kiss of the dragon (2001) review
The typical action movie is content to be loud and dumb and not much else. Kiss of the Dragon dares to be different. The film stars Jet Li, his very presence a special effect not unlike Bruce Lee before him. Most would consider Li an action star on the level of Lee, Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen and he's certainly earned such praise. Li moves so fast and with such confidence it appears his would-be assailants are moving through molasses. The fight choreography is frenetic and you can see and feel the thwack of every punch and roundhouse due to director Chis Nahon's willingness not to cut every 3 seconds or utilize shaky cam. For action stunt wonks like myself, there is a lot here to enjoy. They say styles make fights so It helps that the film goes out of its way to showcase multiple martial art types as well as stunt actors both small and comically large, many of which contrast interestingly with Li's slight build and more traditional Wing Chun fighting style. Li's character operates within the tired action movie trope of "retired shadowy operative pulled back into a life of violence" but he is able to inject a measure of humanity and relatability to the character. It gives the action scenes a great deal of additional stakes. In addition to some of the best fight scenes you’ll ever see, KOTD is heartfelt, funny, warm and extremely satisfying in how it ties up and pays off the fairly simple story. Li and co-star Bridget Fonda (remember her?) go through a beautifully acted arc that is simmering yet platonic. French actor Tcheky Karyo is terrifyingly violent as the films antagonist and foil for Li. I’m quite curious if the kiss of the dragon we see in the film exists in real life. I sure hope not. Final thought: This film reminds me of The Equalizer. Both Li and Denzel Washington's characters share the same backstory and samurai-like focus on helping the helpless. The only real difference is the setting.
KOTD receives a score of 8/10 for general audiences and a 9/10 for fight fans that also appreciate a touching story.