District 13 Ultimatum is a French film with subtitles, but—as you may be able to gather from the terrible title—not the boring kind. This sequel to parkour cult classic District 13 is the kind of movie that needs no translation: good, dumb, high-octane fun with countless asses getting kicked, a few explosions and a pinch of sex appeal.
As with the Transporter series, Luc Besson (director of The Fifth Element, The Professional) serves as writer and producer here, and, like those films, the action is over-the-top. Cars rip through buildings like they're made of tissue paper, and countless hordes of goons are creatively overcome in ways that made me hope stuntmen are thoroughly compensated for their suffering.
More after the jump...
As with the Transporter series, Luc Besson (director of The Fifth Element, The Professional) serves as writer and producer here, and, like those films, the action is over-the-top. Cars rip through buildings like they're made of tissue paper, and countless hordes of goons are creatively overcome in ways that made me hope stuntmen are thoroughly compensated for their suffering.
More after the jump...
Since the actors are the stuntmen, there's no need for quick cuts and confusing camera work; we get a steady view of the action in every shot. From crime scene tape to priceless paintings, Damien and Leito—the parkour-practicing protagonists from the first film—use whatever surrounds them to deliver bone-breaking blows and cause their enemies exquisite agony.
There's also a story in D13U, a story better than most action flicks.
District 13 is a violent, crime-ridden Paris slum isolated behind concrete walls. Complete chaos breaks in the already lawless ghetto after the country's secret service concocts a controversy that leads to riots and civil unrest. This shady government group hopes to get approval to destroy the district entirely and cash in on its redevelopment, a not-so-subtle nod to Halliburton and Iraq.
While better than expected, the plot is still the weakest part of D13U, particularly the poorly thought out conclusion. But, of course, the story doesn't really matter here. The amount of pleasure you get from D13U will directly relate to how much you enjoy watching parkour and ass-kicking set to a soundtrack of French electro and hip hop.
District 13 Ultimatum is an entertaining, balls-to-the-wall, beat 'em up best observed with friends after a few beers.
--Eric Pulsifer
There's also a story in D13U, a story better than most action flicks.
District 13 is a violent, crime-ridden Paris slum isolated behind concrete walls. Complete chaos breaks in the already lawless ghetto after the country's secret service concocts a controversy that leads to riots and civil unrest. This shady government group hopes to get approval to destroy the district entirely and cash in on its redevelopment, a not-so-subtle nod to Halliburton and Iraq.
While better than expected, the plot is still the weakest part of D13U, particularly the poorly thought out conclusion. But, of course, the story doesn't really matter here. The amount of pleasure you get from D13U will directly relate to how much you enjoy watching parkour and ass-kicking set to a soundtrack of French electro and hip hop.
District 13 Ultimatum is an entertaining, balls-to-the-wall, beat 'em up best observed with friends after a few beers.
--Eric Pulsifer
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