From Paris with Love

Rating: 7.4/10

Genre: Action

Overall value for time and money: 7.5/10

An employee of the US embassy gets his big "promotion" when his boss teams him up with a top American secret agent, Charlie Wax, played by John Travolta. Not knowing what his mission is about, yet wanting to serve his country, the young employee enters a whirlpool of trouble and gradually learns the ropes of what it's like being a secret agent.

One of the biggest fault of the movie was its publicity... for those of you who have caught Taken, you would expect much from this movie since its from the same director. Despite the fairly cheesy movie title, the movie succeeds in drawing in its audiences since there's John Travolta, is directed by the same director from Taken and is presented by Luc Besson. I brought down my expectations since the online reviews voiced much disappointment.

But, after catching this movie, all I have to say is that one man's meat is another man's poison, and vice versa. It was surprisingly good, way way better than what the title "promises". On one hand, we have John Travolta, a kickass and formidable secret agent which certainly brings the action a whole notch up, while on the other, we have the meeker young employee, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, a down-to-earth and righteous male protagonist. Meyers' role was the engaging factor of the movie while Travolta's role was the cool action factor of it.

A well mix of characters, which evokes different emotions in the film. What I liked about it is that Travolta role wasn't the "I hate this guy" stuck up zai guy, but he was more of a crude hero which doesnt really go by the book. *spoilers ahead* Unlike most other action pack films, this movie also draws you in gradually and have you feel for the main protagonist as he realises the person closest to him is also his enemy.

The last scene was magnificently plotted as it evoked a strong empathy for Meyers' character. Not just your average brainless action packed film, it packs good acting, good casting and most importantly a good plot. Whoop in a couple of twists here and there and wala, what do you get? From Paris with Love.