One thing I just love about Jason Statham is that his movies come out of nowhere with such reliable frequency. He got me with the old magician’s trick. I was so busy watching what his left hand was doing (starring in Blitz, direct to DVD and Blu-ray this month, and Killer Elite, in theaters in September) that I didn’t even notice what his right hand was doing (starring in Safe, apparently in theaters this October)! Until the Lionsgate publicist just sent me this poster (which just debuted on IGN) with this description: “Statham portrays a former elite operative [we'll assume that means some sort of spy] who must protect an adolescent girl (played by Catherine Chan) from the bad guys.” Yep, that sounds about right. In fact, it sounds so right that I don’t even know why they bothered to say it, because if they hadn’t given a description, I would have automatically assumed that Jason Statham was a former elite operative protecting someone—presumably an adolescent girl—from “the bad guys.” And I wouldn't have defined "the bad guys" any more than that, either. And that’s just fine with me. Also, I would have assumed that James Hong was in the movie as well, and guess what? He is! So is Chris Sarandon. (I gotta be honest; I wouldn't have automatically assumed that one, but it does stand to reason.)
So now we have not one, but two movies to look forward to this fall in which Statham plays a former elite operative—and within a month of each other! How awesome is that? Furthermore, a quick check of his IMDb page shows that he’s already got three on tap for 2012. Bliss! Statham's Safe (no relation to the 1995 Todd Haynes movie, I'm guessing) comes out October 28, 2011, a mere month after Killer Elite.
(Oh, and lest you worry that old Jason's going soft on us and pulling a Pacifier or something, the IMDb also dispels any such notions with the assurance that Safe is "Rated R for strong violence throughout, and for language. So this isn't one of those kiddie pics about elite operatives protecting kids...)
Have you seen Blitz or is it not available yet? Why was it a straight to dvd release? I'm hoping for a Transporter 4 next year.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for Transporter 4, too (more than anything from Statham), but I fear that the TV series means we've seen the end of the film series. (Until they reboot it, anyway!) I hope I'm proven wrong, but that's my fear.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Blitz yet. I'm surprised it's going direct to DVD, but I think it's because it's deemed "too British" for American audiences. It's a darker, more serious movie for him (as I understand it), a little more along the lines of The Bank Job than Crank. I guess distributors thought gritty UK cop dramas wouldn't play to American crowds. I've heard good things about it from people who saw it in England, though, where it did get theatrical distribution. Paddy Consodine co-stars.
If Superman Returns can be released while Smallville was still playing, I think there's hope for a Transporter 4.
ReplyDeleteI think if US audiences can sit through Snatch, they can sit through Blitz.
Is Argoman available on dvd? A friend on FB just discovered the trailer and would like to see the film.
I hope so!
ReplyDeleteYes, The Fantastic Argoman is on DVD, and you can get it on Amazon... but it's a really cruddy one of dubious legality. Dorado's been promising a beautiful remastered widescreen and fully legit version for years now. So at one point I would have recommended holding off... but now I wouldn't advise anyone to hold their breath over a Dorado release. I do hope it happens, though, because that movie deserves a decent DVD!
Search this blog for my original review and you can see screengrabs from the one on Amazon.
The label of the Argoman DVD I'm talking about is Substance.
ReplyDeleteMore Statham is always a good thing. I hadn't even heard of this one....
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree, Christopher! Always a goood thing. Especially when it comes as a surprise!
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