Plot: What’s it about?
Frank Martin (Jason Statham) is an ex-special forces agent, but these days, he works for both sides of the law. In truth, Martin would work for anyone who had the cash, no matter what kind of operations are involved. Martin is a transporter, he will transport any cargo to any point, so long as the funds are worthwhile. It doesn’t matter what needs to be moved, be it drugs, weapons, or even bank robbers in need of a wheelman, just as long as the money’s good. He has attained a lush lifestyle thanks to his success in this field, so he is sure to stick to what works and that means adherence to his three rules. Those rules are never change the deal, never use names, and never, ever look inside the package. As he loves his plush living, he sticks to those rules and has found immense success as a result. His latest charge is to move a large bag, which seems routine, until Martin takes a brief stop. The bag is moving, as if something alive were inside of it, but of course, Martin is hesitant to look inside. He finally breaks down and defies his own rule, only to discover a beautiful woman within. Can Martin continue his assignment as planned, or will he break all of his rules and help the poor woman?
This movie starts off with a wild, well crafted chase scene, but the rest of the film fails to live up to that standard. As you’d expect with Cory Yuen (High Risk, My Father is a Hero) at the helm, there’s action from start to finish, but what The Transporter needs is character development and a fine tuned storyline. The stunt sequences are fun to watch, but it seems as though minimal time was spent on the other elements. One man complaint is the main character, who quickly moves from interesting to dull & rehashed, when he decides to break his own rules. The role could have been a complex and fresh kind of character, but instead, the writers abandon his traits at will to suit the paper thin storyline. The rest of the cast is also left with little to do, aside from fire guns, drive cars, or simply kick off. This is a shame, as Shu Qi is a beautiful, talented actress and she is all but wasted in this picture. I do like some of the action sequences, but none can match the opening scenes, which spells almost certain doom in most cases. The final showdown is packed with set pieces and is fun to watch, but still lacks the extra kick we wanted. So no, The Transporter isn’t the next action masterpiece, but in the end, its a passable movie. If you’re looking for some mindless action cinema, then give The Transporter a rental.
He has buffed up quite a bit since we last saw him, but even so, Jason Statham needs a lot of work to become an action star. His English accent was cool at first, but now it doesn’t sound as tough and on the whole, I think he’s a lackluster choice for this role. I’m sure budget concerns prompted his selection over better known, more talented options, but even so, the choice could have cost the film’s box office millions. Statham is passable in terms of dialogue and even has some skills with a gun, but when he has to face down countless enemies, engage in chases, and handle fisticuffs, he simply isn’t believable. It takes more than biceps and a six-pack to be an action star, as you need presence and charisma, neither of which Statham has. I like him in second fiddle roles within comedic pictures, but he is simply out of his league here and as a result, The Transporter isn’t as good as it should be. Other films with Statham include The One, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, Mean Machine, Ghosts of Mars, and Snatch. The cast also includes Shu Qi (Visible Secret, Martial Angels), Ric Young (Kiss of the Dragon, Chain of Command), and Matt Schulze (The Fast and the Furious, Blade II).
Video: How does it look?
The Transporter is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, with a full screen edition included on the disc’s flip side. This presentation is close to reference level, but a few minor flaws keep the score down. As this is a new release, I was surprised to see some scratches and debris on the print. This only happens in a few scenes, but even so, I expected a pristine print from such a new release. The rest of the elements are excellent however, as colors are vivid, flesh tones are natural, and black levels are flawless. The film’s visuals come across in top notch fashion, with only those minor print issues to bemoan.
Audio: How does it sound?
I love a dynamic, explosive soundtrack as much as the next person, but sometimes, these tracks sound almost too juiced. I know a movie with chases, gunfights, and explosions should be loud and brash, but in some recent action releases, it seems like the audio engineers are putting too much blast into the material. This creates a louder experience, but some realism is lost and to me, that’s not too good. The included Dolby Digital 5.1 option follows that tradition, as its so loud and over the top, the sense of realism is tossed out the window. I know some will cry foul and say the louder the better, but I like a more natural, immersive experience. The dialogue is well handled however, while the music sounds terrific also. This disc also includes Spanish and French language options, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I would have liked an audio commentary with Cory Yuen and Shu Qi, but instead, we get star Jason Statham and producer Steven Chasman. The two provide some good moments however, especially as far as the creation of the action sequences is concerned. I noticed a lot of dead space in this track, but if you liked the movie, then you’ll want to give this session a listen. This disc also includes three extended fight sequences (w/ optional commentary), a brief behind the scenes featurette, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
