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"TRANSPORTER 3" (2008) (Jason Statham, Natalya Rudakova) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Moderate Extreme *Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy Minor Moderate Moderate Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Minor Moderate Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Action: A professional driver is forced to transport a kidnapped woman, with the threat that armed bracelets attached to their wrists will detonate if they get more than 75 feet from their car. PLOT: Frank Martin (JASON STATHAM) is a professional driver and transporter of unique "packages" who operates by a defined set of rules that prevent him from getting too involved with who or what's being delivered. This time, however, he can't avoid that as his "employer," Johnson (ROBERT KNEPPER), has attached a high-tech bracelet of sorts to his wrist that will detonate should he get more than 75 feet from his car, thus giving him a clearly defined impetus to complete the job. To complicate matters, however, he's to be accompanied by an unwelcome and initially not very talkative passenger, Valentina (NATALYA RUDAKOVA), who turns out to be the adult daughter of Ukrainian government official Leonid Vasilev (JEROEN KRABBÉ). It seems that those who've hired Johnson want to convince Vasilev to allow them to import their toxic crude into his country, and having a kidnapped daughter seems like good motivation to get him to play along. As Frank's former nemesis turned fishing buddy, French police inspector Tarconi (FRANÇOIS BERLÉAND) tries to help him from a distance, Frank tries to figure out what's what and who's who, all as he drives Valentina through parts of central Europe, battling various goons and making sure he doesn't exceed his 75-foot "leash." WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of the first two "Transporter" films, they probably will. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sequences of intense action and violence, some sexual content and drug material. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JASON STATHAM plays a no-nonsense professional driver whose reputation of efficiency results in him being forced by Johnson to transport Valentina or else the armed bracelet attached to his wrist will explode. As he drives her, he fights and kills various goons and apparently has sex with her. NATALYA RUDAKOVA plays a government official's adult daughter who's kidnapped and then stuck in a car with Frank. She's reluctant to talk at first, but then opens up, eventually having sex with him. She also drinks and ends up high from taking some sort of drug. FRANÇOIS BERLÉAND plays a French police inspector and Frank's friend who tries to assist him from a distance. ROBERT KNEPPER plays the villain hired by a company that's trying to convince Vasilev to allow toxic sludge to be imported into his country. Accordingly, he kidnaps that man's daughter, arms her and Frank (and earlier, another man) with explosives bracelets, and even kills one of his own men as he (Johnson) tries to execute his plan. JEROEN KRABBÉ plays a government official who must deal with being blackmailed (through his kidnapped adult daughter) to force him to allow that company's waste product to enter his country. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this action flick that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word (in English subtitles), while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Some sexually related dialogue is present, a woman is repeatedly seen in a short and tight skirt (and the side of her bare butt is briefly viewed when she hikes that up), a buff man is seen in just his boxers, and we later see them fooling around and then apparently having sex in a car, but nothing graphic is viewed. Violence consists of various deaths by various means, attempts on others' lives, and all sorts of action-based but fairly brutal fighting. There are some bloody and briefly gory results, but not enough to push the content into R-rated territory. Those scenes and moments of potential peril might be unsettling and/or suspenseful to some viewers, but most of the content is played as action rather than graphic realism. That said, all of that action, fighting, driving stunts and such could be fairly enticing for some kids to try to imitate. The villains obviously have bad attitudes, and some tense family material is present. Some characters drink (and various comments are made about wine and such), while one takes some sort of drug (in pill form) and is then high from that. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there are strobe effects in a club. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are varying amounts of camera movement in the film, including some fairly bouncy footage from time to time. