neumu [ cinematronic ]




	The Transporter
	Corey Yuen Jason Statham, Shu Qi, Matt Schulze, François Berléand 2002		A boisterous conjunction of Hong Kong martial-arts action, Hollywood blockbuster detonations and French disdain for authority makes for disposable bargain-matinee fun in "The Transporter." Jason Statham — the reticent tough guy of such modern British gangster movies as "Snatch" — plays mercenary Frank Martin, a driver or "transporter" for anyone who can meet his price. Living comfortably in the south of France, Frank has a set of rules that guide his endeavors — one being "Never look in the package." He breaks that rule, and the package he's delivering turns out to be a beautiful Asian woman (Shu Qi) in danger. Soon, Frank is breaking rule after rule, a locked door and a bunch of his adversaries' bones as he takes on a pack of international criminals with mayhem on their minds. The English-language screenplay co-written by extravagant French filmmaker Luc Besson is pretty addled, but Chinese director Corey Yuen has a flair for fight scenes (the best happens on an oil slick in a garage) and acts of destruction. And the lean, mean Statham is a treat to watch amid the chaos.