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Last night I watched a martial arts movie called “Kiss of the Dragon” (2001) starring Jet Li, a would be successor to the martial arts Crown held for so long by the late Bruce Lee, and co-starring Bridget Fonda as Jessica, a forlorn American hooker working the streets of Paris.
~ ... Read review
InKiss of the Dragon, Chinese undercover agent Jet Li chops his way through Paris after ... more
he's framed in some sketchily defined drug sting operation. The fight sequences are tough and quite brutal, and the over-the-top finale is arguably worth the price ...
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InKiss of the Dragon, Chinese undercover agent Jet Li chops his way through Paris after ... more
he's framed in some sketchily defined drug sting operation. The fight sequences are tough and quite brutal, and the over-the-top finale is arguably worth the price ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Jet Li (Romeo Must Die) plays Liu Jiuan. China's top government agent, who arrives in ... more
Paris from Shanghai to assist Richard (Tcheky Karyo. The Patriot), a corrupt French police inspector, with a top secret mission to uncover an international drug consp...
Martial arts genius Jet Li explodes onto the screen with an intensity not seen since Bruce ... more
Lee. 'Kiss of the Dragon' is not merely a thriller but a shocker (San Francisco Chronicle). China's top secret agent visits Paris on a pleasure trip only to en...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Martial arts master Jet Li explode onto the screen as China's top secret agent, whose ... more
latest mission in Paris puts him face-to-face with government espionage at the highest level. Falsely accused of murder, he must team up with a seductive call girl (Bridget Fonda) to save himself - and her!
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Advantages: Action , action, and more action. Disadvantages: A weak storyline and some poor acting.
~ ~ My local video shop (Xtravision) has a special offer on at the moment. Any two new releases (VHS or DVD) at only €8 for two night’s rental. Applies to games as well, but as I’m not much of a games fan these days, that’s not too much benefit to me. Anyhoo. It means that the old movies have been getting a right hammering from the ‘mad cabbie’ of late.
Last night I watched a martial arts movie called “Kiss ... ...successor to the martial arts Crown held for so long by the late Bruce Lee, and co-starring Bridget Fonda as Jessica, a forlorn American hooker working the streets of Paris.
~ ~ The only other movie that I can recall seeing Jet Li in was Lethal Weapon 4, with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, where he plays a Chinese bad guy called Wah Sing Ku who is importing heroin into the USA. (Of course, he gets his ass kicked by Mr. Gibson in this ... more
~ ~ My local video shop (Xtravision) has a special offer on at the moment. Any two new releases (VHS or DVD) at only €8 for two night’s rental. Applies to games as well, but as I’m not much of a games fan these days, that’s not too much benefit to me. Anyhoo. It means that the old movies have been getting a right hammering from the ‘mad cabbie’ of late. Last night I watched a martial arts movie called “Kiss of the Dragon” (2001) starring Jet Li, a would be successor to the martial arts Crown held for so long by the late Bruce Lee, and co-starring Bridget Fonda as Jessica, a forlorn American hooker working the streets of Paris.
