Films/DVD Asylum

The Professional: disgusting.

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How does a movie like The Professional get rated so lightly? A 50-ish guy romantically linked to a VERY young girl that looks to be way under-aged. You want a definition of an amoral movie? This one makes a sympathetic hero out of a murdering rapist.
What was Natalie thinking (or her guardians)?
Sure, it's in the tradition of Brooke Shields and Jodie Foster...but why isn't there more of an outcry when real "pornography" like this is mainstreamed?

Follow Ups:

Re: The Professional: disgusting. NOT! - Auricle 14:10:13 02/14/05 (4)
Ask a few simple questions, in sequence, por favor .
1. was the girl well off with her parents?
2. was the girl SOL when her parents died?
3. did the girl realize that Leon was "intellectually and emotionally challanged?" Or care?
4. Did the girl latch onto Leon like a lifeboat in a storm?
5. (Sorry Victor, it is rather clear Tin is right here and you are a "naif") Though Leon tried to avoid the sexual, he could not and probably fell victim (she came after him, remember?) more easily than someone who might have had sex in the past decade
6. Who was the person used, here? Leon was essentially an assassin "idiot savant". Sorvino's character used the hell out of him. And the girl did as well. Leon chose to die for her. In essence, he provided the bridge from exciting evil to banal normalcy . . . a normalcy which she accepted at the end.
Frankly, I find the film less offensive the Malle's "Pretty Baby" but neither of them bothers me.
But the rampant nannyism and "mommyism" in American culture as exemplified by Tin's post bothers me.
As for Leon's talent for killing . . . it was apparent in the film, if anyone paid attention, that Sorvino milked Leon's devotion and negative IQ to a faretheewell and that Leon was virtually too simple to be responsible.
I saw nothing in this film that I would consider pornagraphic, or even titilating. Perhaps Tin should get out more! Either Europe or Africa would be beneficial! Perhaps, Victor, your background has made you oblivious to the Hand Wringing Mothers in Peoria who attempt to dictate our culture (Janet Jackson decried this film, as I recall, before her somewhat unfirm breast was expossed by Mr. Timberlake.)
Please! In this film, the girl survived and the mob boss survived. Fortunately the EVIL Gary Oldham died. But only because of Leon.
It is not one of my list of best films. Not close. But it did not deserve this hysterical, politically correct, criticism.
- Matilda... THE true professional! - Victor Khomenko 14:50:15 02/14/05 (3)
  ***Please! In this film, the girl survived and the mob boss survived.
  Sooooo... there's hope of a sequel, then? Natalie playing Matilda just a couple of years older? Or... she is now 18, and going after the mafia boss with both barrels? Cuaght in a steamy romance between the shots? For all us old farts here, she is in love with a Cary Grant-like figure, you know, just like me, bald, gray, intelligent and sensitive, and not too bad between sheets.
  THAT would be a movie!
  - Victor, thou art too modest - Auricle 15:29:25 02/14/05 (2)
    From some of your previous posts (including our exchange about the train station in Philly) I suspect your wife is lucky to have you!
    Re: your comments: T'would be a good sequel.
    Cheers, and best regards!
    Auricle
    - Re: Train Station - Auricle 06:53:22 02/15/05 (0)
      the thread was about Klute
      The thread (Open in New Window)
    - Re: Victor, thou art too modest - Victor Khomenko 15:42:38 02/14/05 (0)
      ***From some of your previous posts (including our exchange about the train station in Philly)
      Can't recall that one now... what was it about?
      ***I suspect your wife is lucky to have you!
      That's what she keeps telling me... you think she ain't lying?
Vic, Pat, Chris, et al: - tinear 05:33:08 02/14/05 (1)
The following is a snippet of a review...maybe we did see different versions (I mentioned one was bowdlerized). Of course, if you're aware of Luc Besson, you'd know from Nikita that he doesn't shrink from tough subjects---and that he is quite strange.
"This version restores many scenes which were cut out of the original American theatrical release as they were of a violent and/or pedo-sexual nature and were deemed too "disturbing" for American audiences (Remarkable how "free" the USA truly is not). This new DVD release restores somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 minutes of the film: A scene in which Natalie Portman's character puts a pistol in her mouth, a couple of scenes in which she and Leon "clean", a scene in which Portman drinks alcohol at a restaurant, and others."
- Re: Vic, Pat, Chris, et al: - patrickU 06:00:58 02/14/05 (0)
