Transporter 3 [2 Discs] [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray]

Director: Olivier Megaton Olivier Megaton

Overview

Strong-armed into transporting the kidnapped daughter of the head of the Environmental Agency for the Ukraine from Marseilles to Odessa, skilled wheelman Frank Martin (Jason Statham) enlists the aid of Inspector Tarconi (Fran?ois Berl?and) in accomplishing the treacherous assignment in this action-packed installment of the popular action series produced by Luc Besson (who also co-scripts). Frank isn't exactly thrilled with his latest assignment, but when his employer turns up the pressure, he has little choice but to deliver. His cargo is a feisty young girl named Valentina (Natalya Rudakova) -- who just happens to be the daughter of Leonid Vasilev (Jeroen Krabb?), the powerful top dog of the Ukraine EPA. Now, as Frank makes his way through Stuttgart and Budapest on the road to the Black Sea, Vasilev's men besiege his car from all sides, and his cynical young passenger gets a bad case of Stockholm Syndrome. As the driver and his cargo grow increasingly close, they both realize that making even a single mistake could cost them dearly.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/10/2009
UPC:	0031398107231
Original Release:	2008
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	LIONSGATE - 600000-AEC LGE
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:44:00
Sales rank:	18,319

Special Features

Disc 1: Feature Film; "Special Delivery: Transporters in the Real World" featurette; ; Audio Commentary with Director Olivier Megaton; ; Behind-the-scenes bonus footage storyboards - Sets/Production Design/Special FX; ; "Making of Transporter 3" Featurettte ; ; MoLog is the first BD Live application that allows users to insert and animate shapes, text, audio, and other graphics right into the film to create "Blogs" to share with other MoLog users!

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jason Statham	Frank Martin
Natalya Rudakova	Valentina Vasilev
François Berléand	Inspector Tarconi
Robert Knepper	Johnson
Jeroen Krabbé	Leonid Vasilev
Alex Kobold	Leonid's Aide
David Atrakchi	Malcom Manville
David Kammenos	Driver Market
Yann Sundberg	Flag
Silvio Simac	Mighty Joe
Oscar Relier	Thug / Driver
Timo Dierkes	Otto
Elef Zack	Mate
Igor Koumpan	Cop Ukraine
Michel Neugarten	Assassin Driver - Sergueï
Paul Barrett	Captain
Farid Elouardi	Yuri
Katia Tchenko	Leonid's Secretary
Philippe Maymat	American #2
Franck Neel	American #3
Jean-Luc Boucherot	Truck Driver
Mike Powers	American #1
Stephen Croce	Crewman #2
Stephen Shagov	Port Captain
Tonio Descanvelle	Crewman #1
Julien Muller	Cop Frank's House
Arnaud Gibey	French Cop / Forensic Lab
Martial Bezot	Crewman #3
Denis Braccini	Custom Officer #1
Kait Tenison	Custom Officer Kiev
Fabien Aïssa Busetta	Reporter
Stefo Linard	Custom Officer #2
Aline Stinus	Custom Officer Kiev
Sebastien Vandenberghe	Assassin # 2 Mercedes
Semmy Schilt	The Giant
Eric Moreau	Cameraman (uncredited)
Francois Berleand	Actor
Venugopal Balakrishnan	Asian Clerk Electronic Store
Eriq Ebouaney	Actor
Alexandre Azaria	Composer

Technical Credits

Luc Besson	Producer
Olivier Megaton	Director
Steve Chasman	Producer
Yves-Marie Omnes	Sound/Sound Designer
Frederic Dubois	Sound Editor
Vincent Arnardi	Sound Mixer
François Fayard	Sound Editor
Olivier Walczak	Sound Editor

Editorial Reviews

Like clockwork, the Transporter series keeps on tickin' and delivering all of the kicks, jabs, quips, and explosions one has come to expect from the franchise. Though this third installment is not quite as nuts as the second film, it's nevertheless firmly set in the same ridiculous mold. Fans of tongue-in-cheek tough-guy cinema will appreciate the goods on display here -- even if they find it a bit forgettable afterward. This time, producer/screenwriter Luc Besson is back to his old tricks, adding a young female into the equation and letting the film coast on the shaky chemistry between her and Jason Statham. To be sure, though, this is still a succession of films that understands the power of hard kicks, scene-chewing villains, and a sense of fun that continues to be a refreshing change of pace in action cinema's current dour landscape. That's not to say that Transporter 3 is foolproof -- far from it. As great as it is to have an action star who can hold his own when it comes to a bare-knuckled fist-puncher, Statham's moves (under the keen eye of fight choreographer Corey Yuen) are, more often than not, obscured by frantic editing that doesn't allow the audience to fully appreciate the fisticuffs on display. Equally, one could count on any establishing shot to have the same sort of needless zip-bam-pow editing. As with its Bond action brethren of the same year, Quantum of Solace, it seems that the filmmakers have stooped to copying the frenetic style of the times instead of opting for more traditional cutting techniques that benefited their predecessors so well. Even so, a little Statham charisma goes a long way -- and thankfully there are more than a few over-the-top moments to make this entry noteworthy. Surprisingly, much of the flick's running time is dedicated to the one-on-one scenes of the hero and his "package" -- the lithe Ukrainian femme Valentina (played by newcomer Natalya Rudakova). Moviegoers are made to swallow not only a fair amount of banter between the two, but forcibly ingest the schmaltzy romantic subplot of it as well (invariably putting a spin on the series' gay subtext, for sure). Especially of concern is Valentina's hard-to-decipher dialogue, which, if one can get over the thick accent, is rife with quirky character work that's downright laughable. That said, there's little use tearing Transporter 3 down. Questionable style aside, it does what it sets out to do -- entertain. With crazy car stunts, one ludicrous bike chase, along with the firm grasp that it's always best to have the hero fight the biggest guy last, this third installment should tide viewers over until they can get their next Euro-tinged action spectacle. Let's hope next time the reins aren't handed over to a director and editor whose biggest accomplishment before this was working on the Timothy Olyphant mess Hitman.