tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post375296257630645124..comments2024-03-24T13:26:57.317-07:00Comments on Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule: MOVIE OF THE MOMENT: TRANSPORTER 3Dennis Cozzaliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-84062119784642120232008-12-21T14:57:00.000-08:002008-12-21T14:57:00.000-08:00Transporter 2 remains the best in the series. Inst...Transporter 2 remains the best in the series. Instead of a good action romp like T2 or even Crank, we get a sequel that's anchored down by pitiful drama scored to sappy piano music. <BR/><BR/>If the movie wasn't so somber, and so tied down and limited to its bomb-strapped conceit, the plot holes and outrageous stunts would have been forgivable. Instead, they are clear as day and thus terrible to even digest. More Transporter 2 fun, less Transporter 3 drama next time around please. <BR/><BR/>Also, pairing an obnoxious bipolar teenage chick with a stone-faced asskicker is never a good idea, unless you can do it right. Unfortunately, the screenwriters could not. Statham's squinty, furrowed brows and gravelly British accent annoyed me for the first time here than anywhere. Normally he's my favorite action hero--a kind of slapstick Bugs Bunny, as Crank proved, minus the wit. <BR/><BR/>And that ending... please tell me the next movie begins with Statham dumping that girl overboard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-35295165267176977982008-12-11T06:30:00.000-08:002008-12-11T06:30:00.000-08:00Dennis, I just saw The Bank Job and Statham was fa...Dennis, I just saw <I>The Bank Job</I> and Statham was fabulous in it. I completely agree that he's a pretty good actor. I do like the "Transporter" series. (Although I'm not sure I would have mentioned the Armond support)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-57923163607334593792008-12-03T11:37:00.000-08:002008-12-03T11:37:00.000-08:00No worries, Thom! I enjoy a healthy discussion and...No worries, Thom! I enjoy a healthy discussion and disagreement just as long as it doesn't lead to personal insults (unfortunately that happens way too often in online chats) and I didn't feel personally insulted by any of your comments about Jason Stathom. Now if you had called <I>me</I> a "walking, barely talking exposed muscle" we may have a serious problem on our hands! Of course this will never happen since unlike Mr. Stathom, I have a weakness for pastries. <BR/><BR/>On a side note, I find Ewan McGregor and Ralph Fiennes as hot as Jason Stathom, so obviously we have common ground somewhere! In all honesty I just have a "thing" for a lot of British actors that borders on slightly unhealthy obsession occasionally.<BR/><BR/>And Dennis, I do agree with your assessment of Stathom's acting chops. I think in your last quiz I mentioned that I'd like to see Stathom in more roles besides "ass-kicker" but I do think he's the best action film star we've had in a long time. And I make no apologies for enjoying some explosive action on screen now and then! I'm also glad that you're a fan of <B>The Bank Job</B> since I really thought that was one of the best movies released last year and it didn't get as much attention as it should have. I also have to make a case for Stathom's performance in <B>Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels</B>. I'm fond of Guy Ritchie's early films and Stathom made an impact on me when I first saw him in <B>Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels</B>, as well as <B>Snatch</B>.<BR/><BR/>Hopefully the suscess of his action films will lead people to start giving him more meatier roles.<BR/><BR/>As for myself, I'm doing okay. 2008 was a rough year and I'll be glad to say goodbye to it, but I'm looking forward to making the most of 2009!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-20736463642964929742008-12-03T07:43:00.000-08:002008-12-03T07:43:00.000-08:00Just saw this last night, and while I think it's w...Just saw this last night, and while I think it's weaker than both the sleek original and the utterly daft, can-you-top-this second entry, I'm still enjoying the series. I think what keeps the series from collapsing under its own ridiculousness or falling prey to the amped-up ugliness that marked <I>Crank</I> and <I>Wanted</I> is its essential guilelessness. Besson and co. want to entertain you, but if you're not entertained, it's no big deal. They're having a good time, and they're not gonna force anything down your throat.<BR/><BR/>Also: <I>Role Models</I>? Friggin' hilarious. Jane Lynch is some kind of miracle.Steve C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01958138092537744506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-91542223512775622622008-12-02T19:45:00.000-08:002008-12-02T19:45:00.000-08:00Whoa! Catch-up time...Peter: Somewhere along the w...Whoa! Catch-up time...