Rating: 
Summary: haley joel doesn't hold a candle
Review: it's not that he isn't a great kid actor. the scene where he was first abandoned in A.I. really moved me to tears.but a 11-year-old natalie portman is really something else...
as matilda, the suddenly-orphaned child trying to hide youth, vulnerability and desperate need to be loved under a cigarette-smoking tough-as-nails exterior, she moved me to tears even as she's making me laugh my sides out. i would have forgotton completely she was a child if not for the fact she's so terribly tiny. my favorite scene (and believe me in this movie it's hard to choose just one) is the one where matilda and leon are playing a game of guess who. it's a small, yet effective snippet of the affection between two people trying to find love, friendship & belonging where they can. it's a delicate and fiercely intelligent movie, even though there is none of the high concepts and caustic verbal repartee so common in the so-called "intelligent" movie genre. at the heart of this movie is two great actors (notice the lack of "child-actor" qualification) and a simple story, incredibly well-told.
Rating:
Summary: Not a Movie to Be Missed
Review: I dont write reviews too often so ill be briefI do say first off that this is not a movie to be missed. The action is breath taking and the plot is fantasticlly better than what I expected.
Though not everyone will approve of someof the sequences it is still worth a view if your a hardcore person who is into killing a crapload of people
Rating:
Summary: a very special film
Review: Clearly it can be said that this film glided right over the head of any person trying to tell you this is "an action flick", it's not. Buy it & see if you can't work out what it's really all about, even if you can't you'll still be in for a good action flick. L
Rating:
Summary: this a very good film.....
Review: This is one of the best films i have ever seem i am sure i watched the european verson , a very good xmas present
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated
Review: (...)this movie is highly overrated. I do not know wich tyhpe of the movie I saw (cut or uncut). But I thought it was a basic action movie with an unusual bond between a hitman and distraught teen.The action scenes are excellently choregraphed and done well but this is not as good as everyone says. I guess if I saw the European version I would change my mind.(That is if I saw the American version)
Rating:
Summary: "What does he look like?" "Serious."
Review: No women and no children, right? Wrong! This film should not be missed by anyone. Superiority, outstanding acting, impeccable soundtrack, and <<un coté bougant>> spring to mind. Luc Besson hasn't put a foot wrong to date, and this represents the pinnacle of his unblemished career.
The principle is highly original: the "best assassin in town" - an Italian by the name of Léon (Jean Reno)- who is highly set in his routine of training and care enconters one day an arguement outside his shady appartment door: a pathetic drug horder and his dysfunctional family being threatened at the hands of a seriously weird and viciously corrupt D.E.A. officer (Gary Oldman), who has no qualms in killing anyone who stands in his way, or for that matter slightly annoys him. Under the pressure of all this, and repeatedly abused by her family, 12 year Mathilda (outstandingly portrayed by Natalie Portman of Star Wars fame) comes home from shopping one day to find blood and armed thugs coming out of her appartment - her entire family having been ruthlessly gunned down by Stansfield (Oldman).
In an attempt to conceal her real identity she begs for Leon to open his door to her. When he does, the most incredible tale begins - Mathilda begs him to train her in his dark art, but along side all this are normal interests 12 year girls have (watching cartoons, dressing up as film stars and so on), giving the viewer a bizarre sense that there's nothing wrong with their "profession." Initially reluctant, Leon eventually gives, and gives Mathilda the love she could never have had at home.
The remainder of this mind-blower revolves around Mathilda's intent on taking out Stansfield, purely for the murder of her baby brother. All the while, Leon remains the Professional, protecting Mathilda from anyone and everyone, whilst their bond grows.
As per Besson film, there are a lot of morals, ideas and very penetrating thoughts to be had here - the action quietly switches from Leon's cold, amoral assassin to water-fights in his appartment with Mathilda. The sheer scope of ideas in this film is incredible, and, without question, the thing that makes it work so well is the photography. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is one of THOSE films where the camera angle is perfectly cast given the temperament of the movie. Yes, I'm afraid this is one helluva flick.
I can't pin down in a brief review what makes this film so god damn good - it's possible to write an encyclopaedia on what makes this one work. The casting is so good its annoying; the soundtrack by Sting, Billy Joel and Eric Clapton is very moving and well used (when Leon is walking towards his light at the end of his tunnel - I don't want to spoilt the VERY dramatic ending - the careful use of the music is admirable). I can watch the "fat guy" opening over and over, and the film is never in the slightest bit slow, despite there being so many personal bits in it.
So, you have your orders, people. Watch this film. Then watch it again, and again, and again....
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time on the US version--watch THIS!
Review: This movie was such the victim of US censors...deciding what is, and is not appropriate for the viewers.
If you are eight years old; you shouldn't be watching this movie in the first place, if you are an adult; this is the version you want.
