Rating: 
Summary: Bet on Besson
Review: Many people who watch this film will probably become life-long fans of both Luc Besson and Jean Reno.
For the remainder, there must be very few who would feel disappointed that they bought it. This film works on so many levels, that you'll be talking about it afterwards for days. It's violent, touching, action-packed, delicate, provocative yet shallow. The change of tempo throughout the movie is the most striking directorial feature, and the one that will leave you begging for the next cut-scene at the finale. Fortunately Besson leaves it, as he usually does, without patronising his audience. Reno is simply frighteningly brilliant. Alternately wooden when out of his depth with his new protege, to fluid machine when within the role of assassin, his near one-man show carries the directorial tempo perfectly. Thoroughly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Perhaps one of the most stylish films ever made.
Review: This is proof that Luc Besson is one of the best directors about today (along with Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone). He has taken a simple idea and given it a twist. The film has a perfect cast including Gary Oldman as a Psychotic, drug fuelled maniac (a theory estsablished by the films best sound bite 'death is whimsical today'). Thierry Arbogast (the cinematographer) should of recieved an Oscar for the incredible 6 minute escape sequence from the hotel room.
Serra's moving score also help to control our emotions throughout the film and is without a doubt fantastic.
Luc Besson has successfully made a film about the relationship between a lonely man and a 12 year old girl in such a way that he never allows us to view the film as perverse or Lolita-ish. He has created something theoretically controversial yet kept it completely tasteful.
This is the best Hitman film ever made, Maybe the best action film and certainly wins a place in th1e top ten of any filmlist. WATCH IT!
Rating:
Summary: .......wow
Review: i guess im a sucker, for any movie with natalie portman.....but this movie was the first ive seen her in and the best. Reno makes this movie just as good as Portman, but i must say Portman gets all the praise.... its almost like i fell in love with her character.... she makes her character seem so real.. theres hope of meeting a girl such as that in NY city. ( haha, just a dream ) .ands she beautiful too....cant reely say theres many actresses that have made their character appear so real..... i fell in love with her, but as young as she is in the movie, the maturity in her is ...just....wow anyway,Reno has a certain originality in his character..... drinks only milk, watches old movies. and has his best friend portrayed by a plant... with him and portman together, it gives the film 5 stars just awesome... great acting, my favorite jean reno, and natalie portman flik.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing special about "Uncut"
Review: The Professional, in its own right, is a fantastic film. Intriguing characters, superb action sequences, and excellent casting make this movie a classic. The original US release of this film, however, is a far better buy than the "uncut" version. As is the case with so many "uncut" versions of films, the scenes cut out of the original US release of The Professional are best left on the editing room floor. The added scenes both disrupt the flow of the film AND make Leon seem like a borderline pedafile. I don't know if the French have a different definition of 'pedafile' than we do here in the US, but these added scenes really detract from the "cool" of Leon. Buyer beware, if you enjoyed the original.
Rating:
Summary: Leon-uncut feelings
Review: Leon (or The Proffesional as it was called in the states) was a great film the first time I saw it. Tough and realistic with actors portraying emotional characters.
But it felt like Luc Besson somehow missed something. I saw the original Leon as unfinished and it was, well, it was cut about fifteen minutes. And what I get to watch in the final version, Leon-the uncut (international version) works even better. I loved the film from the moment I saw it. Italian hitman (or cleaner as refered to in the film) Leon (Jean Reno in one of his greatest performances) lives alone in New Yorks Little Italy until a crazy drug addicted DEA agent (played by a totally believable Gary Oldman) and his team, murders a family where the father is a courier trying to trick the corrupt agents. The abused daughter Mathilda (wonderfully played by twelve year old debutant Nathalie Portman. First time I saw the film I was in her age so I just fell in love.) is the only survivor and she is taken in by Leon. To get revenge for her little brother, Mathilda makes a bargain with the hitman. If she teaches him to read he will teach her to clean. But at the same time their feelings towards each other start to grow and in the end it will effect them both.
What was left out of the film when first released was the relationship between Mathilda and Leon. In the first version Mathilda is looking for something of a father figure which she finds in Leon but in the uncut version they are practically lovers. Mathilda declares her love for him many times before we get to the point where we understand that it can never be the happy end that she wants.
A powerful film and Luc Bessons best.
Rating:
Summary: Exploitive yet mesmerising!
Review: This is quite simply one of the best movies I have ever seen. That's not to say it's perfect, because it's actually full of flaws. Most importantly though, that doesn't take away from its sheer spectacle. A lot of critics have tended not to like this film for its exploitive and manipulative nature. Of course, a 12 year-old girl parading around singing "Like A Virgin" is hihgly exploitive, but the story surrounding Leon's love for the young girl is mostly told sensitively. The manipulative nature of the film attempts to make Leon seem like a "good guy". For instance, Leon can't possibly be bad if he watches musicals, drinks milk and has a plant for a best friend. The fact that the first scenes show him brutally killing a group of gangsters detracts from this theory however. Still, I haven't mentioned that this movie is funny and completely mesmerising, with some great acting all round - especially from Natalie Portman as the young girl. Yes, it's highly violent, but the end is incredibly moving and you will probably find yourself crying. Now there's not many 18-rated movies that can make you do that now are there?
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful movie...
Review: Leon is a beautifully direceted piece with very talented actors and actresses. It is a great combination of action and drama. Luc Besson did a good job directing this film, I especially loved the smart camera angles and many little things that bring the audience closer to this story of Leon and Mathilda. A real a work of art...
The music also gives a feeling to the emotions and the atmosphere in the people. beautiful
fudy
Rating:
Summary: Wrong DVD great movie!!!! BUY THE ORIGINAL!!!!!!!
Review: Most people have seen this version, but it is the severely edited American edition. The real name of this movie is 'Leon' (sometimes with 'The Professional' tagged as a subtitle) and has 26 minutes of footage that was cut from the American edition. BUY THE LONGER, ORIGINAL OR YOU WILL BE MISSING OUT...
Rating:
Summary: A "must see" movie!
Review: This was one of those great surprises you get every now and then, I have this in my "Top 5" of my collection. A well picked cast that works very well together. One of the reasons Gary Oldmen is the scariest bad guy alive, they must have wrote Leons part with Jean Reno in mind.
A "love" story that isnt and why it works so well.
Rating:
Summary: The story of a Hitman with a heart...
Review: In one of Natalie Portman's earliest performances, and undoubtedly one of Jean Reno's best, The Professional is the story of a Hitman who grows a heart, when he sees that his neighbor, a young girl, is being abused at home. Shortly after that, a corrupt DEA raid leaves the girl's family dead, at which point Reno's character takes her in. The movie is quite good...the concept of a Hitman with a heart is not one seen too often. Gary Oldman also delivers a fine performance as the corrupt DEA officer who murders Mathilde's(Portman's) family. Jean Reno, however, stands out the most in this film. What could probably be considered his breakthrough American performance, or at least on of his best to date, his role could not be filled by anyone better. The European extended version, called 'Leon: The Professional', not only delivers the same great movie, but it also adds an extra half hour to the movie over-all, extending the character development of Leon(Reno) and his origins in the circle of organized crime, the relationship of Mathilde and Leon, and just completely enhancing the movie overall. Exciting gunplay and excellent character development make this movie well worth the price of admission. Undoubtedly Reno's best performance yet, supported by a strong performance by Gary Oldman and a rather well done performance by Natalie Portman.
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