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Summary: Leon is on the money
Review: perfect DVD, fast delivery. A++++ for the seller
Rating: 
Summary: silly
Review: This is an absurd and unbelievable movie. But Jean Reno has a Steve McQueen kind of masculine presence, and Natalie Portman is so beautiful and adorable, I still sort of enjoyed it.
Rating:
Summary: An incredible action movie - a must for your collection
Review: This is an action packed, fast, furious action movie that will leave you wanting more. This is the first American movie by Luc Besson that stars Jean Reno, Gary Oldman and Natalie Portman and they all give award winning performances. The story is about a French hit man, brilliantly paid by Jean Reno (Ronin, Mission Impossible, French Kiss) who moves without a sound, kills without emotion and disappears without a glimmer who ends up taking care of a little girl played by Natalie Portman. Natalie's character Matilda's family is killed by a corrupt DEA cop played incredibly by Gary Oldman. Gary plays the role so well; it makes you wonder about him. All kidding aside, Gary Oldman is an incredible actor and this movie proves it.The story of the movie revolves around Matilda wanting to get revenge on the killer of her younger brother, the corrupt DEA agent (Gary Oldman) and the interesting relationship forming between Leon (Jean Reno) and Matilda (Natalie Portman). This is not your atypical action movie ' Luc Besson does a great job where you will be laughing one minute and cheering on the anti-hero Leon as he's blowing away some drug dealers. Overall a great movie and a must for any action movie aficionado. I have the American version of the DVD and not the original uncut international version.
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular!
Review: It has been a while since I last saw the original theatrical cut of this film, but I have just watched the International Version twice now and I must say it is much better. The US release is much more abbreviated and leaves out a lot of great scenes with great chemistry between the two main characters (Leon and Matilda). There is some added sexual tensions in the International Version that American viewers never got the opportunity to see in the theatres, but it is nothing vulgar or disgusting. I actually found it cute in a trite sort of way. Another viewer posted a comment suggesting that the added footage made Leon look like a pedophile. I disagree. The Professional, or actually Leon as it was called outside the US, is less about killing than it is about a love story between two very different individuals who share several unique qualities expressed in very different ways. Both are suvivors, both are strong and independent, and both have been wronged by someone else. The majority of this version is dialogue driven and that makes it feel like there is less "in your face" action than the American version. The romance is convincing and pure. The relationship between these two characters reminded me a lot of Iris Steensma and Travis Bickle from "Taxi Driver" albeit with a much more sane performance by Jean Reno. In one word: Spectacular! Not a classic by any means, but just enough originality and great acting to be a worthy collection on anyone's movie shelf. The only flaw to the DVD is that it lacks any commentary tracks or other special features that would have made it more of a collectible item. Otherwise, worth every cent!
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Summary: Best Film Ever Made. Natalie Portman is Perfect.
Review: This movie has, what I beleive, the best performance from a child actor ever, from a 12-year-old Natalie Portman. Her character Mathilda shows the innocence of a kid, and the depth of a person out for revenge. Why she didn't get an Oscar is beyond me. And this was her first movie. The story is really good. A hitman named Leon (Jean Reno) helps a girl named Mathilda after her family is shot down by corrupt DEA officers led by Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman). When she finds out about Leon's job as a "cleaner" she asks to be trained as a hitman to avenge her little brother's death. Despite Leon's concerns he teaches her anyway, but over the course of his teachings, Mathilda develops feelings for him. This is something the uncut version explores a little deeper. I suppose some of the scenes were taken from the American release for their subject matter. A scene where Mathilda wants to take her love for Leon to the next level really gives a good insight into Leon's past. It dosen't lead to anything between the two, so I don't see why they cut it. Other scenes included are Leon giving Mathilda some on the job training when he goes on his hits. I can see where some groups in America could have protested that, but it makes their relationship more deeper and complex. An outstanding film, you really should see this version to get the whole story. I highly recommend it, it is my favorite of all time. Luc Besson's masterpiece can be fully appreciated on this release. I've been hearing rumors about a sequel in the works. I can only pray it's true, but this film is a tough act to follow.
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Summary: What Difference Can 24 Minutes Make?
Review: Personally, I thought the US theatrical release of THE PROFESSIONAL was stellar entertainment ... but then I happened across LEON THE PROFESSIONAL, the original uncut international version ... and I was blown away, much like Leon's victims. Luc Besson's original version is much deeper in characterization and motivation of his anti-hero, Leon (played superbly by Jean Reno). While the added footage gives the audience a bit more information about Leon's past, it also builds tremendously on the relationship between Leon and Matilda (played by the buddingly beautiful Natalie Portman), his inadvertantly adopted 'partner.' While there are a few scenes that arguably add little to the depth of the story, they are momentary and distract little from the narrative. If you can get your hands on this version, it's well worth the viewing.
