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When I saw this movie in it's original release last year I knew I'd have to own a DVD copy, and the wait was well worth it! The film actually looks and sounds better than my recollections. Kiss of the Dragon couldn't be more international in scope: it's star is Chinese (Jet Li), it's main actress is American (Bridget Fonda), it's producer is French (Luc Besson) as is it's Director (Chris Nahon). The movie is filmed in France with a fast-paced American action film style and it works very well indeed.This fish-out-of-water story is quite simple and may even seem a bit routine to those familiar with the action genre (i.e., it has tried and true elements such as the set-up cop, the abused hooker with a heart of gold, the corrupt police commander involved in drug smuggling), but ...and I do mean BUT, I've never seen it done better or handled with more respect for the audience than in this film. There are few, if any, logic flaws and even when something threatens to be over the top plausibility-wise as is often the tendency in French films (i.e., especially those productions involving Luc Besson) it's quickly reined in by Director Nahon. Very impressive is the fact that the story opens rather matter-of-factly, without a prologue, set-up or other audience pandering convention.
The filming is well paced, fast and furious. Nahon's tightly cut shots manage to capture almost all of Li's moves with only the very rare use of slo-mo (i.e., slow motion effects are often pretencious and terribly over utilized in most action and dramatic films; in martial arts such effects slow the pace and detract from the impressiveness of stunts attempted). There is only one CGI shot employed in the whole movie, Jet Li did all of his own stunts (many quite dangerous) and while the action is correographed it's quite apparent that Mr. Li is just as competant in his martial arts techniques in reality.
Supplemental material includes a great little making of documentary and superb interview with the personable Li who's surprisingly much friendlier and even more down to earth than the highly likeable Jackie Chan. In a couple of segments the staging of choreography is shown. There's also a commentary track with the two stars and Director which should be interesting and fun.
Perhaps this seems like a lot of attention to give to a modest action film just released on DVD, but as entertainment goes (reprising a funny line that was used to promote action movies on one of the cable networks years ago), "it ain't Bergman, but things blow up!"
Cheers,
AuPh
Follow Ups:
"Inspector Clouseau's residence." "Not now, Cato, you fool!"People in the theater were saying those lines and busting up watching this movie.
The audience in the theater where I saw "Kiss of the Dragon" was very respectful of the film's foreign origins; not only that, but quite a few folks seemed openly enthusiastic, albeit not noisey. At least that was my perspective, since there was n'ary a giggle the whole movie and even a bit of applause at the end. I hate to think how the jokers in your neck of the woods must've reacted when they saw "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Sheeeesh!Oh well, thanks for your input, Steve.
AuPh
At a late night showing (on opening day), there were a lot of distractions. The college kids sneaked in their bottles of potent potables, a Tae Kwon Do school was giving a live demo in the lobby, and we had a bomb threat that closed the parking lot and all street traffic. All that about a mile away from the Pontifical College Josephinum, the only U.S. college run by the Vatican.
Come to think of it, back in my college 'daze' when just about everybody was imbibing of aromatic substances I'm pretty sure some of the college kids, myself included, indulged in some rather obnoxious "Mystery Science Theater" style movie critiqueing. Anyway, I'm glad the folks you saw "Kiss of the Dragon" with weren't the "Joe Dirt" crowd. You see, my wife and I happened to be at a multiplex watching a movie that happened to be next to a screening of "Joe Dirt" and we almost couldn't hear the film we'd come to see for all the raunchy noise next door -- even with the volume cranked! Note: I don't think it was the movie bleeding through either! We came to the conclusion that they probably were the same folks who regularly attend WWF matches.Cheers,
AuPh
I saw the movie and noticed the crowd to be very interested. There were no outbursts or people laughing during the movie, except for the part when Jet Li walked into the martial arts class -- I believe this was meant to get a laugh from the crowd. One reason I like HT is that you don't have to put up with crap from the public. Act up in my house and that's your ass.
Where we live (D/FW metroplex) we have a melting pot environment and most theater goers, at leat in our community, seem interested in treating the cinema with some degree of respect. It's not up to the level of a play or orchestra performance, but generally polite and without overt distractions.AuPh
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