Leon on hot, smoking wheels

Rating: 10/10 (28 October 2005)

Somebody's comment included "action-by-numbers" well that must mean it has been accurately made to the correct formula. This movie takes all the clichés and standard elements of modern action movies and adds a twist of just possible reality. With the expected plot turns and the main character's charming bit-of-rough standard action hero script, it could easily be merely one of hundreds but the skill with which the recipe is followed produces an outstanding piece which succeeds without too many flashing lights and impossible supernatural feats.
Yes it is unlikely that such a man exists but it is well within the realms of possibility and he is never meant to be perfect, just plausible. It has Luc Besson stamped all over it but is different enough from his more renowned work to enjoy and the user ratings show that female voters in all but one age group rated it, on average, more highly than did their male counterparts; so it seemingly caters to an audience different than most would assume and that is probably due to Jason Statham's style.
On an entirely personal level: I think Statham's acting is superior to that of many over-hyped, over-paid Hollywood stars, he has the journeyman's trait of doing a good job without overstating his own importance and is often under-rated. It is good to see him in a leading role. Of course I have no idea if he really is a nice bloke, let's just hope so.