Transporter [UMD] DVD

The Transporter
An outlaw finds his life becoming all the more dangerous when he turns against a gang of criminals in this action drama. Frank Martin (Jason Statham) is a former Special Forces officer who lives on the French Mediterranean and has a lucrative second career as a underworld courier for hire. Martin will deliver anything anywhere, but he has three iron-clad rules - once the plan is in motion it cannot be changed, neither he nor his customers are to ever use their real names, and under no circumstances will he open the package. Martin is hired to make a delivery to a wealthy but unscrupulous American known as Wall Street (Matt Schulze), but after taking possession of the package he realizes that whatever is inside happens to be alive. Breaking his own rule, Martin opens the bag to discover a beautiful Asian woman, Lai (Shu Qi), who is bound and gagged. Lai briefly escapes, but Martin captures her, and delivers her to Wall Street as promised. However, after being given a parcel to deliver by Wall Street, Martin finds out what Wall Street is up to - in partnership with Lai's father Mr. Kwai (Ric Young), Wall Street is part of a scheme to smuggle Asian illegal aliens into France. Martin's conscience gets the better of him, and he sets out to rescue Lai and put Wall Street and Mr. Kwai out of business; however, as if this wasn't enough of a challenge, Martin discovers a French detective, Tarconi (Francois Berleand) has gotten wind of his illegal business. The Transporter was the first English-language feature for Hong Kong-based director Corey Yuen, who along with directing a number of HK action flicks designed fight choreography for several American films. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cast Jason Statham as Frank Martin Shu Qi as Lai François Berléand as Tarconi Matt Schulze as Wall Street Ric Young as Mr. Kwai Doug Rand as Leader Didier Saint Melin as Boss Tonio Descanvelle as Thug 1 Laurent Desponds as Thug 2 Matthieu Albertini as Thug 3

Crew Nathalie Cheron - Casting Martine Rapin - Costume Designer Christophe Cheysson - First Assistant Director Stephane Moreno Carpio - First Assistant Director Corey Yuen - Director Nicolas Trembasiewicz - Editor Stanley Clarke - Composer (Music Score) Hugues Tissandier - Production Designer Pierre Morel - Cinematographer Luc Besson - Producer Steven Chasman - Producer Francois-Joseph Hors - Sound/Sound Designer Didier Lozahic - Sound/Sound Designer Ken Yasumoto - Sound/Sound Designer Vincent Tulli - Sound Editor Philippe Guegan - Stunts Coordinator Michel Julienne - Stunts Coordinator Jian Yong Guo - Stunts Coordinator Robert Mark Kamen - Screenwriter Luc Besson - Screenwriter Bruno Privat - Additional Cinematography Corey Yuen - Action Director Louis Leterrier - Artistic Director

The Transporter
Cool, kinetic, and supremely self-assured, this compact little action flick moves far too quickly to sink under the weight of its plot holes and occasional pretensions. Although clearly indebted to writer/producer Luc Besson's previous exercises in Gallic underworld glamour, The Transporter perfectly balances the contributions of co-directors Corey Yuen and Louis Leterrier. Yuen, a Hong Kong vet with a several American fight-choreography credits under his belt, turns in some breathless action set pieces whose grace and economy seem miles away from the blustery Michael Bay school of excess. Leterrier, meanwhile, presumably deserves credit for eliciting such wry humor and genre-defying humanity from the performers. Freed from the cocky, talky constraints of Guy Ritchie's world, star Jason Statham exudes coiled tension underneath his controlled exterior. The tale of an underworld courier's crisis of conscience could too easily slip into mawkish self-parody, but Statham's less-is-more approach lends the scenario an undeniable authenticity; this man, rather than Vin Diesel or The Rock, should be the model for tomorrow's action hero. It helps that Shu Qi makes such a credible combination of victim, femme fatale, and witty foil. After a twisted "meet cute" silly enough to satisfy the most rabid omantic comedy fan, Qi and Statham settle into a delicious chemistry that survives several unlikely plot twists. François Berléand's role as a wise, wary police detective proves problematic, but he and Statham wring as much dramatic frisson as possible from their frequent, pseudo-philosophical tête-à-têtes. Matt Schulze's double-crossing villain is strictly pro forma, but fans of television's Alias will not be surprised to learn that Ric Young achieves an effortless air of smug menace as the imposing and ultimately cold-blooded Mr. Kwai. The Transporter may have failed to cross over at the American box office the way Besson's and Statham's previous efforts did, but it's an unassuming delight in a genre fraught with loud, showy duds. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French, Spanish Subtitle Options: English, Spanish Sound Processing: DD2: Dolby Digital Stereo Additional Features: Full length movie Widescreen presentation DVD picture quality DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1: Alternate Wide Screen MPAA Rating: PG13 DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 92 min