Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #160975 in DVD
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: French
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 86 minutes

Customer Reviews

Why can't American action movies be like this?!
This is the original version of the film that was remade with Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah, which, to be honest with you, I haven't seen (I may never, actually). It's also the first in what became a franchise--there's actually a *fourth* film in the series, which came out earlier this year.

But it's hard to top the sheer velocity of this film, from the opening credits and the riff of "Misirlou" by Dick Dale, shamelessly stolen from "Pulp Fiction," to the climactic chase through the streets of Paris. There's plenty of humor, a little bit of sexiness (Marion Cotillard has to be one of the most beautiful women alive today, and then they throw in Emma Sjöberg just for good measure), and everything's wrapped up in just about an hour and a half. Seriously, this is totally worth owning a region-free DVD player for.

This first film also pits French automotive ingenuity against the Germans; the second takes on the Japanese. The less said about the third (with a Sylvester Stallone cameo, no less), the better, and I haven't seen the fourth one yet, but even if it's only as good as the third, it will still be leagues better than most American action films being made today.

Luc Besson is the brains behind this, and he's the reason I ended up watching this--Léon: The Professional is in my top five favorite films of all time. So try to watch this by hook or by crook, but definitely enjoy yourself!

Who'd-a-thunk-it! The French can kinda drive!
I guess the Germans just like picking on the French. In the 1998 French action/comedy film TAXI, notorious German bank robbers, dubbed the Mercedes Gang, are giving fits to the French constabulary. These brazen criminals have a habit of publicly stating their intended target days prior to commiting the actual robberies. And they've been getting away with it. The Marseilles police force get word that their city is next and make preparations. Which prove to be embarassingly futile as the Mercedes Gang once again have their way, thanks to the bumbling of hapless young Police Inspector Emilien Coutant-Kerbalec (Frederic Diefenthal). This sucks even more for Emilien as he's been trying to impress Petra, the gorgeous Teutonic Chief Inspector.

But TAXI is a also a buddy film so Emilien gets a break when he bumps into Daniel Morales (Samy Naceri), a pizza delivery boy turned daredevil taxi driver. Emilien, who can't drive, catches Daniel massively speeding and sees potential in the cabbie's skills. Daniel drives his tricked-up taxi so fast that his passengers vomit upon disembarking. Under threat of wresting away Daniel's driver's license, Emilien forces him to help ensnare the Mercedes Gang.

If you've only seen the lame American version of TAXI, you might be wondering about the original French picture. Is it worth it? Yes, it is. Do yourself a favor and get your mitts on it. The original TAXI is funny and action-oriented. Action mostly by way of gripping car chases and stunts, mind you, but these sequences are shot with vivid, testosterone-raising energy. Naceri (Daniel) and Diefenthal (Emilien) make a good odd couple and come thru with several hilarious moments. Naceri - street savvy, brash, yet sweet - is definitely the breakout star of the film. Bernard Farcy, who plays the very politically incorrect and befuddled Commisioner Gibert, gets a chance to flex his comedic muscles. But I probably laughed the hardest with the bit about the Korean cabbies. And, if humor's not your bag, TAXI also offers up two eye candies in the persons of the statuesque Emma Sjoberg (Petra) and the very sexy Marion Cotillard (Lilly). To quote these cats: "Ooo-la-la!"

Written by Director/Producer/Writer Luc Besson (The Fifth Element (Ultimate Edition), The Transporter (Special Delivery Edition), La Femme Nikita (Special Edition)), TAXI isn't only for gearheads. It's pretty much for anyone who enjoys a good, unassuming action comedy buddy flick. And there's even a bit of romance thrown in. TAXI was very well received in France, good enough that it merited 3 sequels (Taxi 2, Taxi 3 (Original French Version with English Subtitles), and TAXI 4), all penned by Luc Besson and all with Naceri and Diefenthal reprising their roles. As mentioned, TAXI inspired a dubious American remake in 2004 with Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah, as well as a pretty nifty Bollywood adaptation (DHOOM). Ignore the U.S. remake, check out Dhoom, and definitely take a peek at the French sequels. But watch the original TAXI first. C'est un bon film ! (did I say it right?)

Brilliant
Luc Besson does it again. This is an amazing big-budget action film with a lot to say for itself. Funny, exciting and full of eye-candy. The master has done it again. Now if only the american market would start looking at films from somewhere else, instead of only seeing what they get from the crap-mill in Hollywood.