In this third installation in the Transporter series, driver Frank Martin (Jason Statham) finds himself forced into transporting Valentina (Natalya Rudakova), the kidnapped daughter of Leonid Vasilev (Jereon Aart Krabbe), head of the environmental protection agency for the Ukraine.
Exploding Metal Bracelets in Transporter 3
Both of them wear matching metal bracelets, attached by Johnson (Robert Knepper), a thug hired to get Valentina transported and delivered regardless of material cost or collateral damage. The non-removable bracelets sound an alarm if they venture more than 50 feet from the car and explode after 100 feet. Although Frank clearly loves his car, his attachment now necessarily moves from the emotional to the physical.
Therefore, Frank and Valentina remain linked to each other and the car until their mission is complete. Both fear that Johnson plans to kill them after they reach their destination, which makes their journey that much more poignant, a word not usually associated with a man who applies strict rules of non-involvement when delivering his assigned packages.
Old Friends Aid The Transporter
Throughout his journey, Frank calls upon a couple of old friends to help him, including Inspector Tarconi (Francois Berleand), who works behind the scenes to provide information. Trapped in his car with an uncommunicative woman and only a telephone programmed to take Johnson’s calls, Frank desperately needs facts about the dangerous people and situation (an environmental agency scandal) in which he finds himself.
Besides navigating the road, dealing with Johnson’s threats and manipulation, and handling Valentina’s cynicism and drug use, Frank must dodge Johnson’s violent non-cooperation agents in addition to yet another group of bad guys out to kill him. With so many people chasing him, the scene is set for numerous action sequences.
Transporter 3 Delivers Its Package
Without question, Transporter 3 delivers its special effects package of action sequences. Although completely unbelievable in terms of logic, mechanics, and physics, these fast-paced, breathtaking action sequences involve more than just routine car chases.
Having lost weight and pumped up his torso for the role of Frank, Statham jumps on a bicycle, single-handedly fights a room full of killers, drives on top of a train, and does some underwater magic in order to save himself and Valentina from their seemingly unavoidable fate.
In her first film role, freckle-faced Rudakova alternates between strong and vulnerable, and lovely and grotesque. Although her thinly written character lacks much development, the actress presents a memorable portrayal of Frank’s unlikely romantic interest.
If viewers willingly suspend disbelief for about an hour and a half, they will find Transporter 3 an exciting journey with an ultimate payoff.
Starring Jason Statham, Natalya Rudakova, Robert Knepper
Director: Olivier Megaton
Run Time: 103 minutes
Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of intense action and violence, some sexual content and drug material)
For more information about Transporter 3, read Fast Facts About Transporter 3, and for another review of an exciting action film, read Movie Review of The Condemned.
 |
