Movie Review                                                                                                            

21 Dec 2002

THEATRICAL RELEASE
Oct 11, 2002 (Wide)

NUMBERS
Box Office: $25,221,889

MPAA RATING
PG-13, for violent sequences and some sensuality

RUNTIME
90 minutes

RELEASE COMPANY
20th Century Fox

Starring:

Jason Statham              Shu Qi                  Matt Schulze         Richard Young       Francois Berleand

Movie Review                                                                                                            

Ever imagine Hong Kong style action in France, pretty girls, nice cool cars, being framed, revenge, HK action directors and French producers, sound familiar? Well, from the same crew that brought you last year hardcore action thriller Jet Li's Kiss of the Dragon, this summer comes The Transporter, which is directed by HK action veteran Corey Yuen (The One) and from the makers of the Professional, French veteran Luc Besson. Looking for an non-stop action and a little romance, then The Transporter will definitely not disappoints.

The story starts off with a transporter Frank (Jason Stratham) transporting a group of bank robbers from police. Without doubt one of the most liveliest car chase and escape since Jackie Chan's Police Story. Stratham (Snatch) is the guy that follows the rules and once a deal is made rules are set. Until one day, out of curiously, he opens the car boot and broke the rules and found a pretty girl, Lai played by HK superstar Shu Qi (Jackie Chan's Gorgeous). Then the excitement begin. Bombs after bombs, in a scene which reminds me the scale of bombing in the movie Pearl Harbour, escapes with girl then girl's father turns out to be crooked, which leads to hero saving girl. Well if that sounds good, well that's not even the point, the fun is definitely the action.  

The Transporter starring the British up and rising star fresh from his supporting role in last summer Jet Li's The One put on a good muscular martial arts action display and together with a dazzling screen presence as the hero. The action is certainly the highlights and elevated to a new standard with director Corey Yuen foot marks all over it. The oil fight though clearly seen before by most Asian audience in the classical Once Upon a Time in China is indeed a treat and the fight in the bus is also devastating. Supporting actress is Hong Kong veteran Shu Qi who put on a good innocent and cute face and surprisingly quite confident English. Her presence only helps to lighten up the movie even more. The only downside is probably the villains played by Matt Schulze and Richard Young (Kiss of the Dragon) seem nothing more than robots trained to be bad.

With non-stop HK style cinema action from start to finish, along with the presence of Corey Yuen as Director and Luc Besson as Producer definitely did not leave action fans disappointed. Well, Bruce Willis, Arnie and Stallone get ready to be transported by the Transporter - Jason Stratham.

  Ratings:

                                                           8/10

By Andrew Chan (19 December 2002)