This Time, The Rules Are The Same. Except one (Transporter 3 (DVD))

Member Name: Andy.mack

Product:	Transporter 3 (DVD)
Date:	18/10/09 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The return of Statham, another well made and written Transporter movie

Disadvantages: If you hated the first two you'll hate this

When a car bursts through the side of his house it seems that once again Frank Martin is about to get involved in something he'd really rather not. Having retired from the transporting game Martin finds himself at the mercy of a maniac with a gun threatening to kill him if he doesn't deliver the Ukrainian environment minister's daughter from Marseilles to Odessa on the Black Sea. Along the way he has to break all of his old rules in order to keep himself and the girl he seems to have had forced along as a passenger.

This is the third film in the transporter series and sees Jason Statham return to a role that it would seem he was born to play. I'd thoroughly enjoyed both of the previous Transporter films but part of me did worry that a third would be a step too far. Thankfully this worry was misplaced and although it's not quite as good as the first two films it still stays true to the ideas of those earlier films and keeps you entertained with a mixture of action and Statham's dry wit for the entire 104 minute run time.

In the director's chair this time round is French director Olivier Megaton who has been making a big name for himself in French cinema with this his first foray into Hollywood. He stays true to the formula devised in the previous Transporter films with loud explosions and fast paced action that make this series so good. The special effects all work particularly well from the explosions to some very clever driving scenes. Fans of the series will also be pleased to know that the fight scene's follow the normal route as well with the bad guys queuing up politely to fight Martin.

Of course the return of the writing team behind the first 2 movies has helped to keep the continuity in the quality of the plot. With both Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kaeman penning the script it ensure that the sequels don't stray too far from the original concept. Of course there are similarities to the first movie, but that's not really a bad thing. The main point to remember with the Transporter movies is that they don't take themselves too seriously and that means that they do make very enjoyable movies. At a little over an hour and a half it holds your attention with constant action and it undoubtedly leads to the third movie carrying on the success of the first two.

The return of Jason Statham to the lead role was vital to the success of both sequels to the original movie. This is a part that it would seem Statham is perfect for and it almost feels now after the third movie that the role was written for him in the first place. His performance as the seemingly emotionless Frank Martin seems to work every time as he starts as the hard man who tries to help the person he's entrusted to deliver. This time round the damsel in distress is played by Natalya Rudakova in her first film role. Her character is a bit of a strange one as she doesn't have much input with any significant dialogue but there is chemistry between her and Statham that although it seems a little awkward does seem to work.

There is also a return for Martin's friendly neighbourhood police man played superbly once again by French film star Francois Berleand. While Statham provides the action it's really Berleand that adds the comical moments. The main bad guy is played by Heroes and Prison Break star Robert Knepper and if I'm honest I actually felt he wasn't used to his full potential. The supporting cast do exactly what they are meant to and once again this is another action vehicle to show off Statham's talents and abilities.

Overall it is a decent film and while it's not quite up to the standard of the first couple of Transporter films it does still seem to work. If you're looking for a film full of mindless action scenes then this is definitely a film for you. It stays true to the original ideas of the Transporter movies and that for me is the most important aspect. If you've seen and enjoyed any movie with Statham in it then you'll enjoy this movie as well. Of course if you are looking for something a little more high brow than fast cars, explosions and fight scene's then stay clear of this film.

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Summary: The third movie in the Transporter series