Banlieue 13 is a thrilling straightforward action movie.I debated with myself if a 10/10 score would be giving it too much credit, but no, this movie deserves it. This movie is awesome.The stunts are believable and outstanding to watch. It has that thrilling effect where everything is on the edge.The plot was OK to me. It's simple and it's done in a great manner. For a 84 minutes movie, everything looks fine. Though I think IMDb's description about the movie is kinda off: Leito is not a thug by any means. I'd describe him as a punisher; or just a good guy who got tired of all that cr** -- not a thug by any means, though I get what they were thinking!Action at its best!
... View MoreIt's Paris 2010. The high crime parts of the city have been walled off. It is run by competing violent gangs. Leïto (David Belle) flushes drugs down the drain who wants to clear drugs out of his building. Gangleader Taha's goons fail to retrieve the drugs and he takes Leito's sister Lola hostage. Leïto rescues Lola and takes Taha to the cops. Only the cops are leaving and they let Taha walk away with Lola as his prisoner. Six months later, master of disguise police detective Damien Tomaso (Cyril Raffaelli) takes down a large underground casino. Taha has stolen a 'clean' bomb setting off a 24 hour countdown clock. Damien pretends to be a prisoner as he escapes taking Leïto with him into District 13. Leïto sees through the ruse.David Belle's opening parkour action sequence is a thing of beauty. The story is better than most B-movies with a social commentary. One can't expect realism but there is passable logic. The acting is surprisingly effective with good charisma even from the novice Belle. This is a fine action movie.
... View MoreThe straight-faced absurdity is part of the film's charm, but it's the relentless pace with invigorating action sequences that comes to define "District B13." Director Pierre Morel, working from a script by producer Luc Besson, focuses only on the essentials for an action film: speed, stunts, and the kind of human special effects that technology can't deliver.Set in future of 2010, "District B13" imagines crime and anarchy to have gotten so out of control that the government has erected a wall to isolate a suburban ghetto from proper Paris residents. Leïto (David Belle) is one of few residents to challenge gang leaders, who are profiting from illegal activities festering inside the slums. The undesirable occupants of District B13 are ruled by the ruthless, drug addicted gangster Taha (Bibi Naceri), who is protected by his own crew of criminals. When these gangsters mysteriously acquire a massive bomb and trip the 24-hour fuse, elite cop Damien (Cyril Rafaelli) teams up with local resident and crime stopper Leïto to save the day. And yes, the story line is as ridiculously bad as it sounds."District B13" is simply a continuous stream of fight and chase scenes, each more elaborate than the last. The film's opening chase sequence is devoted to Leïto as he dazzles with his virtuosic ability to leap across buildings and rooftops, through windows, and over the various concrete impediments of the urban jungle. (Belle's athletic talent stems from his background as one of the founders of the sport of Parkour, which combines running and martial arts, moves for total mobility in an urban environment). All of the stunt work done real, what you see is what you get (no CGI). Both Raffaelli and Belle execute all of their own stunts, while stylishly captured by first-time director Pierre Morel.
... View MoreStory/Plot - District 13 (Banliue 13) is a French film by director Pierre Morel. Set in the segregated slums of Paris in the not so distant future District 13B has been declared the most crime ridden and infested of all. Leito a bit of a thug himself is brought into a crisis when his sister Lola is kidnapped by a ruthless crime boss. Leito does everything he can to get his sister back but does not foresee himself being arrested in a deep story of betrayal.We flash forward six months and Leito is paired with undercover cop Damien as news of a stolen neutron bomb hits B13. Together these two must work together to ensure the bomb does not go off. They fight of the crime bosses and their gangs to reach the bomb in time. However, when Damien receives the deactivation code, Leito quickly sees that the code references the District and that date. This prompts Leito to stop Damien from entering the code, the clock reaches zero ........................................................ the bomb does not go off. Leito was right.The French government are now seen as responsible for the bomb being taken to B13 and installed ready to be triggered by the deactivation code. The bomb is taken to the government and a senior member is taped confessing to the plans to destroy B13. This tape is broadcast immediately and B13 becomes a slightly better place to live.My verdict - To me this films was simply outstanding. Action films full of the art of parkour will keep you gripping onto your seat as you cheer on Leito and Damien in their mission. Plenty of fights, chases and a decent soundtrack is enough to keep you entertained all the way through.This film is very highly recommended.
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