KISS OF THE DRAGON

France, 2001, 98 minutes, Colour.
Jet Li, Bridget Fonda, Tcheky Karyo, Max Ryan, Burt Kwouk.
Directed by Chris Nahon.

Kiss of the Dragon is based on a story by Jet Li and the screenplay from Luc Besson (Subway, The Fifth Element). It is a formulaic plot but gives the opportunity for Jet Li to show his martial arts prowess.

Li portrays a Hong Kong agent sent to Paris to try to discover a drug kingpin. He encounters the French police inspector played by Tcheky Karyo – who turns out to be the major villain. Also in the plot is a prostitute whose daughter is held hostage by the police inspector.

Jet Li brings some warmth to this character. Bridget Fonda is a cut above average as the prostitute. Tcheky Karyo makes a credible villain – as a character rather than in his being responsible for all the crime in Paris, so it seems.

1.The popularity of Jet Li? This kind of European story? China in France? Martial arts? Drug issues? Police investigations?

2.The Paris settings, taking advantage of the city? The interiors, his uncle’s shop? The police precincts? Apartments? The musical score?

3.The set sequences, the murders of the businessmen? The fights? In his uncle’s shop? The chases in the streets? The final confrontation?

4.The title, the needle? In Richard’s neck, paralysed, death?

5.The basic premise: the international drug scene, the Chinese links, the businessmen, their meetings? The control of the French police?

6.Inspector Richard, his character, relationship with Jessica, taking her daughter? His setting up the Chinese inspector? Pursuing him? His henchmen? Unlimited thugs? His confrontations, his meeting with Jessica, not believing her, handcuffing her? With her daughter? The final confrontation and his death?

7.The inspector, character, completely dedicated to his work? In Paris, the initial set-up for murder? The pursuit and chases? His uncle’s advice? The attack of the pimp, the fight with the pimp? Jessica, sewing his wound? His getting her help, promising to get her daughter? Her being shot, hospital? His finally getting the little girl, the pursuit in the building, the final confrontation with Richard?

8.Jessica, her background story, drugs, her daughter, Richard helping, getting her into prostitution, the pimp? Waiting outside the shop, sewing the wound? Helping the inspector? Her daughter, being shot? The handcuffs and her getting loose? The hospital?

9.The background of crime, the toughs, the fights? Credible enough for this kind of action thriller?