District B13

[CheezeFlixz]

If you liked Scarface, Transporting, Crank and Ong Bak you'll love District B13! As it is all of those movies rolled up into one.

In 2010 France ghettos crime and drugs are out of control, one man, Leïto wants it cleaned up and the government wants it cleaned up too as they have walled in B13 pulled out all social services and left it to be ran by a drug kingpin, Taha Bemamud. But Taha's thug steal a neutron bomb and super cop, Capt. Damien Tomaso is sent in to defuse the bomb that was ticking away. However Damian would need that help of Leïto to over take Taha who know had Leïto's sister Lola. With Lola trapped near the bomb and the timer ticking these two opposite must team together. But all is not what it seems and and what appears to be isn't.
This is a fast paced action movie that I rented on a whim. I won't go into a long review other than to say that I was really surprised that 1. I'd missed this movie somehow and 2. it was as good as it was. Ok the dubbing wasn't that great but I can give that a pass as the rest of the movie was mostly action packed and fast moving. If you haven't seen it, do.

I'll give it ****1/2 out of ******

[Neville]

Seen it and like it a lot. The "message" is a little tacked on, but it's not as annoying as in other Luc Besson productions. I'd go as far as saying it's the best action film he's written / produced, even better than "Kiss of Dragon".

Highly recommended.

[Gerry]

Count me as another huge fan of this movie.  I saw it on the art house circuit and picked up the DVD as soon as it was released. 

Co-star David Belle (Leito) is best known as the creator of the martial arts style Parkour (not really a martial art, but I don't know what else to call it).  He's amazing in this film.  The main star Cyril Raffaelli (Damien) also appeared in KISS OF THE DRAGON.

[RapscallionJones]

I am not even remotely exagerrating when I call this one of the best action movies ever.  No hyperbole to be found anywhere.  As far as the Besson scripted action cheap-os go, this is at the top of the pile.  A crap story that lifts liberally from Escape From New York and Precinct 13 accentuated by some of the most original action and stunt sequences ever arranged.  I am completely in awe of this movie.

[CheezeFlixz]

According to IMDB's bio of David Belle the guy that plays Leïto he the inventor of a discipline known as Parkour, which consists of moving quickly and efficiently in any environment, using only the abilities of the human body and he does it quite well.

All I thought when I saw him doing that was, if I ever tried that all I'd get is hurt. I will have to check out some more of his movies that he uses Parkour in.

[Neville]

I think Parkous is also featured in another of Luc Besson's action movies, "Yamakasi", but I've heard it's not a very good film.

[Jim H]

There are several films with Parkour or its derivative, Free Running in them.  Casino Royale (the new one) has it in its opening sequence, for example.  It translates extremely well into chase scenes and action scenes.

Banlieue 13 is an enjoyable film, but it suffers from one major problem - by far the two best action sequences are the ones introducing the two leads.  Everything after that is disappointing.  Still, quite fun.

[RapscallionJones]

I think Parkous is also featured in another of Luc Besson's action movies, "Yamakasi", but I've heard it's not a very good film.

I bought Yamakasi for the sole reason of more parkour only this time it f**king sucked.  It's another ghetto movie, but rather than have a sweet Escape From New York vibe, it's more like Breakin' 2.  The whole premise surrounds a group of parkour dudes who are marginally at fault when a neighborhood kid gets hurt trying to emulate their acrobatics.  When his treatment costs far more than what his family can afford, the gang assembles and pulls of a series of Robin Hood thefts to pay the hospital bills.

It's sappy and the parkour isn't much more complex than Jackie Chan's stunts in Gorgeous.

And there's no fighting.