<BR/><BR/>Peter: Somewhere along the way I have heard rumblings about <I>Red Siren</I>, so thanks for your reminder. I just shook up my Netflix queue this afternoon and got some of the cobwebs out-- I will go back right now and place <I>Red Siren</I> at or near the top.<BR/><BR/>Paul: Please let me know what you think of it. As much as I'm happy that Armond White seems to have loved the movie, his review kinda reminded me of the guys in my old film courses who wouldn't admit to liking a movie like <I>Transporter 3</I> unless there was some intellectually justifiable way of doing so. Armond isn't quite up to that game-- he clearly loves it for what it is, and maybe the difference is that I don't find it as momentous a movie as he does. But it is, anyway you slice it, a keen piece of work and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.<BR/><BR/>Matthew: You have not steered me wrong yet this year, my friend. Is your middle name "Oracle," by any chance?<BR/><BR/>Bandit: Andrew needs to roll some tape while you talk about Natalya Rudakova! I didn't have such a strong reaction to Giannini's fate in <I>Quantum of Solace</I> as you did. Am I misremembering, or is Bond's decision to leave him there not born more of expediency than heartlessness? I can't imagine why he would leave him to such an ignominious repose other than he had to in order to avoid a deadly situation of his own. <BR/><BR/>J.D.: Hope you enjoy it! You're right-- never a bad thing.<BR/><BR/>Kimberly: Thanks for the update on Statham's kickboxer status. That seems obvious, now that you mention it. Ms. Zacharek noted that he had been a championship diver, and that may well be, but I always thought he looked too built up for that. (He's got the slick head for it though!) I would agree with you too that he's certainly the action star I most look forward to seeing these days. Don't you think also that he's a much better actor than he's generally given credit for? Maybe you have to be predisposed to enjoy his screen presence to find the evidence in <I>Transporter 3</I> (personally, I think you just need eyes and a heart), but certainly the evidence is there in spades within <I>The Bank Job</I>. It's a shame that movie didn't do better business that it did-- it's easily the best showcase he's had for his talent as an actor so far, that I've seen anyway. How's life treating you, by the way, my friend?<BR/><BR/>Tom: I do think that the entire series is a lot of fun. The first one is terrific, buoyed as it is by Cory Yuen's limber touch as stunt coordinator and director and the presence of Shu Qi. (It is rumored that Louis Letterier, who directed the second film, had a strong hand in the first one as well.) Statham is good too, but not quite as settled into the whole tone of the enterprise as he is by <I>3</I>. I have to admit that my one and only screening of <I>Transporter 2</I> was not all that it could have been-- at a drive-in that had not yet been optimized with Technalight, so the image was dimmer and blurrier than what I'd previously been spoiled by, and I also missed about a half-hour of it. I have a feeling that when I rent the DVD for my upcoming holiday <I>Transporter</I> double bill that I'll like it much better. That said, I'd still give the nod to <I>3</I> as best of the series so far. I hope you enjoy it too and do check out the previous installments.<BR/><BR/>Thom: I must attempt to clear the air here. First, in no post, either this one or "The Thankfuls" are you "the wife." You are there, and in my heart, "<I>my</I> wife." But I apologize if I inadvertently implied that you were in any way homophobic in your registered disgust at my Jason Statham man-crush. You are, in truth, the least homophobic person I know who is not him-or-herself gay. I understand that you would have no objection if I crushed on Ewan McGregor or Ralph Fiennes. They're just not my type, and it's certainly clear that Statham is not yours. Sorry if this was not immediately clear in my writing. Now keep it down, wouldja? I'm down here in the den and <I>The Bank Job</I> is starting on Showtime, and I'd appreciate a little privacy...Dennis Cozzaliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-51748285248681132922008-12-02T14:52:00.000-08:002008-12-02T14:52:00.000-08:00Kimberly, forgive me for my description of Mr. Sta...Kimberly, forgive me for my description of Mr. Statham. It's how I feel, but I respect others' opinions as being as true as mine. Not commenting often, I literally forgot that someone other than Dennis would read what I wrote! I'm serious. And of course I respect the opposite view. I mean, otherwise I'd be divorced, obviously!Thom McGregorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11714535798252336806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-42506965580296671812008-12-02T10:42:00.000-08:002008-12-02T10:42:00.000-08:00p.s. If you want to see Statham at his best I high...p.s. If you want to see Statham at his best I highly recommend checking out The Bank Job, which was easily one of the best movies released last year. He's much more than a walking, barely talking exposed muscle in that film.