So, anyways, I watched that "Leon" a while back, and what a great movie it is!
It's one of those modern classics you have to see before you die, there's a
great beginning, which is what the film needed because I was so very, very
tired when I first watched it. I can honestly say it's the best movie I've seen since "The Shawshank Redemption", it
really is that good.
Leon (Jean Reno) plays an Italian hitman, although he both looks and sounds French, but there's not
a lot about him being Italian, so it doesn't matter. Anyways, Leon is a hitman, and not just a normal hitman,
he has some super cool ninja moves and sleeps on a chair with a gun next to him, always alert, but he also has a sensitive side as he keeps his own plant,
drinks milk and his favourite film appears to be "Singin' in the Rain".
So naturally Leon is befriended by a 12 year old girl (Mathilda), and soon enough everyone wants to see them both dead. Both the opening and
ending scenes enough a lot of killing, and it's just...great!
It's one of those movies that you seriously have no idea how it's going to end with 15 minutes left, and I wish I
could compare it to another movie, but I don't think another one exists.
It also knows when to stop, there were scenes that could've gone quite
disturbing, and as I sat there cringing "Don't do a close up", they don't, it's
was quite bloody, but considering the action it could've been much worse but
they knew when they were standing too close to the line, and ran away from it.
And, there's also Gary Oldman, who surprise suprise, plays the "baddie", he's the pyshcotic Beethoven fan
who ends up trying to kill Leon and Mathilda, and plays the role brilliantly, and I ended up quite liking him.
4 paragraphs, and I haven't even mentioned Natalie Portman, who, lets face it,
was the main reason I wanted to see this film, being a Star Wars fan, I wanted to see Padmè Amidala when she was younger.
Her first scene is so hysterical, it doesn't look like the Portman I've grown to love, neither
does it sound like her. It's quite refreshing, though somewhat odd, to hear a
sweet and innocent little girl, telling people to "shut the f**k up" with a
cigarette in her hand, this really isn't Ms. Portman! To be honest,
considering the roles she's turned down, I must say I'm quite surprised that in
1994 (Probably before that when filming started) at 12/13 years old, she
decided to be in this film, but she did, and I'm refreshingly glad. She plays the 12 year old brilliantly, mainly because she is
a 12 year old, so doesn't have to do a lot, and just the subtle things she does makes you love the film.
Though it was also Natalie Portman that ruined this film for me, or rather her
costumes, her "Blossom" styled clothes, make it look more dated than it really
should, I know it's nitpicking, but people just don't wear that stuff nowadays,
plus I'm guessing I had to try and pick one fault in it, and this is the only
one. Without the clothes, the film would've looked as if it was made yesterday.
All in all, it's a great movie that I would like to sum up in one word, but I'm
not very good at long words. I suppose "overwhelming" could discribe most of
the movieas well as "touching".
This is (omitting Star Wars) the 2nd best movie ever (behind "The Shawshank Redemption"). So, buy the DVD, the video, check TV listings for it, whatever, just watch it!
Why you would like it: Great action, great plot, and a young Natalie Portman.
Why you would hate it: You're completely insane.
Directer By: Luc Besson
Rating: 18 (Oops, too young :o)
Cast: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello and Peter Appel. "Appel", you got to feel sorry for him, he must of got mocked for that through all of school.
