I know I am replying to an old post, but I want to point out something about this movie, (a) it was written in 30 days and (b) filmed in 90 days, the cast and crew did a fantastic job on this film, I have worked in theatre as a sound engineer, and know the feats it takes to put on a good show. I loved this movie it would go down as one of my all time favourites, but each to their own. I would highly recommend it to anybody the acting was great Natalie Portman just shined for her first feature film debut.

I'm curious. Excluding the films high rating, what did the OP see or hear, that made them believe the movie was going to be great in the first place? Also, Why do some viewers that don't like the film, always need proof as to why others do?

7/10 seems about right. It's a good enjoyable film. I'm not gonna be "that guy" who cries overrated, but I can't really understand what makes this one so special to be near the top of the Top 250. Same goes for City of God.

I gave the movie 7/10. I liked it, especially Gary Oldman, but nothing in the movie was great to me beside his performance. Everything was good, no complaints at all from me, but Overall I don't think it is a movie, that I will return to watch or a movie that does anything really special

first off, how old were you when you saw this movie?

Lol I haven't read the rest of the comments but I can imagine you are getting a lot of hate for what you wrote. And rightfully so. This movie is perfect.

I agree with you, I tought it would be an outstanding movie because of the 8.6 IMDB Rating (I actually had my doubts because of the Metascore). While I was seeing the movie I start to think that 8.6 maybe would be some kind of Internet joke or a meme, because I founded it awful. Otherwise Gary Oldman had a brilliant performance, it was the best thing on this movie. Also I found ridiculous the Natalie Portman performance and her character.
In my opinion this is a 6.0 rating movie, but I respect the others opinions (actually I would like that someone could tell me what's so good about this movie).

I just saw the movie tonight for the first time since the 90s and I loved it. As a child actress Natalie Portman was great not just tolerable. God she was so small! Gary Oldman's performance was comical but it was because he was this crooked DEA agent with all these quirks. He was out of his mind. Jean Reno was incredible mainly during the first hit scene. The city provided a great backdrop for the story which I also loved. I knew
Leon would die
by the end of the film because stories like this just go that way. From the first frame I could tell the ending wouldn't be happy in a traditional sense. I really loved it.
But I have to laugh at people who become so devastated when someone disagrees about a film they like. Did you direct or write the movie? Do you talk down so boldly to people like this in real life when they disagree with your opinion about music, film and art? Probably not.
I see it all over this website and I have to say it's fncking weird. Like you're going to convince someone that their opinion is wrong by belittling them.

The acting, the action, the story.
What the hell is wrong with you?

Can you clear up your random gibberish?

Come on everyone, I saw this movie when I was a child, possibly below 10 years old! Like all movies I saw, I treated this one like God. Do you know how it feels to experience each scene without having to be dead to spy on the worst experiences the sexiest human beings went through?
Gary Oldman is a really fun actor in this movie, as I (lol x10) acted out his script, "Banner, bring me everyone." "Everyone?" Banner is confused." "EVERYONE!" as less than 90% of the team failed to help delta fetch the keys, as the initial zombies killed them off. It's funny, because no zombie is a computer in this game, yet I treat certain greedy players like Banner in The Professional in a video game! I was only typing the words, " bring me everyone," but it's pretty sadistic to be the one a group of people witness a man going the distance typing up all kind of beep just to roleplay what is roleplatyed for our brains in a video game!
Take it from me, you being annoyed by Portman's character might be reflexive to your own fears. If the movie was addressing rare-but-supportive accounts of sex with a minor, you're supposed to be discussing the case, not being annoyed by her! If that's YOU, you don't realize you're being just like Leon, the hit man, yet you don't have his skills! WTF! To clarify what I just said, Leon made an attempt to say he did not beep her. So if you are annoyed because you are paranoid, you didn't understand the movie! Even if you are a pervert, at least you have the movie, not the action and a novice at being a mother! As a child, treating adults like Gods was my nature, not EVER BEING MYSELF TODAY thinking they're just learning the beep by ear! Holf beep hell.

Hollywood was determined to make Portman a star.Understand?
The film,Gary Oldman,was damn good pal!

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Once i read d soundtrack part i just stopped reading anymore , how can someone deny and criticize Eric serra's Masterpiece ?!!! definitely the best and the most effective movie ive ever watched (Y) (Y)

Once i read d soundtrack part i just stopped reading anymore , how can someone deny and criticize Eric serra's Masterpiece ?!!! definitely the best and the most effective movie ive ever watched (Y) (Y)

cinema_forever19
all i can say is i agree with what you say every last word of it.

Maybe I'm no movie historian, but I own 400 Blu-ray movies and according to my IMDb profile I've seen over 900 titles. I've seen and enjoy all kinds of movies, classic, foreign, silent films, etc. But I think what makes Leon so good is it's execution. It is just well done at presenting it's characters and then developing them in ways most movies fail at. You learn to hate the DEA agent and you learn that Leon isn't that smart but in the end he has heart. Mathilda I think is performed realistically if anything, she acts like what some teens might act at that age, take it or leave it. The story goes places, it's action packed and entertaining and it all wraps up in the end pretty well with no loose screws. I think it's just a poetic and compelling piece of work IMHO. Of course I'd suggest watching the uncut version, but it's just a great movie all in all. My two cents.
Without mercy, man is like a beast.
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=33163288

No big deal its what humans are and think. We are all different and have different likes and dislikes. So who cares? Me? Well I like it but I could careless what others think. But why do you types always have to really say crap about stuff you don't like? As NO ONE CARES. Why not just clam up and keep it to yourself? LOL! If I don't like some film? I wouldn't even waste the time to tell it to a bunch of strangers. I have better things to do with my life. In fact I have life I hardly use the web except for work emails etc. Unlike the majority of people online I don't live on the web 24/7. Especially about useless nonsense like this. Was ein verlierer. Sigh
Dr.Nichole MD. Oh and Nicky was here.
I never revisit posts. Too busy and way above arguing.

says the guy who rates over 40% of the crap he sees as a 10/10.

No, you just lack the capacity to appreciate it. It's not fault of this movie. It's your shortcoming.

good movie.
but not as good as its rated.

You clearly lack the emotional faculties to really process what's going on with this movie. No one can gift that to you, at least not with one quick post to IMDb.

I wonder as well why it is not 9.0 at least, 8.6 is way too low for this movie

IMDB's rating is no indication of whether or not YOU will like a particular movie. It's just a summary of what other people thought of this movie. I have disliked movies that others have called masterpieces. Nothing to be baffled about. Taste is subjective.