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Action 3-Pack Blu-ray
Jumper / Transporter / Transporter 2 20th Century Fox | 2008 | 267 mins | Not rated | Nov 06, 2008
Action 3-Pack Blu-ray ReviewShould Blu-ray fans jump through hoops to transport this set into their collections?Reviewed by Martin Liebman, March 7, 2009 One of the latest in the growing trend of Blu-ray multipacks sees two films that naturally go together and one that seems tossed into the mix as an afterthought. Transporter and Transporter 2 make a dual-appearance here, recalling the time when major Hollywood studio 20th Century Fox owned the popular franchise, which now resides with the much younger upstart Lionsgate. The films enjoy the star power of leading man Jason Statham (In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale) whose meteoric rise in worldwide popularity began with his debut in a pair of Guy Ritchie films, 1998's Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and the director's 2000 followup, Snatch. Statham, along with fellow actors Vin Diesel (The Fast and the Furious) and Dwayne Johnson (The Rundown), represents a burgeoning crop of Action stars for the new millennium, the actor the face of two popular series -- the Transporter and Crank films, not to mention several additional leading roles in War, The Bank Job, and Death Race. The other film in this bundle, Jumper, represents the cinematic adaptation of Steven Gould's novel of the same name, directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) and starring Hayden Christensen (Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith). Unlike the Transporter films, Jumper leans heavily on elements of Science Fiction rather than pure Action to tell its story, and represents the weakest entry in this trio of films.
Jumper Rating: 1.5/5 David Rice (Hayden Christensen, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith) has the seemingly unique ability to teleport himself instantly anywhere in the world, and at any time. He first discovered this talent while drowning in icy water one day after school in front of his crush, Millie (played by AnnaSophia Robb, Bridge to Terabithia in this segment). One moment, he was near death, and the next, he found himself in the stacks at the Ann Arbor public library. Years later, his talent mastered, David lives the high life off of the easy money he's accumulated by jumping into and emptying bank vaults the world over. Upon returning home one day, David finds a man named Roland (Samuel L. Jackson, Unbreakable) in his apartment, armed with a weapon specially made to counter Jumpers and their ability. David escapes the clutches of this man who says he's been searching for David for eight years, and rekindles his relationship with Millie (now portrayed by Rachel Bilson, TV's "The O.C.") after a surprise return into her life. Traveling to Rome with Millie, David meets Griffin (Jamie Bell, Flags of Our Fathers), another Jumper who (finally!) lets audiences in on the backstory and explains the premise of the film, that being a centuries-old war between Jumpers and "Paladins," those who would kill Jumpers on religious grounds. David and Griffin must work together to stay alive, keep Millie safe, and learn the deeper secrets of both Roland and the Paladins. Among other things, the putrid acting of everyone in the film, save for Jamie Bell who was not great by any stretch, but at least passable, proves to be one of Jumper's many downfalls. Hayden Christinsen, unfortunately, shows that Star Wars was no fluke: he really is this stiff and uninteresting of an actor. He delivers his lines with a nonchalance that redefines "going through the motions" or "cashing his check," both of which also apply to the venerable (and white haired) Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson is one of the finest actors around, yet recently, filmmakers have decided he needs something extra -- a gimmick -- to make sure audiences notice his presence. In xXx it was his badly scarred face. Here, it's his snow-white hair that looks completely ridiculous and serves no discernible purpose. Oh, he also has a long scar running down his face. No doubt that actress Rachel Bilson is right now in line auditioning for the next loser of a horror movie, probably something along the lines of Two Missed Calls or Do You Remember That One Summer Where I Knew What You Did? She'll fit right in as the interchangeable, forgettable, brainless, and "oh my God!"-uttering annoying female lead. On a more positive note, Jumper represents an incredibly interesting concept that works on paper, in theory, and even in viewer's own imaginations as they long not only for the ability to jump, but also for a coherent, entertaining movie. Jumper takes too long to really get going, even with the film's short runtime. Audiences can only watch David jump (and wish to do the same, at least into an empty seat at a better movie) so many times before boredom strikes. In fact, and sadly, the movie gets stale early on and never manages to recover, despite a final act that is far superior to the first two. Director Doug Liman has some decent-to-good work under his belt (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Bourne Identity, and Swingers), but his stale, lifeless direction, coupled with a script marred with plot holes and unresolved questions (even taking into consideration the potential sequel) that takes far too long to get going makes for a disappointing movie that, even at 88 minutes, couldn't be over soon enough.  