Kiss of the Dragon (2001)
Kiss of the Dragon (Le Baiser mortel du dragon in French) is a 2001 French-American action film directed by Chris Nahon, written and produced by French filmmaker Luc Besson, and starring an international cast of Jet Li, Bridget Fonda, and Tchéky Karyo. Li purposefully wanted to take a realistic approach to the fight scenes, and forgo the CGI and wire work that had been popularized by films such as Charlie’s Angels and The Matrix.[3] It is notable as most of the action sequences did not use CGI or wire work; only two scenes required CGI enhancement and only one scene involved wire work.
Plot
Liu Jian (Jet Li), a Chinese intelligence agent, is sent to Paris to help the French authorities apprehend Chinese mob boss Mr. Big (Ric Young), who is involved in heroin smuggling. He meets Inspector Jean-Pierre Richard (Tchéky Karyo), a corrupt and violent police detective, at a hotel. Richard tricks Liu into believing he is simply providing reconnaissance of a meet involving Mr. Big. During the operation, Mr. Big is introduced to two female prostitutes, one being Jessica Kamen (Bridget Fonda), an American woman, who he takes
back to his room for… While Liu and the rest are watching through the surveillance camera, Mr. Big kicks everyone out except for the two women. After pretending to seduce him, the other prostitute stabs Mr. Big. Overseeing the events from another room, Liu rushes in and subdues the prostitute. He then attempts to call for help to save Mr. Big’s life, but Richard enters shortly after, shooting Mr. Big and the woman with Liu’s police-issued handgun, framing Liu for both murders. Jessica hides in the bathroom during the commotion.
Realizing he has been set up, Liu manages to escape from the hotel with a surveillance tape showing Richard shooting Mr. Big. After the events, Chinese liaisons are sent to France to investigate the matter, as Richard makes Liu the primary suspect. However, the liaisons do not believe the story Richard provides. Liu meets with one of them on a ferry and passes him the tape, revealing the truth. However, Richard’s men spot them, and the liaison is assassinated. Liu is then forced to flee from a horde of cops and GIGN commandos. After Liu escapes, he is forced to maintain a low profile.
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Cast:
- Jet Li as Inspector Liu Jian
- Bridget Fondaas Jessica Kamen
- Tchéky Karyo as Jean-Pierre Richard
- Ric Youngas “Mr. Big” Sung
- Burt Kwoukas Uncle Tai
- Max Ryanas Lupo
- Kentaro as Chen
- Laurence Ashley as Aja
- Cyril Raffaellias Twin
- Didier Azoulay as Twin
- John Forgehamas Inspector Max
- Paul Barrett as Pilot
- Colin Prince as Lupo’s Assistant
- Vincent Glo as “Pluto”
- Vincent Wongas Minister Tang