Movie Review: Transporter 3

There is one rule of thumb to remember when watching a martial arts/action/adventure movie and that is that you shouldn't expect too much acting ability out of the actors. These guys are there to kick butt, blow things up, shoot everything that moves, drive better than NASCAR drivers and look good doing it. That being said it doesn't always have to be the case. "Transporter 3" was released last week on DVD and Blue Ray, and while some members of the cast are awful, the lead actor isn't so bad.

Jason Statham has done a fairly good job playing Frank Martin in the "Transporter" series. It isn't likely that Statham will be the next Hollywood Academy Award winner for best lead actor, but he has the right moves for a role like "Transporter". Statham works well playing the mysterious courier. His acting doesn't come off as forced. He appears driven and focused. The sexy little squint he does is reminiscent of Clint Eastwood in his younger days.

In Transporter 3, Frank Martin is presented a job that he isn't too crazy about. After he recommends another courier and that courier ends up dead he is forced into accepting the Transporter position. In order to keep Frank motivated his client, played by "The Prisoners" Robert Knepper, has placed a bracelet on Frank's wrist telling him if he moves away from his car at anytime, he will explode.

Add to the mix that Frank is sent on his little mission with not only two packages in the trunk, but also a young woman. Valentina, played by newcomer Natalya Rudakova, isn't too forthcoming with information to Frank about what is going on. Being left in the dark by both his client and his passenger, it takes Frank a little time before he realizes that his passenger is actually what he is transporting not the bags in the back.

On his travels to Budapest in his beautiful supped up 2008 Audi A8 6.0 W12 Quattro D3 there are the quota amount of car chases, firing guns and explosions. At one point in Transporter 3 Frank even has to drive the beautiful car over a bridge and sinks it deep into a lake. Not to worry though, because this car is so cool, after Frank floats it to the top, he's able to start it right up in time to catch the bad guys. "Transporter 3" also feature some pretty nice moves when Frank drives the car on two side wheels and allowing him to move between two trucks.

Remember the whole theme about "Transporter 3" is that Frank must keep the Audi A8 with him at all times. So when the bad guy client takes a train ride, what else is Frank to do than to land the Audi on top of the train so he can keep it close? Kids don't try this trick at home. Surely it took some pretty skilled mathematicians to figure out what speed the car needed to be and the exact location for the train to be when the two machines met.

Generally "Transporter 3" is filled with the usual fun and edge of your seat action. There are the good guys, the bad guys and romance? Okay, well here is where the movie comes up a little bit short. A sexy guy like Frank definitely needs someone a little better than a trampy Ukrainian girl who looks like she's just past jailbait, but hey every movie needs a little romance every now and than. Rudakova's acting wasn't really up to par with most everyone else in "Transporter 3's" cast, which was a shame because the idea of adding a little romance to the action thriller probably wouldn't have come off so bad if the woman was at least Frank's equal. Maybe next time they could go with someone who could kick butt half as good as Frank and it would go over better.

Back again in "Transporter 3" is Frank's ally Inspector Tarconi played by Francois Berleand. As usual Tarconi is left in the dust and picking up the pieces as Frank works against the clock and his client. In one of the opening scenes we see Frank and Tarconi fishing when Tarconi gets a call about a car chase and crash scene. Tarconi jokes that at least this time Frank wasn't involved.

In the end the movie wasn't really all that bad, but true action packed martial arts fans might be somewhat disappointed with this version of the "Transporter" series. Stratham seems to be pretty busy in the next couple of years with four new movies already in production, although it doesn't seem "Transporter 4" will be among them. Maybe Frank has decided it's now time to settle down with his ladylove and let Stratham go on to other more exciting roles.Jason Stratham is back for Transporter 3Transporter 3 offers action packed adventureCheck out the beautiful Audi A8The car used in the Transporter 3 movie is a 2008 Audi A8 6.0 W12 Quattro D3http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1129442