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Leon, The Professional
02:35 Dec 28 2005
Times Read: 1,148

I am not a fan of Director Cut's or extended versions. For the most part, I believe that if a scene from a movie was cut, it was cut with good cause.



I have finally found an extended version film that is better than its original. Tonight I just finished watching the deluxe DVD Leon. It was released here in the US in 1994 as The Professional, but the DVD has the original French title (even though it is an American film).



This DVD is 2 discs. I watched disc 2 first, as it contained all of the movie documentaries. It explains the trouble they had in casting Matilda (played by 12-year-old Natalie Portman - her first film). The role was a 12-year-old girl who thought she knew all about sex, but in reality, she didn't know anything. She also dresses extremely provocative and has bad habits.



Every girl they auditioned was either too mature or too childish, until they found Portman.



The documentaries also explain how when the original film was screened for US test audiences, the reaction was bad. 12-year-old Matilda is in love with 40-year-old hit man Leon. Leon never does anything inappropriate, but some people are just way too uncomfortable with the undertones of the movie.



There is absolutely no pedophilia. There is a 12-year-old girl with a crush.



So the director cut the US version up (I'm not sure of the French version), and it's the only version I knew until tonight.



The full-length version is suburb. Matilda actually goes on a half-dozen hits with Leon. They go out to celebrate after Matilda completes her first 'hit' and drink champagne. Matilda gets drunk (fast - she's all of 70 pounds) and starts laughing in the restaurant uncontrollably (After Leon denies her a kiss). It's all wonderful and an entirely new movie.



The movie also ties together better. In the final scene between Matilda and Tony where Matilda offers to 'clean' for Tony, it just makes more sense.



It's a great DVD.



On a tangent, I have always believed that the first Matrix film stole scenes from The Professional. Watch the Matrix, then The Professional, then it's clear. The scenes I am talking about in particular are:

When Matilda is captured by Gary Oldman (in a Federal DEA building), Leon walks through the metal detector, guns under his trench coat, knocks out the security guard, blasts his way to the top and rescues Matilda. It's damn near identical to how Neo rescues Morpheus.

Near the end, when the apartment is under siege, Leon busts open the wall so Matilda can escape. It's damn near identical to how Neo, Trinity, et al. escape through the walls after Neo visits the Oracle.

Matrix agents ... Corrupt DEA agents?

A lot of the gun-play from The Professional is present in The Matrix.



The Professional was released in 1994. The Matrix was released in 1999. I'm a big Matrix fan too, but it's obvious they copied elements from The Professional.



Natalie Portman also says in one of the documentaries that she would do a sequel, which I think would be great. She's in her early twenties now and it'd be a great story... Just so long as she doesn't whip out a litesaber.

Scope
17:06 Dec 23 2005
Times Read: 1,191

The following was a response to a member message. I'm not looking to shame the member, so I have not included their name or original message, only my response.

---

Well, first of, what I think some VR members are failing to take into account, is the scope of the VR Society System.



VR is an independent entity. It does not model itself after the Masquerade, SCA, or any other cultural system.



Those who are really opposed to VR's Society System are either ignoring its scope, or do not recognize the overall scope. The VR Society System is meant for here and only here. It has nothing to do with other websites, communities, groups, or events. If a member takes it to that level, it has nothing to do with VR.



Would you write George Lucas and demand that Mr. Spock be admitted and recognized in Star War's films? Star Wars and Star Trek are both Sci-Fi, but one has nothing to do with the other.



Our system here at VR has nothing to do with any other system. Our system should not be construed in a manner that extends it into other systems.

Cancer
03:05 Dec 22 2005
Times Read: 1,217


On 17:43:15 Dec 21 2005 Cancer wrote:



That's okay. I've always gone by it.



On 17:40:46 Dec 21 2005 Cx3 wrote:



You do know that Eye have been going by the name Cancer for 4 years, so you can imagine the frustration when Eye came to this site and found it taken.

No worries though just thought Eye'd let you know.

- Cx3 - 'The void is me.'

Hot Topic
17:52 Dec 14 2005
Times Read: 1,273






I really don't get some people (especially those who call themselves goth). There is this Bash Hot Topic movement out there which makes no sense to me.



I understand goth's bashing The Gap. But why would a group bash a company that is bringing a product that is congruent to their scene to market?



