Starring: Jet Li, Bridget Fonda, Tcheky Karyo, Cyril Raffaelli, Didier Azoulay
Directed by: Chris Nahon

Before you ask; yes, the new Jet Li movie Kiss of the Dragon (KoD) contains martial arts and yes, the title does have something to do with it. In fact, the actual 'kiss of the dragon' is one of the few bright spots in international action star Jet Li's lastest flic.

Set in Paris, France, Jet Li plays Liu Jian, a Beijing police officer sent to the city of lights to assist Richard (played by Thecky Karyo) and the French police in a top-secret investigation (secret to the point where it isn't even fully explained). However, Liu Jian is framed when Richard murders the man they are investigating. Now Liu Jian is trying to clear his name, while helping Jessica (played by Bridget Fonda). Jessica was Richard's friend, but after leaving with him to France, she has been forced into a life of prostitution. Richard is holding Jessica's daughter hostage, and Liu Jian agrees to help her.

The action is two-fold. Gunplay and hand-to-hand combat both appear in KoD. I personally don't like to see both forms in a movie, but director Chris Nahon wisely separates one from the other. Gunplay dominates the first half the movie (Goldeneye fans who remember wielding double-Phantoms will be pleased), but eventually Jet Li shows off his moves in several, albeit largely uninspired fight sequences. Unfortunately, Chris Nahon chose some very confined locations, so the choreography and breadth of moves is severely limited.

However, one scene in a police station, pitting Jet Li against twenty or so officers in the middle of a judo lesson, was clever and funny. The ensuing faceoff between Jet Li against Cyril Raffaelli, and Didier Azoulay was pretty standard, while Liu Jian displays the ultimate finishing move, the kiss of the dragon, in the final faceoff between him and Richard.

There are a few scenes of the movie that will leave you confused. Nothing major, but enough to ask yourself 'what was that all about?'. In fact, their inclusions are almost comical. A couple of scenes in particular stand out. One takes place at the beginning of the movie, where some guy gets beat up badly for no apparent reason. Another involves a fight sequence where Jet Li's opponent appears almost literally out of nowhere.

In short, Kiss of the Dragon isn't the most exciting Jet Li movie out there. But the fight scenes and the 'kiss of the dragon' move definitely save it from the fate of other bang-bang action movies.

ASY
Nine