Rating: Summary: The Transporter 'Rules'! Review: Another action flick from the "Hong Kong school of filmaking"(i.e. THE BIG HIT-Kirk Wong and FORMULA 51-Ronny Yu), THE TRANSPORTER is co-directed by Corey Yuen. It's a lot less cartoony than the other films mentioned, but it still has its share of humor and great action. Jason Statham (SNATCH) again has screen presence but his character is a little too stiff and the plot of the film is weak and lame. Stratham plays Frank Martin, a retired military special forces officer who is a hired 'Transporter' with a set of rules (meant to be broken in order to move the plot along in the film). He delivers 'packages' or drives the proverbial getaway car. His new assignment gets himself involved with a female asian hostage and deep into a plot to smuggle illegal Asians into France. There are some minor twists and turns that might seem incoherent that involves the motives of the Asian hostage, but otherwise, it's a straght forward action film with some great stunt work and fight sequences. Stratham gives a good (though cardboard) performance (mainly his fighting stunt work) and the rest of the characters are atypical of the genre. The standout performance is that of François Berléand as the sympathetic and mild-mannered French detective Tarconi who is on to Frank Martin, but can't prove anything. Overall, the film has good location shots, first rate production values, good action sequnces and a couple of solid performances (Sratham and Berléand). These elements save the film from it's weak story,plot and script.
Rating: Summary: The WORST movie ever made... Review: So, I just finished watching what is probably the world's worst movie ever made. The Transporter. I would have changed the channel, but it was so bad, and so many glarring errors of continuity and realism were made, that I sat spellbound by its audacity to insult my intelligence repeatedly.And for just a few for instances... Mere bullets igniting oil on salt water. A glass windshield miraculously reappearing on a semi tractor trailer just after a driver drives the rig sans windshield without a hint of wind blowing his perfectly coiffed hair, despite three seperate tangles with our hero, both of whom seem to always be fighting with someone, but never have the slightest appearance of a bruise. A single-engine airplane seen careening at near street level is seen mere seconds later cruising at an altitude of no less than 10,000 feet...thats 3,333 metres for those of you in Europe who assited in the making of this film (and I use that word lightly)...all of this just before the Transporter jumps out of the plane...and of course...parachutes down on top of the semi tractor trailer, the film maker in this case going so far as to have the shot appear that our hero is actually catching up to the trailer from behind...what's the speed limit there in Europe? And then there's the plot. I would be able to discuss it, but regrettably, this movie was born without one, which is much like you or I being born without a head...which come to think of it, rather well describes the way this movie stumbles from ridiculous fight scene after fight scene, all studded with the most polite bad guys a movie ever saw. Each bad guy seems always to wait his turn to attack our hero, and then once wounded, dutifully looks away in horror and pretty much just lays there on the floor as ordered. I heard this movie did well in Europe, which certainly doesn't say much for the discriminating tastes of our friends...correction...our sometimes friends...across the pond there. Visually, women may enjoy our hero, Frank Martin (a name as well thought out as the actual movie) Jason Statham, who goes topless quite often. Men may enjoy our heroine, the lovely Sui Qi, who unfortunately, does not. In fact, if a man were NOT to enjoy her, he should check his hetero card immediately. She is, as a friend of mine would say..."smokin'..." The one bright spot in this movie is that at some point it does end. Be prepared for the soundtrack or lack thereof, which is worse than horrific...perhaps even poorer than the movie, the ending credits song being performed by a woman who sounds like Lita Ford after eating a box of thumbtacks. All in all, I would have to say that my time would have been better spent by rearranging a sock drawer...not my own, of course, but someone's... But hey, that's just me...
Rating: Summary: Did they make an OK action movie unwatchable? Review: I didn't get to see this movie in the theaters, although I had wanted to. So I went ahead and picked up the DVD when it was released. I seem to remember this movie getting some good reviews when it was out, and I had some friends who had gone to see it, so I was looking forward to watching it. Jason Statham had been great in Snatch and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Unfortunately I was saddly disappointed by The Transporter. It was long, boring, and had lots of mindless and pointless action scenes. And I think I know what the problem is. The DVD includes 20 minutes of unseen action footage that has been added back in. I made a friend watch this DVD who had seen it in the theaters and he to was amazed at how bad it was, he didn't remember it being this bad. They'd messed up the movie by adding in that extra 20 minutes of garbage that had probably really been cut for a reason. This may have been a 3 or 4 star movie when it was in the theaters, but it's only a 1 star DVD.