~ ~ The only other movie that I can recall seeing Jet Li in was Lethal Weapon 4, with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, where he plays a Chinese bad guy called Wah Sing Ku who is importing heroin into the USA. (Of course, he gets his ass kicked by Mr. Gibson in this one) He seemingly made another movie recently called ‘Romeo Must Die’, that doesn’t seem to have been as popular as this movie, but which I haven’t seen yet. (so no comment) In this film he plays the good guy, in the shape of a Chinese detective Liu Jian from the People’s Republic of China, who is sent over to Paris to help out the local fuzz in their battle against the Chinese Mafia. But it all goes horribly wrong, when he is framed for the killing of the Chinese Mafia boss by Inspector Richard, (Tcheky Karyo) who just happens to be the French connection (no pun intended) for the Asian drug ring. This scene sets up the real first action sequence of the movie, when the Chinese drug lord is stabbed to death by a prostitute under the control of Inspector Richard, (prostitution is yet another of his criminal enterprises) and Liu Jian tries to go to his aid. He barely escapes with his life, but not before he quickly and efficiently despatches a plethora of bad guys, and nicks a videotape of the actual murder of the Mafia boss by the prostitute and Inspector Richard. He thus finds himself on the run in a strange city, with no friends, and the totally psychopathic French Inspector hot on his trail. By the way, I thought a nice touch was having Jet Li hiding out at a local Chinese bakery run by an old guy called Uncle Tai (Burt Kwouk) who played the enigmatic manservant Cato in the Pink Panther films starring Peter Sellers in the 1960’s. He later befriends another of the other prostitutes who witnessed the killing at the hotel, and who can give him the skinny on the wicked Inspector Richard. Jessica, (Bridget Fonda) is an American who has fallen into the clutches of the evil and sadistic Inspector, who has put her out to work on the streets, after first ensuring her continued compliance by getting her hooked on heroin, and by kidnapping her young daughter and putting her into a local orphanage. Liu Jian enlists her aid, but not until she elicits a promise from him to rescue her young daughter from the clutches of the bad guys.
~ ~ From the first action sequence to the end of the movie, the action in this film is practically non-stop. It was co-written by Luc Besson and directed by Chris Nahon. Luc Besson is better known for his direction of blockbuster hits like Leon and Nikita, and he also directed another couple of French movies, Taxi and Taxi 2, that I watched recently and thoroughly enjoyed. He didn’t disappoint me in this movie either. The fight scenes are visually spectacular, and I would put them on at least a par with anything I have ever watched from the likes of the late Bruce Lee, or the new Hollywood pretender to the martial arts throne Jackie Chan. (Rush Hour) There are no hidden wires or trick photography here, (at least, none that I could spot) and the final scenes where Jet Li confronts the corrupt French policeman by breaking into the local cop shop, despatching along the way a formidable set of young blonde twins, (played by Cyril Raffaelli and Didier Azoulay) are among the best martial art sequences I have ever seen. The budding relationship between Jet Li and Briget Fonda is sensitively handled, and the director doesn’t use the usual ploy of having the hero bed the lady at the earliest possible opportunity, in the hope of titillating his audience. Instead, he develops an emotional attachment between the two, which is far more effective.
~ ~ All is not roses in the camp however, and one strong criticism I would have of the movie would be the totally over the top acting on the part of Tcheky Karyo, who plays the bad cop. It is so bad that at times I was in danger of laughing instead of taking him seriously. And Jet Li wouldn’t seem to have quite mastered all the intricacies of the English language as of yet, but I would say he is a fast study, and this will improve the more parts he plays. And he has a smouldering and menacing look about him that really grabs you by the short and curlies right from the off. It’s very hard to believe that this guy is nearly forty years of age, such is his agility and fitness level. Jackie Chan look out. There’s a new challenger for your title of martial arts King on the block! The storyline is simplistic to say the least, with only a bare minimum of (very corny) plot being thrown in to provide the necessary vehicle to highlight the awesome martial art expertise of Jet Li.! But what it lacks in the storyline department, it more than makes up for in non-stop visual action. Incidentally, the ‘Kiss of the Dragon’, which gives the film its title, is a very real and jealously guarded acupuncture technique that is used either to put a person to sleep, or to actually kill them. (it’s not called this in real life though) Jet Li, a former martial arts champion from a very early age, uses it to great effect throughout the movie, but to tell you any more would be too much of a spoiler.
~ ~ But be warned. This film is not for the squeamish, or those with a weak disposition. The violence appears very real, and is VERY graphic, with people being blown in half, bleeding real blood (or as near as it gets) when they are shot, stabbed, or kicked to death, and even on one occasion being skewered with a handy pair of chop sticks. I watched this on widescreen DVD, but to be honest, apart from the usual perfect sound and graphics, there are no real extras worth the mention, with only the usual fare of chapter selection, and the choice of subtitles for the hard of hearing. If you are a fan of the action movie genre, and more particularly the martial arts, then I guarantee that you will thoroughly enjoy this movie. If these are not your bag, then avoid this movie like the plague.
