Movie titles are so often metaphors for their subject matter. Take “The Lion in Winter,” for example, or “Raging Bull.” Nary a lion nor bull in sight in either of those films. Audiences just assume the title serves to convey some aspect of the main character or the story’s theme.

Metaphorical as it may seem, “Bulletproof Monk” is exactly what it sounds like.

You’ll have to be a fan of Asian wire fighting to really enjoy this movie. The opening sequence depicts Hong Kong native Chow Yun-Fat grappling with his Tibetan Buddhist master on a rickety mountain top rope bridge in 1945. Well, not just on the bridge, but over, around, beside and through, courtesy of lots of unseen rigging and quick editing.

After besting his mentor, Yun-Fat becomes heir to an ancient scroll the monks of his order have been guarding for millenia. Apparently, whoever reads the scroll aloud in its entirety will attain ultimate power over the world. Along with the responsibility of making sure no one ever gets that chance come mystical powers that protect the monk from disease, injury and the march of time.

But guess who’s got his eye on the scroll? A Nazi commander, of course. Who else do you put in a movie when you need a super unsympathetic baddie? And as we quickly flash forward to the present day, we learn he has been chasing down our monk for 60 years, determined to get his hands on that scroll and finish the job Der Fuhrer started.

Enter Seann William Scott as an urban pickpocket who crosses paths with Yun-Fat and unknowingly begins to fulfill three prophecies that will identify the next guardian of the scroll. Scott, who is best known for his hedonistic teen characters in romps like “American Pie” and “Dude, Where’s My Car?” calls forth a darker, grittier side to his persona for the role, but still infuses it with plenty of humor and buoyancy.

Rounding out the trio of good guys is Jaime King as an enigmatic young woman who holds her own equally well in a street fight or at an art gallery opening. In fact, her fight scenes are the most interesting and visually engaging in the film, especially one climactic battle between King and Victoria Smurfit, the Nazi’s ultra-Aryan granddaughter Nina.

The screenplay for “Bulletproof Monk” was based on an underground comic book series by the same name, in which the monk was not an actual character but a legendary figure. When producers Terence Chang and John Woo were presented with the idea of turning the comic into a movie, they immediately brought Chow Yun-Fat into the project and developed the story around him.

Yun-Fat succeeds in heightening the spiritual aspect of the story. Although most of his Hollywood roles have been action-oriented, his Hong Kong resume includes many more dramatic, comedic and romantic films than action ones. He’s no Jackie Chan, either – with a much larger frame (6-feet and 1-inch) and a more graceful style, Yun-Fat embodies his character’s aims of peace and enlightenment over violence.

The two stars make a fairly entertaining team. Both men are brimming over with charisma, and they put it to work playing off each other so neither one hogs the screen. Their best scene is one in which Scott tries to emulate Yun-Fat’s gravity-defying leap up a wall while his mentor casually stands by and lets him fail over and over.

If only the villain weren’t so cheesy, “Bulletproof Monk” would be a worthwhile diversion for a couple of hours. But the evil Nina, her single-minded grandfather and their goons are so transparent, it’s terribly disappointing. They even have an elaborate high-tech torture lab built in an underground hydrostation. Note to future filmmakers: When adapting a comic book for a movie, it’s best to leave some elements to the cartoonists.

“Bulletproof Monk”Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sexual content

Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Seann William Scott and Jaime King

Director: Paul Hunter

Length: 104 minutes

Now playing at: Astoria Gateway Cinemas

Short take: Chow Yun-Fat plays a mystical Tibetan monk and Seann William Scott is his street-smart protege in this martial arts-packed movie. The two leads, while infectious, can’t save the story from its comic book origins, as the bad guy is a cartoonish Nazi bent on world domination.

Rating: 2 and a half stars

Rating system:

4 stars – Absolutely the best

3 stars – Good, solid entertainment

2 stars – Wait for the video

1 star – Don’t waste your time

Movie trivia: How did leading lady Jaime King break her finger during filming?

Answer: King broke her finger not doing any stunts, but while walking up some stairs while talking on her cell phone.