A truly repulsive and ridiculous movie

Rating: 2/10 (14 May 2007)

This is one of the stupidest movies ever made. Not just in terms of the logic of its plot. That would be OK. But it is also outrageous in its grotesque representation of the female lead and jarring in its mismatch of derivative elements - fight scenes, car chases and petty sadism.
The car chases are a fair attempt to match the standard of "Ronin". The fight scenes are uniquely detailed attempts to copy the style and energy of Jackie Chan. But the former film is a proper hard-bitten thriller where sinister people on both sides are fighting for high stakes. When cars are driven down public streets, innocent members of the public get hurt. 'Transporter' crosses over into Blues Brothers territory (such as the car leaping into the air from a standing start and landing on the lorry). And yet other elements of the film are deeply nasty (such as the bank robbers assassinating their own members).
Likewise the 'comedy' fighting: Jackie Chan movies work because they know that they are simple fun. This attempts the same thing in a ill-fitting version of a 'hard-bitten' thriller, and ends with sheer nonsense. After the endless fight on the bus and in the station (one man in unarmed combat versus dozens), there is then the ridiculous fight in the oil-covered room, with its absurd bicycle pedal denouement. The hero then returns to the bus station and takes a gun from an injured man. If the injured man had a gun, why didn't he use it? Throughout the movie, the baddies have guns, and use them: except when the scriptwriter decides to fit in some Jackie Chan action.
The 'hero' in this movie is in fact an extremely unpleasant individual. He is quite prepared to deliver The Girl into slavery or whatever fate awaits her. He rejects a number of chances to help her (even after he has discovered the only important thing about the character, that she is (ho-hum) exceptionally attractive). OK - that's the stereotypical anti-hero. But why does she then turn to him for help, help him, cook for him, and fall for him sexually and emotionally? There is no reason whatsoever for her to do this. He should be her enemy quite as much as the 'baddies'. And yet she does. It is an utterly unashamedly misogynist and racist depiction of the "submissive Asian girl", and of the "hot chick" role of females in a action movies generally.