Review of Leon: The Professional Director`s Cut

Introduction

The subject matter of Leon caused problems in many countries - the thought of a young girl being trained as a hitman, firing weapons, swearing and being involved in a movie that is extremely violent in places has the censors quickly reaching for their splicing kits!

Leon is available on R1 DVD with a 110 minute running time, or R2 DVD with a 106 minute running time (equivalent to the US version when taking the 4% PAL speedup into account). For information, the UK VHS edition runs for 102 minutes (106 with the 4% speedup).

This Director`s Cut features the "Version Integrale" of Leon, clocking in at 133 minutes and restores the movie to the version that Luc Besson intended us to see in the first place.

Video

The 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen video is of a very high standard throughout the film.

The picture is sharp, colourful and stable with no noticeable artefacts or compression problems.

Like other Besson movies, Leon is beautifully films and at times is a work of art. Special effects are restricted to gunfights and some explosions - all of which look very good. The locations used are authentic and really add to the quality feel of the production.

Audio

The soundtrack is a new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and is, like the video, of a very high standard. Excellent use is made of all the available channels with Eric Serra’s excellent score helping to reinforce the tension.

There are several shootouts to get your speakers working, but the sound effects and music never get in the way of the dialog which is clear and understandable at all times.

Features

Lovers of the music can watch the film with the isolated music score instead of dialogue. In addition, there is promotional material, a trailer for Leon, a trailer for The Big Blue and talent files.

Not particularly exciting then, but this movie doesn`t need extras to be a desirable purchase.

Conclusion

Overall Leon is a masterpiece. During the opening half-hour we are introduced to Leon as he is involved in a beautifully filmed hit, introduced to Matilda`s family, introduced to the chilling Gary Oldman and then watch the drug related massacre of a family. As disturbing as this may sound, it is so stylishly put together that it draws you in, eagerly awaiting the remainder of the film.

Luc Besson then goes on to examine the relationship between Matilda and Leon, providing action, emotion and laughter in the process, and in this version getting pretty close to the edge of the comfort zone with some of the dialog (although never stepping over the line), before the tension is wound up for the thrilling final gunfight which is just as much fun now as the first time I saw the film.

The performances are superb - Jean Reno is always charismatic and his portayal of Leon is no exception. Natalie Portman delivers a performance that you would expect from someone many years older and Gary Oldman is superbly unpleasant.

Excellent picture and sound are not hindered by a small extra feature count and this DVD is most definetely recommended.