The Transporter Rating: 3.5/5 Frank Martin (Statham), is a man whose credentials include ex-special forces operative and reliable transporter of goods. He's methodical and calculating, his methods precise and infallible, all demonstrated during a high-speed pursuit where Martin drives a getaway car for four criminals (make that three, actually. He didn't calculate for four, but did he calculate for the blood and brain matter left over from the extra man? Apparently he has a slight margin for error). His next job involves the transportation of a large package, one that he finds moving when he stops to change a flat tire. Sticking by his rules (never open the package), he moves on, but curiosity gets the best of him and during his next stop. He opens the bag to find inside it a girl named Lai (Taiwanese actress Shu Qi). Freeing her of her binds to take a drink and go to the bathroom, she briefly escapes, but a frustrated Martin re-captures and delivers her to a man known as "Wall Street" (Matt Schulze, Mr. Brooks). Martin agrees to another delivery for "Wall Street," but unbeknownst to Martin, the package contains a bomb meant to kill him. He's saved only by fate, returns for revenge, and finds Lai in his car after he's done his damage. Lai informs Martin that "Wall Street" is set to smuggle dozens of people into the country via cargo containers, members of her family included. Martin agrees to help, exacting his brand of revenge along the way. The Transporter is a rather funny movie, one that follows every convention in the book. When Martin first lays eyes on his "cargo," a truly sappy, 90s-inspired romantic ballad theme rises to the occasion, adding an aura of ridiculousness to the scene. Parts of the movie feel almost like a violent cartoon come to life, and for this material, that strategy works to great effect. So much of the film is far over-the-top and unrealistic, but the movie was made for the sole purpose of showing off some fantastic stunts, and the lack of realism combined with some lighthearted music sets just the right tone for the film. Directors Corey Yuen and Louis Leterrier have nailed the look and feel of a real-life cartoon, creating a movie that isn't necessarily "good" but one that is rather a perfect example of ridiculous violence brought to life. It's not over-the-top like Shoot 'Em Up, which is the definitive true-life violent cartoon movie, but this one is in the same league, simply toned down a bit for its PG-13 rating. The lack of excessive blood and language isn't a detriment to the story. Rather, it adds to the feel of the ridiculousness of the plot and action, everything being almost what viewers would expect to see if The Transporter was indeed a Saturday morning cartoon. What makes it all work, unlike what is to come in Transporter 2, is that the plot is concise and simple. Viewers will instantly form a bond with the characters, cheer for them, and care about the outcome of the movie rather than waiting in boredom for the next explosion or fistfight. Jason Statham is excellent in his role. The methodical way he goes about his business, his cool attitude under pressure (even with a gun to his head), and the precision with which he performs his tasks ("Transportation is a precise business," after all) is a credit to Statham's ability as an actor to work in projects such as this one. He'll probably never win an Oscar, but he's very good in the right role, and this is definitely the right role for him. Co-written by Luc Besson (director of The Professional and The Fifth Element) and Robert Mark Kamen (The Karate Kid, Gladiator), the film enjoys instant credibility and aura about it, and for the most part, the end product doesn't disappoint. These writers have penned a story tailor-made for Action enthusiasts and have left no stone unturned in setting the foundation for a film that solidified Jason Statham as an Action star.  Transporter 2 Rating: 2/5 Frank Martin is back, this time playing the role of a chauffeur to young Jack Billings, son of Jeff Billings (Matthew Modine, Full Metal Jacket), a U.S. drug czar. Frank's bond with Jack is strong, and the two have become friends. While taking Jack to a routine doctor's appointment, Frank notices several continuity errors committed by the staff and doctors themselves, ultimately leading him to believe that something may be amiss. Indeed, he finds two "doctors" attempting to inject young Jack with something, and Frank and Jack escape, but not before facing off against the deadly Lola (Kate Nauta, The Game Plan). A turn of events forces Frank to participate in Jack's kidnapping anyway and he becomes a prime suspect in the case. Frank must not only avoid the authorities, but also fight to retrieve Jack, discover