Léon: The Professional (Theatrical and Extended Edition) [Blu-ray]Léon: The Professional (Theatrical and Extended Edition) [Blu-ray]
Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman and Danny Aiello star in Leon: The Professional, a go-for-broke thriller about a professional assassin whose work becomes dangerously personal. Calling himself a “cleaner”, the mysterious Leon (Reno) is New York’s top hitman. When his next-door neighbors are murdered, Leon becomes the unwilling guardian of the family’s sole survivor – 12-year-old Mathilda (Natalie Portman), but Mathilda doesn’t just want protection; she wants revenge. Training her in the d
Rating:  List Price: $ 24.95 Price: $ 15.49 Jersey Shore UNCENSORED: Season One (Amazon.com Exclusive)
On Jersey Shore, MTV follows eight young adults as they move into a summer share to indulge in everything Seaside Heights, New Jersey has to offer. Jersey Shore uncovers sometimes surprising, often hilarious and usually over-the-top personalities as they juggle work, love, nightlife, friendship and the drama that ensues. Special Features include: Uncensored Episodes, Deleted Scenes, Reunion Special, Tips from The Situation & Snooki, Jersey Shore Makeover with Michael Cera and much mor
Rating: List Price: $ 21.95 Price: $ 16.49 |
(out of 470 reviews)
(out of 44 reviews)
Review by Steve for Léon: The Professional (Theatrical and Extended Edition) [Blu-ray]
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I own both the US and international versions of this film, and the international edition is much better. Both versions carry a slight sexual tension throughout between Leon and Matilda, and the uncut version is more pronounced in this area, but that isn’t the reason to buy it.The extra 24 minutes on the uncut version provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between the two as the film progresses. For example, in the US version Matilda never becomes a real “cleaner” or hitman. It’s only hinted at when they shoot a jogger from a rooftop with blanks. In the uncut version, Leon takes her completely under his wing and teaches her the trade, including scenes where the pair run around killing bad guys and such. In the process, Leon teaches her the “ring trick” by tossing a grenade at a victim and keeping the ring and grenade pin in his hand. This scene sets up the final scenes in the movie in a way that the US version left short and unexplained.If you enjoyed the US version, you’ll probably love the uncut version more, if only because the characters and their relationships are much deeper.
Review by Luis Hernandez for Léon: The Professional (Theatrical and Extended Edition) [Blu-ray]
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French director Luc Besson (“The Messenger”; “The Fifth Element”) made his U.S. film debut with this intelligent thriller of an Italian hitman who is untouchable. “The Professional” stars Jean Reno (“The Big Blue”) who plays Leon, a professional hitman with ninja-like skills, who eliminates rivals for a mob boss (Danny Aiello). After a corrupt cop (Gary Oldman) eliminates the family residing next door due to a drug transaction gone wrong, Leon finds himself the guardian of young Mathilda (Natalie Portman in her screen debut). Taking Mathilda under his helm, Leon teaches her the art of the “cleaner”. However, danger lurks around every corner, and Leon must protect Mathilda from the same cops who killed her family. Considered by many to be his masterpiece, “The Professional” was originally released internationally under the title “Leon”. However due to the feeling that American audiences might find some material unacceptable, over 24 minutes of the film was edited out. Finally, Columbia/Tri-Star has made an excellent decision in releasing the uncut, international version of this excellent film in the U.S. as it originally was called in August 2000. While the film’s central theme revolves around Leon and his job, the subplot where Mathilda develops an attraction for Leon is reminiscent of the novel/film “Lolita”. The chemistry between both characters in a father/daughter relationship can be intense, especially as we notice that Mathilda is in her puberty-stage. Jean Reno is excellent as always, and Gary Oldman gives a chilling performance as Stansfield, the wicked DEA officer who murdered Mathilda’s family in cold blood. However, the real scene-stealer in this film has to be Natalie Portman. This beautiful young girl radiates beauty and professionalism throughout the film. Her porcelain-looking skin, and her big brown eyes are well utilized in this film, making her character more childish, yet mature to a certain extent. Portman proved to audiences in this film that she was no flash in the pan, and in her subsequent films, she continues to be a scene-stealer. She is truly Hollywood’s most gifted young actress.In the international version, most of the 24 minutes that were left out in the film’s 1994 release in the U.S. mainly involves both Leon and Mathilda going on “cleaning sweeps” where she gets first hand training in the art of assassination. The other half of these minutes focuses on Mathilda’s attraction to Leon. Her persistent attempts to be intimate with Leon all fail, but we finally understand why Leon remains a loner when it comes to affairs if the heart. Some might be uncomfortable about the idea of Mathilda and Leon sharing a bed together, but Besson paints this scene as one involving platonic love and not sex. In wrapping up, I recommend this film for anyone who enjoys a nonstop, high-impact thriller in the same tradition as the “Matrix,” “Blade,” or “Dead Calm”. Luc Besson truly is one of the world’s greatest action directors, and “Leon” captures his magic. An excellent, pulstaing film from beginning to end!
