Nikita [1990]

The DVD is more of the same - Nikita is a beautiful film, absolutely fantastic. The storyline is well, there, and the rest of it is just pure entertainment.

But be warned, the DVD is the shonky dubbed version. It's still a good film - but try to keep an eye open for a subtitled one if possible.


Luc Assasinates The Critics Again   February 12, 2004
DL Productions UK (Merseyside, UK)
19 out of 27 found this review helpful

Luc Besson is starting to cause a stir in the French cinema world, his last 3 films, Le Denier Combat; Subway and The Big Blue were all big hits internationally, something which wasn't really common in France at the time. Luc was getting attention from the US, which is a major thing for a non-US director, so this was the start of something big, and Nikita was probably one of the movies which helped him move his career up and forward.

Nikita is a wild girl, a bit of a punk. She hangs around with loosers who rob drugs and generally do bad things. Nikita gets caught out with her gang of punks, and she gets into serious bother. She can't undo this easily, and to make things worse, her behavour gets worse, and she stabs a police officer with a pen. She gets refered to go to death row - there's no way of saving her now? Well, that's what everyone else thought.

The government decides Nikita can have another try, but she's got to do something to repent her sins - be an assasin for the government and live under the codename Josephine. She has no choice. A lot of strange things happen too, her boyfriend isn't who she expected - and her training turns her into a more charming girl. Things start getting too much when a job goes wrong, and she decides she wants out, but it's never that easy.

This is a great movie, and has every emotion you could expect, comedy, romance, great action, tears and some good filmling to boot it all off. This is one of Besson's more French movies, which - to me - is his better work. Anne Parillaud plays Nikita's part excellently, and Subway's Jean-Hugues Anglade (Marco) is excellent, and uses dry witt. The music from Eric Serra is also moving too, and makes some of the scenes more intense, which is about right for this thriller.

Excellent movie, add this to your collection today.


Luc Besson's masterpiece   September 18, 2003
Mikeyr101 (UK)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

There are films Noir, and there are thrillers. But Luc Besson gives us possibly the greatest film of all of these in "Nikita", the original film which later spawned a US clone titled "The Assassin", and a Canadian TV series.

Nikita, a drug-crazed killer off the streets, is sentenced to death for murder but wins a fatal reprieve - waking up after a supposedly lethal injection, and with the world believing in her demise, she is offered a choice: kill for her government or be killed in accordance with her sentence. This film follows her life as an assassin as she struggles to stay alive, but will her humanity - and her sanity - last that long?

This film is a true classic, possibly one of the greatest films of all time, which is a rare accolade for a non-US production. Besson's cinematography is at its peak here and he brings out the dark, wet, dirty streets of Paris to great effect, as well as creating the claustrophobic interior's of the section's training facility and cells. Combat is fierce and realistic, and may not be very suitable for younger viewers. The "18" rating is there for a good reason.

Any person considering themselves a true expert of cinema or anybody who wants to own the best there is should get a copy of this film as soon as possible. As far as I am concerned, this film ranks alongside "Seven Samurai" as one of the best non-US productions ever made, and should definitely be in the top 100 films of all time. Buy it.


The original and still the best   June 27, 2006
o86p (UK)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

A gritty, violent but also romantic and very sexy film. Luc Besson's work is brilliant and been copied a number of times (Black cat, the assasin, La Femme Nikita TV Series) but this is head shoulders above those. Anne Parillaud is sizzling as the title character while the supporting cast is great, Jean Reno, Tceky Karyo, Jeanne Moreau all give stellar performances. Besson's direction and writing is first class, especially the action scenes while the romantic storylines bring the film to another level. Definately worth the money unlike the many remakes (especially the assassin which is nearly scene for scene)



Fantastic   January 30, 2001
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

This film certainly gives subtitled films a good rep. I remember watching this film on TV a few years back and it has stuck in my mind ever since. The plotline is so fascinating and it keeps hold of you the whole way through. The acting from all cast members is outstanding. Hollywood tried doing a copy of it with 'Assassin' and totally destroyed it. V. good film, watch it