BANLIEUE 13

Alternate Title: 13th District
Country: France
Release Year: 2004
Genre: Martial Arts / Action / Adventure
Lauguage Format: French
Running Time: 85 minutes


[Cast]
Cyril Raffaelli
David Belle
Tony D'Amario
Bibi Naceri
Dany Verissimo
François Chattot

[Writer]
Luc Besson / Bibi Naceri

[Producer]
Luc Besson

[Director]
Pierre Morel



French Cinema has come along way since the breakaway hit LA FEMME NIKITA (1991) and LEON THE PROFESSIONAL (1994) both directed by the french new-wave director LUC BESSON.

His TAXI (1998-2001) all three starring the awesome Samy Naceri is also a runaway hit at the box office worldwide. The latter is a personal favorite of mine.

The TAXI Series is just plain awesome! The second one being the best of the series!

Yes this is the movie of which the american made TAXI
starring Queen Latifah, and Jimmy Fallon borrows its theme. Luc Besson was given writing credits after all, so that more than stamps it.

Guess what...LUC BESSON also produced all three TAXI movies. Just to let you know Luc Besson directed the ultra fabulous THE FIFTH ELEMENT (1997) the movie that introduced to the whole world that Milla Jovovich is a future action femme fatale.

He's in the front, and behind the scenes of most of the major box office blockbusters as of late. He's responsible for movies like the awesome Jason Statham actioners TRANSPORTER 1 & 2 (2002-2005) The gut busting Jet Li flicks KISS OF THE DRAGON (2001),DANNY THE DOG a.k.a UNLEASHED (2005) The Jean Reno, and Ryoko Hirosue classic WASABI (2001) the list goes on...and...on!!!

Another thing about Luc Besson is that, he was the one who stepped up and snapped up the rights to release the mega action classic ONG BAK (2002) although personally I didn't think that Tony Jaa needed any help from any major producer to expose him to the world. ONG BAK did that for him.

However if there is ever a producer to do it, it might as well be Luc Besson. I just wish he'd stop messing with the original contents of the movies he'll release in the future. ONG BAK was perfect! It didn't need any alterations, edits, and soundtack changes. Then again, what do I know. Personally I'd leave everything be. Show it as it was meant to be seen.

Period.

On that note, here's my review of BANLIEUE 13 a.k.a District 13.

WHERE...DO...I...BEGIN...???

WOW!!!

Just as DOBERMANN(1997) pushed the envelope genres of sex, crime, violence, and gunplay in French Cinema. BANLIEUE 13 takes French Cinema action, and martial arts genres to the highest level it's ever been!!!

Let me start with the pace of this movie. It's absolutely fast, and it's always interesting. Never boring. There's never a dull moment in this flick. I'll say it again, the pace moves very precisely, and frickin' incredibly fast!!!

All the characters in BANLIEUE 13 speaks french so fluently fast which makes reading of the english subtitles a little difficult, but will not deter anyone who watches it. Trust me you'll get used to it after a while, that is of course you speak and understand the french language then good for you!!!

Now, the storyline. Let's see, the plot is simplistically easy to follow. All you have to do is understand what's going on in the beginning of the movie, and you can pretty much tell what's going to happen, or at least you'll think you'll know what's going to happen.

In 2010, crime has overtaken some parts of France. The gangs has completely outnumbered the police, so instead of continuing to enforce the law. The police builds walls around districts that is considered hopeless. BANLIEUE 13 a.k.a District 13, is the worst of them all. Fortunately there's still someone who cares, he's not about to conform to the crime lord who runs BANILIEUE 13. His name is Leito(David Belle). He and Taha(Bibi Naceri) (Yes, Samy Naceri's brother from the TAXI trilogy, and THE NEST) is not actually in good terms, because Leito is the good guy, and Taha is the bad crime lord.

Somewhere along the way Damien(Cyril Raffaelli) an undercover cop crosses paths with Leito. Together they set out to save Leito's sister Lola(the beautiful Dany Verissimo) from the clutches of Taha, and his henchmen lead by K-2(Tony D'Amario) and defuse a bomb at the same that Taha managed to get his hands.

See, the plot is simple!!!

I know, the plot is not that original I mean it's been done before, but that's not the reason you'll be watching BANLIEUE 13. Nope. You'll be watching this awesome french flick for...yup...you guessed it...for all of the action, and stunts baby!!!

