'From Paris With Love'

'From Paris With Love' (R) ***

Writer: Adi Hasak based on story by Luc Besson
Director: Pierre Morel
Starring: John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kasia Smutniak, Richard Durden

"From Paris With Love" is brought to you by the director of "Taken", last year's Liam Neeson revenge opus, and the creators of the "Transporter" movies. So if you don't expect a classy, enthralling and deep message movie and you like mindless action than you might go for this. I like "The Transporter" movies and I liked "Taken". Sometimes you have to check your brain at the door and go for the ride. I actually expected this movie to suck because the trailers weren't actually encouraging me that this would be good but I got carried away. I really can't explain the plot because there really isn't one till the twists come at the end. There are just a boat load of shootings, car and foot chases and an over the top Travolta. I prefer this John Travolta and his hamminess more than I liked the embarrassing Travolta from "Old Dogs". At the beginning he was what held my attention because he is really funny and good here. Don't let the Ming the Merciless look fool you because at first he looks weird but I got used to it like I did the movie. This movie is what "The Wolfman" and "Edge of Darkness" should have been more like. Film makers shouldn't be afraid to get more loose and goofy when it comes to a glorified "B" movie. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is the other lead here playing a new CIA trainee whose first big field case is with the rogue and unpredictable Tarvolta. I have been predicting Rhys Meyers breakout star potential since " Bend It Like Beckham" and he plays a great hero here. The movie at first doesn't look promising and focused but by the end I liked the energy and the movie's suspenseful twist ending. Travolta is a blast here, the movie is never boring, the action fun and you also get a beautiful woman to look at in Kasia Smutniak (great last name!). Shut your brain off and have fun and if you like a lot of bangs, explosions and gunfire and you like Travolta you might be surprised.