Review of District B13 (2004) by Febi A — 22 Feb 2009

Le commissaire: Shit. Can't you settle your score somewhere else? 'Cuz we're closing up here.

Probably the best action movie of 2006, that no one will have seen. Very cool visual style, cool stunts without the aid of wires or CG and even some good twists. The best comparison I've heard, Ong Bak meets Escape from New York.

I would say you don't need to worry too much about the plot, but it is somewhat well planned out, bringing in two different stories that eventually connect.

Damien: But it will kill millions.

Taha: Ah, but they should have thought of that when they made it, for example, eh?

The story is set slightly in the future, in an unfavorable district of France. Its been walled up with drug dealers and criminals all around. One man fights inside to stop the corruption but is eventually imprisoned by corrupt police.

A few months later, the big criminal leader obtains a nuclear device, set to blow in 24 hours, leading to an expert undercover cop teaming up with the imprisoned man from early on to stop the bomb from going off. Action ensues.

The movie also defies a lot of conventional plot points by changing around the obvious results that would occur in any standard action movie.

Still, this film is a large excuse to showcase the extreme jumping sport Parkour or free running, which is a lot of fun to watch in itself.

Damien: [impressed, after watching Leito tie up Yeti] Where did you learn that?

Leïto: A cookbook or some official manual... I don't remember.