Which version is the best version of this movie, in your opinion?

In my opinion the added scenes make their relationship tacky and less believable. Personally I wish I could somehow erase long version from my memory, if you know what I mean.

I saw The Professional at the theater, but I had never seen the long version Leon, until around 2001 or 2002. It was like seeing the movie for the first time again. A lot of emotional content between the two main characters was added with these new scenes, which may be my favorite thing about the film. It instantly became my favorite version and I believe a more heartfelt story between Leon and Mathilda

I prefer the shorter version mainly just for the pacing and I agree with Besson on the tone it set for the character.

But the extra scenes don't make me uncomfortable and I still watch the longer version sometimes. Both are good.

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I'd love to see you in the moonlight with your head thrown back and your body on fire.

All the pedophilia tension in the longer version makes it a completely different movie.

I thought it was an all time great film. Went to show it to someone and it was the longer version, the 1st time I had seen it, and all the scenes they had taken out of the theatrical made me feel like a creep recommending it.

WAY over the top with it.

It would have been hard for me to even be a part of the project with a director wanting to keep shooting those scenes.

If you haven't seen the longer version, don't watch it. It will taint it for you.

To be with another woman, that is French. To get caught, that is American.

For anyone that has not seen this film,or the long version, there are a couple of post in this thread, that are the perfect example of someone bashing the film because they don't understand it. They always rely on the pedo scenario, when they try to make a point. Then they slam Besson, and anyone involved with the film, because they are unable or unwilling to see the story as it was intended. This story has been told many times and many different ways, this one is no exception. Although the story is complex, it is also very simple. I believe this is a great film, but don't take my word for it, or anyone else's, watch both versions of the film for yourself, and make up your own mind.

Extended version is better only because it has some pretty memorable scenes like the dinner scene at the restaurant and the montage of the apprenticeship. But perhaps one of the best scenes in the movie is only found in the extended scene. And that is the scene where Leon tells Mathilda about his past lover's fate. It was such a beautifully poignant scene, that I can never watch the theatrical version ever again.