Review by Domonic Torretto for Léon: The Professional (Theatrical and Extended Edition) [Blu-ray]
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This is the story of Leon(Jean Reno), the highly efficient contract killer who’s known as a cleaner due to his ability to kill you without you ever knowing he’s there. He’s cold blooded, but at the same time lovable due to his obvious innocence, seen as he affectionatly waters his plant and his love for milk. He lives a loners life until he meets Matilda(Natalie Portman), who was soon to change his life. Luckily for Matilda, she was running an errand for Leon while the corrupt villian and lead antagonist of the movie Normon Stansfield(Gary Oldman), and his group of thugs decide to wipe out her entire family, due to some drugs, which were cut by her father while he was supposed to be just holding them. When Matilda returns, she finds that her family is dead and turns to Leon for help.
When Matilda learns what Leon’s trade is, she is intrigued, and convinces the reluctant Leon to teach her the ways of the cleaner. As Leon trains Matilda, their relationship grows, and to the dismay of Leon, she develops a crush on him, while at the same time he develops a paternal love for her. This is a great movie, from the action packed beginning, to the thrilling climax. I definately feel that the uncut DVD version is better than the original version. It let’s you see more deeply into the relationship between Leon and Matilda, and you get to see more of the “training” scenes, which show how Matilda develops from an unknowing child to a novice cleaner. I’d also like to say something to the prudes out there that feel the relationship between Leon and Matilda is perverted. You see it as a sick man trying to take advantage of a young girl, but if you recall, it was Matilda who continually came on to Leon. Leon clearly tells her in one scene that a sexual relationship is not possible. And even then, it should be clear to anyone that Leon loves Matilda in a way that a father would love his daughter. I can clearly see this and I’m only 14. Apparently, there are a lot of low IQ people out there. The UNCUT, INTERNATIONAL version is the way to go if you want to see a more meaningful, touching movie. I’m a very cold person at heart, and this is the only movie I’ve ever watched that made tears swell up in my eyes. It’s the greatest movie I’ve ever seen. It features a brilliant cast, and a touching, and very unique storyline.
Review by db for Léon: The Professional (Theatrical and Extended Edition) [Blu-ray]
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The Superbit version has the same extra scenes as the “Uncut International Version”. Amazon has it accurately labeled, but the packaging is not obvious. Both are 133min instead of 110min. The non-Superbit version has a couple extras like theatrical trailers and talent files. If you want those extras, get the non-Superbit version. If you don’t care about those extras and are more of a quality freak, get the Superbit version. The film content is the same either way.
Two scenes deal with Leon buying a dress for Mathilda. One shows Mathilda threatening to possibly kill herself (Russian roulette) to force Leon to admit he cares about her. There is a scene showing Leon taking Mathilda on her first cleaning job. Another involves Leon taking Mathilda to an upscale restaurant, and Mathilda makes a minor scene trying to kiss Leon and drinking champagne. Then there is a sequence where Leon takes Mathilda on a series of cleaning jobs. In a later scene, Mathilda implies that she wants Leon to be her “first”, and then Leon tells her the story of his first love (and first cleaning job), and Mathilda gets Leon to concede to start sleeping (only literally) with her.
