(aka "Leon" or "The Cleaner " or "The Professional ")

directed by Luc Besson
France / USA 1994

History repeats itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce. So, apparently, do the films of Luc Besson. In 1992 he made "La Femme Nikita," which in its cold sadness told the story of a tough street girl who became a professional killer and then a civilized woman. Now he has made "The Professional," about a tough child who wants to become a professional killer, and civilizes the man she chooses as her teacher.

Besson seems fascinated by the "Pygmalion" story, by the notion of a feral street person who is transformed by education. He crosses that with what seems to be an obsession with women who kill as a profession. These are interesting themes, and if "The Professional" doesn't work with anything like the power of "La Femme Nikita," it is because his heroine is 12 years old, and we cannot persuade ourselves to ignore that fact. It colors every scene, making some unlikely and others troubling.

Excerpt from Roger Ebert's review at the Chicago Sun-Times located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 14th, 1994 - France

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DVD Comparison:

Columbia Tri-Star Home Video (Deluxe 2-Disc Edition) - Region 1- NTSC vs. Columbia Tri-Star Home Video (Uncut International Version) - Region 1- NTSC

Big thanks to Enrico for the screen captures !

(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

  

  

Distribution

Columbia Tri-Star Home Video -

Region 1- NTSC

Columbia Tri-Star Home Video -

Region 1- NTSC

Runtime 2:12:44  2:12:44
Video

2.29:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.91 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

2.29:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.22 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

CTS Deluxe

Bitrate:

 

CTS Inter.

 

Audio English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS 5.1)

English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) 

Subtitles English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, None English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Columbia Tri-Star Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 2.29:1

Edition Details:

• Featurettes on Disc 2:

  • 10-Year Retrospective

  • Jean Reno: The Road to Leon

  • Natalie Portman: Starting Young

DVD Release Date: January 11th, 2005
Double slim keep case inside cardboard box
Chapters: 28

Release Information:
Studio: Columbia Tri-Star Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 2.29:1

Edition Details:

• 4 trailers (Leon and 3 other Besson films)

• International Ad Campaigns

• Isolated Musical Score

• Talent Files

 

DVD Release Date: October 3rd, 2000
Keep case
Chapters: 28

 

Comments: I don't see any large distinguishing differences in the image quality of these two editions. Colors are a shade more red (and brighter) in the older "international uncut" version, but it is negligible. It should be noted that although the older edition was advertised as "24 minutes longer etc." - the new Deluxe Edition is also the "international uncut" version. The only real differences aside from the extra disc of featurettes in the Deluxe edition is the DTS track added to the newer release. Not being a huge fan of the film I personally do not think it is worth the upgrade and feel it is a bit of a scam. Subtle changes with new marketing labels (ex. in the older release "uncut - international blah blah blah", "Deluxe..'for the newer) especially when differences in image are so minute and as we have stated in our review HERE this Deluxe Edition is far from a stellar release (i.e. frames not transferred individually, not from HD source etc.). So CTS slapped on a DTS track, threw in a 2nd disc of featurettes, new but not improved telecine transfer and repackaged it to get your hard earned dollars... again! Our suggestion is "don't bother" and for CTS to treat their customers with a little more respect in future.

 

I guess my big gripe here is "don't create a Deluxe edition" and then not improve upon and image that needs improvement! 

 - Gary W. Tooze

NOTE: Important note regarding the international release version. The first release had a problem with the lfe channel and was later fixed by Columbia. To see if you have the fixed or broken DVD just check the spine number on the cover:

broken - 04730
fixed - 06196

 

DVD Menus 

(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - RIGHT)

 

 

Subtitle Sample

(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

NOTE: NOT exact frame!


 

Screen Captures

(CTS Deluxe edition- Region 1 - NTSC (FAST TRACK SAMPLE)- TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

(CTS (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. CTS "International" version - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

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Report Card:

Image:

tie

Sound:

Deluxe
Extras: Deluxe
Menu: Deluxe

 

 

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