Jet Li is the Man. Without Jet Li, Chris Nahon' "Kiss of the Dragon" would be a forgettable action exercise. To his credit director, Chris Nahon, brings to the screen the most realistic, controlled, brutal, and unforgiving martial arts fight sequences to date-- "Enter the Dragon" quality. And the Bruce Lee comparison to Li does apply. There is no wasted motion here. All the fight sequences, particularly one set in the martial arts dojo, are concise, expedient, and without mercy. It's what martial arts is intended to be given that the best choice is not to fight at all, if not then it is to end the fight quickly and definitively. Jet Li executes with speed, power, and precision. He is world class. He is not pulling his blows much-- if any. Li has a powerful screen presence. What works for him is the understated persona, and someone you just don't f--- with. When his character, "Johnny" says "Don't do that again...", only a fool wouldn't listen. Good for the movie, there are a lot of stupid people in it
The story by Li, along with Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, starts off simple, then more or less becomes background. Li plays a Beijing cop Liu Jian, on assignment in Paris to investigate a Chinese businessman. Jian (or Johnny) is framed for the murder of the businessman by the French cop heading the investigation, Richard (Tcheky Karyo). Through a chance encounter, Johnny befriends the hooker who witnessed the murder- this is Jessica played sympathetically and effectively by Bridget Fonda. Fonda looks great here-- even playing a hooker. Turns out that Jessica is a heroin junkie strung out on Investigator Richard's payroll, who is also holding her daughter. Johnny must clear his name and gives Jessica his word that he will save her daughter. This is just great hero stuff... There is an quiet moment in the movie where Jessica says to Johnny, "I trusted you..."--i.e. 'you disappointed me.' Being a man of honor, he will honor his word like life or death.
This maybe Jet Li's breakthrough movie. His Johnny is a quiet man of his word, and someone who is willing to die for it. He is a classic hero here. Bridget Fonda gives depth to a thinly written character-- she plays it with heart and smarts. All around this a good summer movie. Be in awe of the prowess and talents of Jet Li, and don't think about the story too much... Really...
The story by Li, along with Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, starts off simple, then more or less becomes background. Li plays a Beijing cop Liu Jian, on assignment in Paris to investigate a Chinese businessman. Jian (or Johnny) is framed for the murder of the businessman by the French cop heading the investigation, Richard (Tcheky Karyo). Through a chance encounter, Johnny befriends the hooker who witnessed the murder- this is Jessica played sympathetically and effectively by Bridget Fonda. Fonda looks great here-- even playing a hooker. Turns out that Jessica is a heroin junkie strung out on Investigator Richard's payroll, who is also holding her daughter. Johnny must clear his name and gives Jessica his word that he will save her daughter. This is just great hero stuff... There is an quiet moment in the movie where Jessica says to Johnny, "I trusted you..."--i.e. 'you disappointed me.' Being a man of honor, he will honor his word like life or death.
This maybe Jet Li's breakthrough movie. His Johnny is a quiet man of his word, and someone who is willing to die for it. He is a classic hero here. Bridget Fonda gives depth to a thinly written character-- she plays it with heart and smarts. All around this a good summer movie. Be in awe of the prowess and talents of Jet Li, and don't think about the story too much... Really...