Kiss of The Dragon Review - By PiB
Rated: 18/R
Warning - Spoilers
Corruption, set-ups, drugs, murder and violence all feature highly here. A top Chinese cop Liu Jian, arrives in France to assist with a top French detective and his crew involved with busting a Chinese drugs ring.
Things are not as they seem very early on in the story as Jet Li's character nicknamed *Johnny*, meets the detective he is working with pummeling someone into the floor of a kitchen.
Smartly dressed (as any Frenchman is), with connections all over the city and dangerous to boot Tcheky Karyo's character Richard makes for a compelling villain. A smooth talker, uninhibited by morals and someone who is unafraid to do what others will not, this turtle lover (this fact, odd though it is, simply adds to Richards remarkable ethos) is one to watch justso you can see what twists and turns he will make next.
Guns a-plenty, hookers almost everywhere you look and I haven't even mentioned the fantastic martial arts which Jet Li provides with such expertise it makes you gasp.
The girl, Jessica who is the glue of the central plot (played by Bridget Fonda) is an American, seduced by Richards promises, is brought over to France but forced to give up her daughter for drugs and prostitution.
Richard intends to frame *Johnny* for the murder of a major drug lord and damn near succeeds until one of his own vice squad screws up. Johnny, however is not so easy to push over and ends up helping Jessica along the way to proving his own innocence.
Violence a-plenty, favors offered, favors returned and such a conflict of morals you wouldn't know which religious guide to turn to.
Richard is on a huge power trip for most of the movie, controls everything he can and when something is out of his grasp, he reacts violently. Yet there are many levels to this character which Karyo brings. Power hungry, possible favoritism, blood thirsty and the owner of a pet turtle.
Aided by two typically German looking martial arts brothers who provide the meat and potatoes to Jet Li's fight sequences so that no martial arts fan will be left wanting.
Deft chunks of R&B float through on the soundtrack whilst catching your eye on some of the more varied parts of France. Luc Besson's style here still shines through even though he is only a producer but the director Chris Nahon brings his own edge. Brilliant angles in the fight sequences and fantastic shots that just make you want to get closer to the screen.
All in all, not an A-list movie, but one with enough bullets and fights to whet the appetite.
