Jet Li isnt Bruce Lee. And its a good thing if youre a movie fan. Jet Li is much more interesting to watch. Instead of seeing a permanent scowl, like the one attached to Bruces face, Jet Lis countenance is super subtle, mobile, and complex. You can see him trying to restrain himself, waging inner battles that call for tremendous restraint. Staring forward, trying to appear impassive and inscrutable, Jet Li speaks volumes about his characters. By comparison, Bruce Lees characters are open books with far too little written inside. Kiss of the Dragon is a Jet Li story. He created the plot, the concept, and he has a good grasp of what it means to develop a hero. Generally, heroes are RELUCTANT. Theyre not looking for a fight. In this sense, theyre connected to the ideal martial artist, a person who only fights when there is no alternative. With Bruce Lees characters, you can hear the chained tiger roaring inside of him; he always has to prove himself. Of course, there is Bruce Lee, the legend, and that is a different matter, as is the Bruce Lee who wrote a book on a martial art that he developed, or assembled, if you will: Jeet Kune Do. And there is Bruce Lee, the first Chinese American to breakthrough to the big time, to become a heroic film icon in the United States. Arguably, if there hadnt been a Bruce Lee, there wouldnt be a Jet Li. I havent told you much about Kiss of the Dragon, have I? Its a good film with a lot of fun fight scenes, including a semi-comedic encounter between Jet Li and a room filled with Black Belts at a Parisian police station. Speaking of Paris, its beautiful, and youll definitely get a Kiss of it, in this movie. Acupuncture and acupressure will also catch your attention by being used in ways that youve never imagined. With all due respect to Bruce, this is Jet Li, at his best. |
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