Kiss of the Dragon Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A Chinese cop visits Paris, gets framed for murder, and then uses acupuncture to give a corrupt French inspector the world’s worst headache.

🍿 Kiss of the Dragon: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Arrival in Paris and the Setup

Liu Jian (Jet Li), a skilled Chinese intelligence agent, arrives in Paris to assist in apprehending Mr. Big (Ric Young), a Chinese drug lord. He is partnered with Inspector Jean-Pierre Richard (Tchéky Karyo), a seemingly cooperative but secretly corrupt French detective. Richard sets up a meeting with Mr. Big, using prostitutes as bait, including Jessica Kamen (Bridget Fonda), an American woman forced into prostitution.

The Double-Cross

The sting operation goes horribly wrong when Richard murders Mr. Big and frames Liu for the crime. Liu escapes with a surveillance tape that proves Richard’s involvement. Now a fugitive, Liu must evade the corrupt French police and clear his name. He finds himself an unlikely ally in Jessica, who is also a victim of Richard’s manipulations – her daughter being held hostage to force her into prostitution.

Seeking Justice and Rescue

Liu and Jessica form a bond as they work together to expose Richard’s corruption and rescue Jessica’s daughter, Isabel. They face numerous obstacles, including relentless pursuit by Richard’s henchmen and the distrust of the French authorities. Jessica steals the tape from Richard’s office but is shot during an ambush at the orphanage where Isabel is held. Liu gets her to the hospital.

Confrontation and The Kiss

Driven by the need to save Isabel and ensure justice, Liu infiltrates the police station where Richard is holding Isabel. After a brutal fight, he confronts Richard, rescues Isabel, and, resorting to a deadly technique, uses an acupuncture needle to deliver the “Kiss of the Dragon,” causing a fatal brain aneurysm. With Richard defeated, Liu ensures Jessica and Isabel are reunited.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Liu Jian (Jet Li): A skilled Chinese intelligence agent who is framed for murder and must fight to clear his name.
• Jessica (Bridget Fonda): An American prostitute who helps Liu Jian and seeks to rescue her daughter from a corrupt police inspector.
• Richard (Tchéky Karyo): The corrupt and ruthless head of the French vice squad who frames Liu Jian and exploits Jessica.
• Mister Big (Ric Young): A Chinese drug lord whose murder sets off the film’s central conflict.
• Uncle Tai (Burt Kwouk): An old Chinese shopkeeper, who helps Liu.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Richard: “What did you do to me?” – Richard asks this after being struck with the ‘Kiss of the Dragon,’ not fully understanding its fatal effects.
• Liu Jian: “I put a needle in your neck.” – Liu Jian matter-of-factly explains what he did to Richard, hinting at the deadly technique he employed.
• Liu Jian: “In a certain point. Very forbidden. It’s called the Kiss of the Dragon.” – Liu Jian explains the deadly acupuncture technique to Richard as he begins to suffer its effects.
• Richard: “Kiss my ass!” – Richard’s defiant last words before succumbing to the ‘Kiss of the Dragon’.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $25,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $36,845,124
• Worldwide Gross: $64,437,847

💥 Kiss of the Dragon Reviews

Personal Review

I remember seeing this in theaters and being blown away by the action. Jet Li was incredible, and the fight choreography was some of the best I’d ever seen. The scene in the police training room was insane! Sure, the plot is a little cheesy, but it’s a fun ride, and I still enjoy watching it today for the pure adrenaline rush.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Jet Li and martial arts films”
  • “Viewers who enjoy action-packed movies with intense fight sequences”
  • “Those interested in crime thrillers set in international locations”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong and frequent violence”
  • “Graphic scenes of brutality”
  • “Mature themes including prostitution and drug use”
  • “Strong language”

Professional Reviews

• ActionMovieFanatic.com: “Kiss of the Dragon delivers exactly what you’d expect: relentless action and incredible martial arts. Jet Li is at the top of his game, and the fight choreography is brutal and inventive. While the plot is thin, the non-stop thrills make it easy to overlook.
• WorldFilmReport: “This movie doesn’t win awards for it’s story telling but makes up for it with it’s action. With intense fight scenes and stunt work that delivers an authentic martial arts experience, with realistic violence and stylish scenes. A great choice for action and martial arts fans.

Audience Reactions

The non-stop action and Jet Li’s incredible fighting skills were the best part.: Most viewers praised the intense and realistic fight scenes, particularly the ones involving martial arts and hand-to-hand combat.

Overall Consensus: Kiss of the Dragon is a high-octane action film with incredible martial arts sequences that will please action fans, despite its simplistic plot.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Jet Li co-produced the film and conceived the original story, aiming for a blend of martial arts action with strong, recognizable characters.”
• “Director Chris Nahon had to slow down the fight scene between Jet Li and Cyril Raffaelli because they were moving too fast for the camera to capture the action clearly.”
• “The style of action in this movie was heavily influenced by comments made by fans on the Jet Li website forum, who wanted more realistic fighting as in Jet Li’s movie Fist of Legend (1994).”

🖥️ How to Watch Kiss of the Dragon?

Kiss of the Dragon is available for streaming and purchase on various platforms. You can rent or buy it on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check local listings for television airings. Unfortunately, it is not currently available on subscription-based services like Netflix or Hulu.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Kiss of the Dragon, you might like these similar films:

• Lethal Weapon 4 (1998): Features Jet Li in his American debut as a villain, showcasing his martial arts skills in a buddy cop action film.
• The Transporter (2002): Another Luc Besson-produced action film set in France, featuring high-octane action and a protagonist protecting someone vulnerable.
• Taken (2008): Also written by Luc Besson, this film has a similar theme of a protagonist fighting against corrupt forces to rescue a loved one.
• District B13 (2004): Another French action film with intense martial arts and parkour, produced by Luc Besson, set in an urban environment.
• John Wick (2014): Modern action film with stylish fight choreography and a protagonist seeking revenge against powerful enemies, similar to the lone-wolf aspect of Kiss of the Dragon.

🛒 Kiss of the Dragon Related Products

• Jet Li: Fearless (Blu-ray): Experience more of Jet Li’s electrifying martial arts skills in this action-packed movie. Dive into the world of wushu and honor as Li portrays a legendary fighter.
• Bruce Lee Enter The Dragon Movie Poster: Pay homage to the martial arts legend that inspired Jet Li. This high-quality poster is a great addition to any fan’s collection.
• Acupuncture Point Chart Poster: Learn the ancient art of acupuncture, as seen in the movie. Perfect for health and well-being or just curiosity.
• Enter the Dragon (4K Ultra HD): Experience Bruce Lee’s iconic martial arts film in stunning 4K Ultra HD. This digital download allows you to own a piece of martial arts history.

🎧 Soundtrack

Kiss of the Dragon features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “As If You Said Nothing” – performed by Craig Armstrong

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Heroes of Martial Arts #4 – Jet Li (Kiss of the Dragon)

Ever wondered what a Jet Li music video would look like? This tribute to Kiss of the Dragon and his martial arts prowess is surprisingly awesome. The editor did a great job!

Kiss of the Dragon: Jet Li’s Most Intense Fight Scenes#combat #movie #film #kungfu

Want to relive the best fight scenes from Kiss of the Dragon? This quick compilation is packed with intense action that’ll get your adrenaline pumping. Honestly, Jet Li’s moves are just insane!

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