Babylon A.D. Director Mathieu Kassovitz Blasts Fox Over His Film

Babylon A.D. hits theaters on August 29 and of all people that should be happy about it, the director, isn't. AMC has posted an interview with French director Mathieu Kassovitz, who expressed his dissent over the finished product.

"I'm very unhappy with the film," Kassovitz says. "I never had a chance to do one scene the way it was written or the way I wanted it to be. The script wasn't respected. Bad producers, bad partners, it was a terrible experience."

Kassovitz was attracted to the book Babylon Babies, by French author Maurice Georges Dantrec, because, "the author was very much into geopolitics and how the world is going to evolve. He saw that as wars evolve, it won't be just about territories any more, but money-driven politics." However, Kassovitz said the film strays from these messages.

"It's pure violence and stupidity," he admits. "The movie is supposed to teach us that the education of our children will mean the future of our planet. All the action scenes had a goal: They were supposed to be driven by either a metaphysical point of view or experience for the characters... instead parts of the movie are like a bad episode of 24."

Kassovitz said that the studio made things more difficult for the production and that they cut about 15 minutes from the film, leaving just a 93-minute runtime. The director doesn't despise his new film completely, though.

"I like the energy of it and I got some scenes I'm happy with," he says. "But I know what I had -- I had something much better in my hands but I just wasn't allowed to work."

Babylon A.D. will hit theaters on August 29.

Babylon A.D. was released August 29th, 2008 and stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Mélanie Thierry, Lambert Wilson, Mark Strong, Jérôme Le Banner, Charlotte Rampling, Gérard Depardieu. The film is directed by Mathieu Kassovitz.


Sources: AMC

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Comments (18)

  1. The Movie Ghost

    It sucks so bad when people in the film business do that to a potentially great film.

    3 years agoby @thejoker-16Flag

  2. Ch-ch-ch-chia

    Another reason for film makers to not work with Fox.

    3 years agoby @daftshadowFlag

  3. The Dark Knight

    err f*ck you Fox

    3 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag

  4. Psycho

    That sucks.

    3 years agoby @physco-123Flag

  5. CelluloidDreams

    I agree ed_wood...all I have heard about this film is that Over-Seas the cut of the film will be longer...I ahte when studios don't give directors control over the films they make...but still I will see it opening weekend!

    I've been following the development of "Babylon A.D." since the start because it looks like an incredibly return to science fiction for Vin Diesel...but what a bad turn of events...I guess when it hits DVD..then will get the Un-Rated Cut!?!.

    I remember last year it was reported that the 2 hours and 40 minutes version of "Babylon A.D." that French filmmaker Mathieu Kassovitz originally shot was going to be significantly shorter in the US.

    The Fox execs have their objective and are going to do what they want no matter how much we say. And boycotting won't help either. I want to see this anyway and will see it even at least to see how watered down the 90 minute, PG-13 version is.

    3 years agoby @2movieguysFlag

  6. ikilledbill2wice

    haha...fox continues tradition. please nobody go see this film and just see a burned copy so fox gets none of your money.

    3 years agoby @ikilledbill2wiceFlag

  7. ed_wood

    That sucks but I'm still going to see it Friday.

    3 years agoby @ed-woodFlag

  8. Ebonsoul

    I have to agree with you all :( that does suck, but at least he gave us a heads up. Im still interested to see what he managed to do in those working conditions. What kind of movie it will be. Or maybe ill wait till its on channel 5.

    3 years agoby @ebonsoulFlag

  9. T.Clark

    Dammit...i wish directors were just allowed to do what they wanted.

    3 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag

  10. fanboy

    f*ck this sucks

    3 years agoby @fanboyFlag

  11. Tronticon

    Unless the movie sucks and Kassovitz is trying to point the finger elsewhere!!!

    I'm sure he has a valid argument... but you never know!!!

    3 years agoby @tronticonFlag

  12. Space101

    Sh*tty deal...

    3 years agoby @space101Flag

  13. The Anarchist

    Perhaps they'll release a Director's Cut...

    3 years agoby @dr-manhattanFlag

  14. The Narrator: The Better Man

    I agree with Punisher. Now I might not see it Friday. I hate those studio's pricks that do sh*t like this to meat the dateline, attract stupid crowds, just to get money.

    3 years agoby @narratorFlag

  15. PUNISHER

    Doesnt sound too promising now.

    3 years agoby @cerealkillerFlag

  16. Raoul Duke

    What a bummer.

    3 years agoby @raoulduke33Flag

  17. Borshay

    These are the things you never want to hear, it's a shame really.

    3 years agoby @borshayFlag

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