Rating: 
Summary: Tough Love...
Review: This review refers to the Uncut International Version("Leon, The Professional")DVD release by Columbia/Tri-Star......Leon, is a professional hitman. He is real good at what he does. He is cold, calculating and seemingly devoid of any emotions. He performs his tasks as though they were orchestrated ballet movements. Never seen, never heard. Always "serious". He is called "The Cleaner".He is a loner, and seems to like it that way, until the day Mathilda came into his life. Mathilda , the abused but precocious 12 year old neighbor of Leon, has just come home from the store to find her entire family ,including her 4 yr old brother(whom she adored),murdered by a psychotic DEA agent and his equally disturbed team of thugs.She turns to Leon to take her in, and although reluctant to become involved he beocmes her savior.They immediatley start to form a unique bond, which grows throughout the film. Mathilda learning of Leon's trade, implores him to teach her to be a "cleaner" as she is enraged by her brother's death and wants to exact revenge.Once again Leon is hesitiant, but she wins him over and the lessons begin.The film begins building in two ways. The anticipation and action as she learns the tricks of the trade and tracks down the demented killers of her family make this film the truly great thriller that it is. The other is the growing relationship of Leon and Mathilda. We see in him, love and emotion for another human being, that wasn't apparent before and she develops and attachment to him that creates a sexual tension throughout. Luc Besson(The Fifth Element/La Femme Nikita) has done a brillant job of bringing us a thriller with emotion. There's a story of love that's not just below the surface,it's as much a part of the story as the action. New York's "Little Italy" is the setting for the story and seems like the perfect surrounding to tell this tale.The music by Eric Serra is also very much apart of the story. Jean Reno(Leon), Natalie Portman(Mathilda) and Gary Oldman(Stan, the DEA agent) are all perfection. I can't say enough good things about their performances. Then there's Danny Aiello, who can take even a small part, and turn it into a great character and great performance. So now comes the tough part..which DVD to buy?? In this "uncut international version", you get an extra look into Leon's life, and what makes him tick. There's also more footage of "the training sessions" and the bond formed between the two. There's about 25 minutes more in all. If you really love this film and were wondering if it's worth it, I have to say YES! It's an insightful look at the the two main characters and fills in some holes.The picture and sound are great. The Widescreen takes in all the action, and the 5.1 Dolby Dig sound is all encompassing.(Both DVD editions have these features).Colors are vivid and natural looking. This edition has a few extras, theatrical trailers, Talent files, international ads, and some production notes. There are subtitiles in various languages also. But the real extra for this edition is the extra footage.
If you are a first time viewer of "The Professional" I would suggest renting it first and then WHEN YOU become as fanatical about this film as I am(and I see many of the other reviewers are too), This is the edition I reccommend. "No Women, No Children!"...Leon to Mathilda (lesson #1)....enjoy....Laurie
Rating: 
Summary: Unprofessional.
Review: French director Luc Besson probably knows more about America than he did when he made *Leon/The Professional* eight years ago. If he made this film today, he'd know better than to make his hitman hero English-illiterate. (Can't kill people if you can't read their home address. Couldn't get a decent "straight" job as your "cover". Need I go on?) He'd know that a "professional" hitman would surely demand more than five measly G's per hit. He'd know that the hitman would NEVER leave all his earnings in the care of his boss while simultaneously living in non-secure -- to say nothing of uncomfortable -- flophouses. But, being the post-New Wave Frenchie that he is, he'd probably STILL have the hitman use the alias "Mr. MacGuffin" -- after all, even the post-New Wavers can't resist making self-referential cinema "in-jokes". And he'd still insist that the hitman be a fan of Gene Kelly movies. (Brainlessly, Besson "hommages" what the French movie magazine "Cahiers du Cinema" used to praise -- Hitchcock and MGM musicals -- back when Truffaut and Godard were its editors. 40-odd years ago.) And he'd still needlessly [fantasize] the 12-year-old girl who becomes the hitman's partner. Comparisons to Nabokov are inapt, by the way: Jean Reno's hitman ain't no Humbert Humbert. He's barely more than a child himself, what with his illiteracy, naivety, and incessant milk-drinking. Because of this, we sophisticates can evidently relax about their nature of their relationship. ("Oh, it's not for REALS, dahhling. Pour me some more Cold Duck.") Comparing this movie to *Paper Moon* is probably more accurate, but doing so only creates a desire to see that movie instead of this noisy, ineptly conceived mess.
