District B13 DVD: Review By Dodd

Is it just me, or have American action films completely lost that sense of excitement? It seems like since Michael Bay has become the go to guy for explosions, there has been no element of surprise. Bay's films are loaded with rapid edits and trucks blowing up, but it doesn't take long for these techniques to lose their novelty. The only other redemption in American action is the superhero film. However, once again, these flicks are filling theaters so quickly that it is difficult to distinguish one from the other.

So what is it that we do when the world needs action films? We travel across the seas of course. Luc Besson, better known for The Fifth Element and Leon: The Professional has not directed an English language film since the flop of his Joan of Arc bio, The Messenger. However, he has continued to serve as a producer and writer for various superb action films produced overseas. One notable title is Unleashed (known as Danny the Dog in Europe).

So what is next for the French auteur? Besson's latest known project is District B13 on which he serves as writer and producer. This is an action film, but does it dish out the can of whoop-ass that American action films fail to deliver? The answer is yes. District B13 is so explosive that is leaped off the screen and kicked my ass while I saw it for the first time in the theater. To this day, I am still trying to remove the footprint stains from my jeans.

The film begins in the near future in France. Crime rates have continued to escalate, and the government has taken matters into its own hands. In order to keep the sc*mbags away from the law abiding citizens of Paris, the most dangerous ghetto has been walled off and labeled District B13. In this cesspool of crime is Leito (David Belle), a local gang member that was born and raised in the district with his sister Lola (Dany Verissimo). Leito's life is thrown into peril when he goes up against a local crime boss named Taha that kidnaps Lola and sees to it that Leito is sent to prison.

Six months later, Leito is broken out of prison thanks to the aid of an undercover cop named Damien (Cyril Raffaelli). Taha has obtained a nuclear weapon and placed it in the middle of District B13. With Damien wanting to disarm the bomb and Leito wanting to rescue his sister, the two men team up to penetrate the walls of District B13 and bring down Taha.

The premise here is admittedly silly. It very much apes John Carpenter's Escape from New York (and its sequel). With a runtime of 85 minutes, there is barely sufficient time to even convey a decent storyline.

So what is it that makes this film redeeming? The answer is the action. This short-running film crams in enough action to leave audiences breathless by the closing credits. What makes B13 ultimately succeed is the choreography and stunt work. A lot of careful planning was clearly invested into this film, and some of the best stunt men in France are utilized here. Actor Cyril Raffaelli is even an official stunt coordinator for various pictures. David Belle is particularly impressive here as a human punching bag. The man jumps off of buildings and lands on his feet, jumps through windows the size of him, and leaps walls in a single bound. If I am not mistaken, the man may have the powers of Planet Krypton.

Making of District B13

This is an hour-long doc*mentary that covers all the important points in the making of the picture. This is, of course, primarily stunt work. The filmmakers and actors/stunt people offer brief commentaries while behind-the-scenes stunt coordination is revealed to the audience. The most impressive example here is showing how actor David Belle performed the scene in which he jumps through a tiny window. The various rehearsals leading up to the actual filming of this stunt is mind-blowing.

Extended Fight Scene

Most of the footage here is rough without proper editing or sound mixing. Considering that this film is 200 kicks per second, it is hard to distinguish this extra reel of fighting from everything else in the picture.

Outtakes

Clocking in at 2 minutes, this outtake reel is not amusing. We are treated to actors flubbing their lines and laughing on camera. I am pretty sure we have all seen this before.

The DVD also includes a theatrical trailer.

Widescreen (2.35:1) As usual, the transfer of the film onto DVD is without major flaws. The film direction itself is out of this world. Director Pierre Morel knows how to combine masterful stunt work with choppy editing to create the ultimate action picture. The depiction of the post-apocalyptic Paris is a tad too colorful, but nevertheless, it still works.

5.1 Dolby Digital EX. Hold onto your seat for this one. Turning on the surround system will promise an ultimate experience that places you in the middle of fights and gun fire. This is a Dolby-friendly picture.

Standard DVD keep case. The original poster art for the film is displayed on the front cover which is basically a Photo Shop edit of all of the characters pictured together in the streets of B13. Lola, who is merely a secondary character, is front and center in a skimpy outfit holding a gun for sex appeal.

District B13 does not deliver plot-wise, but that is not its true mission statement. This is a film with only one objective: to kick ass and take names. In a movie industry lacking exiting action films, I highly recommend opening your mind to international fare and giving this film a rental. Even if you do not like subtitles, the fight scenes and chase scenes are worth the admission alone. Need an adrenaline rush? See this film today.

Questions? Comments? Just want to talk movies? Drop me a line at dodd@movieweb.com