why he is so important to a Colombian drug cartel, and find an anecdote for a virus Jack's been given, all before the groups ringleader, Gianni (Alessandro Gassman) can see his evil plan realized. The film's open will impress fans of the franchise. The continuity with the opening scene from the first Transporter film proved a nice touch, and the subsequent action sequence sets the tone for what Frank is capable of. Unfortunately, the movie falls apart from there. While this sequel is infinitely glitzier than the first, it lacks the heart of the original Transporter film. Frank's character undergoes no new developments in this film, save for his bonding with young Jack. Even so, it's really not all that different than his bonding with his human package from the first film. Frank retains his incredible sense of timing, space, and combat artistry, and in the style of Jackie Chan, uses his environment to great effect, neutralizing a room full of enemies by utilizing any object he can lay hands on. Still, the character lacks an arc here and seems to have lost the charm and charisma displayed in the previous entry of the series. The plot is filler, a means to an end to showcase as much action as can be crammed into 80-some minutes without becoming a highlight reel of stunts, explosions, gunshots, and special effects. Speaking of special effects, they're horrendously bad in this movie (an exploding helicopter about a third of the way through the movie is laughably terrible). The Transporter succeeded in what it tried to do (namely create a living, breathing cartoon), but unfortunately that just might hold true here as well, but for all the wrong reasons. This sequel tries desperately to outdo the first film (and every other action flick on the market, for that matter) in terms of setting up elaborate and unrealistic stunts, situations, and fight choreography that tends to work for people like Jackie Chan or John Woo (or the first Transporter film), but not here. Sadly, the talent behind the making of the film choosing to place all their eggs in this particular basket proved the wrong move -- there simply has to be more than filler to progress a movie from one action extravaganza to the next, and the plot just isn't tight enough, nor do viewers become sufficiently attached to the characters to really care who wins or loses, and why. Video  Jumper Rating: 4.5/5 Jumper lands on Blu-ray with a highly impressive 1080p, 2.35:1 framed image. The transfer offers excellent attention to detail, colors, and lifelike imagery. Look at one of the movie's earliest scenes that takes place outside after school on a cold winter's day. Everything looks both amazingly film-like and real: the multi-colored jackets; the textures of clothing; the realistic and "reach-out-and-touch-it" appearance of the school bus; the snow; and even the chips of ice seen in a few close-ups. Flesh tones are excellent, maybe a bit too rosy in a few shots, but definitely more than acceptable. Indoor scenes fare extremely well, too. A bar scene in chapter nine features highly detailed, well, everything. In a locale that is generally depicted as dark and dreary in movies, here it is bright, colorful, and alive. A fine layer of grain brings with it a wonderfully cinematic look. This grain adds a depth to the movie that perfectly recreates the theater experience. The exterior shots of Rome are beautiful. Likewise, the interior of the Colosseum look excellent as well, and if nothing else, this movie (and this disc) may leave viewers yearning to visit Rome and the other wonderfully-shot locales around the world. Likewise, the nighttime exterior shots of Tokyo in chapter 18 look amazing with the too-many-to-count bright neon lights and impeccable detail that is seen all over the city. Black levels are good, appearing perhaps the slightest bit gray rather than true black in a few scenes. This transfer doesn't quite reach the level of excellence of something like The Chronicles of Narnia or Saawariya, but it comes awfully close. The Transporter Rating: 4/5 Another early Fox release with MPEG-2 video, The Transporter nevertheless looks very good. This 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer is not quite as sharp and detailed as the best releases, but it is one that is mostly impressive nevertheless. Some long distance shots suffer from smudgy appearances, but the close-ups fare rather well, exhibiting some wonderful detail in faces, clothing, and surfaces. Medium-distance shots are average. Flesh tones are a bit red but never stand out as a major issue. The print is mostly free of dirt and debris, though the rare scratch does pop up. Colors are not vibrant but rather natural; some of the shots outside of Martin's house look fantastic. The rich color of the exterior of his home, as well as that of the water and the green of the trees surrounding it are breathtakingly beautiful, the location pretty enough to be a tourist attraction wherever it is (the film was shot in various locations around France). The action visuals are fantastic -- the tracer rounds seen in some of the action sequences add a bit of flair and