Whirrrr-click. What the frig is that noise? Ah yes, the Hollywood machine churning out yet another movie. Regular as a prune-diet pensioner and just as fetid in its stench. Amongst the rancid waste of computer game movies and “ironic” horror flicks, is there a live ant in a hoover’s chance that the man behind Leon and the latest hot property from the East can save us from tepidity?
‘Fraid not, folks.
***THE PLOT***
“Johnny” ... ...of visit being “pleasure.” What kind of pleasure? Assisting the French police in a matter that gets out of hand, leading him to become framed for a murder. On the run in a strange country, he is led slightly deeper into a corrupt world of dirty cops (yawn) and whilst kicking everyone’s ass must help a prostitute get her daughter back – because like Don Rickles “he’s a nice guy!”
* * * * *
“Houl’ ...
peppersinclaire 19.07.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Kiss Of The Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: Fantastic action sequences, Jet LI Disadvantages: Dumb plot, some may find the violence a little hard to stomach
...to find out what “The Kiss of the Dragon” is and I can assure you it is not very pleasant at all. The movie has an “18” certificate. Loads and loads of bloody ultra-violence, strong language, scenes of a sexual nature, drug references. This is another op that has been delayed by my dead PC, so I'm not sure if it is still on general release. I could only find one cinema showing it in Scotland although it still seems to be showing ...
daveking 01.12.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Kiss Of The Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: In just two words - Jet Li Disadvantages: The highly unoriginal plt, dodgy script, appalling 'baddie' etc
...on.
Personally I enjoyed Kiss of the Dragon more than Jet Li’s previous film, Romeo Must Die, perhaps some of this can be attributed to seeing it in the cinema rather than on the video, but in terms of originality and using Li’s potential it is still disappointing. The story is straight out of the cliché cabinet with Li playing a Chinese cop sent over to scenic Paris to oversee a joint operation, obviously it all goes wrong and Li ends ... ...that I actually enjoyed watching Kiss of the Dragon and so far have been (perhaps overly) critical of the film. The truth is it has an advantage over Romeo Must Die in one important respect, Li is given much more time doing what he is employed to do and that is dispatch a wide range of enemies using his majestic talents, he also is allowed to perform a series of Jackie Chan-esque stunts albeit with a less comic and harder edge than Chan. In addition ...
Mercury 15.11.2001 (21.11.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Kiss Of The Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: Jet Li, fantastic fight choreograhy Disadvantages: Stealing of most of Leons plot, dialogue, characters et
With a film with the likes of Jet-Li starring in it, is story really relevant at this point, after all you don’t go to the flicks to see this film expecting an oscar winning screenplay and performances do you? It is just a fighting flick for the boys after all aint it? Well yeah, but it has to be told anyways, so here goes….
Jet Li the ‘best of the best’ of the Chinese intelligence comes to Paris to personally protect some ... ...the ‘good guys’, lead by Inspector Richard, turn out to be the ‘bad guys’. They kill the VIP and try to frame the murders on Jet Li himself. Would Mr. Kung Fu stand for this, of course not, out come his magic mitts and before you can say Crash, Bang, Wallop he’s out the window and doing a runner on the streets of Paris. The baddies realising that he can bring them down if he comes forward with his story try to kill him.