Most of the extra scenes start at around 68min. They are integrated smoothly and are fully finished; it sounds like these scenes were in the original theatrical release for European markets, so they’re only “extra” to the U.S. If you appericate the film, the extended version is definitely worth it.
Review by for Léon: The Professional (Theatrical and Extended Edition) [Blu-ray]
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This was the first film that I saw by Luc Besson. Despite the US title, it is and will always be Leon.The opening scenes literally set the scene, with pace, timing, colour, viewpoint – everything a director should know Besson knows and gives to us here. I’m watching the DVD as I write.Jean Reno is superb as Leon, the utilmate human killing machine. Death on two legs, he’ll kill anything but women and children. And they’re just what is missing in his life – women and children.When Mathilda, played so abley by Nathalie Portman, is orphaned by Stansfield (Gary Oldman) and his men, Leon is drawn into an unlikely relationship. Whilst demanding revenge for her younger brother Mathilda becomes the woman and child that Leon’s life has lacked.Besson plays close to the edge with Leon and Mathilda, but he doesn’t cross the line. This is not in the mold of Lolita, there’s no paedophile subtext. It’s a man discovering the family he never knew that he needed.Visually s! uperb, and with a soundtrack by Eric Serra, this is one of my favourite films. I have it in pan and scan VHS, wide screen VHS, and DVD. How much more endorsement can I give it.Just watch it! END
Review by TNK for Jersey Shore UNCENSORED: Season One (Amazon.com Exclusive)
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okay basically, did you watch the show? that’s whats on the DVD.
the only thing they dont censor is the limited amount of cursing
that wasnt edited out already. everything is blurred out. the
sound, picture quality (WHICH BTW IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN FULLSCREEN)
and anything else you would think a DVD might have as far as an
upgrade from watching it on cable/satellite is not on it.
oh im sorry, they have a lame special features disc and a handful
of deleted scenes. if youve seen this show already, dont buy it,
do not let them get any money from this. its too late for me however.
just dont make my mistake.
if i could give it a 0/0 i would.
DO NOT BUY THIS DVD
Review by D. Lee for Jersey Shore UNCENSORED: Season One (Amazon.com Exclusive)
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Ok, this is not a critique of the show, which I absolutely loved. However, the DVD was of very poor quality. First, it is not “uncensored” like the ad suggests. The DVD presentation is identical to the TV show. Second, there are basically no special features other than some deleted scenes thrown in. Finally, the picture quality was very mediocre and below DVD (480p) standards. It seemed like a DVD put together by someone working from a home computer. All of the touches that accompany a quality DVD release are absent. Honestly, if you have already DVRed the episodes, then this is not worth buying.
Review by Kuterdan for Jersey Shore UNCENSORED: Season One (Amazon.com Exclusive)
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Yeah the DVD does not prove to be uncensored as it is advertised. Jerry Springer was uncensored, Jersey Shore was just put a a DVD. Same stuff you see on TV you’ll see on the DVD. If you’re like most and want to see some extra stuff on the DVD then don’t bother because it’s not there. Just wait for the reruns
Review by Sarah Sargent for Jersey Shore UNCENSORED: Season One (Amazon.com Exclusive)
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Bought this to watch with a few friends, and we all became addicted to the show. By “uncensored”, it means they don’t block out the swears/vulgar words that they do on regular television. If you’re expecting porn you will be disappointed. All the episodes are on 3 discs with good picture and sound quality. There’s also a bonus disc that includes “Before the Shore”, the reunion special, Tips from Snooki and The Situation, and deleted scenes. Can’t wait for Season 2!
Review by S. Andrade for Jersey Shore UNCENSORED: Season One (Amazon.com Exclusive)
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great tv show, it was great but this dvd
is NOT uncensored ppl!!! so if u wanna see
snokes doing her back flips….. sry guys they
block it out!! its the same thing as it was on tv
just the cuseing isnt bleep out