<BR/><BR/>As for seeing the previous Transporter films, I would say yes since there is some very minor character development between Transporter 1 and 2.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-20317941617755109262008-12-02T02:48:00.000-08:002008-12-02T02:48:00.000-08:00Interesting write-up, thanks Dennis. I had always...Interesting write-up, thanks Dennis. I had always unconsciously dismissed the Transporter series, but this makes a good case for checking out the third one when it makes its way to the UK.<BR/><BR/>A question for the floor: is it worth visiting the first two in the series? Or is it a case of the third film, and the fabulously-named Megaton, transcending the rest of the series?tom hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01080439384484012457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-46758739720574347642008-12-01T21:49:00.000-08:002008-12-01T21:49:00.000-08:00In my (known as "the wife") defense, I did not off...In my (known as "the wife") defense, I did not offer my disgust as a reaction to Mr. Statham's maleness, but rather that he is no more interesting or crushworthy to me than a walking, barely talking exposed muscle. I couldn't be less homophobic, even when one of the men in question is my husband!Thom McGregorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11714535798252336806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-83700389153287576762008-12-01T16:30:00.000-08:002008-12-01T16:30:00.000-08:00Thanks for posting your thoughts about Transporter...Thanks for posting your thoughts about Transporter 3, Dennis! I wasn't able to see the film over the holiday weekend, but I hope to see it soon. I really enjoyed the first two films. I don't crush on a lot of modern movie stars since so many of them seem made of plastic, but I've got it bad for Jason Statham!<BR/><BR/>On a side note, Statham has a martial arts background and is supposedly a kickboxing expert. I think this helps the fight scenes in his films look so darn good. He also does a lot of his own stunts, which is rare for any actor these days. Generally speaking, I think he's the best action star the movies have seen in 10 years if not longer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-36416349708155954612008-12-01T07:11:00.000-08:002008-12-01T07:11:00.000-08:00I really enjoyed the first two TRANSPORTER films a...I really enjoyed the first two TRANSPORTER films and this one looks like more of the same. Never a bad thing. I enjoyed your fantastic write-up. I will have to check it, ASAP.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-91702808276822356042008-12-01T00:48:00.000-08:002008-12-01T00:48:00.000-08:00Valentina is the greatest female protagonist since...Valentina is the greatest female protagonist since the days of Hawks and Sturges. Nah, she's better than that.<BR/><BR/>By far the best of the series. And way more entertaining and less dreary than Quantum; At least Frank Martin doesn't leave his friends to rot in Dumpsters!<BR/><BR/>(Do we have Haggis or Forster to blame for that vile, depressing, miserable and blasphemous image, the lowest low of 2008 cinema and the worst moment in any Bond film ever?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-10142733259703716892008-11-30T18:55:00.000-08:002008-11-30T18:55:00.000-08:00Told you it rocked.Told you it rocked.Headquarters 10https://www.blogger.com/profile/17099693396976890051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-35266014925231687042008-11-30T10:28:00.000-08:002008-11-30T10:28:00.000-08:00Hi, Dennis.I was so excited to read your enthusias...Hi, Dennis.<BR/><BR/>I was so excited to read your enthusiastic review of TRANSPORTER 3 -- I love the first two movies, with Jason Statham's rare combination of physical grace and dry wit, the reliable ingenuity of the fights and the chase scenes, and Luc Besson's unsurpassed eye for beautiful, long-legged women. I was under the impression that the TRANSPORTER series was slowly acquiring a quiet cult among critics, and so I was surprised to see the lukewarm reviews this one was getting. You'd think that critics would be eager to celebrate a high-spirited lark like TRANSPORTER 3 especially when QUANTUM OF SOLACE was such a bringdown. I wondered: could Olivier Megaton have dropped a dud?<BR/><BR/>Your review gives me renewed confidence, and I'm hoping to squeeze in a screening of T3 during today's round of Christmas shopping.Paul Matwychukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01917384620564525389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-59485781461655243732008-11-30T07:26:00.000-08:002008-11-30T07:26:00.000-08:00If you have the chance, and space on your rental q...If you have the chance, and space on your rental queue, check out Megaton's <B>Red Siren</B>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com