Never Open The Package (The Transporter (DVD))

Member Name: Andy.mack

Product:	The Transporter (DVD)
Date:	07/07/09 (48 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An excellent no holds barred action film

Disadvantages: None really unless you hate action films

Frank Martin (Jason Statham) is a Transporter, he gets paid to take packages from one place to another. His rules are simple, he doesn't want to know any names and he never opens a package. That is until now as Frank is moving a package he makes the mistake of looking in side and finds Lai (Oi Shu) tied up inside. From that moment on Frank and Lai are in serious trouble and Frank has to keep looking over his shoulder to keep them both alive but can Frank stop the man threatening to kill him.

Ever since his debut appearance in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels I've found myself strangely drawn to movies starring Jason Statham. You know before you even switch them on that you're about to get an hour and a half to two hours of enjoyable action movie. After a couple of previous roles it was this film that really seemed to launch Statham into the lead role in movies and make a name for himself as a big time action movie star.

I think that part of the appeal of this film was the contribution of Leon writer Luc Besson, who penned this Statham vehicle. The directors chair was occupied by Corey Yuen, who went on to direct 2006's Dead or Alive as well. He seems to work well with Besson and the result is a very smooth, well choreographed action film that doesn't just rely on people shooting at each other. It is a very clever, yet fully functional action movie that has been well written, giving it a very watchable and enjoyable plot.

It's in the action sequences that Yuen really makes this film works. All the scenes are shot at a very fast pace, with quite a bit of martial arts and hand to hand combat. This film doesn't rely on gun battles and I think it's that reason that separates the movie from other similar action films. In all of the scenes Yuen seems to use a good combination of close ups and wide angled shots to give you a good feel of what is happening. The car chases are incredibly well shot and the whole film just has an enjoyable element to it.

Over the years I've come to really enjoy Statham's performance more and more in this movie. The roles of Frank Martin really plays to his strengths and while he's been given a dodgy accent that is easily forgiven. He seems to really excel in the lead role and I think it was a good grounding for what is becoming a pretty successful career for Statham. He forms a good relationship onscreen with Oi Shu and Francois Berleand throughout the film and his sparing with the films "Bad Guy" Matt Schulze also worked particularly well.

The supporting cast did exactly as they were supposed to. In Oi Shu I think the team behind the movie found an interesting sin on the potential lead characters love interest. Her on screen relationship with Statham works really well and she is definitely a good choice to play Lai. I was also really impressed with Francois Berleand, who really provides some very light-hearted and funny moments that break up the more serious parts of the film. In Schulze they have also got a bad guy you will find yourself disliking and that helps to make his role even more effective.

Overall this is a particularly enjoyable film that doesn't require too much concentration and really ticks the boxes as an easy going action movie. It has a bit of everything from car chases and explosions to fight sequences and even a flirtation with romance. You don't really need to pay much attention to enjoy this movie and that is perhaps where the majority of its appeal really lies. I've found this to be a movie I never tire of watching. It's for that very reason that the studio have commissioned 2 sequels, but it's fair to say the original is quite hard to beat.

Amazon: £4.28
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Summary: The first in the Transporter trilogy