Plot: What’s it about?
Liu Jian (Jet Li) is China’s most skilled intelligence officer and above his other abilities, his honor is the strongest one he possesses. So when he ventures to Paris to assist in the capture of an Asian crime figure, he expects it to be a quick & painless process, but he has no idea what awaits him. The man in charge of the case is French Inspector Richard (Tcheky Karyo) and right from the start, Liu has uncertain feelings about him, as the man won’t even use Liu’s real name, instead insisting to call him John. The bust is to happen when two prostitutes enter the man’s hotel room, but one girl (Bridget Fonda) retires to the bathroom and the other girl begins to murder the man, so Liu leaps into action and tries to save the suspect. The French authorities don’t act as quickly and once they do take action, it is to shoot the suspect and the hooker, then begin the work on framing Liu for their deaths. Liu manages to escape with a security tape than can clear his name, but can he remain alive with the entire French police force on his trail?
I had some reservations about Kiss of Dragon, but once I left the theater, those doubts were erased, as this is one very cool motion picture. Jet Li is unleashed in fine form and is also given more than ample screen time, so this is his movie, without a doubt. The action scenes are well done and since he is being pursued by pretty much everyone, the sense of doom and tension is superb, which adds a lot to the entertainment value, of course. Those action sequences were directed by Cory Yuen (Fong Sai-Yuk, The New Legend of Shaolin), who has helmed a number of excellent action films in Asia, while first time director Chris Nahon handled the more traditional scenes. The story here is better than expected, though holes can still be found, but the flaws never hinder the flow of the film, even for a second. The visuals are impressive and Paris is shown in a way that it isn’t often seen in, which is cool also. The movie was a lot of fun, but Fox’s Blu-ray edition isn’t as much fun. The soundtrack isn’t much of an improvement and the transfer doesn’t live up to the potential of the medium. In addition, many extras were tossed out, so this just isn’t a good value. I recommend fans stick with the standard DVD version, at least until a worthy next generation edition is released.
While not a total return to form for martial arts superstar Jet Li, I do think Kiss of the Dragon is a large step in the right direction. Li takes a harder edge in this film and while he is a likable person here, he is all business and that’s how we’re used to seeing him. He still has some terrific lines and all, but he speaks with his fists and in a most welcome turn, the filmmakers allowed him to remain true to his character’s roots. Yes, he does begin to care more for others as time passes, but he stays behind a certain line and that was a very wise choice. As per usual, Li supplies a wealth of memorable action scenes and mixes weapons (often unconventional ones) into his routine at times, as well as his fists, feet, and head. Other films with Li include Fist of Legend, My Father is a Hero, Romeo Must Die, The One, and Bodyguard from Beijing. The cast also includes Bridget Fonda (Single White Female, A Simple Plan), Tcheky Karyo (The Patriot, Goldeneye), and Ric Young (The Corruptor, Chain of Command).
Video: How does it look?
Kiss of the Dragon is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. If you want to show off your high end HD television, this isn’t the disc to pop in. To be honest, this is on par with some standard definition transfers and not as good as the elite standard transfers out there. I expected crystal clear detail and immense depth, but the visuals were soft and lacked the kind of sharpness high definition should offer. Some of the softness is intentional, but since both the standard DVD and theatrical presentation were better than this, I have to put some of the blame on this new version. The colors seem off and contrast is inconsistent, this is just a troubled transfer that is sure to disappoint fans.
Audio: How does it sound?
I was impressed by the soundtrack on the standard DVD release at the time, but now the bar has been raised, so I hoped for an enhanced presentation. As it happens, the included DTS HD option just doesn’t come through like it should. This is an action movie, so the surrounds should be active and immersive, but this is a rather conservative experience. The soundtrack is good, as the elements are in passable fashion, but this should have been a loaded mix. I suppose I could have expected too much, but this one just lacked the power and depth I anticipated. The dialogue is clear and clean however and like I said, this is a good track, I just wanted a great presentation. This disc also includes a Spanish language track, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main attraction is an audio commentary track, which features director Chris Nahon, as well as stars Jet Li and Bridget Fonda. All three participants have a lot to say and seem relaxed & candid, though Li is a little apprehensive at times. Even so, the track is packed with cool tidbits and stories, with minimal silent spots to report, so I think it is a more than worthwhile session. The only other extra brought over is the film’s theatrical trailer, everything else has been scrapped.
