It is the most electrifying performance I have seen from Gary Oldman, this edgy, wired, unpredictable sociopath. I had an issue with my check disc in that the Director’s Cut drops out of sync between 85:03 and 88:22. When Léon is out on a job, Mathilda fills a bag with guns from Léon's collection and sets out to kill Stansfield.

The image is clear and sharp, colours are rich and consistent, and there is a discrete but natural layer of film grain, making for a very rewarding viewing experience. The plot centers on Léon (Reno), a professional hitman who reluctantly takes in twelve-year-old Mathilda Lando (Portman) after her family are murdered by corrupt Drug Enforcement Administration agent Norman Stansfield (Oldman). For those not familiar with Leon, the basic crux of the matter centres on clinical hitman Leon (Reno) and young Mathilda (Portman).She’s out getting groceries the day the crooked DEA agents pay her father a visit, looking for some missing dope, and wind up killing her family. Unhappy at Besson's departure, Gaumont Film Company "has held The Professional rights close to the vest – and will not budge". Léon is a hitman (or "cleaner", as he refers to himself) working for a mafioso named "Old Tony" in the Little Italy neighborhood of New York City.

According to Besson, this is the version he wanted to release, but for the fact that the extra scenes tested poorly with Los Angeles preview audiences. However, in the meantime, Besson left Gaumont Film Company to start his own movie studio, EuropaCorp. Olivier Megaton Admits 'Colombiana' Inspired By Luc Besson's Unmade 'The Professional' Sequel Script".That means that Eric Serra’s distinctive soundtrack comes across without issue, and the music really drives the story well. In 2014, Time Out polled several film critics, directors, actors and stunt actors to list their top action films; Léon: The Professional was listed at No.

The surround track is vibrant and effective, keeping the dialogue clear throughout, while emphasising the action, making for an immersive presentation.

He tells her that he loves her and to meet him at Tony's place in an hour, moments before the ESU team blow up the apartment.

After Mathilda’s family are brutally murdered by a rogue and erratic DEA agent (Oldman), the 12-year-old seeks solace with the grizzled assassin and manages to convince Leon to reluctantly train her so that she can take her own bloody revenge. The image quality of this Blu-ray is astounding, and if the audio glitch is confined to the check disc, then this is another must own release. An extended cut, retitled 'Leon: version integrale' was released in French cinemas on June 26, 1996. Léon killed the father in revenge and fled to New York, where he met Tony and trained to become a hitman.Mathilda looks up to Léon and quickly develops a crush on him, often telling him she loves him but he does not reciprocate.