Jul. 26, 2003 - 1:40 am
well, i was bored last night since everyone's either out of town or occupied with other things. i decided to go out to the video store and try to find something. i ended up picking up a couple of newer Luc Besson-created films since they were the best things i saw. and since i was talking about him in my last entry. i feel like i need to catch up on some of the other things he's been doing other than directing.
i considered seeing The Transporter when it was at the theater, but didn't do it for some reason. it's basically an action movie, very much in the same vein with The Bourne Identity (2002). it stars Jason Statham as a "transporter." he's a person that transports things that are usually illegal (i.e. hostages, bank robbers, etc.) and then gets paid a ton of money for doing it. when he starts breaking his own steadfast rules that have made him so successful, he starts to make enemies and get himself into trouble. but he finds a bit of romance along the way. (how could you not when Luc Besson is writing?)
first off, this has some of the best fighting and action sequences that i've seen probably since The Matrix (1999) or LOTR (2001). it seems that Jason Statham did almost all of his own stunts for this as well, which is very impressive. this movie has probably the best car chase that i've ever seen in it. (by the way, the chase from The French Connection (1971) that everyone talks about is what i would call garbage.) the movie also features scenes that have homages to Speed (1994), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), and North By Northwest (1959) so you've gotta love that. it's great when the creator of a film has actually studied film extensively and is willing to admit it. it's a lot more honorable than just ripping things off. so if nothing else, this is a great action movie and that's all it claims to be, so you'll enjoy it if you see it.
i think it could've been amazing had Luc himself directed it...and thrown in a soundtrack from Eric Serra, but that didn't happen, so it is what it is.