Kiss of the Dragon

This was originally appended to the "A.I." review, but I like it so it gets its own spot:

"Kiss of the Dragon" or "The Dragon's Kiss" or "Enter the Return of the Kissing Dragon" or whatever it's called is the new Jet Li film, in which he speaks English (reasonably well, too). And what better way to mark this milestone than by starring in a film set in Paris? Specifically, it is set in Luc Besson's Paris, a Paris full of whores and tough dudes and more whores and beautiful architecture and a few additional whores. Although "Kiss of the Dragon" was not directed by Besson, it was co-scripted and produced by him, and he apparently found some director (I forget who) who was willing to direct just like him, lovingly photographing graphic violence and numerous ladies of the evening. Bridget Fonda plays one whore whose main function is to ensure that fewer fights are necessary to get an hour and a half out of this material. The plot is ludicrous, even on first inspection. But oblivious to it all is Li, whose acrobatic and rousingly violent fights are worth a look by any of you who got interested when you read the phrase "acrobatic and rousingly violent fights" (or, possibly, "a few additional whores"). He is the finest pure martial artist onscreen today, and late at night on a breezy summer evening, that should be all you need. Bring a Walkman for Fonda's scenes.

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