The Transporter (2002)

This film is about a man whose job is to deliver packages without asking any questions. Complications arise when he breaks those rules.

Directors:

Louis Leterrier, Corey Yuen

Writers:

Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen

Stars:

Jason Statham, Qi Shu, Matt Schulze

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Statham	...	Frank Martin
Qi Shu	...	Lai (as Shu Qi)
Matt Schulze	...	Wall Street
François Berléand	...	Inspector Tarconi
Ric Young	...	Mr. Kwai
Doug Rand	...	Leader
Didier Saint Melin	...	Boss
Tonio Descanvelle	...	Thug 1
Laurent Desponds	...	Thug 2
Matthieu Albertini	...	Thug 3
Vincent Nemeth	...	Pilot
Jean-Yves Bilien	...	Little Thug
Jean-Marie Paris	...	Giant Thug
Adrian Dearnell	...	Newscaster
Alfred Lot	...	Cop 1

Storyline

Ex-Special Forces operator Frank Martin lives what seems to be a quiet life along the French Mediterranean, hiring himself out as a mercenary "transporter" who moves goods--human or otherwise--from one place to another. No questions asked. Carrying out mysterious and sometimes dangerous tasks in his tricked-out BMW, Frank adheres to a strict set of rules, which he never breaks. Rule One: Never change the deal. Rule Two: No names--Frank doesn't want to know whom he's working for, or what he's transporting. Rule Three: never look in the package. Frank's newest transport seems no different from the countless ones he's done in the past. He's been hired by an American known only as "Wall Street" to make a delivery; but when Frank stops along the route, he notices his package is moving. Violating Rule Three, Frank looks inside the bag, finding its contents to be a beautiful, gagged woman. Frank's steadfast adherence to his other two rules--which make up his basic code of survival--also ...

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Plot Keywords:

reckless driving | exploding house | knocked out | martial arts | special forces | 

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Taglines:

Rules are made to be broken

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violent sequences and some sensuality

Details

Country:

France USA

Language:

English French Mandarin

Release Date:

11 October 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Transporter

Filming Locations:

Avenue de Saissy, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France

Box Office

Budget:

$21,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$302,482 (Japan) (31 January 2003)

Gross:

$428,179 (South Africa) (7 March 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp, TF1 Films Production, Current Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The trailer for the film showed Frank deflecting a missile with a tea tray. In the same scene in the film, the assault on Frank's house, there is no sign of this in the released version. It was taken out at Jason Statham's request because he didn't think audiences would believe it.

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Goofs

In the scene where Frank brings a rifle into the shipyard, the stock on the gun is seen folded. He fires some rounds at a couple men with it folded. A few shots later, the stock is unfolded and Frank is using it like he's supposed to.

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Quotes

Frank: I'd like to do some sight-seeing.
Pilot: this plane isn't for tourists
[Frank pulls out gun]
Frank: I'm not a tourist.

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Connections

Referenced in NCIS: Switch (2005)

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Soundtracks

"I Got Love"
(Nate Dogg (as N. Hale), R. Harrell, Bank)
Performed by Nate Dogg
© by Nate Dogg Music (BMI) / One Shot Beat Music (SESAC)
Features a sample of the Ray Charles recording "I Believe to My Soul"
© Unchapped Music Inc.
© by Bank for One Shot Deal Inc. / Loreal Inc.

User Reviews

An excellent action movie!

All action movies should strive to be this imaginative! OK, the plot was not particularly intriguing, but what action movie's actually is? But the plot was secondary to the action, it only served to make the bad guys bad and the good guys good. The rest was up to Jason Statham's considerable fighting talents.

There were some unbelievable yet jaw-dropping stunts, a terrific fight scene in oil, and some great car chase scenes. There were no smarmy one-liners making light of good action sequences as is too often the case in American-directed action flicks. The hero was cold, yet compassionate. He didn't kill unnecessarily, but when he had to, he was ruthless. There are many great action sequences, some so unbelievable you have to just shake your head and remember that action movies are not supposed to be based on reality. There is even a great shot of the hero jumping off a speeding semi while it races over a bridge onto the back of a bus going perpendicular to the truck under the bridge!! I mean, come on! It would never happen, but I have to give credit to the stunt coordinator who imagined the possibilities.

There is another hilarious scene where the hero chases down an airplane on foot, hijacks it, jumps out of the plane at great altitude in order to land on the back of a speeding transport with a conveniently located borrowed parachute! I am glad all crop dusters carry such indispensable equipment and that it is so easy to land on the back of a truck speeding down the highway at 130 KM/hour.

All in all, 90 minutes of sheer enjoyment. Even with the predictable ending, I have to highly recommend this movie. If you can suspend belief for a little while, you will be rewarded.