“Spot 100 is always kind of a special one. It’s sort of the last chance spot. I’ve usually got about five movies that I _really_ wanna include, but only one makes the cut. I was really torn on this one. I kinda wanted to pick Stay because it is just an unknown but cool film, so I wanted a chance to highlight it. Or Beginners, because I always get that kinda “”aww”” feeling in my heart when I think about it. But in the end, I couldn’t leave Transporter off the list again.
Why did Transporter get the honor of inclusion? I’m an action junkie. Jason Statham is my choice action star. Transporter is what put him on my radar. The guy was a total unknown at the time. Hell, no one even noticed this movie when it first came out. I remember being at a theater a couple years later when a trailer for Transporter 2 played. The comment from the guy behind me was “”Transporter 2? When was there ever a Transporter 1?”” I’m fairly sure that happened more than once. The only reason I even saw it was because I’d put Phone Booth on my Christmas list one year. My Daddy found a two pack of Phone Booth and The Transporter that was only a dollar more than just Phone Booth. He figured what the hell. Besides, our tradition was always a Christmas day movie marathon of my new movies, and he is where I got my action junkie-ness from. I guess he was curious about the film.
Transporter is a low budget, gritty action movie. Just the way I like ’em. Statham does most of his own stunts, and he’s got some truly creative ones. My favorite is the one where he manages to take off his shirt mid-fight and tie up the bad guys with it. Then he dumps oil on himself so they can’t grab him.
I also really like his character. His rules are cheesey, but I’m a sucker for that type of quirk. (See also Zombieland.) I love how that gimmick was continued in the sequel with the kid. My one complaint originally was that I thought it would have been cool if they never gave Frank a name, just referred to him as the Transporter. We later saw that with Drive, where Ryan Gosling’s character was only ever referred to as Driver. But that’s neither here nor there.
The blatant product placement is so amusing. Gee, that’s a very bright can of Pepsi you’re throwing out after lunch. Found a hostage in your car? Don’t give her water to drink, Orangina is better. Good thing you stopped for another Orangina before going back to your car, because in those thirty seconds it exploded. Orangina saved your life! Strangely though, its not those products that I tend to associate with this movie. It’s whenever I see a madeleine I’m reminded of it. I still haven’t actually tried one, but when I do, I can thank Transporter.”