Movie Junkie Review: Transporter 3
ACTION JUNKIES ALERT! Transporter 3 will definitely satisfy your constant craving for action and plenty of it. There are excellent fight scenes, great car chase scenes and some really good explosions, all prerequisites for action satisfaction. Add in some good chemistry between characters and a love interest for the inimitable Frank Martin, “the transporter,” and 3 becomes the best film of the three. Transporter 3 is based almost entirely in southern Europe, an excellent scenario for some of the most intense action sequences in recent film, and the location adds some history, depth and story elements.
Jason Statham reprises the title role as Frank Martin, driver extraordinaire and the best "transporter" on the planet, but ther's a little twist: he actually manages to add a little humanity to the character. Of course there is only a little humanity and a lot of violence. There is a villain, named only Johnson, (marginally well played by (Robert Knepper) who wants Frank Martin to transport a package to Bucharest. Martin respectfully declines suggesting a friend to take the job. Unfortunately for the friend things go horribly, horribly wrong and Martin has a new doorway and a large black vehicle in his living room. Johnson then kidnaps Martin and, predictably, the transporter is unwillingly back in business.
Martin, reminiscent of the great anti-heroes of the 70s, and as an occidental Bruce Lee/Jackie Chan, is at his absolute best when grimly fighting against uncountable odds and...there are plenty of opportunities in this latest installment of the Transporter franchise. Many of the fight scenes in 3 are quite good and, remarkably similar to the battles of Lee and Chan. So good that the fight choreographer deserves some real kudos. Martin's "striptease" while in battle is classic action at its best.
Transporter 3 is my favorite of the three films but still does not rise above its action category. Better acting, a less formulaic plot and even reasonably good writing and directing and 3 could have been much more than just another action flick. Alas, it never happened so I must sadly rate the film a disappointing 2.5 stars out of 5. A strong recommendation for action junkies, but all others beware.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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Comments
16 August 2007
4 hours 12 min
"The best of the three" Well considering I enjoyed the first one and rolled my eyes at the second one I guess I'm going to have to watch this one if its the best of the three!
23 July 2008
2 weeks 6 days
I'm not an overall fan of Jason Statham movies. If I want to see a balding white guy do action I'll stick w/ my Die Hard movies. LOL!
16 August 2007
4 hours 12 min
lol...Now there would be a Movie Junkie debate. Die Hard vs. Transporter 3....I think I could handle that since no one else on the podcast believes that Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie.
14 November 2007
1 year 39 weeks
Nice to see you on here Craig!!
23 July 2008
2 weeks 6 days
Can we expect more movie reviews and discussions?
16 August 2007
4 hours 12 min
Yes, Craig will be posting his Movie reviews here on DC and some other Movie related content as well.
23 July 2008
2 weeks 6 days
Cool!
16 August 2007
4 hours 12 min
Oh and what many Movie Junkie listeners may not know is that Craig is an old schoold soap watcher. If I'm not mistaken he watch Y&R and maybe another soap or two when they first premiered.
So in addition to knowing pretty much everything there is about movies he's also knows some old school soap stuff too.
14 November 2007
1 year 39 weeks
Yeah, I caught that on one of the recent MJ eps. He said something about watching soaps back in the day. It's so hard to imagine the Movie Maniac watching Y&R, lol. I love it!
14 November 2007
1 year 39 weeks
Oh you know what would be cool?? If Craig would be up for it: Could he do a review of Soapdish?!
27 November 2008
42 weeks 6 days
Yep, back in the day my grandmother used to make sure that all her work was done by the time that As the World Turns came on and there was little Craig sitting on the couch watching ATWT. Then when I was a little older I worked in a TV factory and have the distinction to say from the very first episode and for three years I never missed on day of The Young and the Restless. Jill was just an innocent girl then.
27 November 2008
42 weeks 6 days
I would love to review Soapdish
and will do so
14 November 2007
1 year 39 weeks
Yay! Thanks Movie Maniac Craig!!
16 August 2007
4 hours 12 min
I had a chance to finally watch and this is, without question, the best of the Transporter movies. It totally redeemed the franchise after the last movie.
27 November 2008
42 weeks 6 days
Great Luke, glad you liked it.
3 April 2009
13 weeks 5 days
Am a fan & no.2 was a disappointment. My big complaint is that too many films use yellow and brown coloring. Am looking forward to #3 when it hits cable. War of the Worlds was ruined by using those ugly colors. I'd never buy a DVD looking like that. Hope the fad fades away soon. It looks cheap.
3 April 2009
13 weeks 5 days
If you like Clive Owen check out, "Shoot 'em Up." It's on cable now. He mixes sarcasm, humor & action.
9 August 2010
1 year 26 weeks
This was the worst Transporter film I've seen thus far on a national televizion in Bucharest . The people who made this need to go back and watch the Transporter 2 and learn what made that film so fun. Fun, the exact element missing from this movie and its number one draw.