Vin Diesel can kiss my ass  this film is weak but at least it is FUN to watch

Rating: Null/10 (2 February 2003)

Frank Martin is a transporter  a man who drives and delivers on behalf of criminals. On one job he opens his `package' to find a young woman, Lai Kwai. Despite this he completes the job and picks up another package from his customer, Wall Street. On a break from driving his `package' then explodes. He returns to his client and steals a car, unwittingly taking the girl with him. Martin then finds himself the target of this gang and is put in a position where he must do the right thing.
I'm not really a big action fan and the last few things I watched were disappointing, not living up to the hype. XXX was a major let down for me. However the Transporter seemed to offer low-key action without a big Hollywood marketing campaign behind it. First of all let me deal with the plot  it is nonsense from start to finish! The film sets up Martin as a real pro in the exciting opening scene  but then expects us to accept that he opens the package and lets the girl escape scenes later, it just doesn't wash for me. The rest of the plot sort of falls into place heavily and, when it needs to explain things, feels very slow and ponderous  it's better if you don't think about it.
Despite the weak plot the film is very enjoyable simply because of the great action scenes. They are a mix of well choreographed fights and OTT action. The OTT action is a little much but is enjoyable none the less (and doesn't look that OTT beside the excesses of XXX). The fight scenes are very cool and Statham is very physical, doing some very cool moves. It's these martial arts scenes that really make the film. The soundtrack is pumping hip-hop. It isn't great music but the pumping nature of the music fits well with the onscreen action most of the time.
Statham is really good and is much tougher than Vin Diesel was. Physically he is very impressive and he can really move when he wants to. His cool, professional look is really good and had me hooked from the first scene. Qi Shu is OK in the support and is quite playful, while Schulze is a standard bad guy.
Overall this is the perfect film for a Saturday night. It isn't great, the plot is weak and the ending is a little bit of an anti-climax with it's happy sunny ending, but the action is good and, more than some over hyped films, it is actually FUN to watch it  just don't expect all the bits to be good.