The One
Metascore
25 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 21 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 21
  3. Negative: 13 out of 21
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    38
    The movie offers brainless high-tech action without interesting dialogue, characters, motivation or texture.
  2. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    38
    The problem in The One isn't the black holes in the universe, to which the characters refer at periodic intervals, but the black hole on the screen. The One is a zero.
    All this critic's reviews
  3. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    30
    Pseudo sci-fi gobbledygook aside, X-Files alumni James Wong and Glen Morgan's script is little more than an excuse for Jet Li to kick his own ass, which he does energetically and often.
  4. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Jan Stuart
    30
    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.
  5. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    30
    So narratively garbled and its screenplay so underwritten that you have to strain to piece together the story.
  6. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    25
    An almost comically unsuitable title. There's absolutely nothing singular or special about this slapdash sci-fi film featuring martial-arts megastar Jet Li.
  7. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    25
    A stunt that fails.
  8. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    25
    The One is all sound and fury, and nothing else.
    All this publication's reviews
  9. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Ed Park
    20
    In The One the maze of death leads only to exhaustion -- a solipsistic extension of Bruce Lee pacing the room of mirrors at the end of "Enter the Dragon."
  10. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    10
    The story is so ridiculous and the acting so completely amateurish, the fights have no dramatic impact; you don't care whether good Jet or bad Jet wins – not that you can tell them apart anyway.
  11. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    10
    Whatever the title of the next installment, this movie is certainly One best forgotten.
  12. New Times (L.A.)
    Reviewed by: Robert Wilonsky
    10
    A film bereft of emotion, characters and words with more than two syllables.
  13. Variety
    Reviewed by: Robert Koehler
    0
    The combo of cheesy effects and martial arts choreographer Cory Yuen's unimaginative staging results in something that's martial artless.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 45 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 27
  3. Negative: 8 out of 27
  1. mds03
    3
    The action scenes were awesome and the concept was very original. It's just that at times it was so boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The One is One major letdown after another when it comes to character development and entertaining it's audience constantly. It could have been amazing.… Full Review »
  2. imthenoob
    5
    As bad as critics say? Absolutely not but it's still not that good. CGI looked too fake, Action is alright but not all that good either, Acting is weak as well. It is interesting though, I give it that. I am quick to stop watching a movie if it sucks so The One can't be able that bad if I managed to sit through it.… Full Review »
  3. JosephS.
    10
    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.… Full Review »
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