Review of The Transporter (2002) by Sean G — 23 Aug 2009

"Transportation is a precise business." - Frank Martin.

An interesting concept and a solid action flick with "The Stath.".

Ex-Special Forces operative Frank Martin is a professional courier for hire who is one of the best there is. He has a strict code he follows in his job that he never breaks. Rule One: Never change the deal. Rule Two: No names. Rule Three: never look in the package. His latest mission is includes transporting a package to a wealthy American gangster who is only known as "Wall Street." While on his course to delivering the package Frank notices his parcel is moving and he violates rule three by opening it up to discover a woman gagged and tied up. He pretends to forget what he saw and continues on his delivery mission. When he arrives, he gives the package to Wall Street who decides to give him another transporting job delivering a small briefcase. Frank stops for a luncheon and as he is walking back to his car, it explodes right in front of him. Frank knows that Wall Street is pissed off at him for opening the package and that Wall Street is going to track him down and kill him for good. But Wall Street and his thugs no very little about the transporter, Frank Martin. But they are going to find out the hard way that you don't ever screw Frank Martin over and try to get away with it because he will come after you and kick your ass sick ways to Sunday.

This fun action movie is directed by Louis Leterrier and Corey Yuen, Leterrier would laet go on to direct Transporter 2. The Transporter has a fun concept to it and is pretty straightforward in the plot department. It does succeed very well in the fight choreography and car chases. It had a budget of $21 million and grossed $43,928,932 worldwide at the box office.

Jason Statham portrays ex-special forces operative Frank Martin who is a no b-s private transporter and considered to be the best in the business. Statham has been pumping more iron than James Bong but isn't as big as Vin Diesel. This role is what helped launch Statham's career as an action star and he is probably best known for his work in the Transporter series. The guy is in excellent physical shape and is clearly an accomplished martial artist.

Frank Martin has a strict set of rules but breaks once of them once he finds out one of his packages is a woman named Lai Kwai (Shu Qi). Frank falls for the girl and he must save her life from a criminal named Darren "Wall Street" Bettencourt (Matt Schulze). Wall Street tries to take out Frank but it is one of the last mistakes he ever makes. Frank is also aided by French Police Inspector Tarconi (François Berléand) who is initially assigned to investigate Frank's path of destruction but later assists him in the recovery of shipping containers filled with human slaves. The acting here is serviceable and you don't hate the actors for their performances. François Berléand's character is likeable and went on to reprise his role in the following Transporter sequels.

The stunt work her is excellent and unlike in the later sequels of this franchise, physics isn't thrown out the door completely. Yes, some of the fight scenes and car chases/stunts are a bit over the top but they don't push the envelope that far. The film simply starts off with Frank Martin sitting in his car in a parking garage and later taking a group of criminals far away from the cops like no one else could. He sticks to his rules no matter what in the opening scenes until Lai Kwai enters the picture. The fight scenes are both painful and yet fun to watch with their tongue in cheek sense of humor. The music is catchy and is done by Stanley Clarke.

The Transporter isn't for people who don't have a taste for action films and should only be checked out if you are a fan of the series or genre.

Rules are made to be broken.