excitement to the film (and they look great, too). Black levels are strong, and the movie never exhibits excessive film grain. The Transporter is a strong early release from Fox. Transporter 2 Rating: 4.5/5 Like the Blu-ray edition of The Transporter, Fox has delivered a high-quality MPEG-2, 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer that manages to surpass the quality of the first film. A few shots exhibited black levels that appeared a bit overly gray and bright. Otherwise, this is a spectacular transfer. Flesh tones and much of the movie in general feature a golden hue. This palette is gorgeous and works well with the tone of the movie. Almost everything seen on-screen is pristine, from the quality of the print to the fine details on every surface, even the shine on Frank's car. Detail is remarkable in every frame. The transfer might look a bit distracting in places because of some intentionally diffused lighting and an over saturation of certain colors, but this is likely attributed to a stylistic decision by director Louis Leterrier (sadly, there are no supplements to clue viewers in on his vision for the film). Colors are incredibly eye-popping, detailed, and three-dimensional. Water, for example, is blue, natural, and clean. The movie's highly stylized visuals are a perfect match for Blu-ray, and the result of the merger is a highly impressive transfer that captures the tone of the film but also replicates a true theatrical experience in the home. Audio Jumper Rating: 4.5/5 Jumper makes the Blu-ray leap with an active but ever-so-slightly underwhelming DTS-HD MA 5.1 sound mix. Dialogue volume is fine, but dialogue itself sounds slightly muffled at times. Jumper offers up a solid, crisp, and detailed surround presence that remains active throughout most of the movie to create a natural ambience rather than just kicking in during the film's few action pieces. From the ringing of bells off in the distance in Rome to some background communications chatter in a holding facility in chapter 10, this track does an excellent job of recreating the subtleties of real life. Bass is also solid, but not overpowering. It plays just right, providing enough "oomph" to feel the jumps in the gut but never overstating its presence or overextending its welcome. The jumps are definitely a highlight of the track, proving to be fun to both listen to and feel. Still, some of the sound effects struck play as just a bit weak. The action scenes, like the first major one in chapter 13, present listeners with some nice, powerful activity. The war zone scene in Chechnya near the end of the film sounds wonderful with the popping of weapons off in the distance in the rear channels and the rumbling of tanks in the front, but again, it sounded just the slightest bit underwhelming. This is still a top-notch track, however, and any perceived low-level effects can certainly be compensated for by cranking up the volume a few notches. Listening to this track just might distract the viewer from the fact that this film lacks a truly good plot, but the video and audio experience, as well as some of the following-discussed supplements, quite easily encompass this disc's strengths. The Transporter Rating: 4.5/5 Fox's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless sound mix for The Transporter fits the action movie bill to perfection. It's loud, aggressive, and a blast to listen to. The film's opening car chase sequence will blow listeners away with excellent dynamics, directionality, fidelity, and imaging (qualities present throughout the entirety of the track). The pulsating beats of the music, the revving of the engine, and the destruction wrought along the way comes to life and, for good measure, the subwoofer will pound the eardrums on several occasions. Keep in mind this is all describing the film's opening minutes; listeners are in for a major treat the rest of the way. The rear channels receive quite the workout in nearly every scene, be it light ambient sounds or the heavy pounding of gunshots and explosions. The movie's first major action sequence, about thirty minutes in, is a parade of violent- and toe-tapping sounds. A slick hip-hop beat, bullets, axes slammed into walls, screams, and other assorted effects work their way into every speaker. All of the shootouts are fantastically reproduced as rounds impact surfaces, shell casings drop onto the floor, and shots are heard flying through every channel. Dialogue is a bit bass-y but it sounds fine otherwise. Punches, kicks, and throws are not only heard but also felt with a magnificently over-the-top thump. This track is never boring. The Transporter relies heavily on its soundtrack, and this lossless presentation from Fox adds another dimension to the film and makes the experience of watching it in high definition all the more entertaining. Transporter 2 Rating: 4.5/5 Fox's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless sound mix for Transporter 2 is an exemplary one. Kicking things off is a fine-sounding theme played over the film's opening credits, a joy for the senses based on both the strength and quality of the music as