(aka "Leon" or "The Cleaner " or "The Professional ")
directed by
Luc Besson
France /
USA 1994
History repeats itself, the first time as tragedy, the
second time as farce. So, apparently, do the films of Luc Besson. In 1992 he
made "La Femme
Nikita," which in its cold sadness told the story of a tough
street girl who became a professional killer and then a civilized woman. Now he
has made "The Professional," about a tough child who wants to become a
professional killer, and civilizes the man she chooses as her teacher.
Besson seems fascinated by the "Pygmalion" story, by the notion of a feral
street person who is transformed by education. He crosses that with what seems
to be an obsession with women who kill as a profession. These are interesting
themes, and if "The Professional" doesn't work with anything like the power of
"La Femme Nikita," it is because his heroine is 12 years old, and we cannot
persuade ourselves to ignore that fact. It colors every scene, making some
unlikely and others troubling.
Excerpt from Roger Ebert's review at the Chicago Sun-Times located HERE
Posters
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Theatrical Release: September 14th, 1994 - France
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
Columbia Tri-Star Home Video (Deluxe 2-Disc Edition) - Region 1- NTSC vs. Columbia Tri-Star Home Video (Uncut International Version) - Region 1- NTSC
Big thanks to Enrico for the screen captures !
(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - RIGHT)
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| Distribution |
Columbia Tri-Star Home Video - Region 1- NTSC |
Columbia Tri-Star Home Video - Region 1- NTSC |
| Runtime | 2:12:44 | 2:12:44 |
| Video |
2.29:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
2.29:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Bitrate:
CTS Deluxe |
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| Bitrate:
CTS Inter.
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS 5.1) |
English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) |
| Subtitles | English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, None | English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, None |
| Features |
Release Information:
Edition Details: • Featurettes on Disc 2:
DVD Release Date: January 11th, 2005 |
Release Information:
Edition Details: • 4 trailers (Leon and 3 other Besson films) • International Ad Campaigns • Isolated Musical Score • Talent Files
DVD Release Date: October 3rd, 2000 |
| Comments: |
I don't see any large
distinguishing differences in the image quality of these two editions.
Colors are a shade more red (and brighter) in the older "international
uncut" version, but it is negligible. It should be noted that although
the older edition was advertised as "24 minutes longer etc." - the new
Deluxe Edition is also the "international uncut" version. The only real
differences aside from the extra disc of featurettes in the Deluxe
edition is the DTS track added to the newer release. Not being a huge
fan of the film I personally do not think it is worth the upgrade and
feel it is a bit of a scam. Subtle changes with new marketing labels
(ex. in the older release "uncut - international blah blah blah",
"Deluxe..'for the newer) especially when differences in image are so
minute and as we have stated in our review
HERE
this Deluxe Edition is far from a stellar release (i.e. frames not
transferred individually, not from HD source etc.). So CTS slapped on a
DTS track, threw in a 2nd disc of featurettes, new but not improved
telecine transfer and repackaged it to get your hard earned dollars...
again! Our suggestion is "don't bother" and for CTS to treat their
customers with a little more respect in future.
I guess my big gripe here is "don't create a Deluxe edition" and then not improve upon and image that needs improvement! NOTE: Important
note regarding the international release version. The first release had
a problem with the lfe channel and was later fixed by Columbia. To see
if you have the fixed or broken DVD just check the spine number on the
cover: |
DVD Menus
(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - RIGHT)
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Subtitle Sample
(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
NOTE: NOT exact frame!
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Screen Captures
(CTS Deluxe edition- Region 1 - NTSC (FAST TRACK SAMPLE)- TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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Report Card:
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Image: |
tie |
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Sound: |
Deluxe |
| Extras: | Deluxe |
| Menu: | Deluxe |
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