BANLIEUE 13 has got to be one of the best, highly stylized, French Martial Arts, Action ever...and I mean...ever produced!!! Watching Cryil Raffaelli, David Belle, and all of the stunt team in action is an absolute blast, no, it's a frickin' revelation!!!

This is the type of movie that energizes anyone who watches it. It's almost as good as ONG BAK(2002) Yes, I said it...almost! It's that frickin' good!!! I can't praise BANLIEUE 13 enough! I'll type the next sentence in Capital just so you'll know what I'm trying to say here:

YOU MUST SEE BANLIEUE 13, DO NOT MISS IT! OR HATE YOURSELF FOREVER! PERIOD!

There, so like I said BANLIEUE 13 is a fresh new ride in the action martial arts realm from the French Cinema, courtesy of Luc Besson, and the magnificent skills of both Cyril, David, and the rest of the stunt team. Having Dany Verissimo in the cast is a big frickin' plus. She's beautiful.

You'll also notice that the wall climbing, and aerial leaps that was popularized by the Luc Besson produced YAMAKASI(2001) and ultimately massacred by the horrible Julien Seri directed LES FIL DU VENT (2004) is present in BANLIEUE 13. I hope he watched this film, and learned from it. Julien Seri you idiot, this is how you film YAMAKASI'S ACTION!!! Don't place the camera too close to the subject you're filming!!!

Thankfully BANLIEUE 13 resurrects the sport, and presents it in a very extreme fashion that you can actually appreciate!!!

It's almost as if the YAMAKASI Team was the ones performing those Urban Ninja stunts. Ultra-cooL!!!

BANLIEUE 13 is a smartly directed, and masterully produced actioner that will not disappoint anyone who watches it. It's a movie that has no boring scenes, quickly moves from one scene to the next. The action is one of the best I've seen in French Cinema.

The music used in BANLIEUE 13 is ultra-frickin-cool!!!

The soundtrack grabs you from the beginning, and pumps you up getting your adrenaline all in a rage. When meshed with the visual style and slow-motion action scenes the effect of the sounds is magnified to the max. Thoughtfully placed, and the clever editing only adds to the already fast-paced-storyline.

The humor is kept to a minimum emphasizing instead on the plot structure, stunts, gunplay, and action. Luc Besson has to have taught Pierre Morel, the directing precision of this film because every scene, and every dialogue echoes wit that's only seen in Luc Besson produced, and directed films.

Everything from the dynamic camera angles mostly seen in Hong Kong cinema is used. Slow motion technique is definitely kept to a minimum, it's only used in certain scenes to cleverly heightened the effect, and to show off some ultra difficult martial art moves that's being performed by the actual actors slash stuntmen.

It will take sometime before the French Cinema release another movie like BANLIEUE 13, at least until Cryil, and David does another movie similar to this one. I just hope Luc Besson will continue to be involved in it, because these guys are just plain awesome!!!

Cyril Raffaelli, is famous worldwide as a fight choreographer. He's done famous blockbusters like the aforementioned WASABI(2001), LES PACTE DES LOUPS(2001),TAXI Trilogy(1998-2001),THE TRANSPORTER Series(2003-2005),MESSENGER STORY OF JOAN OF ARC(1999),RONIN(1999),MAN IN THE IRON MASK(1999). All produced or directed by Luc Besson, except the last two mentioned. Anyone who has KISS OF THE DRAGON(2001) will definitely recognize Cryil. He's one of the last henchmen that whom Jet Li encounters, and ultimately duels with at the climax at the end. An awesome, but brief fight scene ensues for the two.

May I add Dany Verissimo who plays Lola, is a cutie pie!!! I hope to see more of her in the future. She's so perfect for this role, she plays a very cute, and very feisty chick!!! She looks like she has an asian mixed look to her. I hope she gets more roles like these, in fact I just hope she does well in the future. I like her, she's hot!!!

Bibi Naceri, and Tony D'Amario is absolutely perfect for their roles. In fact, everyone is.

All I can say is, Viva La France!!!

With BANLIEUE 13, the French Cinema proves that it can hold its own in the Martial Arts Action genre. I won't be surprised if this is a movie that will put France in the map as one of the premiere Martial Arts movie makers at least along with Hong Kong Cinema who produces the most Martial Arts in all genres, and of course Thai Cinema, and Korean Cinema respectively.

BANLIEUE 13 delivers a knock out punch to the guts of the rest of the past French Martial Arts action made before it.

BANLIEUE 13 is indeed a jaw-dropping, eye-popping, French Martial Arts Movie Classic!!!