The films of Luc Besson are not typically up for lavish special editions, but Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is preparing special editions of Leon: The Professional and The Fifth Element which previously were released as bare-bones DVDs.

Calling himself a “cleaner”, the mysterious Leon is New York’s top hitman. When his next-door neighbors are murdered, Leon becomes the unwilling guardian of the family’s sole survivor, 12-year-old Mathilda, but Mathilda doesn’t just want protection – she wants revenge. Training her in the deadly tricks of his trade, Leon helps her track the psychotic agent who murdered her family.

The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS sound. A subtitle trivia track and the three featurettes “The Professional: A 10 Year Retrospective”, “Natalie Portman: Starting Young” and “Jean Reno: The Road to Leon”.

New York cab driver Korben Dallas didn’t mean to be a hero, but he just picked up the kind of fare that only comes along every five thousand years: a perfect beauty, a perfect being, a perfect weapon. Together, they must now save the world.

The Fifth Element DVD also is in anamorphic widescreen with audio in Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS sound. Extras include the featurettes “The Star Element”, “The Visual Element”, “The Alien Element”, “The Digital Element”, “The Fashion Element” and “The Diva” along with a poster gallery.

The DVDs both arrive on January 11th for $24.96.