LUC BESSON BRINGS YOU HANNA BY WAY OF THE PROFESSIONAL WITH COLOMBIANA

Too bad they couldn't get Natalie Portman back for the sequel to The Professional.

I only caught La Femme Nikita recently, on Instant.  It was interesting, seeing how Luc Besson's style progressed between the two films.  Of course, The Professional actually makes narrative sense, so it has an advantage over Nikita right there.  (Though maybe I just turned my head and missed some very important subtitles.)

I almost wish this was any other actress besides Zoe Saldana.  I am not a fan.  Reading through the article, all of my enthusiasm deflated when I read that she was starring.  Her delivery of "I was n-n-NINE" didn't help anything.

Anyway, it looks like a Besson film.  I haven't seen any of his films except the two I mentioned, but I'll probably see this one eventually.

Looks interesting (and is probably more effective than the overall film will turn out to be due to the talent involved), but it is giving me Domino flashbacks as well, which isn't a good thing. Also going against it is that Megaton (while having a cool name) is an absolutely terrible action director, as Transporter 3 shows, he cuts fight scenes to ribbons in a way that actively infuriates me. How he is getting all these action projects (along with Taken 2) is beyond me.

I guess I might be outing myself a bit, but... I kinda didn't think Transporter 3 was that bad. I mean, first-time filmmaker and all, but aside from a few minor dodgy editing decisions and a totally flat story, I thought it was competent, if a bit unremarkable. I always see people claiming Megaton's direction was some sort of affront to humanity, but it never seemed anything other than somewhat adequate, and there were still a few genuine standout sequences (Frank busting ass to catch the stolen car).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe T 

I guess I might be outing myself a bit, but... I kinda didn't think Transporter 3 was that bad. I mean, first-time filmmaker and all, but aside from a few minor dodgy editing decisions and a totally flat story, I thought it was competent, if a bit unremarkable. I always see people claiming Megaton's direction was some sort of affront to humanity, but it never seemed anything other than somewhat adequate, and there were still a few genuine standout sequences (Frank busting ass to catch the stolen car).

I see what you are saying, and I don't think the movie itself is an abortion by any means, but maybe the fact that Yuen and Leterrier knew how to stage a good, well-blocked and edited action scene made Megaton's bizarrely manic editing style jump out at me more. Again, I'm not saying this movie will suck this far out (and who cares what I think anyway), but I generally dislike the director's overall style.
 

Megaton deflates my expectations for this. Also after watching The Losers I have a hard time mustering Zoe Saldana. Liked her fine in Star Trek though.

I would feel queasy mounting a half-hearted, nominal defense of Megaton's craft. I don't see how people can do it. Yeah, it's a first film, but how many directors with perceptible skill actually shit the bed the first time out? Even when he was being fucked with and pushed around by the studio, David Fincher clearly shows in Alien 3 that he has a serious eye. I don't know anything about the production history of Transporter 3, but if it was relatively smooth, and that is what they ended up with, it says nothing good about Megaton.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny 

Yeah, it's a first film, but how many directors with perceptible skill actually shit the bed the first time out?

Joe Carnahan.

Boom, ROASTED.

The only thing I can remember about TRANSPORTER 3 is my disappointment.

This looks like a flashback for an unknown member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. "Intense" is the word and marketing has done their job. I'm interested.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe T 

Joe Carnahan.

Boom, ROASTED.

 

I haven't seen Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane, but I did say "how many" not "name one" (though it seems some of its detractors admit that the film has style if nothing else).

I don't know how good Saldana is going to be in this but I wish she'd eat a couple of steaks some time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny 

I haven't seen Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane, but I did say "how many" not "name one" (though it seems some of its detractors admit that the film has style if nothing else).

Sperig Brothers.

...

I got nothing.
 

Wait, I just checked Wikipedia. Transporter 3 is his second or third feature film and the dude has been working since the mid-late 90's. I was under the impression that he was no more than a thirty-something protégé of Besson's, not a 45-year-old long timer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Park Chan-wookie 

How he is getting all these action projects (along with Taken 2) is beyond me.

Because he has no problem taking orders from Besson?  And because Yuen and Leterrier have moved on?