Talk:Léon: The Professional

Why is no reference to the film Gloria (1980) made?

Leon is basically just a remake of Gloria (1980), except genders are flipped: hitwoman (Gena Rowlands) takes in the neighbors boy as they are murdered down the hall.

Even if the film wasn't intended to be a remake, it is clearly inspired by Gloria and reuses scenes from it. Are there no references on the net to corroborate this?

Here is the IDMB link http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080798/

Here is the wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria

Here is the film: http://search.crackle.com/v/28209738/gloria-1980.htm

Type of sunglasses

Does anyone know the type of sunglasses Leon wears throughout the film? 68.228.230.24 05:46, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

Incorrect information.

Leon was a french national taken in by an Italian, though he worked for an Italian he was french. This as far as I can tell so I won't edit the page at the moment though I am sure it is incorrect at the moment.

There is nothing in the film to suggest that. — Chameleon 03:47, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

In the film Gary Oldman refers to Leon as "an Italian" to Danny Aiello when he is interrogating him. Its obvious by the accent Leon is French, it is also inferred heavily that Aiello had somehow "raised" Leon, as at the end he makes the same 'deal' with Mathilda. TruthCrusader 16:17, 26 December 2005 (UTC)TruthCrusader

The article claims that Jean Reno's accent is taken on because the director is french. This seems pretty ridiculous to me. It's obviously because the actor is french. I checked the reference given in the article, and found nothing to its effect. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 128.12.196.103 (talk • contribs) 4:47, 27 August 2006 (UTC).

I think the 'accent' is referring to the accent over the letter e in his name, Léon. Ashmoo 04:50, 28 November 2006 (UTC)

Haha, you're right, man, you're right! Leon "real name" is LEONE MONTANA. So, I think he's italian despite the actor's natural french accent. --200.216.236.74 (talk) 12:04, 24 June 2010 (UTC)

I think the fact that Jean Reno speaks with a French accent says nothing at all about his character in the film (which is supposed to be Italian). Kevin Costner spoke with an American accent through most of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves but that doesn't mean that Robin Hood was supposed to be American. Aeonite 09:22, 30 November 2006 (PT)

"The Ring Trick"

What is it?

Pulling the pin (resembling a ring) off a hand grenade and putting the explosive to good use.

Yes. True. Pretty Evil and surpising for those who is unfamiliar with it...

Prior to blowing up the guy in the apartment Reno interupts the man's rantings and says "Hey! Hey! Ever heard of the ring trick?" Once you hear that, the use of the grenade and the revealing "That's the ring trick." to Mathilda suddenly makes a lot more sense, it's just that Reno's hard to hear over the shooting. D Boland 22:55, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

Yes, that's true. Sorry for adding that bit without some explanation. --Reverieuk 23:24, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

I guy asked me if I wanted to see a ring trick, and I told him I was busy and show me tomorrow... that was yesterday :|

-G

The Professional Part Two

I've heard that there was a movie made after the professional that documents mathilda's life after leon. Just wondering if anyone knows what this movie is called, or if it even really exists. Leo Collin 03:24, 6 January 2006 (UTC)

There have been numerous rumours that Besson was planning on doing "Mathilda: The Professional 2", there has been someone on www.natalieportman.com who said he had been talking to Besson and he said there might be something.. Portman once or twice said that she would be happy to do anything with Luc, so there are some clues. You might want to check google for site:http://www.natalieportman.com "the professional 2" -- 5amsara 08:53, Mar 18 2006 (CET)

In one of the special features on the deluxe version, Natalie explicitly states that she would love to work with Luc at any time in the future, a sequel to Léon included. Counterfit 05:26, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

Any timeline? Chris 08:22, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

Cut what?

The article doesn't even attempt to explain what scenes have been removed from the US release.

Having watched the movie only on German television (which means anything hyperviolent is probably cut anyway) I can't remember anything that may have been too "sensitive" for Americans. Could someone who knows both versions fill in the blanks? -- Ashmodai 23:13, 23 March 2006 (UTC)

I know that the scene where Mathilda puts on the pink dress that Leon bought for her, and talks to him about wanting her "first time" to be special is not in the US version. Test audiences were very uncomfortable and giggled nervously when she was speaking. I think the Russian roulette scene is deleted, as well as the scene with Mathilda and Leon sleeping in the same bed. Joyous | Talk 00:03, 24 March 2006 (UTC)

The German TV version only cut one scene (where Mathilda tells Leon she's 18). There's a comparison between the theatrical cut and the director's cut, listing every cut scene with screenshots, here (in German). --Fritz S. (Talk) 10:33, 24 March 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. —Ashmodai 21:29, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

There is also the scenes where Leon takes Mathilda on jobs with him, teaching her his trade. Jimcripps 04:46, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

North American release of International cut

The international cut was released in North America, or at least in Canada, way before 2005 as stated in the article. There is a two disc "deluxe edition" that was released in 2005, but I've had a one disc edition of the international cut since at least 2002, and it's not a bootleg or import. Does anyone else have a firm date for the original release? --ThisIsMyUsername 14:45, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

