District B13 (starring David Belle)

HailToTheChimp · 05-30-2006, 10:05 PM

So im sitting down watching TV, flipping channels. I look in my picture in picture screen and i see some explosions and parkour. "Looks like an action movie preview... what action movie is coming out soon... with parkour in it?". So i switch over and I catch the end of it "District B13, in theatres this friday".

"Wtf?", was my only thought.

Booted up my nearest laptop and did some research.

District B13

Originally released in France in 2004, i guess they decided to bring it over to the US 2 years later.

And lo and behold, David Belle is one of the main characters in it. So it's bound to be cool, yea? I was checking out various reviews from everywhere, and so far everyone's saying it's a great action movie. And considering its movie which involves parkour, it's bound to be awesome.

This link is all you need to A) See the trailer and B) to find the closest theatre near you it's playing at or you can just obtain it through other means i guess.

But yea, this was a huge surprise to me. Has anyone seen this movie and can give a personal review and or recommendation?

Vorph · 05-30-2006, 10:40 PM

Yea, I have it (Banlieue 13) on dvd. I saw Luc Besson's name along with Cyril Raffaelli's (one of the "twins" Jet Li fights at the end of Kiss of the Dragon) on imdb and figured it was a safe bet. I hadn't heard of David Belle at the time.

The action is pretty much a 50/50 split between Belle's parkour stuff and Raffaelli kicking the shit out of people. Only one of the fights is really good when compared to all the other MA flicks I've seen, but all of the parkour/chase scenes are just incredible. I'd put this movie on par with either of Tony Jaa's... I actually like B13 a little better than TYG. My only real complaint was that in the scenes where both actors are together, it's pretty clear that they are both masters of their own skill but neither is that great at what the other guy can do. Raffaelli keeps up fairly well with Belle and the camera doesn't linger on him as much when they are running around, but Belle didn't strike me as much of a martial artist when the fighting started. Minor quibble though, and something that didn't even start to bother me until the 5th or 6th time I watched it.

Oh, and big surprise here--the plot is weak. I highly doubt any fan of action movies will care.

True Love · 05-31-2006, 11:32 AM

Just finished watching this. Two thumbs up, index fingers extended. Second best movie I've seen so far this year.

Grady · 09-12-2006, 07:41 AM

I really enjoyed it. Saw it in the theatre and it came out on DVD last week, I bought it.

The action is obviously fast paced. I didn't think the plot was THAT weak, it was just kind of an Escape from New York/LA type of thing (somewhat post apocolyptic area cut off from the rest of the world run by thugs). Belle is incredible. I had no idea who he was (I did recognize Cyril Raeffaelli from Kiss of the Dragon --- and I liked him in that) but he was just incredible. It's easily the most fun action movie I've seen in years.

Anyone know how good Taxi 2 is?

Bizanich · 09-12-2006, 04:42 PM

Got the DVD Tuesday. Major thumbs up for the opening chase scene from the apartment complex....the movie slowed down way too much when the two good guys finally link up, though.

Ham n Cheese · 09-22-2006, 03:08 PM

Rented it yesterday, looking forward to watching it.

05-30-2006, 10:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
HailToTheChimp Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 244 +1 Internets	District B13 (starring David Belle) So im sitting down watching TV, flipping channels. I look in my picture in picture screen and i see some explosions and parkour. "Looks like an action movie preview... what action movie is coming out soon... with parkour in it?". So i switch over and I catch the end of it "District B13, in theatres this friday". "Wtf?", was my only thought. Booted up my nearest laptop and did some research. District B13 Originally released in France in 2004, i guess they decided to bring it over to the US 2 years later. And lo and behold, David Belle is one of the main characters in it. So it's bound to be cool, yea? I was checking out various reviews from everywhere, and so far everyone's saying it's a great action movie. And considering its movie which involves parkour, it's bound to be awesome. This link is all you need to A) See the trailer and B) to find the closest theatre near you it's playing at or you can just obtain it through other means i guess. But yea, this was a huge surprise to me. Has anyone seen this movie and can give a personal review and or recommendation?

05-30-2006, 10:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Vorph Never Go Full Retard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hell Posts: 5,872	Yea, I have it (Banlieue 13) on dvd. I saw Luc Besson's name along with Cyril Raffaelli's (one of the "twins" Jet Li fights at the end of Kiss of the Dragon) on imdb and figured it was a safe bet. I hadn't heard of David Belle at the time. The action is pretty much a 50/50 split between Belle's parkour stuff and Raffaelli kicking the shit out of people. Only one of the fights is really good when compared to all the other MA flicks I've seen, but all of the parkour/chase scenes are just incredible. I'd put this movie on par with either of Tony Jaa's... I actually like B13 a little better than TYG. My only real complaint was that in the scenes where both actors are together, it's pretty clear that they are both masters of their own skill but neither is that great at what the other guy can do. Raffaelli keeps up fairly well with Belle and the camera doesn't linger on him as much when they are running around, but Belle didn't strike me as much of a martial artist when the fighting started. Minor quibble though, and something that didn't even start to bother me until the 5th or 6th time I watched it. Oh, and big surprise here--the plot is weak. I highly doubt any fan of action movies will care. Last edited by Vorph : 05-30-2006 at 10:45 PM.

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05-31-2006, 11:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
True Love hax uber alles Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 277 +0 Internets	Just finished watching this. Two thumbs up, index fingers extended. Second best movie I've seen so far this year.

09-12-2006, 07:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
Grady Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 92 -4 Internets	I really enjoyed it. Saw it in the theatre and it came out on DVD last week, I bought it. The action is obviously fast paced. I didn't think the plot was THAT weak, it was just kind of an Escape from New York/LA type of thing (somewhat post apocolyptic area cut off from the rest of the world run by thugs). Belle is incredible. I had no idea who he was (I did recognize Cyril Raeffaelli from Kiss of the Dragon --- and I liked him in that) but he was just incredible. It's easily the most fun action movie I've seen in years. Anyone know how good Taxi 2 is?

09-12-2006, 04:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bizanich Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,671 +0 Internets	Got the DVD Tuesday. Major thumbs up for the opening chase scene from the apartment complex....the movie slowed down way too much when the two good guys finally link up, though.

09-22-2006, 03:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ham n Cheese You can betray me Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Houston Posts: 8,909 +19 Internets	Rented it yesterday, looking forward to watching it.