Kiss of the Dragon

Kiss of the Dragon arrives as an action film directed by Chris Nahon, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jet Li and Bridget Fonda give Kiss of the Dragon a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Kiss of the Dragon comes into focus without a long explanation: A betrayed intelligence officer enlists the aid of a prostitute to prove his innocence from a deadly conspiracy while returning a favor to her. Across its 1h 38m running time, Chris Nahon keeps Kiss of the Dragon alive in individual scenes and uncertain between them.

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The narrative of Kiss of the Dragon works from a simple but productive collision between the central character and an important relationship. Through Jet Li, Kiss of the Dragon keeps that premise rooted in a reaction the audience can understand. Jet Li introduces a difficult choice at a useful point, giving Kiss of the Dragon a reason to change pace without abandoning its emotional line. The handling of the wider conflict is not equally fresh, yet Kiss of the Dragon usually earns attention through clarity rather than surprise alone.

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As director of Kiss of the Dragon, Chris Nahon proves alive in individual scenes and uncertain between them in the transitions between intimate material and larger demands. A strong scene in Kiss of the Dragon often begins with a modest detail before Chris Nahon lets its meaning expand. For Kiss of the Dragon, the cast and craft keep the experience watchable because the central tone remains visible even during busy passages. The weakness in Kiss of the Dragon is that too many scenes explain effects the actors have already suggested, although Chris Nahon usually finds the original rhythm again.

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Performance is the clearest human asset in Kiss of the Dragon, beginning with the committed centre provided by Jet Li. Bridget Fonda keeps Kiss of the Dragon from settling into one emotional register by approaching the material from another angle. The presence of Tchéky Karyo gives the surrounding world of Kiss of the Dragon additional texture without distracting from the main line. When Chris Nahon holds on a reaction, Kiss of the Dragon communicates more efficiently than another explanatory exchange could manage.

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Kiss of the Dragon uses its action film framework to consider responsibility under pressure and the cost of impulsive courage. For the character played by Jet Li, that idea gives Kiss of the Dragon stakes beyond the next immediate obstacle. The recurring pressure of an important relationship prevents the theme in Kiss of the Dragon from feeling like decoration added after the story. Chris Nahon makes Kiss of the Dragon more thoughtful whenever the implications remain inside action and reaction.

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Kiss of the Dragon gains much of its identity from set pieces with a clear sense of place, a choice that makes the world readable as well as attractive. The contribution of Twentieth Century Fox allows Kiss of the Dragon to combine set pieces with a clear sense of place with a consistent visual language. Within its France setting, Kiss of the Dragon makes particularly good use of physical momentum when the story needs to change scale. Sound and editing preserve the personality of Kiss of the Dragon by supporting detail instead of announcing every intended response.

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For action fans who want spectacle tied to recognisable stakes, Kiss of the Dragon is ultimately an uneven film with enough personality to remain interesting. Its most persuasive combination in Kiss of the Dragon brings Jet Li together with physical momentum under the direction of Chris Nahon. The fact that too many scenes explain effects the actors have already suggested prevents Kiss of the Dragon from being entirely seamless. Even with that reservation, Kiss of the Dragon has a clear point of view and enough genuine feeling to justify the journey.