I've corrected this and added some more detail on the various releases of the Version Longue/Version Intégrale/International Version. 2000 is correct for the Region 1 DVD. I picked up the French (SECAM) VHS while on holiday there in 1999, but there's nothing on it to indicate when it was released (will check if I can upload the cover, which is different from the DVD).Nick Cooper 18:42, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

The original script had Leon and Mathilda actually having sex. Portman's parents refused this, but Portman asked the script to be edited so that she could be in it. Here is a wesite that has the original script http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Picture/2648/index.html. None of the productions included that scene, but I thought it was worth mentioning. -—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Grace 9008 (talk • contribs) 02:21, 22 September 2006 (UTC).

in my opinion the unreleased 150 minute version should be mentioned in the article... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.115.45.37 (talk) 20:10, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

parodies and remakes

In the "parodies and remakes" section, is there a source to confirm that Noiris actually based on Léon? In this description, and the one on Noir's page, I don't see much of a connection. Joyous! | Talk 01:44, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

Seems to me as though that's an entirely unsourced statement. I'm going to look over both articles again, and might remove it. If someone wants to revert that, at least cite a source. Good eye, Joyous. -- Digital Watches! 03:02, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

I've removed a lot of the entries from this section again. People seem to be confusing "parodies and homages" with "similarities." Joyous! | Talk 13:27, 10 August 2007 (UTC)

Removed line in extended version section

I removed the following, "while she is never shown actually pulling the trigger of a real gun, she is obviously at least an accessory to several murders". I've seen the extended version, or at least what's called the Deluxe version, and in it Mathilda definitely is shown shooting a guy, twice, during one of Leon's jobs. Perhaps there are multiple extended versions of the movie, and this is only in one of them? --Xyzzyplugh 10:16, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Are you referring to the job where she burns all the drugs with alcohol? Because if so, that's a paintball gun she's using, and not a real gun.— Preceding unsigned comment added by Aeonite (talk • contribs)

Hey, you might be right, that might have been a paintball gun. --Xyzzyplugh 14:09, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Seconds later, after telling Mathilda to aim for the lungs, Leon finishes the guy off with a real handgun haha.D Boland 23:00, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

It should also be noted that she does fire a real gun, randomly out a window to try and convince Leon that she has no problems hurting people (potentially). D Boland 02:52, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

Spoiler Warning

Hey I noticed that the spoiler warning here is in the plot. After looking at Wikipedia: Spoiler_warning and Wikipedia:WikiProject Films/Style guidelines#plot I'm going to remove it from that section. If you have any objections reply below or let me know on my talk page. Thanks! Jussen 22:38, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

yet the ESU issue

[q]One day, as Mathilda returns home from grocery shopping, a NYPD ESU (Emergency Service Unit) team, sent by...[/q]

I don't think the first wave of the police's special force was an ESU team. It could be an armed task force from Stansfield's section which belonged to DEA. I think ESU didn't make a move until Stansfield yelled at his guy EVERYONEEEEEEE.--Mato Rei (talk) 08:32, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

WikiProject class rating

This article was automatically assessed because at least one article was rated and this bot brought all the other ratings up to at least that level. BetacommandBot 07:19, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

Nationality of the film

I think that Leon (the professional) is a French film as it was produced by Gaumont, a French-owned company. Plus the director, producer and all technical staff were French. True, it was filmed in NYC in English but nonetheless it is French. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.197.8.139 (talk) 16:13, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

Right. It's a French hollywood movie, nuff said.--Mato Rei (talk) 09:17, 27 December 2008 (UTC)

Reception

Seems a little unfair that the reception section gives so much detail of Siskel and Eberts criticisms, whilst barely mentioning the largely positive reviews this film has received. Particularly the mention of "poorly choreographed action scenes", which is not a widely held POV. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Choje (talk • contribs) 07:35, 31 July 2008 (UTC)

Lighter Fluid?

"After he kills the dealer Mathilda burns all the drugs using lighter fluid." Looked like rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) to me...

Basesurge (talk) 09:19, 19 August 2009 (UTC)

Should This Be Included?

I cannot, off hand, remember where I read this bit of information, but I wonder if it would be appropriate to include in this article. Luc Besson had ''The Fifth Element'' green-lighted several years before it actually went into production. For some reason, which at present eludes me, the project was shut down just before pre-production was to begin - I think because of a similar sci-fi space adventure film which was scheduled to be or had been released at that time. Besson then wrote Leon out of anger and frustration, got that project green-lighted and produced, and its subsequent success enabled Besson to finally bring The Fifth Element to theaters. Now, obviously I need to find verifiable sources before adding this information to this page - And I do not intend to do so until I'm able to track those sources down - but I was curious to know how appropriate you all would feel this information is with regard to this article. Thoughts?Kp.murphy (talk) 16:52, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

If you can add sources, this would be valuable information to the production. Cheers. Andrzejbanas (talk) 19:13, 22 June 2010 (UTC)

Action film

As the response post was removed, i'm noting sources for this film being an action film: Here's a book on action films and their scripts that goes heavy into detail why Leon should be considered an action film here which calls it an "action thriller". The Washington Post here refers to it as a "pretty awesome action movie". In Susan Hayward's study of the career of Luc Besson she notes how his films Nikita and Leon are both similar to the american action film. (see here). Cheers. Andrzejbanas (talk) 19:13, 22 June 2010 (UTC)