was.
Chances are, though, despite such flashes of wit, this dumb thriller would
still be a turkey. Jet Li demonstrates a lisp and little affect as Yulaw, a
former "Multiverse" cop who discovers that by killing his double in a different
universe, he adds that life force to his own. So he sets out via wormholes
(they operate like cosmic Cuisinarts) from one parallel world to the next, 123
in all (and all of them potential sequels), killing "himself" in each, until
there's only one double left. That's Gabe, also played by Li, a Los Angeles
County sheriff who lately has found that his martial-arts powers have been
augmented, oh, 123-fold. It's kind of Highlander with a
Terminator twist, but most will watch this for the sequences of Li
fighting himself, which are quite bad: the action is slowed down and halted and
the figures have the claymation look of a cheesy king fu video game. It's sad,
too, watching Delroy Lindo get tossed around like a kid's chew toy. Let's hope
The One is the only. At the Apple Valley, Entertainment, Flagship,
Holiday, Hoyts Providence 16, Showcase, and Tri-Boro cinemas.
Issue Date: November 2 - 8, 2001
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