well as its presence in this sound mix, filling the room effortlessly. It's loud, heavy, and exuberant, much like this track on the whole. Like the first Transporter movie, this one is powerful in the audio department. Dialogue is excellent, presented at just the right volume in relation to the remainder of the material. Gun shots ring loud, deep, and true. Have a listen to chapter 13 where several shots inside a building reverberate with a presence rarely heard (or felt, in this case) in Blu-ray movies before. Also like the film's predecessor on Blu-ray, hand-to-hand combat packs a punch. Every hit, kick, and throw is felt in the chest. Surrounds are put to constant use, and no sound is left unheard. The track and its sounds are also well-placed with fine directionality and imaging. This track is the perfect compliment to the mindless action on-screen, putting the sound system to excellent use and providing near-reference quality sound with which to wow the senses. Supplements  Jumper Rating: 3.5/5 Jumper bounds onto Blu-ray with an impressive helping of extra features. A commentary track with Director Doug Liman, Writer/Producer Simon Kiberg, and Producer Lucas Foster is first. This trio does a commendable job of defending the various issues with the movie without calling out the criticisms one-by-one, and it's a worthwhile listen not only for the movie's fans, but also its detractors. Jumpstart: David's Story (1080p, 8:07) is an animated graphic novel and short extension of the movie's main character that provides a bit more insight into the world of Jumper. Jumping Around the World is a Blu-ray profile 1.1 ("Bonus View") picture-in-picture feature. The feature is not continuous, but rather pops up here and there on the screen. This feature showcases the various world locations seen throughout the movie and the rigors of filming around the globe. This feature is also accessible to those without profile 1.1 players as a standalone extra. Doug Liman's 'Jumper:' Uncensored (1080p, 35:34) takes an unforgiving and candid look at the filmmaking process, including the hardships of the shoot, the ebb-and-flow of the nonstop writing and re-writing process, and some standard-fare "making-of" segments. Making An Actor Jump (1080p, 7:36) is next. This feature examines the creation of the film's special-effects-heavy jumping shots, as well as the more scientific aspects of the jumping process. Jumping From Novel to Film: The Past, Present, and Future of 'Jumper' (1080p, 8:08) features interviews with Doug Liman, author Steven Gould, and others about the story found in both the original novels and the film. Six deleted scenes (1080p, 11:17) are next. Previz: Future Concepts (1080p, 4:34) showcases some animated storyboards for a few of the movie's action sequences. Along with being D-Box equipped, Jumper also includes a second disc which contains a digital copy of the film for playback on personal computers or various portable digital video devices. The Transporter Rating: 1/5 The Transporter breaks one of rules of Blu-ray by failing to provide much in the way of supplemental materials. The highlight is a feature-length commentary track with actor Jason Statham and producer Steven Chasman. This is a fairly average informational track, but above average in feel thanks to the participation of Statham. Some nice tidbits about places and things are tossed into the discussion, but nothing of major relevance. A bit of dead air plagues the track, but Statham manages to entertain, bringing an easygoing attitude to his comments ("his brains actually went all over the windshield but they cut that shot"). He definitely dominates the track, his demeanor here so unlike many of the characters he's portrayed in his films. This track is definitely a recommended listen for both Statham and Transporter fans. Nine 1080p trailers conclude the extras. The films previewed on this disc include The Transporter, Transporter 2, Planet of the Apes, Phone Booth, Behind Enemy Lines, Kiss of the Dragon, Speed, Fantastic Four, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Transporter 2 Rating: 0.5/5 Transporter 2 fizzles on Blu-ray, providing viewers with only trailers, the same ones, in fact, as those found on the Blu-ray version of The Transporter. Final words  Those looking to make a splash and acquire all three Transporter films with the release of the third installment may wish to pick up this bundle rather than the separates, though Jumper, even at a discount over the cost of the standalone disc, may make for a dubious addition to most Blu-ray collections. It is a film that enjoys a fan base but is generally maligned as a good concept gone awry on its way to the big screen. On the other hand, the Transporter films represent Action its most mediocre, none of the entries neither appalling nor all that memorable, succeeding primarily because of the charisma and physical prowess of star Jason Statham. Fox's "Action 3-Pack" boasts a trio of discs that look and sound great but lack where it counts -- in the overall quality of the films. Proceed with caution. 
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