Great story, great acting, great directing--this is a movie that shows WHY movies are made.
Don't believe me? Rent it first, then spend your money to own this incredible flick.
Rating:
Summary: If you have to only see one film in your life...
Review: I fell in love with this film the very first time i saw it. To put it simply it is a masterpiece, a superb thriller from Luc Besson. You have to see the uncut version to get the true feel of the relationship that developes between the loner, moody hitman Leon and the girl he takes under his wing after her parents are murdered by corrupt DEA agents (brilliantly played by Natalie Portman). Gary Oldmans performance is truly terrifying (and at times over the top) as the rogue cop gone bad.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional
Review: At the dawn of the now ever popular European/Hollywood violent anti-hero film noir, The professional stood out for both arthouse and blockbuster budget film goers.
Luc Besson, of The Big Blue and Fifth Element fame made a perfect statement with his use of grim settings and rough film stock. His exceptional eye, which manages to capture emotion and transcend the barrier between viewer and character is enough to leave the viewer with the feeling of lost at the hands of an emotional roller coaster.
Casting has always been a key element in any film, and in this case incredibly well cast. Jean Reno, although the anti-hero endears himself to anyone with his silent sad eyes where it is obvious he has longed for company and friendship, which his profession does not allow. Although "Leon" (Jean Reno) is a professional killer with only select targets (no women, no kids) there is no need for a redemption, but a redemption of dynamic proportions amidst a climax of hailing bullets idifies his character. Gary Oldman is simply stunning, as always, with the right mixture of saddism and chaotic mental unbalance which sets the tone and allocates the status of the most evil human nature has to offer personified even in that of a minor glace (in the direction of the camera). Natalie Portman, although EXTREMELY young in this film, has the depth and emotion of any veteran female actor and I personally consider this to be one of her most finest performances.
The premise is simple, the storyline honest although dark and torturous, but if there to be a moral it would have to involve that of trust, honour and the age old book by the cover saying which stand out. I wouldn't want to go to deep into the storyline, as there are twists to the plot, and although some of these twists come to light early in the film, they are still relevent and it may be considered a spoiler for me to elaborate.
When I went to the cinema to see this film in 1994, it had an impact on me both mentally and physically. The Professional is in the genre that Quentin Tarantino went on to make a house hold name for himself with, although The Professional would be considered a more intelligent and sopisticated cinematic version. After watching the artful Hong Kong cinema of the 70's and 80's, directors such as John Woo having been achiving this high standard of 'gunplay anti-hero emotionally charged honour bound storyline' in films, it's plain to see that the genre is simply based on the folly of human nature, you can never refute your emotions, and they will more than likely get in your way before the final curtain. I can honestly say there is appeal for women in this film, as it is emotionally charged and at times extremely sensitive which balances out any on screen violence.
If you liked: Reservoir Dogs, City On Fire, The Killer, The Godfather series. You will like this film.
Rating:
Summary: Good but not Excellent
Review: The directors define their job as storytelling. That's what my review will be about.
I first watched this movie when I was at Mathilda's age so it was a great timing so I could communicate with the character while watching the movie. Now, at the age of 20, I bought the DVD with additional footage and watched the movie again with a whole different eye. I won't write anything about the story. I thought the story was good enough for an american movie. Still I think so. The acting was topnotch, especially Natalie Portman. When you watch a child actor for the first time in a movie, you measure his/her acting realated to the age. You say "Good for a child". But Natalie plays like she's a professional actress doing this for a long time, which doubles the success of the movie. Because mostly, if there's a child actor in the movie, you dislike it because you dislike the child's acting.
So, there are great actors/actresses, there's a good plot, there's great ending, which is 50% of any movie I think, and there's great score by Eric Serra. (There's isolated score in the DVD for soundtrack fans like me)
But there are some glitches related to the "storytelling". My favorite director is Robert Zemeckis because I like the way he tells his story. Steven Spielberg and James Cameron are also great storytellers, also Lucas. Besson is also good but he's a little bit light.
If you watched Fight Club, you'll understand what I mean. There are several ways to tell stories. One is "Fight Club" style I think. There's no logic in what you see but there's logic in the plot. One is Zemeckis Style. He tells really seriously his stories, you don't see anything which you cannot see. But he does with a great magic.
Some directors (weak ones) can't catch any of the two spirits I mentioned above. Besson, I think is between being Zemeckis and weak. There are incredibly great moments in the movie, especially the final. But there are some freebee editing and storytelling thoroughout the movie, so it makes the movie 4 stars instead of 5. But again, it's one of the best movies made in "Hollywood" so far because it's real, even though it's a bit heroic. The love though, is not so much believable because Matilda is too young. But hey, I'm not from America, and I'm not a girl. Still, it doubts me if Matilda can really fall in love with Leon.
So, you know the movie, buy this edition and get the real movie not the censored one.
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