The Transporter proves action movies can still be fun.

Rating: Null/10 (3 April 2003)

*** out of ****
The Transporter has little in the way of plot or character development. That alone will put off a lot of viewers, but for those looking for a slice of thrilling escapism, there probably won't be a more enjoyable pure action film all year. The filmmakers here have accomplished with a very moderate budget (30 million) that most big-budget blockbusters can't with three times the amount, and that is to work as a consistently entertaining thrill ride from beginning to end.
The imperturbably cool Jason Statham stars as Frank Martin, a transporter who follows three rules. Unfortunately, he breaks his most valued code: never to look at the package. What he finds in the trunk of his car is a young, beautiful Chinese woman (Qi Shu) named Lai. She eventually tags along with him, as various thugs and henchmen try to kill him and retrieve her. From there, it's one brawl after another all the way to the film's eighteen-wheeler finale.
Corey Yuen has always been an exceptional action director, and this time around, he stages some of the most memorable fight scenes of his career. Most particularly, I'm referring to the oil-slick fight, a delightful setpiece that displays a kind of (intentional) sloppiness that's refreshingly fun to watch. The high-speed finale pays homage to License to Kill and Raiders of the Lost Ark, boasting spectacular stunts and fast-paced mayhem. The film's last half-hour or so is virtually non-stop action, delivering the sort of virtuoso choreography that most of today's American action films lack (Equilibrium being a major exception).
Overall, there's not much to say about the acting. Matt Schulze is terrible, as always, and Qi Shu struggles with her English (though she and Statham make for a surprisingly decent romantic pair). The lone standout is Statham, who's I'm convinced will be the next big action star. He has more charisma than Vin Diesel and is also a more physically agile performer, able to show off plenty of fancy martial arts moves in a completely believable fashion, even if he doesn't actually know any martial arts (who knows, he might).
The Transporter's story isn't anything special. From what I gathered, it's about illegal smuggling and people being made into slaves. Basically, it's a script perfect for typical action fodder. A great story isn't necessary to enjoy The Transporter, which succeeds because of Statham's charismatic performance and Yuen's fabulous action sequences. The Transporter is tight and fast-paced, lots of fun, and a must see for action fans.