Rating: 
Summary: Cut National Version Better
Review: I love "The Professional". I've got the Soundtrack, the VHS widescreen version, and the DVD Uncut International version. The movie is brilliant, but the only great thing about the Uncut International version on DVD is the bonus features. They're nice to have, and they don't come with the original Cut DVD... but the editing job on this version is HORRIBLE. It's as though Besson just threw in a chunk of film (that he cut for the U.S. release). I'd like to add at this point (before I say what I'm about to say), that I've seen both versions a total of probably 50 - 100 times (countless times?) and know this film very very VERY well -- about as well as my apartment. The time sequence is completely thrown off, as though he paid absolutely no attention to the original sequence. To me, this does a great injustice to the film, and makes it feel much more amateurish than the original cut. Now, I'm usually a fan of Uncut versions (for example, Apocalypse Now Redux), but this just seems like a rush job. And only adds a few trivial details for die-hard fans (like myself). Buy the original cut. If you love it, go for this one. If not, you're not missing much, and you're getting a PHENOMENAL movie. This film (yes, the original cut) made me realize that art and action (body and mind) can come together in film, even if they don't that often. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Massively good movie, no DVD features...
Review: If you're looking for a fancy DVD with featurettes etc etc this is not the CD for you. OK, that's the only negative here. The extended version is WELL worth the price of admission for movie fans. Where as the American version was edited to become a shoot em up type film the European version focuses on the relationship of Leon and Matilda. And it does so in a wonderfull manner. The film is a much more satisfying experience this way, still inundated with the wild action scenes. Some might complain it slows the pace but I would disagree.
Seeing the film in digital format is of course fantastic, and the Dolby 5.1 sounds fantastic. This is a DVD worth having simply for the movie itself, it really has a life of it's own with the added footage.
Rating: 
Summary: Mixed feelings about the Uncut International Version. . .
Review: I was a big fan of this film from the first time I saw the much-maligned US version ("The Professional") a few years back. So I was thrilled to see this Uncut version of it on DVD. I finally got to see it this week and have mixed feelings about it. The added footage (at least the footage I can disseminate as being added) is: GREAT because--
It adds background history to Leon that gives depth to his character. Something I was very much curious about. NOT SO GREAT because--
1) I'm not sure Leon's character needed that much depth, given the scope/tone of the film's storytelling, 2) It presents *outright* the sexual tension between Leon and Mathilda that is nicely left *implied* in the so-called massacred US version, and finally, 3) The added minutes somehow screw up the pacing of the film. I can't put a finger on why, how, or even where it happens-- but it just does. Don't get me wrong, I'm not some prude who can't take the relationship presented between the two main characters. In fact, the tension is there even in the "cut" US version. But stating it outright just forces a "Lolita" aspect to it that, for me, restricts to a single interpretation of the relationship, and the rest of the dialogue between the two characters. I still like the movie a lot. I can't say more than what's already been said about Gary Oldman's performance. I haven't seen Episode II, but I'd still be willing to guess that this *IS* Natalie Portman's best role to date. And without giving away too much, Director Luc Besson's handling of what happens to Leon at the end is absolutely the best I've seen ANY director handle that type of ending-- moreso because it's done so well in an "action flick." Buy the Uncut International Version out of curiosity, and if you're a fan of the film. But the US version ("The Professional") can stand on its own as a great film.
Rating:
Summary: Watch out for the right DVD version!
Review: I was unlucky enough to buy the lobotomized DVD version. Make sure to get the international version/director's cut.
Rating:
Summary: Experience a true masterpiece by Luc Besson
Review: This is my favorite movie of all times. And maybe I'm losing my objectivity in this review but what the hell. I freakin love this movie. The cinematography, excellent performance by Jean Reno, one of my favorite actors (yes he`s in rollerball and godzilla but u have to eat, don't u?), and a solid story. (not mentioning incredible action scenes). Buy this DVD, its a really great movie. It touches, I know I touched me, and I'm as analytical and objective in my reviews as as I can be. But this movie won my heart and soul, so if I can give it five stars, I really would. The whole escence in in solety, absence of love, and love itself. A true masterpiece. Worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: Lolita meets the Terminator
Review: Great movie! Strange sexual tension between pre-pubescent Natalie Portman and Jean Reno -- but it only adds to the surreal feel of the movie. Great plot, great story, great acting, GREAT action sequences, and great characters. Great all the way around. And I don't want to ruin the ending (so stop reading if you haven't yet seen it), but it's refreshing to watch a movie that doesn't have a happy (or predictable) ending -- even if it is so sad.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST HAVE
Review: This movie is a phenomenal piece of work. The acting is extraordinary and the plot and suspense superb. It is dramatic, suspenseful, intriguing, and deeply touching. It is a movie you won't soon forget. The young Natalie Portman is masterful and will win you over.
Rating:
Summary: great film, uncut version better.
Review: If your going to buy Leon/the Professional you should get the Uncut international version, it is better. I can see why so much was cut from the domestic US release. It was cut to fit into the action movie category and so they wouldn't have to worry about all the overly sensetive prudes in America. Granted it is a great action movie, but thats just the background through which the stories focus occurs, which is the relationship and sexual tension between Leon and Matilda(a very young girl) played by Portman(the best acting she's ever done). There have been enough reviews on this, I'll cut to the simplified chase. Combine Nabokov's Lolita (their relationship)and the Terminator (for action), sounds like a great flick to me, and it was. This version restores the movie, the previous versions are watered down for the American Audience.
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