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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: 20th Century Fox
Salesrank: 64831
Released: August 27, 2002 |
| Our Price: $2.45 |
| Used Price: $1.00 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Martial arts genius Jet Li explodes onto the screen with an intensity not seen since Bruce Lee. "Kiss of the Dragon" is not merely a thriller but a shocker. (San Francisco Chronicle) China's top secret agent visits Paris on a pleasure trip only to encounter government espionage at the highest level. "Li's action sequences are like an oil fire, spilling from one room into the next and lighing up in the interiors with heat and wreakage"! (The New York Times)
Description of Kiss of the Dragon (Full Screen Edition):
Let's face it: No one is usually checking a Jet Li movie for the verbal sparring. In Kiss of the Dragon, Chinese undercover agent Li chops his way through Paris after he's framed in some sketchily defined drug sting operation. The fight sequences are tough and quite brutal, and the over-the-top finale is arguably worth the price of admission, wherein an implacable Li takes on the entire Paris Police Bureau, working his way up toward police chief Tchéky Karyo's office through cops, a pair of peroxide-blond twin henchmen, and a whole class of kung fu cadets. Co-screenwriter Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita) should know by now what makes for a nifty genre piece, but the woeful dialogue is a shame, and there aren't nearly enough action sequences to get your blood boiling. Poor Bridget Fonda gives it the old school try in a thankless role as an ex-junkie prostitute from the Midwest whose young daughter is being held captive by duplicitous police chief/drug lord/pimp Karyo (who fairly inhales the scenery). Director Chris Nolan might have pushed further the strangers-in-a-strange-land camaraderie between Li and Fonda, but the script still would've sunk him. --Steve Wiecking
Kiss of the Dragon (Full Screen Edition) Reviews:
A decent blu-ray transfer of Jet Li's... 
2009-08-01 - last decent movie. By that, I mean this one had only two scenes of 'wire-fu'.
AVS blu-ray tier forum has this correctly listed as a decent disc with OK PQ/AQ. Blu-ray .com was a little more harsh - i thought unjustifiably.
If you like Jet Li, this is a great disc to own.
the fastest hands in the east
2009-06-03 - Jet Li is probably the best martial artist/actor around.
i like the movie with good action fight scenes.
Most EXCELLENT hand2hand battle vs. Government corruption 
2009-03-19 - This is my first Jet Li production [it was on TV sinfully edited, I couldn't watch it] and I am REALLY impressed !!! The ENERGY Jet Li put into this character is AWESOME !!! When it gets going ,,, you lose your breathe ,,, and start "praying" for him to find some solace [and give me a break] !!! Un-Believable !!!
I have purchased all of Steven Seagal AND I am definitely going to add "Jet Li" to my martial arts collection of "the little guy in our fight against government corruption" !!! This is A MOST EXCELLENT FILM !!!
P.S. No kissy, kissy dingbat chick-flick sissy stuff !!! This is a man's REALITY CHECK !!! And iluvit !!!
Not Your Normal Martial Arts Fare 
2009-03-05 - Up to this film, I found most of these Hong Kong martial-arts films to be packed with action and most feature either a little humor (Jackie Chan) or beautiful scenery ("Hero," etc.) or wild special effects ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and more).....but this one features a mean edge.
I guess I'm not used to seeing Asian films with a lot of profanity (mainly f-words) or bloody scenes almost to the point of being gross, which one scene was in here. Yet: don't misunderstand: I liked this movie.
The hero is likable guy played by Jet Li. Despite his martial arts penchant for violence, he has a soft, boyish look to him and doesn't seem to fit the type. He's always the gentleman in here, with no profanity either. The villains, led by Tchecky Karyo, are brutal. Bridget Fonda, playing a hooker, at least wasn't some "Pretty Woman" type figure. She was rough, too, but at least realistic and I give her credit for not worrying about how she looked in here, beauty-wise.
Not Li's best, but enjoyable
2009-01-26 - Kiss of the Dragon is not Jet Li's best by any stretch, but still a fun movie especially for fans of Jet, and perhaps more so for action fans than for hard core martial arts fan (of which I'm one). So while this film is no Fearless or Fist of Legend, they do not lend a fair comparison as they are not the same type of movie. Where I would consider the aforementioned as 'martial arts films,' this is more of an action film. The difference being simply an action film relies on more than just martial arts, also gun play etc. Still, even as an action movie, it is heavy on martial arts, so gets much more credit than the disapointing 'War' (with Jet Li and Jason Statham).
A lot of reviews trash the story, but considering the bulk of action movies out there, I'd say it is actually a pretty good story; it just wasn't flushed out as well as it could have been.
Your interest in this movie will probably be determined by the type of action you are looking for. For the action sequences, Kiss of the Dragon is more gritty (more like Unleashed, though not as good). And while Jet displays some impressive martial arts, quick editing takes away some of the novelty, bringing more attention to the 'action' and less focus on solid scenes of the martial arts, if that makes ANY sense at all.
While this is obviously not an Oscar winning film, it's still very enjoyable. If you are in need of a good display of butt-kicking, this will be a good fix.
I bought this DVD, and have no regrets. My rating of 3 stars is simply because Jet had much better films, but that doesn't mean this one is no good. Also includes some decent special features including some clips of coreographer Corey Yeuen, Jet's philosophy of fighting, and commentary by the lead roles.
