Luc Besson is behind this excuse for a story. And one shouldn't be surprised, that the action potential is top notch, but the script is dire. Dialogues are cringe-worthy and character building stops at filling the movie with 'cool' looking people.
Parkour also features heavily, as is the case with many recent French movies. I guess some sort of national pride for being key to creating this new phenomenon. David Belle (widely held as the creator of parkour) as Leïto and Cyril Raffaelli (a stuntman and martial artist) as Capt. Damien Tomaso work greatly in this action flick making it a feast for adrenaline craved eyes. Much better than most American recent action movies, especially due to lack of fast editing and more focus being put on actually being able to see what our two heroes are up to.
Leïto is a local resident of the infamous Banlieue 13, a district cut off from the rest of France in 2010 due to uncontrollable crime. He is one of the few that is actually trying to make a difference, but a conflict with the drug-lord Taha Bemamud (Bibi Naceri) ends up with him in prison and his little sister as a drug-addicted slave. Meanwhile Capt. Damien is a top-notch excellently trained cop with a profound belief in law and justice.
Once a nuclear bomb is stolen in Banlieue 13 Damien is sent to retrieve the device that threatens the lives of millions. Smack centre in the middle of the district it reappears. If there is to be any hope of saving Banlieue he must join forces with the unpredictable Leïto...
Plot holes galore, but this movie isn't about the script. Its about the action. For those not hoping for anything intellectually challenging this is a great Friday night popcorn watch.
Parkour also features heavily, as is the case with many recent French movies. I guess some sort of national pride for being key to creating this new phenomenon. David Belle (widely held as the creator of parkour) as Leïto and Cyril Raffaelli (a stuntman and martial artist) as Capt. Damien Tomaso work greatly in this action flick making it a feast for adrenaline craved eyes. Much better than most American recent action movies, especially due to lack of fast editing and more focus being put on actually being able to see what our two heroes are up to.
Leïto is a local resident of the infamous Banlieue 13, a district cut off from the rest of France in 2010 due to uncontrollable crime. He is one of the few that is actually trying to make a difference, but a conflict with the drug-lord Taha Bemamud (Bibi Naceri) ends up with him in prison and his little sister as a drug-addicted slave. Meanwhile Capt. Damien is a top-notch excellently trained cop with a profound belief in law and justice.
Once a nuclear bomb is stolen in Banlieue 13 Damien is sent to retrieve the device that threatens the lives of millions. Smack centre in the middle of the district it reappears. If there is to be any hope of saving Banlieue he must join forces with the unpredictable Leïto...
Plot holes galore, but this movie isn't about the script. Its about the action. For those not hoping for anything intellectually challenging this is a great Friday night popcorn watch.