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Kiss of the Dragon (2001)

 -  Action | Crime | Thriller  -  6 July 2001 (USA)
6.5
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Ratings: 6.5/10 from 40,057 users   Metascore: 58/100
Reviews: 240 user | 107 critic | 26 from Metacritic.com

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

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(story), (screenplay), 1 more credit »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
...
Mister Big
...
Uncle Tai
...
Aja
...
Twin
Didier Azoulay ...
Twin
John Forgeham ...
Max
...
Pilot
Kentaro ...
Chen
Colin Prince ...
Lupo's Assistant
Vincent Glo ...
Pluto
Vincent Wong ...
Minister Tang
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Storyline

Liu Jian, a police officer from China, comes to Paris to help the vice squad apprehend a Chinese drug lord and his unknown French connection. The French connection is Richard, the head of the vice squad, who intends to kill the drug lord then frame Jian. Jian ducks a bullet and escapes with a tape of what really happened. By chance, Jian turns to Jessica - a US farm girl who is one of Richard's hookers - for help. She has her own problems, including the fact that Richard has her daughter locked in an orphanage to keep Jessica on the streets and silent about his activities. Can Jian protect Jessica, rescue her daughter, and give Richard the kiss of the dragon? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Kiss Fear Goodbye See more »

Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, language, some sexuality and drug content | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

|

Language:

| |

Release Date:

6 July 2001 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

KOD: Kiss of the Dragon  »

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£478,811 (UK) (9 November 2001)

Gross:

£1,324,608 (UK) (23 November 2001)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

|

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Chris Nahon had to slow down the fight scene between Jet Li and Cyril Raffaelli because they were moving too fast for the camera. See more »

Goofs

When Liu Jian meets Jessica for the first time, he lets her use the bathroom in the shop. When she comes out of the bathroom, she sits down and eats Liu Jian's food with her fingers, yet does not touch the bowl with her mouth. After shes gone, Liu Jian inspects the bowl and see's her lipstick on the edge of the dish yet her mouth never touched the dish. See more »

Quotes

Jessica: How long did I sleep?
Liu Jian: Only a minute.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in War (2007) See more »

Soundtracks

"Shake Ya Ass"
(Chad Hugo / Mystikal (as Michael Tyler) / Pharrell Williams)
Performed by Mystikal
Published by EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI) / Waters Of Nazareth
Music (BMI) / EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP) / Chase Chad Music (ASCAP) /
The Braid Publishing (Adm. by Zomba Enterprises Inc.) (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Jive Records
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
A Martial Arts Action Film Done Right
30 June 2001 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

Liu Jian (aka "Johnny") is a top level cop from Bejing on temporary assignment in Paris to aid French police in a sting operation to take down a Chinese heroine kingpin. But things go bad and a double-cross ensues, leaving Liu Jian framed for murder and running for his life. One is thing certain, though, our hero won't be taken without a fight... a really good fight... and a few more after that. Luc Besson's screenplay isn't exactly creative, but given the genre, it's pretty darn good. I know I sure sighed with relief that Liu Jian (played with subtle excellence by Jet Li) wasn't driven by some emotionally haunting past, like the death of a wife and child, as is so typical in super-cop action films. In fact, we get just the opposite--a man who simply loves his job and does it very well, but is still human enough to make mistakes, feel pain and make realistic choices (well, mostly).

The story isn't without its flaws, however. Mindless thugs do play their part and there is an utterance of the most over-used villain line of all time: "Bring him to me alive; I'll deal with him myself" (or something to that affect). But somehow, it doesn't sound quite so corny coming from actor Tcheky Karyo (as Inspector Jean-Pierre Richard), who manages to play the heartless villain with a great deal of intelligence. Rounding out the cast is Bridget Fonda's Jessica, the prostitute with a good heart and, yes, a young daughter in jeopardy. But despite its few formulaic shortcomings, Kiss of the Dragon still delivers.

What really stands out in this film is the way the fight sequences flow with the rest of the story, unlike so many other movies that seem to be constructed around a few preconceived action scenes. It's a martial arts action film done right. Thanks to the superb direction of Chris Nahon, Kiss of the Dragon is classy, well paced and gives us a near perfect blend of drama and levity (no ridiculous one-liners here, but definitely some laughs along the way). Best of all, Nahon engages the audience and makes the story work to a reasonable level of believability.


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The plot is so unrealistic! bbc100
Does Jet Li GET IT ON?? babyxdimps
this movie bored the ****out of me gk32724
Jet Li's uncle? bbc100
Worst Extra In Film History!!!!! paharan
The twin five_warriors
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