Thomas Gibson and Bai Ling star in this effects-laden fantasy chronicling an epic battle among Chinese gods. At stake: the world itself. As it happens, the only human who can save it is American Nick Horton (Gibson). Now a businessman living in China, Nick's a one-time Chinese scholar whose theories attract the interest of the beautiful Goddess of Mercy (Bai Ling). She hooks him up with the snide Monkey King (Russell Wong). "How about it, scholar?" Monkey wisecracks, "Let's go fight some evil."