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(Angie (2007), Exit, The Red Siren, Transporter 3, TV: Les Redoubtables, Sable noir)
Producers:
Luc Besson and Steve Chassman
Screenplay:
Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen
Original Score :
Alexandre Azaria
Cast :
Frank Martin: Jason Statham
Valentina: Natalya Rudakova
Inspector Tarconi: François Berléand
Johnson: Robert Knepper
Leonid Vasilev: Jeroen Krabbé
Transporter 3 is the first film in the series that I've seen
and also the first directed by the interestingly-nicknamed Olivier Megaton.
Whether or not Frank Martin (Jason Statham is as keen a fisherman in the other films I can only presume he is
and that it's my fault in coming to the series late, but that's how we begin as he shares time with his French
Inspector pal, Tarconi (François Berléand). Just as they're finally getting a bite, Tarconi gets a call saying
there's been a bit of a to-do in Marseilles as a man is zooming through the streets in a black Audi, escaping bumbling
police as he goes... seems that should normally be Frank's job, but he's not in the car.
For reasons I don't want to spoil, Frank soon finds himself back behind the wheel and the item he has to deliver
this time isn't something he's used to. It... or, rather, she is Valentina (Natalya Rudakova, right - with Statham
- and below-right on her own), a young Russian
girl and she is his 'package' for reasons he will discover later.
Plot sensibility goes out the window early on, but then this movie is all about action and it certainly delivers for
enough of the time to make it worthwhile. Firstly, both he and the girl have, about their person, a wriststrap that
cannot be removed and, once activated, means he can't be outside of a few feet from his car otherwise they'll each
blow up. There's a minister (Jeroen Krabbé) that's being blackmailed into accepting the import of something dodgy
in the name of "environmental protection". Krabbé barks as loud as possible at the baddies, yet still looks like MP Peter
Hain trying to defend his Deputy PM leadership campaign expenses - just a bit fatter.
Meanwhile, the main baddie is played by Robert Knepper, aka T-Bag in Prison Break - and looking almost
identical here - not surprising given that he would've been filming that show at the time. Still, he is a welcome
addition to the cast even if his Prison Break character, as the show has now returned for its final few shows,
actually seems to have developed a conscience for the first time in his life. Perhaps the PB scripts are now being written
by those responsible for Eastenders where continuity isn't one of their strongest assets.
There are some wonderfully mad stunts in this movie, including Statham chasing his own car whilst on a pushbike.
And, later, after demolishing lots of baddies, a meat-headed one appears on his own. Frank asks, "You're the smart
one?" The baddie replies, "No, I'm the big one."
That said, it does get a bit slow when it comes to a romantic liaison between the two leads. Just give us the car
chases, please!
I've still got the first two Transporter DVDs in my never-ending 'to do' pile, so I should get round to them
before too long. Apparently, No.3 isn't as good as the first two and that if you watch this one first then you won't have
the first two to compare it to - which is where I find myself. However, it's still a great way of spending 90 minutes or
so before the end credits kick in.
The film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and looks pin-sharp and crystal clear - Icon have done a
remarkable job with the mastering here. My viewing experience was helped by watching itupscaled to a 37" Panasonic
plasma screen via a Samsung BD-P1400 BluRay Player.
There are sound options for Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1, so I chose the latter. When you get to action scenes, of
which there are a decent number (even though I would like more - but not like
Quantum of Solace
where they substituted for anything making any kind of sense), you will be in for a massive treat, particularly during
a moment at around 10:40 which caused me to jump out of my seat when a car made a certain action (I won't spoil it here).
The extras a few in number, beginning with a Making Of (16:12), which begins with Statham testing out stunt
scenes, we get some info on Robert Knepper's main baddie character, a brief look at the opening chase scene in France
and working with Natalya Rudakova in her debut movie role as Valentina. For some reason, this segment refers to her as
Sasha, despite the movie credits saying Natalya. Along the way there are comments mixed in from Statham and director
Olivier Megaton.
Then there are Mini-featurettes for Storyboards (2:47), Special FX (2:32), The Sets (2:11) and Cat Stunts (3:11),
but they're all way too short to make any real impact on you.
Prior to the main menu, which features black and white clips from the film, comes something that should've been left behind in the age of rental video - trailers for forthcoming
DVDs. There's the 'Extras' menu for this sort of things, hence, I'm not going to mention the titles featured here.
Elsewhere on the disc, there are subtitles in English only and there are just 12 chapters to the film, which isn't anywhere
near enough as I work on a basis of one every five minutes, plus a separate one for the end of opening and beginning of closing credits.
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B
37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Jan 2011: Intel Quad Core Dell XPS 8100, i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80Ghz, 8Gb RAM, nVidia GeForce GTS 240, Windows 7
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
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DVD: 
Transporter 3 is the first film in the series that I've seen
and also the first directed by the interestingly-nicknamed Olivier Megaton.
Meanwhile, the main baddie is played by Robert Knepper, aka T-Bag in Prison Break - and looking almost
identical here - not surprising given that he would've been filming that show at the time. Still, he is a welcome
addition to the cast even if his Prison Break character, as the show has now returned for its final few shows,
actually seems to have developed a conscience for the first time in his life. Perhaps the PB scripts are now being written
by those responsible for Eastenders where continuity isn't one of their strongest assets.
