Leon: Director's Cut [DVD] [1994]

Back in the day when Luc Besson had standards and Natalie Portman could act this action film gave a fresh lease of life to the words 'overblown', 'intense', and that now hackneyed, abused and bedraggled word, 'passionate' (in its old meaning of intense feelings that controlled your every action, not ones that led to your part-time hobby, or doing your job ok).

The three leads, Reno, Portman and Oldman are possessed, driving the story to an amazing climax. And Besson fills the screen with meaning and purpose, delivering the kind of scenes that Hollywood includes in schmaltzy tributes to the magic of the cinema. The film is a genre unto itself - popcorn art-house. The continental style of Besson, the focus on Little Italy, presents New York with a fresh perspective even now.

The main story sounds controversial, the developing love between a hitman in his 40s and a 12 year old girl arguably more emotionally mature than him, and it is. Some people see Leon as only a father figure for the girl, Mathilda, but no, while it is love it is not familial love. However, Reno plays Leon in such an intelligent and sensitive way that the film never becomes distasteful nor illegal and the purity of the love remains, even if it hints at a future.

Gary Oldman is supremely talented in all of his films, an excellent Beethoven, subsumed entirely into Mason Verger, and magically metamorphosised into a human pair of slippers as Commissioner Gordon, but rewatching Leon now makes you realise that any role in which he doesn't play an out and out villain is a tragic art crime. He was born to play the kind of evil lunatic he is in Leon (and as good as Heath was, I would have loved to have seen Oldman as the Joker).

Although it may feel slow-paced to some, if you're trying to lead an action fanatic into a richer world of film you can do no better than Leon. Sadly the picture seems to have done the opposite for Msr. Besson, whose output has become ever more vapid, and Natalie Portman too; she still has to fulfil the expectations raised by her performance here.

*Blu ray*
1080p. DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 - Bass is no longer distorted as on the old DVD, the rhythmic booms used by Besson add to the tension now rather than causing discomfort. Dialogue very clear. English subtitles only. Region B. Director's Cut (133mins - still 3 mins off the French version) and Theatrical Cut (110min). 2.35 aspect ratio faithful to the Technovision process (the same as used by Coppola for Apocalypse Now).

I'm with Christian Bale on extras. People have gone to extraordinary lengths to give you convincing lies, why ruin the magic? However, the interview with Natalie Portman is interesting, given all the second hand reports of how she regretted the film. The interview with Reno is also above average for these kind of things. And finally there's the 10 year anniversary reminiscence by cast and crew and a trailer.

There's no comparison to the old DVD, it is a gigantic jump. Even if it is diffcult to rate. If you've seen the avforums review you'll find the chap's complaints are nonsensical; the colours are very natural and vibrant as needed where vibrancy occurs. Watch Speed Racer if you want shiny pretties. There was some rare and isolated shimmering of bright light colours and the picture quality does feel a little aged (the latter not necessarily a bad thing - it helps establish a feeling of time and place entirely in keeping with the Old World view of New York). There's still obviously room for improvement but that next step essentially would be a copy of the negatives and a projector. Note that the original film and sound have not been remastered but this means that they have retained a great natural filmic quality - and the reproduction of the print makes it feel like a cinema experience. Importantly, the film looks as it was intended to look and it has not been mutilated by DNR. Unreservedly worth the upgrade, at what cost is up to you.

I loved this film in its original form but the extras in the directors cut are amazing. The normal film has so much missing that without watching the additional cuts you just do not realise how the missing pieces affect the ordinary cut particularly surrounding Leon and Matildas emotional relationship. The film is not about a sexual relationship, it is not that, its about the loneliness of an assasin with the mind of a child vs a child that has had to become an adult far too early particularly in relation to cruelty and her parental responsibilities to her younger brother. All in all worth the expense of having multiple copies of the film.

The transfer to blueray is ok but not brilliant when compared for example to casino royale blueray but for me it was about getting the additional cuts and with blueray they all fit on one disc no problem.

I have to agree with a previous reviewer that 'The Director's Cut' presents not only a different viewpoint of the relationship between Leon,and Mathilde,but also a fuller insight into the awakening of emotion in a previously ice cold hitman.
I don't agree that seeing Mathilde going on 'Hits' detracts from her confrontation scene with Gary Oldman's character.She is after all a 12 Year old girl being faced with death.
I also have to disagree with the comments about the Picture Quality of this Blu-ray disc.
It is superb.
I sometimes wonder if equipment difficiences are not to blame for perceived failings.