Kiss of the Dragon (2001)

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

Director:

Chris Nahon

Writers:

Jet Li (story), Luc Besson (screenplay)

Stars:

Jet Li, Bridget Fonda, Tchéky Karyo

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

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?

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Plot Keywords:

chinese | action hero | one man army | forced prostitution | title spoken by character | 

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Taglines:

Kiss Fear Goodbye

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Fox

Country:

France USA

Language:

English French Mandarin

Release Date:

6 July 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

KOD: Kiss of the Dragon

Filming Locations:

Bateaux Mouches, Seine River, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,304,027, 8 July 2001, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$36,845,124

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$27,592,723

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox,EuropaCorp,Quality Growth International Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

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.

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Goofs

The hotel receptionist takes his glasses off after giving Liu Jian the envelope addressed to 'Mr Smith' but the next time we see him, they are back on and he is taking them off again.

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Quotes

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

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Alternate Versions

The Trailer shows some scenes not included in the final Movie

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Connections

References Taxi (1998)

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Soundtracks

Lapdance
(Pharrell Williams / Chad Hugo / Malice (as Gene Thornton))
Performed by N.E.R.D. featuring Lee Harvey and Vita "Lapdance"
Published by EMI Blackwood Music Inc. o/b/o itself and Waters Of
Nazareth (BMI) / EMI April Music Inc. o/b/o itself and Chase Chad
Music (ASCAP) / Cenmare Publishing (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Virgin Records America, Inc.

User Reviews

Extraordinary Martial Arts Film

The action scenes in "Kiss of the Dragon" are outstanding. The skill of the players, and their direction is nonpareil. One doesn't see any of the little scenes where two or three fighters are jumping up and down waiting for their cues. Pay attention to the fight scene in the police training room. I think its the best I've seen. A trademark of Jet Li films seems to be a display of the highest quality martial arts. His skills, and those of his antagonists, provide detailed and polished confrontations that are simply thrilling. And I love those needles!

The pace of the film is excellent too. The action just keeps coming. There is just enough talking and character interaction to keep the plot alive and well. Bridget Fonda manages well in a role I think was not really designed for her. She is one of those actors who always finds her character and makes it work.

The film is violent, to be sure. And the bad guys are the worst. Their blatant, public methods are almost too much to believe. Still, the pace of the action leaves one little time to ponder details. One element I wish the director had left out is Jet Li dodging about a thousand rounds of full auto gunfire. Everyone seems compelled to shoot such scenes, but two guns raking rounds across the hotel lobby could not possibly miss. It is virtually enfilade fire, and no one could get through that. Otherwise, the firearms action was believable and thrilling to watch.

Even the music, though not my style, seems to work well with the action. The director puts it all together in a wild ride I can recommend to any action film fan.