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Summary: A brilliantly atypical action movie
Review: The opening shots of this movie are a bird's eye view flying over New York city and flying into a quaint, locally owned restaurant in the heart of Little Italy. Therein two men are talking business, and it is not of the establishment in which they are conversing. A man's life is being discussed, and in the most chilling ways possible. The mysterious gentlemen accepting the hit is Leon (Sean Reno), and as he hides behind a pair of reflective sunglasses and a foreign accent, he becomes demonized as the viewer realizes he is a cold-blooded killer, a "professional" if you will. And yet he stops by the store on the way to his slightly dilapidated apartment building for two quarts of milk, and then proceeds to iron his clothes, water his plant, and shower while wearing a face of torn emotion. The demon killer shows a human side, and the viewer is left puzzled. Even more so is the viewer when this very hitman saves the life of a young girl named Mathilda (young Natalie Portman) from corrupt DEA officers, headed by Gary Oldman, after they massacre her family. The majority of the film is concerned with the development of the relationship between Leon and Mathilda, and Luc Besson could not have done a finer job. The circumstances are awkward at first for both Mathilda and Leon, and yet as time progresses a unique bond begins to form itself between the two. Sean Reno as Leon is brilliant. His accent (said to be Italian, but it sounds awfully French to me), rugged visage, and cold-yet-expressive eyes convey a man with many secrets. And for all his calm demeanor, he obviously struggles with himself. Natalie Portman shows herself in her debut as not just another child actor, but someone who, in her own right, displays a natural acting competancy that few adult actors can achieve. As young Mathilda she walks a razor's edge between projecting herself as a scared little girl that has seen and felt too much pain, and a mature young woman with emotions and understanding belying her age. While violence has become something of a widespread staple in the modern action movie, rarely have there been such powerfully cinematic displays of the consequences. Luc Besson does not insinuate that he who has the gun is God, but rather that whoever does hold's a god's responsibility. Almost every significant character in this film that sees violence as an answer see that it only brings pain and more questions. As fire attracts a moth, so do the worlds of these men bring suffering even as they seek to overcome it. Additionally, the growing relationship between Leon and Mathilda set off warnings to the prudish viewer of impending sexual relations. One minute this movie incites light-hearted laughter. The next it could be demanding your ire, only to bring tears afterwards. The adrenaline joy-ride this movie provides is only topped its roller-coaster of emotions. The cinematography, while not ground-breaking, is effective in conveying the mood in key scenes. A brilliant and disturbing portrayal of DEA officer Stansfield by Gary Oldman create a true villian worthy of cinematic infamy for years to come. Indeed, this movie is much more than the sum of its components, and while the squeamish and easily offended may find themselves tempted to turn this film off early on, those that sit through their discomfort will find not-so-typical tale of two outcasts suffering with little for solace but each other.
Rating: 
Summary: Tiresomely transgressive
Review: Leon pinches liberally from John Cassavetes, a man with more than a superficial interest in the nature of love, the film in question being 'Gloria'. Gary Oldman spends the film taking what I can only presume to be acting pills from a tin box in his jacket. He convulses and his body rejects them.
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Summary: Loved the American release, then I saw this one
Review: I rated the American release a 5 star rating, this one should get a 6. The movie is not a typical action movie. The plot develops far better than average, the cast develops the roles far better, and the directing is first rate. very much along the same lines as La Femme Nikita, also by Besson with a smaller role by Reno, the movie is moved along by its story, not by the explosions and the action on the screen. The hit-man with his tag-along child who decides to work for him to learn the skills to get revenge takes work to pull it off, and this movie does so in style. If you are not familiar with the films of Luc Besson, this is a great movie to start with. You may even decide to give The Fifth Element another shot.
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Summary: This is an inspirational film!
Review: I don't know how to put in words how amazing this film really is. It combines the talents of the one and only Gary Oldman with the great french actor Jean Reno. Their characters in the film suit them perfectly making it intense, gripping and exciting all at the same time. The first time you see this film you will have no idea where it is going, which will leave you glued to your seat throughout (and probably after!) the film.
Luc Besson directs a truely magnificent storyline and leaves
no room for error. I personaly HATE BJORK, and cannot stand her singing but a couple of her tracks are lightly blended into this film and and I cannot fault this in any way. The songs change the image of this film from being a part action film, to a sort of art-house novel. I have brought the American un-cut DVD and think it's brilliant, with the extra 25 minutes footage that adds more light to the storyline. I demand you to watch this film. This is what has turned me into a film-fanatic, let it do the same to you.
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