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Kiss of the Dragon
2001 98 min France, United States of America R 18+
★6.7
Action, Crime, Thriller
Director: Chris Nahon
Trailers
Description
Liu Jian, an elite Chinese police officer, comes to Paris to arrest a Chinese drug lord. When Jian is betrayed by a French officer and framed for murder, he must go into hiding and find new allies.
Budget:
$25M
US Gross:
$36.85M
Worldwide:
$64.44M
Starring
Jet Li
Actor
Bridget Fonda
Actor
Tchéky Karyo
Actor
Awards
2 nominations total
Key opinion
Kiss of the Dragon is widely regarded as a high-octane action highlight that effectively showcases Jet Li's martial arts prowess and surprising dramatic range. While the plot is frequently dismissed as formulaic or clichéd, the film is elevated by its exceptional fight choreography and strong central performances.
| Acting | Jet Li delivers a standout performance that blends physical mastery with unexpected emotional depth and vulnerability. | |
| Acting | The fight choreography is widely praised for its athleticism, speed, and reliance on skillful combat rather than wire-work or excessive CGI. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized as unoriginal and formulaic, serving as a thin framework designed primarily to facilitate the action sequences. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the film's pacing and narrative flow are split; some find the relentless, dynamic momentum highly engaging, while others note that the plot relies on implausible coincidences to bridge the action. |