Release Date: July 6, 2001
Starring: Jet Li, Bridget Fonda, Tcheky Karyo
Directed by: Chris Nahon
Written by: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox Films
MPAA Rating: R (violence, language, sexual and drug content)
No, the Dragon is not hidden in this movie, but a definitive plot sure is. As Jet Li strikes back, once again, in this stylish martial arts action tale directed by first timer Chris Nahon, nothing more than a healthy tolerance for Jet Li and the movies he makes will you get out of this one liner of a story.
Martial arts expert Jet Li (Romeo Must Die) stars as Liu Jiuan, a Chinese intelligence officer who is a jack of all trades, except of course good English. He travels from Beijing to help the best investigator in Paris, Inspector Richard (Tcheky Karyo, The Patriot), protect a Chinese witness. As you might guess, not too far in, all hell breaks loose and Inspector Richard proves to be more evil than good. Enter a prostitute named Jessica (Bridget Fonda), who hates her job and longs for her daughter more than anything -- the very same daughter that the evil Richard is holding as ransom against Jessica's silence. She befriends Liu in order to put Richard in his place -- which means that Liu is pretty much on his own to bring truth and justice to light in Paris.
Director Nahon sure took an ambitious start in the directing field. A fast-paced martial arts thriller is not exactly a film easily directed, but Nahon's best move -- the one I'm most thankful for -- is that he did not touch any of the special effects that The Matrix has oppressed upon Hollywood.
And, despite a few chuckles resulting from the very played action genre, I was pleased and in awe at the moves at which the talented Jet Li possesses. Even though we may have seen these moves in his other films, somehow he always manages to come off as fresh as a newly baked donut. The film gets underway relatively quickly, and without much ado, we're presented with the first of several kick butt/shoot-em-up scenes -- all of which are, as ever, dazzling on the big screen.
However, if you're tired of seeing Li in the same old roles, doing the same old moves, then take this film like a grain of salt. He may be emerging as our new Bruce Lee -- he is a good guy with a mean face and a lot of talent to be flaunted onscreen -- but in Kiss, like the rest of his movies, there is little or no story (or what story there exists is no good) and the choreography is all over the place with the same, predictable moves.
But while the plot will be recycled and probably run through a paper shredder, it is never really about the story. It's about a good, old-fashioned butt-kicking. The fight choreographer, Corey Yuen, truly has a knack for putting the right people in the right situations. His résumé includes films like X-Men, Romeo Must Die, and Lethal Weapon 4, and it speaks for itself -- the fight scenes will truly help the viewer to enjoy this movie.
Li's broken English grows a little wearisome, although occasionally his one-liners were enjoyable for that very reason. This probably was not what screenwriters Luc Besson or Robert Mark Kamen (The Fifth Element) wanted, but they got it. In the meantime, they failed to put together some sort of purpose for the film besides the obvious revenge/truth will prevail mix that all martial arts films seem to have, but I can only hope that next time they leave out the hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold character. The dead plot is tolerable to a point, but throwing in a desperate, crying, pathetic love interest is inexcusable.
But, above all else, Kiss of the Dragon is a guy flick. It has guy flick written all over it, so they do not need the sappy Ms. Fonda for semi-melodramatic scenes that should have been left in Steel Magnolias. The film delivers on action and comedy, but not on the thrilling, intringuing aspect they may have been hoping for with the Dragon.
all contents © 2001 Michael J. Eiff