Rating: Summary: Really bad. Review: Another typical, senselessly violent pseudo-action flick. The acting is okay, albeit nothing to shout from the rooftops. The plot is as thin as as a triscuit, and the score? Holy cheese whiz, the score. One of THE worst soundtracks I have heard on film in the past decade. Regardless if I enjoyed the music or not (which I didn't), the soundtrack is supposed to fit the scene. Here on the great "Transporter", the music is way out on left field. And what's with all the 'XXX' comparisons? That movie was at least good for a laugh.
Rating: Summary: Great fighting scenes, so-so story Review: I bought this movie out of curiousity. It had an intriguing cover and I liked the guy in Lock, Stock and Loaded Barrel and Snatch. So I decided to give it a try. The premise is actually interesting. The whole rules thing is interesting as well. I can't say it was a bad story as so much as it was kind of boring. The story kind made you want to see the next fight scene, which kept coming. On the fighting, the movie scores an A+. The fighting makes the movie worth seeing. I'd say the fight scenes are just a notch below The Matrix in excitement but in my book The Matrix is the gold standard of fight scenes. Which means that they're pretty damn good. The ending is pretty anti-climactic and ho-hum. It's a good movie but not one I'd watch over and over again (my standard for judging movies).
Rating: Summary: Good action flick. Review: An Ex-Military man Frank Martin (Jason Statham) aka The Transporter makes a living by hiring himself out to transport goods from one place to another. No questions asked. Frank's newest job appears no different from any others he's done in the past. This time though, he breaks one of his own rules by looking inside the package. After he has dropped the package off, the people who hired him realize that he knows too much and they want him dead.
Rating: Summary: High Octane Action Review: "The Transporter" is a great addition to the action category with a nice array of fight scenes as well as car chase scenes. THE STORY: Frank Martin (Jason Statham) is a courier who will deliver anything, anywhere. His latest assignment turns out to be a bit more than he bargained for as he becomes targeted by his employer after he "opens his package" and discovers an Asian girl set on stopping a slave ring. THE COOL THINGS: Action fans rejoice, this is your type of movie. Lots of fast cars; lots of martial arts mayhem, pure and simple. The bomb explosions, car chase scenes and fight scenes in various locales throughout France are simply amazing and breathtaking. If you love action you'll love "The Transporter." BEST SCENES: 1. The oil slick fight scene 2. The Freeway battle 3. Assault of Frank's place THE DVD EXTRAS: "The Transporter" DVD comes with a nice, if small, collection of extras to add to your viewing and listening pleasure. Among the goodies you get are: 1. Audio commentary track with actor Jason Statham and producer Steven Chasman 2. "Making of Featurette" - 12 minute featurette that talks about the training Jason Statham underwent to pull off all the stunts in the film. 3. Theatrical Trailer 4. 3 Extended Fight scenes with optional audio commentary by the cast and crew THE VERDICT: Overall, if you love action "The Transporter" is the ticket for you. It's simply your standard action flick with all the cool stunts, fights and FX you need for your fix till the next action flick comes out. The DVD features, in particular the extended fight scenes, add to the film and make it a good purchase for your collection if you're so inclined. In all, if you're an action fan this is definitely worth the watch. GRADES: The Movie: 4 stars The Extras: 4 stars (small on quantity, but big on quality imho) Final: 4 stars Highly Recommended
Rating: Summary: A Fan Review: Okay, so I'm a Jason Stratham fan and have been ever since his Guy Ritchie films. What I love about this movie is that Stratham does his own stunts which are amazing and very physical. And unless I've missed something, this is Stratham's first movie in which he gets the girl. Gotta love that. The story is not deep or even very hard to predict. What is great are a handful of fine performances, some fantastic fight scenes, great snappy dialogue and a pace that keeps you interested till the end. This movie appeals to a wide audience. Good date movie cause the action appeals and not many women can resist Strathams tough guy romance.
Rating: Summary: Overblown BMW commercial. Review: This movie makes so much out of the car that BMW must have bankrolled it. The story is secondary, and it looks liike it was made by a high school kid.
Rating: Summary: Ian Fleming's afternoon off Review: Oh, dear, somebody thinks they're Guy Ritchie. Judging by the reviews of 'Swept Away', It's lucky somebody does. The two leads are incomprehensible so It's just as well they do most of their talking with their fists. Dumbest scene has the hero except a silver case after screwing up a job with some heavies. One sight of this and the global audience is yelling "it's a bomb!" But the coolest of the cool, one step ahead of everybody Transporter does not smell a rat. He obviously had not seen the old silver case ploy in 'Ronin'. But he shouldn't have to. "This film is fun" one of the film makers tells us in the special features. Yes, I love seeing two policemen murdered by the indirect actions of the dirtbag hero while carrying out their lawful duties. And the police chief just let's him off the hook? Bet that made him popular back at the squad room. Anything else? Yes, Jason Statham, get thee to stage school (he said at a discreet distance.)
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