  Hey Tin. I told you that me too I have seen what you did reguarding the " pedophile side "!
  But now all his clear...It was cut for the US public.
  Good that you did find out!
  What about an answer to my question about the Oregon Pinot?
A mystery with three posibilities - Bambi B 21:00:56 02/13/05 (1)
tinear,
Unless I'm dreaming, or my memory is earthed- and it's been years since I saw "The Professional" , I saw a very differnt movie.
This was not by any means a great movie, and I've forgotten the detials of the polot, but the memorable feature- really the theme of the movie for eme was that this tough, unemotional, hired assasin, quite suddenly becomes reluctantly fond (and try and pull off 'quite suddenly becong reluctantly fond' too!) of a little girl and from that point forward protects her- sort of an instant compassion that he had stored up and was waiting for a target on which to burst the dam. So he mixes business with pleasure- but with that pleasure of actually giving a damn about another person from whom you don't expect anything- and I mean including physical gratification, in return.
That's the key- FLASH! Murderer Becomes Suddenly Altruistic!
I just never saw anything remotely sexual in this movie.
Now, did I 1. miss the "Lolita" within a "Die Hard", 2. misremember the whole thing, or 3. are there two completely opposing versions, one cut for New York City- and the one I saw?
A mystery..
Cheers,
Bambi B
- You got it right, there is sexual tension, that does not - Duilawyer 20:25:17 02/19/05 (0)
  come to fruition, thank God.
  Same with "The Hitcher", BTW.
Geeze, you missed the boat on that one, didn't you? - Chris Garrett 16:31:10 02/13/05 (0)
Michael Jackson syndrome setting in?
Chris
Re: The Professional: disgusting. - rico 10:36:19 02/13/05 (0)
There were actually two video versions of this released, a shorter bowdlerized one called "Leon" and the longer more explicit one called "The Professional".
Re: The virgin Tin.... - patrickU 08:24:14 02/13/05 (0)
Amoral? Well I see it the same way than you. But can love be amoral?
The film did not find grace in my eyes anyway.
Re: Boy did you... - Dave-A 07:33:08 02/13/05 (0)
get this one wrong. I guess you just can't conceive of any relationship between the sexes that is not sexual. I saw a sympathetic, quasi-parental relationship there, based on her extreme need for protection from some murderous maniacs....perhaps you would prefer to just watch her get wiped out?
I didn't see anything amoral about this film...and certainly way short of porn.
Later
D
The Virgin tin - Victor Khomenko 07:05:24 02/13/05 (5)
So you saw for the first time in your life a movie making a lovable character out of a contract killer? About time you stepped into the real Hollywood world. There have been millions of them.
I did not detect any romance there... it was a fatherly relationship, so I think your point about pornography is poorly placed.
The movie as the whole is nothing to write home about, but Natalie's performance there is what makes it memorable.
- The naif Vic. - tinear 07:32:59 02/13/05 (4)
  I haven't seen it for awhile but it was quite explicit that they had a carnal relationship. It had fatherly overtones, sure, which was the sick part....you may have seen a bowdlerized version.
  I agree her performance was excellent, as was Jean's. It was a pretty decent movie except for the moral lapse which is not insignificant.
  BTW, you are going to be disappointed in Natalie's performance in Closer: she shows her butt but not her top. One reviewer (TNY) takes her to task for it, arguing that the role demanded that honesty.
  Frankly, I don't think she HAS breasts worth revealing. Now, Heather's, Winona's, or Scarlett's....I think we'd need widescreen.
  - Not all that impressive, tin.... - dennzio 07:50:45 02/13/05 (3)
    though I dearly love this young lady. Perhaps you were thinking off Winona Judd.
    - Seriously, who is this? Doesn't look like Winona, - tinear 11:02:50 02/13/05 (2)
      at least not what I remember of the pre-Saks Fifth episode.
      But I have no problem with "these," either...
      (Speaking of Judd's jugs....Ashley is a fine actress but just about concave-chested).
      - Isn't that old Whosit from Whatsit- "16 Candles"? ( nt? or-) - Bambi B 21:10:40 02/13/05 (1)
        
        In Reply to: Seriously, who is this? Doesn't look like Winona, posted by tinear on February 13, 2005 at 11:02:50:
        
        Molly Ringwald
        BB
        
        That was my guess but I didn't see DZs point, then? nt - tinear 05:20:51 02/14/05 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Isn't that old Whosit from Whatsit- "16 Candles"? ( nt? or-) posted by Bambi B on February 13, 2005 at 21:10:40:
        
        adsg

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