Product Details

• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (452 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004TWZG
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,083 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Leon - The Professional (Uncut International Version)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) made his American directorial debut with this stylized thriller about a French hit man (Jean Reno) who takes in an American girl (Natalie Portman) being pursued by a corrupt killer cop (Gary Oldman). Oldman is a little more unhinged than he should be, but there is something genuinely irresistible about the story line and the relationship between Reno and Portman. Rather than cave in to the cookie-cutter look and feel of American action pictures, Besson brings a bit of his glossy style from French hits La Femme Nikita and Subway to the production, and the results are refreshing even if the bullets and explosions are awfully familiar. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

Mathilda (Portman), a twelve year-old New York girl, is living an undesirable life with her family. Her father stores drugs for two-faced cop Norman Stansfield (Oldman). Only her little brother keeps Mathilda from cracking up. One day, Stansfield and his team kill the whole family as revenge on her father for stretching the drugs a little. Only Mathilda, who was out shopping, survives by hiding out in Leon's (Reno) apartment. Soon, she finds out about the strange neighbor's unusual profession - killing - and begs for his help in taking revenge for her little brother's death. Leon, who is completely inexperienced in fatherly tasks and in friendships, does his best to keep Mathilda out of trouble - unsuccessfully. Now, the conflict between a killer, who slowly discovers his abilities to live, to feel, to love, and a corrupt police officer, who does anything in his might to get rid of an eye witness, rises to immeasurable proportions - all for the sake of a little twelve year-old girl, who has nearly nothing to lose.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Uncut version is worth the price!, August 30, 2000

By	Steve (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

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.

82 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Must-See Film!, August 28, 2000

By	Luis Hernandez (New York, New York, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Professional (DVD)

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!

61 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, July 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Professional (DVD)

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