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Two men talk of a "million" bottles of booze being on a cargo ship and that they're looking for just one. Frank and Tarconi debate about Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, with Tarconi talking of Dean and his drink and cigarette. We see a bottle of wine on Frank's coffee table. We see a flashback to Frank with a drink. Frank asks Valentina what's in Budapest (their destination) and she replies goulash and beer. Later, when she states she's hungry, he states they're 100 kilometers from beer and sausage. She then describes her fantasy meal that includes ice wine. Valentina states that Romanian wine isn't so good, but states it's okay for one's last meal. Valentina takes some sort of drug (in pill form) and offers one to Frank, but he refuses and grabs her arm to try to stop her from taking that second one, resulting their car swerving and nearly hitting another car. After that, she's fairly high as she goes into a gas station store where she grabs a bottle of vodka and drinks from it. When she comes out, she tries to get Frank to drink with her, but he refuses, and she's still high during an ensuing chase sequence. We see a flashback to Valentina holding a glass of champagne that she says was spiked with a knockout drug (that allowed her to be kidnapped). As Frank and Tarconi fish with Valentina on their boat, there's another comment made about wine. BLOOD/GORE As some men search through part of a cargo ship's hold, they open a hatch and react to the bad smell, with one stating nothing smells bad like that, even when the other has been in the "crapper." When the other objects to that, the first asks, "What, your sh*t smells like roses?" Later, we see those two now dead men with what looks like blistered facial skin after coming into contact with something noxious emanating from some barrels in a ship's cargo hold. We then see a distant view of their bodies being dumped overboard into the sea. A car suddenly smashes through Frank's wall and into his living room. Frank finds the driver fairly bloody from that and/or unseen gunshot wounds that Frank reports. Johnson's main goon has a bloody mark on the bridge of his nose from where Frank previously hit him. Johnson shoots his main goon in the forehead, killing him (we see a little bit of blood at the entry point). While high and apparently looking for the ladies room in a gas station store, but unable to go in or risk having her bomb bracelet explode, Valentina playfully looks out at Frank pumping gas. Wiggling about in a sexy fashion, she hikes up her short skirt and squats down, presumably to urinate on the floor (we see the side of her bare butt, but no such bodily action). A man hired by Vasilev stands at the side of the road to urinate, but we don't hear or see anything related to that. Johnson's nose is bloody during a fight with Frank. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Johnson has been hired by a group of people who want to convince Vasilev to drop his government's environmental standards to allow eight cargo ships to bring their caustic cargo into their port. As a result, Johnson kidnaps Valentina and first employs another driver to transport her (convincing him by attaching an explosive bracelet to their respective wrists) and then does the same thing to Frank. He also kills one of his own men and repeatedly tries to do the same thing to Frank. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" may also be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material, but much of that's presented in an over-the-top and often outrageous fashion, thus lessening the realism level. Valentina's initial driver, in the same explosive bracelet boat as her, panics when pulled over by border security and told to get out of the car (thus meaning he might explode). As a result, he takes off in the car, resulting in a chase sequence. Johnson shoots his main goon in the forehead, killing him (we see a little bit of blood at the entry point). He then points his handgun at Frank's head to convince him to deliver his package. Moments later, when Frank doesn't want Valentina in the car with him on the trip, Johnson aims his gun at Valentina's head, with Frank changing his mind. One of Johnson's goons takes Frank's car, resulting in Frank having to chase after it on foot and then on a bicycle (since if it gets 75 feet from him, the armed bracelet on his wrist will explode). During that, Frank rides that bike through a glass wall, but Valentina grabs at the thief from the backseat. Frank eventually catches the car and swings through, kicking the thief out the other side of the car. Frank and Valentina find themselves trapped on a bridge by goons on both sides, with Johnson demanding that Valentina be handed over to him. She reluctantly gets out, spits in his face, and he punches her in the gut. His goons then open fire on Frank's car (that's bulletproof) who purposefully drives it through the retaining wall and into the body of water below the bridge. It sinks, but due to the explosive bracelet he's wearing, he can't get more than 75 feet from the car, so as it goes down, he gets breathable air from the tires that he also uses to inflate a raft from the trunk. That not only gives him more air, but it also causes the car to rise back up to the surface. Johnson aims his handgun at one of his goons for questioning his command, but doesn't shoot him. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Machine guns/Explosives/Knife: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. We see that Johnson and/or his goons have removed various weapons and ammo from Frank's car. Johnson aims his handgun at one of his goons for questioning his command, but doesn't shoot him. Johnson and his goons aim guns at passengers on a train to make them exit the car. Armed officials hold guns on men onboard a cargo ship as it's raided. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "F*ck it" (in subtitles), "What, your sh*t smells like roses?" "Holy sh*t," "You're in a bit of a sh*t," "Oh sh*t," "Crapper," "It's going to piss off a lot of people," "You're gonna light up like a Valentina*ddamn Christmas tree," "What the hell is he doing?" "Move your ass a little," "Where the hell are you?" and "You bastard" All of the fighting, action and various driving stunts might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Valentina has a tattoo on the back of her neck. While saying "think this," Valentina gives "the finger" to Johnson. JUMP SCENES A car suddenly smashes through Frank's wall and into his living room. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A moderate amount of suspenseful and action-oriented music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) A song has lyrics that we couldn't fully hear or understand, thus presenting the possibility that it could potentially contain something objectionable. A song has some faked but somewhat sexually aroused female sounds in it (heard during a sex scene). PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word (in subtitles), 5 "s" words, 3 asses, 2 hells, 1 crap (as in "crapper") and 1 use each of "G*damn," "Jesus" and "Oh my God." SEX/NUDITY Valentina is often seen in a short and tight skirt. We see Frank in just his boxers before he gets dressed. During a fight with various men, Frank ends up shirtless, and Johnson seems enticed and possibly aroused by his show of fighting machismo. Valentina shows some cleavage. While high and apparently looking for the ladies room in a gas station store, but unable to go in or risk having her bomb bracelet explode, Valentina playfully looks out at Frank pumping gas. Wiggling about in a sexy fashion, she hikes up her short skirt and squats down, presumably to urinate on the floor (we see the side of her bare butt, but no such bodily action). After a close call with some goons, Valentina tells Frank that she wants to feel sex one more time before dying, and then comes on to him, rubbing and kissing his neck. He asks what she's doing, with her asking if she's sexy. He says yes but makes no move on her, prompting her to think he's gay, with him saying maybe he's just not in the mood. To get him to play along, she playfully threatens to take the car keys beyond the safe range of their explosive bracelets, and wants him to do a striptease for her. He removes his shirt but doesn't want to play along, with talk of what is not a turn-on. She says she wants him to spank her, tie her up, and adds that she likes it rough (after he asks if she knows what he's going to do to her -- not meant sexually). When he grabs her, she states maybe she doesn't like it so rough, but then makes him kiss her and mean it. He eventually does and they passionately kiss while standing (he's shirtless, she's clothed), and we next see them doing the same in the car with him on top of her, but the view is in close-up and we don't see anything explicit (but sex is implied). A song has some faked but somewhat sexually aroused female sounds in it (heard during the sex scene detailed above). SMOKING Frank and Tarconi debate about Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, with Tarconi talking of Dean and his drink and cigarette. There's a lit cigarette by one of the villains. TENSE FAMILY SCENES By default, Vasilev is concerned about his daughter's kidnapping, but doesn't show that as much as being concerned about being forced to sign a binding government agreement with the blackmailers. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT How companies try to dispose of toxic sludge and related materials. Kidnapping used to convince others to do something they wouldn't otherwise normally do. Professional drivers. Casual sex. VIOLENCE Some men are accidentally killed by coming into contact with some sort of toxic and apparently caustic sludge (their faces are all blistered). A miscellaneous car accidentally smashes into a pursuing police car during a chase sequence. A car suddenly smashes through Frank's wall and into his living room. Frank finds the driver fairly bloody from that and/or unseen gunshot wounds that Frank reports. We see a flashback to Frank fighting various goons, hitting, kicking and flipping them, etc. as well as breaking one's outstretched leg (all done in a highly stylized and edit-heavy, action-based fashion). Emergency personnel drive off with Valentina's initial driver in their ambulance. When Valentina shows Frank her explosive bracelet, he rushes out to try to stop the ambulance from driving off. He's too late, however, and the ambulance explodes, presumably killing at least three people and knocking Frank backwards off his feet. Frank is hit and knocked out, but we don't see the impact. Johnson shoots his main goon in the forehead, killing him (we see a little bit of blood at the entry point). He then points his handgun at Frank's head to convince him to deliver his package. Moments later, when Frank doesn't want Valentina in the car with him on the trip, Johnson aims his gun at Valentina's head, with Frank changing his mind. A goon shoots and kills a truck driver. Johnson's goons show up in a garage and try to convince Frank to continue on with his mission (he's there to try to figure out how to remove or disarm his explosive bracelet). Frank then fights the various goons who came at him with metal pipes (and one holds a huge wrench) and he punches, kicks, flips, elbows, and otherwise hits the various men, including with one of those pipes. He also causes a car lift to drop such a vehicle down onto two goons below it. A huge goon then shows up, and Frank's various blows do no harm to him as he throws Frank through a block wall and otherwise thrashes him about. Frank finally gets the man's legs stuck down in the floor, thus allowing Frank to kick and punch him repeatedly, and then smack a shovel against his head. One of Johnson's goons takes Frank's car, resulting in Frank having to chase after it on foot and then on a bicycle (since if it gets 75 feet from him, the armed bracelet on his wrist will explode). During that, Frank rides that bike through a glass wall, but Valentina grabs at the thief from the backseat. Frank eventually catches the car and swings through, kicking the thief out the other side of the car. Some men hired by Vasilev pursue Frank and Valentina in their car. To get by two side-by-side trucks, Frank gets his car up on two tires and drives between them, eventually resulting in one jack-knifing and wiping out a bunch of trees along the side of the road. One man fires a handgun at Frank's car, followed by machine gun fire (the vehicle appears to be armored as none of the bullets penetrate it). During that, Frank slams on the brakes, thus sending the pursuing car past him with that goon's arm snapping on Frank's car. Frank then rams into the back of the car and drives it off a cliff, with that other car hitting hard and exploding, while Frank's car slides to a stop just short of the edge. We see a flashback to guns being fired at Valentina and her initial driver in their car. Frank and Valentina find themselves trapped on a bridge by goons on both sides, with Johnson demanding that Valentina be handed over to him. She reluctantly gets out, spits in his face, and he punches her in the gut. His goons then open fire on Frank's car (that's bulletproof) who purposefully drives it through the retaining wall and into the body of water below the bridge. It sinks, but due to the explosive bracelet he's wearing, he can't get more than 75 feet from the car, so as it goes down, he gets breathable air from the tires that he also uses to inflate a raft from the trunk. That not only gives him more air, but it also causes the car to rise back up to the surface. To rescue Valentina, but unable to leave his car, Frank drives his off a bridge and onto the top of a moving train. He then swings into one of the train cars, kicking a goon aside and avoids gunfire aimed at him. During this, Johnson grabs Valentina, but she bites his hand and escapes, while Frank hits and then shoots several goons with a captured machine gun, using one of them as a shield from more gunfire aimed his way. Frank then comes after Johnson, but the former's bomb bracelet is activated (due to being too far from his car), meaning he has to retreat back to the car. As he does, Johnson decouples the train car from the others, but Frank then drives his car along the train and smashes it through the back of that train car. He gets out and fights Johnson who tries to slice him with his knife, but Frank delivers various hard blows. Frank removes the bomb bracelet from his wrist, places it on a villain, and then causes the latter to be separated from the transmitter car. The resultant explosion kills him and destroys part of a train car. Reviewed November 20, 2008 / Posted November 26, 2008

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