OldBoy

I'm getting so tired of TDK threads that I wanted to talk about something else.

Lately, I've been on such a "Leon" kick. I think I first saw "The Professional" on video. I don't think I saw it in the theater because back then I wouldn't go see a movie like this. Boy, would I now!

When I watch a movie on DVD and get blown away, then that is a truly special movie. To be wowed other than in the theater are movies that I hold dear to me. I have only a bunch in my memory that that has happened with.

"The Professional", the theatrical cut was such a great action film, that had heart thrown in when you didn't expect it to. My affection for Luc Besson and Jean Reno took hold with this one and Natalie Portman was so good as well.

Then, I saw the uncut, international, integral, director's preferred, whatever longer version "Leon: The Professional" and it transcended an incredible action film into an incredible mix of action and drama film. Now, while I still get a little unnerved by the old man, very young girl relationship and Mathilda's wanting more, it was great that Leon did not give in and kept it more father/daughter and made the end which is the same in theatrical and uncut much more understandable and incredible.

I love both incarnations of this movie and will revisit the theatrical this weekend I believe (as I turned my newly bought R2 Steelbook into a 3-disc Deluxe Edition with theatrical cut).

So what are your thoughts and which cut do you prefer?

fiver

Unfortunately, I never saw "The Professional" when it was in theaters - I was a tad too young at the time although I do remember seeing scenes from it on a coming attractions type program at the time. It wasn't til a few years ago when "Leon" came out on dvd that I finally saw it. It's such a great movie in the Director's Cut - everything is so perfect - that I just don't have a desire to go back and watch the cut version - just don't see the point.

Michael

daniel18

Léon has been my favorite movie for years.

clappj

It's a great film!
A classic!

Not as good as the TDK though.

Brent L

This isn't even a contest. In my eyes, the film doesn't even exist in any other form than the DC.

As for how good it was...to me, it's the best flick of the 90's.

macnorton

+1

I totally agree with that statement.

Hokeyboy

This movie bored the pants off of me when I saw it in theaters. Overrated dreck. Feh. Although, to be fair, I never saw the DC, only the theatrical version.

chris_sc77

Léon is better. A truly great film. And one of the best action films ever.

Larry C.

fumanstan

I have Leon on DVD as a blind buy. It seems overrated to me. It's a decent film and built the relationship between the two characters very well, but I had trouble keeping my attention on the movie. I've watched it twice. Maybe i'll try and watch it again.

UAIOE

My interpretation of the movie is that Leon sees things as a father/daughter. Mathilda developed a "crush" on Leon because he is the only person who ever treated her nice.

"The Professional" (from what I remember) makes it more iffy about what's going on between them. "Leon", with its added scenes, clears a lot up.

Charlie Goose

I loved The Professional, but that was before I saw Leon. Even better!

Stansfield is no Gordon though.

DeputyDave

I liked The Professional a lot when I first saw it on VHS. I bought Leon on DVD not knowing it was a DC (or even knowing there was a DC, this was my pre-DVDTALK days) and I loved it.
Leon certainly is in my top 20.

OldBoy

i can't wait to see the te again, thinking now it won't hold up quite as well to the DC, but this is the cut that i and i am sure many fell in love with. i guess this is one of those that a longer, DC truly does improve upon the original.

reserving the right to vote till after, but really didn't think the poll would be so lopsided.

notkevinbacon

I remember renting this on VHS when I was maybe 13? And I thought it was ok, but a lot of it was lost on me.

I saw it on TV when I was older and thought, "Man, a few years makes a helluva difference."

Then when I got my mitts on the DC it just put it over the top. It's brilliant.

The movie is infinitely rewatchable. Love it. Certainly, one of the best films of the 1990s. No question.


[Gary Oldman] EVVVVERRYYONNNNEE!!!!![/Gary Oldman]

Cardiac161

When "The Professional" came out in the theatres, some critic called it as intense as "Speed." Mind you, Speed came out a few months before so I was expecting non-stop action. The movie turning out to be not an action movie had me thinking the film was unbearably slow.

I revisited the film when it was released in the uncut "Leon" and came to appreciate & love what Luc Besson was going for...not really an action film but a character study about a gentle assasin and a not-so innocent precocious girl.

I really love Gary Oldman's character here. Terrifying, funny and vicious. In some of the interviews he did for The Dark Knight, Oldman was kind of wondering why people can equate him for strange and evil characters and not see him as the good guy. This film shows why film audiences used to think that way.

kefrank

I've seen both cuts on DVD. The Professional is a very solid movie. Leon is a masterpiece of Hong Kong's "heroic bloodshed" genre, made in the U.S., directed by a Frenchman. All of the key performances are spot on, especially Oldman who is terrifying.

chanster

Overrated, just like the Dark Knight, but a bit more creepy.

inri222

Or The Thing (1982)

PopcornTreeCt

Léon

Daytripper

"The Professional" AND "Leon" beats the cape off of "The Dark Knight". And I loved that too. But "The Professional" and Leon" are in a class of their own.

TimeandTide

Agreed.

OldBoy

what in the world does "The Dark Knight" have anything to do with this thread????

PopcornTreeCt

If anyone hasn't told you yet, The Dark Knight is the greatest movie of all-time.

OldBoy

ok, here it comes... "The Dark Knight" vs. "Léon" Thread.