...
danm2 21.11.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Kiss Of The Dragon (DVD)
Advantages: good action, not tame Disadvantages: no plot at all
...said and done. Now comes Kiss of the Dragon. All the elements are here for a good time. You have a script collaborated on by one Luc Besson, you have Li in Paris and you have the female element taken care of by the always dependable Bridget Finda. You also have a villain who is actually not the slightest bit a pussy. "SO UTERO, WHAT'S IT ABOUT?" Well Li plays a Chinese intelligence officer Liu who goes to Paris to assist on an assignement to capture ... ...meaningful plot should look elsewhere. Kiss of the Dragon has it's eyes set firmly on the action. "SO WHAT KICKS ASS?" Well the action certainly does rock and there's a great deal. Guns are fired in great amount and there's some brilliantly coreogrpahed action scenes where bad guys get taken on and fried with red hot irons to the face while some even meet the nastiest of ends. It teaches you that grenades really shouldn't be messed with and where ...
utero 26.02.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Kiss Of The Dragon (DVD)
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Advantages: A good action movie Disadvantages: Not much of a plot
for his martial arts skills - which are not an act - Jet Li (or Li Lian Jie as I know him) was a martial arts champion before he moved into acting. In Kiss of the Dragon, he plays a man who believes that actions speak louder than words - just as well, because his English isn't all that good. As far as character development goes, there is very little; we see his relationship with Jessica blossom, but that is the only time we see him as anything but a one man fighting machine. However, this is an action film and from that point of view, Jet Li delivers time after time. I don't usually enjoy action films, but his skills with his limbs and acupuncture needles are really breath-taking to watch. My only gripe is that, having seen a number of his former films, I know that he is capable of much more acting-wise.
Jessica, played by Bridget Fonda, is ...
Liu Jian, an intelligence officer working in Paris finds his life in peril as he drawn into an international conspiracy. He is forced to rely on his exceptional martial arts skill to keep him from danger.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; Deluxe Video Service - Fox
Audio Commentary By Chris Nahon Jet Li And Bridget Fonda, Corey Yuen Action Academy Featurette, The Jet Li Fight Technique Philosophy, The Orphanage Storyboard Sequence, Police Gymnasium Sequence Martial Arts Demo, The Laundry Chute Multi Angle Sequence, On The Set Action, Action Gallery, Making Of Featurette, Theatrical Trailer, 6 TV Spots, Scene Access, Interactive Menus
Aspect Ratio
16:9 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Professional reviews
Review
"...With KISS, the spotlight swivels to Jet Li, a fleet performer with a highly appealing demeanor of patient, quizzical intelligence..." (Entertainment Weekly, p.53-4, 13/07/2001)
"...Mr. Li and his fisticuffs choreographer, Corey Yuan, have set a new standard for action here....The combat couldn't be better..." (New York Times, p.E13, 06/07/2001)
"...It's an assortment of kicks, somersaults and Dolby Digital bone-snaps..." (USA Today, p.5E, 06/07/2001)
"Boldly kicking ass like no ass has been kicked before, KISS OF THE DRAGON is a slick, straight-ahead action-thriller..." (Variety, p.19-28, 09/07/2001)
DVD Description
The writers of THE FIFTH ELEMENT, Luc Besson (who also directed the Bruce Willis film) and Robert Mark Kamen, have teamed up again to deliver Jet Li in the action thriller KISS OF THE DRAGON. Li stars as Liu Jiuan, a Chinese agent so dedicated to his job that he has no friends, no family, no dreams. He is sent to Paris to help the French police capture a Chinese gangster, but France's top cop, Jeanne-Pierre Richard (Tcheky Karyo), has set Liu up to take the fall for a brutal killing he himself carried out. On the run in a strange city, Liu keeps a low profile until he unwillingly becomes friends with an American hooker, Jessica (Bridget Fonda)--who just happens to hold the key to his innocence. But Richard is always one step ahead of them--he has Jessica's daughter. Li and Fonda make a great team; their relationship is at the core of the film, as neither character has ever been able to put his complete trust in another person before. The action scenes, directed by Corey Yuen, are fast and furious and very violent, featuring mesmerizing moves by Li, especially one involving a billiard ball. Chris Nahon, in his directorial debut, makes excellent use of the location, including numerous shots of famous Parisian landmarks as the bad cops try to machine-gun down Liu in the streets and sewers and on the Seine.
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