Frank Martin is a man who loves to keep things simple when it comes to his job, transporting illegal goods. However, the moment he breaks one of his own rules, he finds himself having to defend himself from the “complications” that want him dead.

CRITIQUE

What separates The Transporter from many other films of its type is that this film doesn’t try to be fun, it simply is.  Part of this is due to Jason Statham’s deadpan performance as Frank, a man who tries to keep everything in his life simple and avoid any unnecessary complications.  The opening scene of the film demonstrates how ridged he is with his “rules” when the group of bank robbers he is driving for tries to alter their deal.

The film is stylishly choreographed and directed by Corey Yuen, who is able to make even the most ridiculous action sequences come across naturally.  Frank is able to do things with a car that defy logic, can fight his way out of any situation, and still manages to come across like a real person and not the standard movie hero.

THE VIDEO

The video transfer is clean and looks good.  There is no sign of digital artifacting or inconsistencies in the color balance.  Overall, it’s looks wonderful.

THE AUDIO

The film is presented in both 5.1 DTS and 5.1 Dolby Surround, both of which make good use of all the speakers.  It’s a fantastic mix.

THE EXTRAS

The majority of the extras are lifted directly from the previous release - they include an audio commentary by actor Jason Statham and producer Steve Chasman, 3 Extended Fight Sequences with optional commentary, a brief making-of featurette and the film's trailer.

The Special Delivery Edition DVD offers two brand new extras: A second "making of" featurette that runs some 30 minutes, and a sneak preview of Transporter 2. The “making of” featurette is a pretty good look at some of the stunts of the film, and the Transporter 2 sneak is a very brief “on the set” type of talking head interview segments. It’s pretty good, but nothing special. Also, consumers buying this DVD (according to the promotions) get a free movie ticket to see the sequel in theaters.

FINAL THOUGHT

If you already own the first DVD, don’t bother with this double-dip, but if you haven’t had an opportunity to see this film (and shame on you for not,) check this one out.