- Actors: Samy Naceri, Frédéric Diefenthal, Marion Cotillard, Manuela Gourary, Emma Wiklund
- Directors: Gérard Pirès
- Writers: Luc Besson
- Producers: Laurent Pétin, Luc Besson, Michèle Pétin
- Language French, German, Korean
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Metrodome
- VHS Release Date: 19 Feb 2003
- Run Time: 86 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004TIXE
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 33,164 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
Product details |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Executive-produced by Luc Besson (The Big Blue) but directed by the far more obscure Gérard Pirès, this anodyne but perfectly amiable buddy movie-cum-policier sets up sexily scar-faced Samy Narceri as a speed-obsessed Marseilles taxi driver who's cajoled into helping clumsy cop Frédéric Diefenthal catch a gang of German bank robbers. The dialogue, characterisation and plotting are as flimsy as a rusty Lada, but they're only padding anyway between the slices of car-chase and motorway action that form the steely infrastructure of the film. These, indeed, are pretty spectacular: impressively fast, they're filmed by either low-slung bumper-mounted cameras to make the road seem perilously close or from helicopters to show just how unfaked the action is, while the generally excellent soundtrack pumps relentlessly on. The final stunt, involving an unfinished motorway overpass, is a real beauty in particular.
When not zooming round corners and round asphalt, the characters puzzle dimly over the blindingly obvious ruses of the baddies and make continually frustrated attempts to sleep with their unfeasibly pneumatic love interests. If a French lad's magazine could talk, it would look something like Taxi, which of course will be no bad thing for many a viewer. --Leslie Felperin
Review
Executive-produced by Luc Besson (The Big Blue) but directed by the far more obscure Gérard Pirès, this anodyne but perfectly amiable buddy movie-cum-policier sets up sexily scar-faced Samy Narceri as a speed-obsessed Marseilles taxi driver who's cajoled into helping clumsy cop Frédéric Diefenthal catch a gang of German bank robbers. The dialogue, characterisation and plotting are as flimsy as a rusty Lada, but they're only padding anyway between the slices of car-chase and motorway action that form the steely infrastructure of the film. These, indeed, are pretty spectacular: impressively fast, they're filmed by either low-slung bumper-mounted cameras to make the road seem perilously close or from helicopters to show just how unfaked the action is, while the generally excellent soundtrack pumps relentlessly on. The final stunt, involving an unfinished motorway overpass, is a real beauty in particular. When not zooming round corners and round asphalt, the characters puzzle dimly over the blindingly obvious ruses of the baddies and make continually frustrated attempts to sleep with their unfeasibly pneumatic love interests. If a French lad's magazine could talk, it would look something like Taxi, which of course will be no bad thing for many a viewer. -- --Leslie Felperin
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This is the only film that I have rented out more than three times! I think that it is that good. The film is great for people who are into cars and chase scenes. Daniel in his BTCC 406, and the Germans in there Merc 500E's. Great to watch.(Plus you get to hear a throaty V8 roar!) Unfortunatly it is only avalible in french. Please, only buy/rent the subtitled one. I was unlucky to watch a dubbed version. Some of the worst dubbing I've seen. Avoid. I've ordered the soundtrack for it. Only decent french music that I've heard really. Can't wait for Taxi 2, and possibly its game, which I've played in demo form. Its not too bad. Overall, an unmissable film for speed junkies!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It has all the hallmarks of a potential flop - low budget, unknown actors, Dukes of Hazzard-style plot, unheard-of director, and all in dodgy subtitles as well. I was all set up to hate this movie like a week-old Big Mac & Fries.
I couldn't help it - I loved it. The spark-spitting Vespa ride under the opening credits started the little smile on my face, and it just couldn't be stopped from there. It's simple (no denying), and the car stunts are dangerously low-tech (what, REAL car crashes?), and the characters are sitcom-slim (taking less time than a polaroid in development), but I defy you to come away with anything other than an adrenalin-induced good vibe at the end.
It's the movie equivalent of junk food - but at least it tastes good. It's worth having in your DVD library, even if you only drag it out for a laugh before bed after a night at the pub. Life's too short to miss out on a little old-fashioned fun!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a highly entertaining film that is definitely one to buy as it is a film that can be watched again and again.
The cast is excellent with each member fitting their role, with the interaction between both Daniel and Emilien as well as the supporting cast such as Lilly and Camille being first class, this results in the humour being excellent from start to finish. The film is not just comedy though there are some fast car chases, which have some great camera work and they fit in with the style of the film and are definitely entertaining.
Incase you didn't know this is a French film, as can be seen from the patriotic use of a Peugeot as "the" car. This also means that the audio is French only with English subtitles but this doesn't detract from the film and as with most good subtitled films after a while you don't even notice that you are reading them.
Perhaps the weakest aspect of the film is the script but it is not bad and there is enough present with the comedy moments, cast and car chase scenes to stop you really noticing. All in all this is a film that doesn't try to be anything other than it is, its not over complicated and is something you can just sit down relax and enjoy.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
i love it
you must see it!!!!!!!!!! brilliant action comedy. enjoyed by all family, including younger ones. kids like to watch it around all the time now.
Published 6 days ago by whitney
This film proves why the French are the best at film making
This film proves why the French are the best at film making, it has well thought out action with a great storyline, really well scripted out. Read more
Published 1 month ago by farrow
5 stars for the movie, 3 stars for the DVD
The movie itself is a very entertaining comedy with lots of fine car chase sequences.
Like many French films, the script, plot, humor and acting is not as predictable as... Read more
Like many French films, the script, plot, humor and acting is not as predictable as... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Say No More 67
How did it take me 13 years to find this film?
I only came across this very recently, having seen some brief clips on YouTube and wonder how it hadn't registered on my radar before! Read more
Published 4 months ago by John
Great fun AND car chases!
It may be French, but it has great car chases in a hot Peugeot and is very funny. AND there are sequels I'm going through!
Published 9 months ago by Ryan
Madcaps in Marseille
An entertaining film, but from rather distant memory somewhat altered from the cinema original. We had expected it to be better than its sequel, Taxi 2, but we now find that the... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Peter O'NEILL
fun
Quite funny. Lots of action. Didn't realise it was only in french though. Good job I speak the language!
Published 19 months ago by annetski
Run away from this dvd!!!
the quality of the dvd is poor and it is not even funny if your English. The film is dubbed into English and was filmed in French.
Do not bother at all with this film!! Read more
Do not bother at all with this film!! Read more
Published on 7 May 2010 by Moldova
A Gallic speed fest
Luc Besson's original 1998 Taxi movie brings together a hapless cop and a former pizza delivery man who has turned his hand to the taxi game. Read more
Published on 25 Jan 2010 by LXIX
Daft But Deft
What makes a cult movie? The only rule seems to be that it's never the ones you expect. For me, I suppose it's about how often I'm prepared to watch it again... and again... Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2009 by Lochman
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
