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From Paris with Love (2010)

Rate: 7
Viewed: 4/26

FromParis
4/26: John Travolta is still the King of Cool.

In the tradition of La Femme Nikita and The Professional, From Paris with Love is an ultraviolent actioner that takes place in uh...duh due to Luc Besson's involvement. Honestly, I wasn't feeling it in the first fifteen minutes with Jonathan Rhys Meyers who pretty much sucked throughout.

By the time John Travolta shows up, the tone completely changes, and it becomes a better movie. He has a different look and a kick-ass persona that's cutting edge of cool with terrific lines such as:

"Do I look like I play board games?"

"This motherfucker hates Americans so much even though we saved his country's ass in not only one World War but two, he still won't let me through with my cans."

"Last census, about a billion."

"If you wanna be a secret agent man, you have to roll like a secret agent man."

"Now tell me that wasn't some impressive shit."

"I just figure in Paris and all, you know, shitholes should be nicer."

However, the action is at once too fast-paced and unbelievable. Many situations are downright impossible like Charlie Wax taking cover behind wooden columns in the Chinese restaurant, the bomb at the door not taking out the entire floor in the projects, and Charlie Wax firing the first rocket that doesn't explode in front of him.

As for the ending to defuse the bomb, Caroline actually won. No talk is needed. Just press the button, and the game is over. Many times, I did get the feeling that this was going to be the beginning, but surprisingly, the movie failed at the box office. John Travolta said, "We could do From London with Love, From Prague with Love. This is one of the only movies that I would enjoy as a franchise. I'm not a big sequel person, but this one I would love." Me, too, as long as Jonathan Rhys Meyers is cut out.

All in all, the only reason to see From Paris with Love is John Travolta giving an excellent Vin Diesel-like performance (see XXX for what I mean).