Kiss of the Dragon (2001)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Chris Nahon

Writers (WGA):

Jet Li (story)
Luc Besson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

6 July 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Kiss Fear Goodbye

Plot:

A betrayed intelligence officer enlists the aid of a prostitute to prove his innocence from a deadly conspiracy while returning a favor to her.

Plot Keywords:

Orphanage | Paris | Prostitute | Cut Arm | Acupuncture

Cast

Jet Li	...	Liu Jian
Bridget Fonda	...	Jessica Kamen
Tchéky Karyo	...	Insp. Richard
Max Ryan	...	Lupo
Ric Young	...	Mister Big
Burt Kwouk	...	Uncle Tai
Laurence Ashley	...	Aja
Cyril Raffaelli	...	Twin
Didier Azoulay	...	Twin
John Forgeham	...	Max
Paul Barrett	...	Pilot
Kentaro	...	Chen
Colin Prince	...	Lupo's Assistant
Vincent Glo	...	Pluto
Vincent Wong	...	Minister Tang

Also Known As:

KOD: Kiss of the Dragon (USA) (promotional abbreviation)
Le baiser du dragon (France) (pre-release title)
Le baiser mortel du dragon (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language, some sexuality and drug content.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English | French | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:18 | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL | USA:R (certificate #38364) | South Korea:18 | Germany:18 | Philippines:R-18 (cut) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Canada:18A (video rating) | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (original rating) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Bateaux Mouches, Seine River, Paris, France

Company:

Europa Corp.

Trivia:

In the scene were Jet Li attacks Max Ryan Lupo, they were supposed to film the dialog scene separately from the fight that follows. However, after the dialog, the director didn't say "cut", and so Jet attacked Max. The take is in the final film - along with Max Ryan's very realistic frightened expression.

Goofs:

Continuity: Having used it to set about a few people in the police station, Liu Jian drops the flag, which then jumps about the floor between shots.

Quotes:

Liu Jian: The blood from your whole body goes to your head... it stops there... never comes down. But soon, it will come out of your nose, your ears, and even your eyes... and then... you will die... painfully...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in War (2007)

Soundtrack:

Aerodynamic

Not Your Normal Martial Arts Fare

I expect most of these Hong Kong martial-arts films to be packed with action but most feature either a little humor (Jackie Chan) or beautiful scenery ("Hero," etc.) or wild special effects ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and more).....but this one features a mean edge. I'm not used to seeing these Asian films with a lot of profanity (mainly f-words) or bloody scenes almost to the point of being gross, which one scene was in here.

The hero is likable guy played by Jet Li. Despite his martial arts penchant for violence, he has a soft, boyish look to him and doesn't seem to fit the type. He's always the gentleman in here, with no profanity either. The villains, led by Tchecky Karyo, are brutal. Bridget Fonda, playing a hooker, at least wasn't some "Pretty Woman" type figure. She was rough, too, but at least realistic and I give her credit for not worrying about how she looked in here, beauty-wise.

I don't regret seeing this film. It was entertaining, but beware: it's a rough movie.