Speaking of reclining in the enthrallment of the all-important spectacle, Dawn and I just blew in from The Bijou, where we enjoyed "Transporter 3," erm "Crank," which anyone familiar with the first two "Transporter" movies will recognize the relevancy of this comparison. Though this new Jason Statham vehicle sputters in spots, it's still worth seeing on the big screen.
Statham, in the first two "Transporter" movies, is quite persnickety about the pertinent particulars of his profession, and less personable, less real than the terminal character he portrays in "Crank." That said, I think the humor in "Crank" is a little weak, but not so inane as to seriously hurt this movie... takes it down 'bout a half a star is all.
Not being the hugest action flick fan, it's at least a mid-sized accomplishment that the Dawnster's managed to turn me on to this series. Credit this to Statham looking very much like the best of the new action heroes, as good as Stallone, Schwartzenegger and Bronson ever were, and way better than Steven Segal. IMHO he even noses out Bruce Willis, whom I think is great, but Statham--being younger, edgier, and not afraid to work both sides of the room--appears ready to supplant him. Watch out Vin Diesel.
For minor characters, François Berleand, the French detective in the first two movies, is superb; affable yet officious, if you didn't know better you'd think he was more interested in cuisine than crime. In a somewhat similar role in "Crank," Efren Ramirez (Pedro from "Napoleon Dynamite") plays a quasi-cross dressing lad with some memorable moves and lines.
You wouldn't be hearing from me today, though, unless there were something more. Here's what's more: all three of these movies ask existentialist questions. "Here's my job; I go fast, delivering 'packages'; my wife died." "I have but an hour to live, therefore, I must live fast." "What shade of eyeliner should I wear today?" "Do I jump out of this window to catch that vial of world-saving antidote?"
I think the directors of most thrillers are satisfied with a brisk pace, some gore if not splatter, and the bottom line; they're not really interested in the philosophical.
In all three "Transporter" movies, however, I get the feeling somebody cares, somebody's thinking, somebody's at least hinting that there might be something more; I think their directors wanted to encourage us to contemplate, but had to make money; so they made action movies which--lurking in between the chase scenes and the shoot 'em ups--subtly ask some rather provocative, soul-searching questions.
Which is a start.
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OVER to HerbNation HOMEPAGE
Early October addition: now that "Crank" is no longer in theatres, the question is, buy or rent? Answer: rent first, diehard Statham fans probably will buy.