Hop Topic offers product lines in many markets where there is NO option to buy anything gothic.



It would be like snowboarders bashing a Burton outlet.



It would be like cyclist's bashing Schwinn dealers.



It makes no sense, and it shows how stupid goth's can be sometimes.



I'd love to find a gal with a bedroom like the one pictured above.

Society
22:28 Dec 10 2005
Times Read: 1,325

I don't expect most people to understand.



People didn't understand when I created Vampire Rave.



People didn't understand when I expanded VR into 10 different directions.



This is no different.



For the select few of you that do understand... Who truly understand the scope of what I have done, you are in the minority.

Suuuuurrrrrreeeee you read my Profile.
04:54 Dec 10 2005
Times Read: 1,341

From: ambrdap



21:17:03 Dec 09 2005



Hey Cancer,

Whats up? Nothing much just got finish reading your profile. Its very interesting. How long you have been on Vampire Rave? I've been on Vampire Rave for about a week. So, more likely I just started this site. Email me back you can you can.



ambrdap

Not done, but begun
04:44 Dec 10 2005
Times Read: 1,342

I just got out of a very hot, long shower. After fully implementing the new Society structure I needed it.



It's been a rough week+. Day after day I've put in 16 hour programming days.



The overall structure is in place, however there is much more to do. The contests section alone is going to be very time consuming.

Yes, Cancer has nothing better to do than serve you all by spending every minute of his life programming Vampire Rave for your enjoyment.
17:49 Dec 06 2005
Times Read: 1,382

I guess people don't realize (or care) that Vampire Rave is now serving up over a half million page views per day. A HALF MILLION. Most sites don't generate that kind of traffic in 10 years, much less one day.



Rearranged for your reading pleasure:



--- On 09:51:33 - Dec 06 2005 - Nightscream wrote ---



Just wondering.... why do you mkae viewing who's friends list you are on a member thing only?



--- On 11:27:49 - Dec 06 2005 - Cancer wrote ---



People have no idea the expenses involved in, or the amount of time required to operate this site. To date I have spent over a thousand man hours programming Vampire Rave Pages.



Back in March, I decided that from that point forward, I would no longer give away site enhancements. All revisions and site updates (current and future) would go to Premium Members only.



There is this 'I should get everything for free' mentality on the Internet. It is not realistic.



--- On 11:30:04 - Dec 06 2005 - Nightscream wrote ---



I know how it is.... trust me I'm in school for networking...



but that small thing ... i can't do??



all i want to know is who's list i am on... on every other site i go on.... that feature is standard...but here it is not... why can I not see hwo's friends list I am on?



--- On 11:39:19 - Dec 06 2005 - Cancer wrote ---



What other sites do are not taken into consideration when crafting VR policy.



The cost of a Premium Membership is very low. It's less than 6 cents per day when you purchase a yearly membership. If you use VR enough where you care about what Friend lists you are on, 6 cents a day should not be an issue.



Premium Membership supports the site, helps pay for the monstrous bandwidth it uses, and ensures future site enhancements.



--- On 12:12:00 - Dec 06 2005 - Nightscream wrote ---



yes but some ppl aren't lucky enough to have parents pay for thier things... yes it may be a mere 6 cents but not everyone has bacnk accounts or credit cards or whatever methoda are used to pay... not everyone has a parent like I said that will do it for them... all i am saying is why do you keep ppl from knowing who thier friends are? to me it seems pointless...



--- On 12:29:06 - Dec 06 2005 - Cancer wrote ---



Well, another common misconception is that this site was made for teenagers. It was not.



We don't ban teenagers, but we don't cater to them either. This is an adult site.



--- On 12:34:42 - Dec 06 2005 - Nightscream wrote ---



I am 18 yrs. old an adult in USA....



besides...mentally I am in my 20's so..that agrument wouldn't work....



what connection is the server thatruns this site on I doubt it's a T3 connection & that's really the only one that would cost lots of money...



how much does it cost you?



--- On 12:39:16 - Dec 06 2005 - Cancer wrote ---



The server sits on a 10 mbit switch that has Tier 1 level connectivity with redundant OC-3 backbone connections through Time Warner, SBC and Allegiance. Faster than a T3.. And very expensive.



I have patiently answered your questions. My patience has run out. You are, in essence, trying to dictate what I choose to give away for free. That is very arrogant.