Kiss of the Dragon Review

In "Kiss of the Dragon" martial arts superstar Jet Li teams up with French filmmaker Luc Besson, the man behind such movies as "Leon," "The Fifth Element" and "The Big Blue." Besson and Li co-produced the movie, and Besson also co-wrote the screenplay which was based on a story by Li. Something of a labour of love for the two of them then, but unfortunately one that would have been improved imeseaurably with a little more objectivity about the whole thing.

Li is China’s top agent, sent to Paris to work with the French police on a top secret mission. But he is soon betrayed by a high-powered crooked French cop, and on the run in a strange city. And that’s about it for a plot, apart from token American star Bridget Fonda’s weepy role as a single mother hoodwinked into prostitution. The film relies on sheer momentum to keep it going, with one violent set piece after another, all seemingly culminating in Jet Li finding yet another way to disarm his attackers without ever having to fire a gun. A relentless pantomime of brutal violence then, that lacks the intelligence and charm of Besson’s best movies and simply lets Jet Li deliver what his undemanding fans apparently want: mindless kick ass action.