BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- TRANSPORTER 3: JASON STATHAM IS THE WORLD'S FAVORITE ACTION STAR

Quantum of Solace has put paid to the notion that Daniel Craig is a one-note actor in playing James Bond. What a disappointing film Quantum of Solace was.

Thankfully, the action quota for the year has now been wonderfully fulfilled by Transporter 3, the Jason Statham vehicle. The script is not a masterpiece, no surprises there. But the it does have many moments and the cast are good and the characters decently written and fleshed out.

What? A powerful man's daughter has been kidnapped? He shows us why he is powerful -- while cleverly buying time in abiding by the demands of the thugs, he dispatches his people to track down the baddies and comes to know who exactly is pushing the baddy buttons. The next time the baddy calls with instructions -- he refers to the baddy by name! And that's just one of the side characters!

Jason Statham, is charismatic as ever and it says a lot indeed that when the audience cares whether our hero lives or not! And in the meantime, with his signature black transporter, the gorgeous Audi, he takes action to its ridiculous heights -- one minute he is a terminator in a suit and the next he is peddling his bicycle like an ace X-gamer! Not to mention, he drives like an F1 driver who'd popped a bucketload of Ecstasy!

The car chase scenes in Transporter 3 are breathtaking and heart stopping.

It is enough to say that Jason Statham's hero is meant to transport a woman who was taken hostage by the baddies and he is hell bent on making the baddies pay the price for their bad hand. The combination of his impeccably sharp suits, beautiful cranium and the devilish Audi will take the audience for a spin they will delight in!

Oh, and the repartee between Jason Statham's Frank Martin and his pal the French Inspector Tarconi (played by the lovable Francois Berleand) about Russians and why they are always depressed is priceless and easily one of cinema's greatest highlights!

Go watch this if you like action films! Transporter 3 does not pretend to be anything it is not. It is pure adrenaline-rush fun.

(Photos: Jason Statham mugshot from http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24077310-5003420,00.html, Jason Statham in Transporter 3 movie still by Magali Bragard for Lionsgate)