The movie follows the Romeo and Juliet story, this time set in Oakland, divided by a war between black and Asian gangs. Romeo comes in the form of Han Sing, played by Jet Li (The Enforcer, Lethal Weapon 4), a Hong Kong action superstar. Han is coming to town to investigate and, if needed, avenge the death of his brother, both of them sons of the head of the most powerful Asian family. Of course, his brother was a troublemaker, and was slain by a rival gang, from which comes our Juliet, Trish O’Day. She is an innocent bystander in the dark businesses run by her father Isaak (Lindo) and her brother. She’ll befriend Han, and a few betrayals and twists later, when he becomes her family’s enemy No.1, she’ll stand by his side, and the only thing to be decided will be whether the ending is more Hollywood or Shakespeare.

Jet Li is not a superhero type of a martial arts hero, like Chow Yun Fat, and he is no Jackie Chan. She is played by Aaliyah, a young hip-hop star who contributed more than just a song or two to the movie. Aaliyah may not be the greatest of actresses, but her attitude is contagious, and her chemistry with Jet Li instantaneous. In a wonderfully choreographed scene, the two of them even team together to beat an opponent whom Li is not able to hit because it is a female. The supporting cast is led by Delroy Lindo, who is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after character actors in Hollywood (The Cider House Rules, Gone in Sixty Seconds).