Dir: Chris Nahon. Starring: Jet Li, Brdget Fonda, Tchery Karyo.
It has always been a concern for any martials arts fan, and any fan of the relative movie genres, 'Kung Fu' 'Chop Socky' and 'Chop Suey', how the brilliance of the films made in the East never gets translated to the films of the West, with a few exceptions.
Chow Yun Fat has starred in stylish but not forthcoming thrillers like "Hard Boiled" and "The Replacement Killers." Jackie Chan delivers OK movies from "Rush Hour" onwards, whilst those in the know reminisce gleefully to his glory days in the "Police Story" series and "Drunken Master". And then there's Jet Li. Widely regarded by most (myself included) as part of the Holy trinity of Kung Fu stars, which include Chan and Bruce Lee. He has starred in such staggering films as "Fist of Legend", "Once upon a time.." series, and "The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk" (now known as 'The Legend'), but has also starred in some average/ropey yarns like "Hitman" and "Romeo Must Die".
However, there has recently appeared to be a reversal of fortune for Li, following the success of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". "Kiss of the Dragon" is produced by one of the few artistic geniuses in the film industry: Luc Besson. Granted, some of his films do not appeal to all: "The Big Blue", "Fifth Element", but his best known works , "Nikita" "Leon" and the under-rated "Subway" and
Li plays "Jonny" proclaimed by bigoted chief of police and ritual bad guy Tchery Karyo, of "Bad Boys" fame. Jonny is hired as surveillance for a gang of corrupt cops, who attempt to frame him for the murder of some diplomats having a more relaxing time during their business trip. Jonny finds himself going undercover, protected by safehouse-keeper Burt Kwouk, and Assistant Director to the Chinese Embassy. Jonny also finds himself befriending single mother and prostitute/drug addict Bridget Fonda, who witnessed the murders of the diplomats, but finds herself controlled by Karyo, who is holding her daughter as a bargainning tool. Jonny attempts to rescue her daughter, compromising his life despite his desire to act as lone wolf.
Li's perofrmance is breathtakingly enigmatic, Bridget Fonds is in resurgent form, and Karyo proves to be a believable bad guy. All that combined with the blistering fight scenes, which focus on Li's skills, rather than over-using props (like recent Jackie Chan movies) and works as a story, without looking like standard martial arts fare by Van Damme, Brandon Lee in "Rapid Fire", and any of Steven Segal's stuff. Not a patch on the aforementioned "Once upon a time in China" series Directed by Tsui Hark, and indeed a lot of Eastern films. However, it is certainly impressive by Western Standards.
At least it's no Shanghai Noon!
Craig Aston.
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