The Professional (1994) (2-Disc Set, Deluxe Edition)

Buy this version

By Pogo  Jan 21, 2005 | 9 out of 9 found this The Professional (1994) review helpful

Pros: Featurettes, Fact Tract

Cons: No commentaries

This review is intended to help people like me, who already own "Leon/The Professional: Uncut International Edition." If you only own the American version of "The Professional" or if you do not own this DVD at all, your decision... is a no-brainer -- buy this version.The international version and the Deluxe Edition are 24 minutes longer because these scenes were deemed "too explicit" for the American audience (this misleading description comes from Columbia/Tristar). These involved the 12 year old Matilida working as a true partner with Leon on many of his hits, and also shows Matilda falling in love with Leon. Even though Matilida wants to consummate her love for Leon, it is handled in a very pure and innocent manner because Leon has the emotional (and perhaps intellectual) level of a 14 year old, and never attempts to take advantage of Matilda, who is actually the dominant partner.If you already own the Uncut International Edition, you know that there are no Special Features to speak of. A trailer doesn't really count, except here, because the Deluxe Edition has no trailer. In the two disk Deluxe Edition, there are three nice featurettes: "10 year retrospective," "Jean Reno: the Road to Leon" and "Natalie Portman: Starting Young." These are nice, but could have been (should have been?) longer, at 25, 12 and 14 minutes each respectively. There is a lot of insightful info in these featurettes nevertheless.Another, unadvertised, "feature" of the Deluxe Edition is that it has DTS, unlike the Uncut International Edition.However, what really distinguishes this version from the UIE is the "fact track" which are subtitles which add informational bits of trivia or trivial bits of info, depending on your viewpoint. For example, did you know that the young blond who escaped Leon's first hit also played the Diva in "Fifth Element"?Really disappointed that there were no commentaries, especially by Natalie Portman. Anyone who knows that Ms. Portman is a Harvard grad, and who listened to the "Garden State" commentary knows that Ms. Portman is as delightful to listen to as to watch. Apparently, Luc Besson, doesn't believe in them.If you're not convinced that you should buy this film, read this:http:/
/
www.thedigitalbits.com/
reviews3/
spinsheet010505.html#leoT
he only point where I disagree with Bill Hunt is about owning three versions of this film. If I hadn't alrady sold the American version to Blockbuster, I would be using it as a coaster. Do yourself a favor -- the next time you go to Costco, buy this two-disk version. Read more Less