The Transporter (2002)

Frank is hired to "transport" packages for unknown clients and has made a very good living doing so. But when asked to move a package that begins moving, complications arise.

Directors:

Louis Leterrier, Corey Yuen (as Cory 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:

gunfight | mixed martial arts | tire iron | bar | human trafficking | 

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Taglines:

Pro no hakobiya, iraihin wa itsumo WAKE ari [Japan]

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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:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$21,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,107,816, 13 October 2002, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$25,296,447

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$43,928,932

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp,TF1 Films Production,Current Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES (original version) Dolby Digital EX (original version) SDDS DTS (Digital DTS Sound) (English version) Dolby Digital (English version)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the original conception of the movie, Frank was gay. The love scene with Qi Shu was added specifically to draw attention away from any potential remaining vestiges of that aspect in the script.

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Goofs

When Frank jumps on the top of the container being carried by the forklift, you can see the whole thing wobble. An empty 20 foot cargo container weighs 4850lbs and the forklift is at least 3 times that. A 200lb man would not be able to cause that much movement by landing on it.

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Quotes

Frank Martin: [about Lei] Like a dogshit... You're everywhere.

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Alternate Versions

Region 1 DVD features three extended fight scenes. All three are "Unrated" and Not Suitable For Persons Under 18 Years of Age due to violence and adult subject matter. The scenes were shortened due to time/pacing reasons, and mostly for a PG-13 rating. The scenes featured more brutal violence(blood splattering when people get shot, and stabbings with a knife, etc.).

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Connections

Referenced in The Expendables 2 (2012)

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Soundtracks

Muzik
( Knoc-Turn'Al (as R. Harbor), Kanye West (as K. West), S. Christian )
Performed by Knoc-Turn'Al
©Knoc Turn'al Publishing / Million Dollar Game Ain't Free / Ye Worlds Music
Excerpts from "Old Siam, Sir" as performed by Wings
Used under license from Capitol Records, a division of Capitol Records, Inc.
This recording samples portions of the composition "Old Siam, Sir" written by Paul McCartney

User Reviews

If you like mindless movies (and I mean MINDLESS!)

My comment on "The Transporter" can be summed up quickly. If you like completely mindless movies that don't even try to come up with an intriguing or original plot, realistic characters, believable dialog, suspense, emotion, etc., etc., but are only looking for a fast paced succession of action and martial arts sequences, then this is your movie! And guys, don't even think about bringing your girlfriends along unless they're madly in love with Jason Statham (who could in fact play better roles than this one here). This movie is dumb with a capital "D" and only slightly entertaining for us explosion loving fanboys with the minds of 10 year olds. Hell, even with the mind of a 10 year old you'll still be hard pressed to overlook the stupidity of this script. There are way better action movies than this one and my recommendation is to watch them instead of this stylish, but shallow eye-candy.