Kiss of the Dragon (2001)

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:

Prostitute | Orphanage | Jump From Window | Hiding Under Bed | Eiffel Tower Paris

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:

The style of action in this movie was heavily influenced by comments made during series of messages posted by fans on the Jet Li website forum, immediately after the release of Romeo Must Die (2000) in the United States. The fans wanted more realistic fighting as in Jet Li's movie Jing wu ying xiong (1994) (Fist of Legend).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning when Liu Jian attempts to escape the French and breaks the door open after going down one level, he closes the glass door into the balcony. But when Richard and his men go into that room the balcony door is open.

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 "Tatort: Verraten und verkauft (#1.573)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

As If You Said Nothing

Bruce Lee nostalgia

I was hoping this movie to be better than 'Romeo Must Die' and I was not disappointed. I truly believe this is Jet Li's English coming out movie (too bad it was released in the summer when other bigger movies come out).

I did not go to see the movie for the story line and those who don't won't be disappointed either. The action was great especially the final scenes. Bridget Fonda did not do much (found her irritating in some scenes) but then again, did not watch the movie because she was there.

Believable, maybe not ... Jet Li as the new Bruce Lee, most definitely!

8/10