Movie Melting Pot… ‘District B13’ (France, 2004)

Under the direction of Pierre Morel, Liam Neeson is breaking heads and raking in the moolah with ‘Taken’. Â  So far, the actioner has brought in a whopping $122 million worldwide, $53 million of that in US grosses. Â  However, in his native land, France, the director, Morel, is known for another action flick. Â  For those of you who haven’t seen ‘District B13’, you’re missing out on one of the most fast-pace, kickass action films in recent memory.

Set in 2010, which seemed a little more futuristic when the film came out in 2004, the film follows an undercover cop (Cyris Raffaelli) and a vigilante (David Belle) must infiltrate the gang-infested ghettos of Paris. Â  They have 24 hours before a nuclear weapon is set to go off. Â  Much running, jumping, and overall badassery ensues.

If Snake Plissken listened to techno music, and was a whole helluva lot more agile, this is the kind of movie ‘Escape from New York’ would have been. Â  In fact, Morel’s film wears its influences proudly. Â  ‘Escape from New York’ is just one of many films to be referrenced here.

What ‘District B13’ is best know for, really, is its usage of parkour. Â  In fact, this is the film that introduced parkour to the world of cinema. Â  For those who do not know, parkour is an activity wherein someone moves from one point to another in quickest, most efficient way. Â  This is even if there are things in the person’s way. Â  People utilizing parkour will climb up sides of buildings, leap over walls, and never slowing down. Â  

If you saw ‘Casino Royale’, the chase scene in the beginning features parkour heavily. Â  The “damn hamster” John McClane is trying to shoot is actually Cyril Raffaelli. Â  David Belle, the star of ‘District B13’, is actually the founder of this sport. Â  90% of the action scenes in ‘District B13’ are real people doing real stunts without the usage of computer graphics or wirework.

Co-written by Luc Besson, ‘District B13’ got its release in France on November 10th, 2004. Â  It made nearly $7 million there before getting a release across the globe. Â  It got its US release on June 2, 2006. Â  It served somewhat of a counter-programming release to Universal’s ‘The Break-Up’, even though it only made $1.2 million in US box office. Â  It got its widest release of 151 screens when it opened, and it was out of theaters in 91 days.

The critical acclaim for ‘District B13’ was startling. Â  It currently has an 82% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Â  Critics referred to the film as “the most (maybe the only) fun action movie of the summer” and “both ridiculously hyperactive and a muscular feat of absolute confidence”. Â  Richard Schickel of TIME Magazine said of the film, “‘District B13’ makes everything Hollywood has lately done in the action genre look clumsy, dull and stale.”

A sequel to ‘District B13’, tentatively titled ‘District B13 Ultimatum’, began filming in August of 2008 in Belgrade, Serbia. Â  Both Raffaelli and Bell are reprising their respective roles, but Morel is not returning in the directing chair. Â  Luc Besson is still on writing/producing duties, but Patrick Alessandrin has stepped into the director’s chair.

‘District B13’ really is a film that any fan of action should check out. Â  It is a hyperkinetic film that never lets up, and, unlike ‘Taken’, it hits you right from the start. Â  There are a few moments of cheese and the film’s conclusion is predictable and hokey, but the film looks spectacular and the action involved is mind-blowing.