Banlieue 13

Plot synopsis:
In 2010, social problems such as violence, drugs and organized crime have overrun the poorer suburbs of Paris, especially a Banlieue commonly referred to as B13 (Banlieue 13, or District 13 or Borough 13 in English), a ghetto with a population of some two million. Unable to control B13, the authorities construct a high wall topped by barbed wire around the entire area, forcing the inhabitants within to survive without education, proper utilities, or police protection behind the containment wall. Police checkpoints stop anybody from going in or out.Three years later, an almost feudal system has developed amongst the street gangs of B13. The area is now flooded with hard drugs such as heroin and completely controlled by gangsters. Certain blocks are ruled over by various individuals and one high rise apartment block is looked after by an athletic and street-wise man known as Leïto (David Belle). Leïto hates drugs and injustice and wages a one-man war against a neighboring gang lord named Taha Bemamud (Bibi Naceri) to keep his own building and people safe and free of drugs. Leïto captures 20 kg of cocaine from Taha, worth over a million euro, which incites Taha to send his thugs to recover the merchandise, led by the towering K2 (Tony D'Amario). Leïto destroys the cocaine by using bleach and uses parkour to evade Taha's thugs through the building and across rooftops.Taha kidnaps Leïto's younger sister Lola (Dany Verissimo) to use against him, but Leïto manages to invade Taha's base, rescue his sister, and kidnap Taha in turn. Leïto takes Taha to the police office at the edge of the district perimeter, but the police are in the process of abandoning their position on orders from the French Ministry, and are also threefold outnumbered by Taha's gang. The police release Taha and allow him to take Lola with him to avoid a confrontation. In addition, they put Leïto in a cell also to contain the situation, but Leïto kills the police chief in the process for handing over Lola.Six months later, outside of B13 in the affluent areas of Paris, an undercover police captain named Damien Tomaso (Cyril Raffaelli) infiltrates an underground casino and attempts to arrest the gangster who owns it. His extraction procedure fails, however, forcing him to fight his way through an army of thugs to escape the casino. Upon the mission's completion, Damien immediately receives another assignment from his chief and also the Defence Secretary of France, Mr Krüger. He is told that Taha has stolen an experimental neutron bomb that is set to detonate in 24 hours. His mission is to convince Leïto, imprisoned for months, to lead him to Taha's base so that he can disarm the bomb.Damien attempts to pass himself off as a fellow prisoner and helps Leïto escape to B13, but Leïto sees through Damien's act and abandons him. After fighting off some of the local thugs, Damien locates Leïto and admits the truth. They team up to disarm the bomb and rescue Lola. The pair surrenders to Taha in order to gain access to his base. There, they discover that Taha has rigged the warhead to a missile launcher, pointed towards the center of Paris and is prepared to blackmail the government with it. Taha demands a high ransom, which is refused by Damien's government contact. The pair escape, and while Taha's thugs pursue them, he discovers that the government has emptied all of his offshore accounts in the Bahamas. One of Taha's men asks how Taha will pay them. Frustrated Taha trys to shoot the member who asked him that only noticing his gun to be unloaded. Taha offers money from a safe he possesses. Knowing that with Tahas accounts emptied and unable to have any reason to work for him the thugs shoot Taha. This leaves K2, a more sympathetic character, in charge and K2 has a moment of reconciliation with Leïto, suggesting that peace is possible in the future within B13.Leïto and Damien fight their way to the tower holding Lola and the bomb. Once there, Damien calls his contact to receive the deactivation code, 9293709B13. Leïto recognizes the code as a reference to the bomb's location (9293 is the district's area code), the day's date (7 September), and the district, B13. Leïto deduces that the government has set them up and the code will actually detonate the bomb instead of deactivating it. He fights Damien to prevent him from entering the code. The timer runs out and the bomb does not detonate, proving Leïto's theory.The pair return to the government building with the bomb and force Mr Krüger to admit that he had planned to blow up B13 as a means to get rid of it. The confession has been taped and is immediately broadcast by pirate television transmission. The pair's actions cause a major scandal that sparks public support for B13. Soon the rest of the government promises to tear down the containment wall and bring back schools and police to B13. Leïto and Damien depart as friends, and Lola kisses Damien to encourage him to visit B13 in the future.

Tags: revenge, action, murder, violence

Review:
When the government learns that local kingpin (Larbi or Bibi Narceri , Sami Narceri's brother ; even though Bibi Naceri co-wrote the script, he still had to audition for the part of Taha along with other actors) has acquired a nuclear weapon , Damien (Cyril Raffaelli) and Leito (David Belle , the originator of Le Parkour ) are called upon to avoid an atomic bomb on destroying the blocks at the heart of District 13 with tactical precision and as save the city .
They confront their enemies in order to find out location the bomb (the bomb code is: 9293709B13) and his sister (Dany Verissimo who spent two whole days on a roof in the freezing cold in ripped clothes, handcuffed to a bomb and Luc Besson wrote the part of Lola specifically for her) who was formerly kidnapped , but someone is still after them and are forced to once again take up violent means to survive .¨13th District¨ is an exciting film that contains suspense , thrills, noisy action , shootouts and violent fights .
The highlights of the movie are The Parkour , also known in USA as Free Running whose origin was in ¨Yamasaki¨ film directed by Ariel Zeitoun , Julien Seri and also produced by Luc Besson with his production company called ¨EuropaCorps¨ .
This film takes everything that has been learned in the last 100 years about how to make an action movie and distills it into a perfect 85 minutes.The stars are true athletes, including David Belle, the co-founder of the sport of Parkour.
He has spent 18 years perfecting his skills, which means that most of the spectacular stunts are real, not done with special effects.The plot is action-movie perfect as well: A criminal kingpin, a damsel in distress, an honest cop, a noble criminal, corrupt officials, double crosses, nearly superhuman enemies.
I'll have to watch it at least a few more times before I make a proper review, but for NOW, let me just attest that the action was so intensely awesome that I forgot to breath; I actually found myself short of breath more than once just from watching.I have followed eastern action cinema for years and have been continuously intrigued and impressed with their inventiveness and physical expression, but without doubt this film has not just raised the bar for western martial arts/action movies but for the entire Action Movie genre.The stunt work is flawlessly executed, and utterly amazing.
If this movie gives you a sense of deja vu, don't worry just flow with it.The movie follows the recent Ong Bak trend of action movies in that there is very little plot or a somewhat lacking storyline but is compensated for by bone crunching and realistic action/athletic sequences, albeit in this case with a French flavor.After the opening "fly through" of the barrio we get a glimpse at one of the protagonists, Leito (David Belle).
Violent, like kids schoolyard games, not horrific (no torture, no blood), not "adult" (even if Dany Verissimo happens to be a famous adult movie actress), but not too unbelievable either : while you watch, you're in, you believe in all, the action and the plot..
The story is good and develops at a good pace.Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle deserve huge credit for the way they performed in this film, the stunts were all real and just looked incredible.
Much better than most American recent action movies, especially due to lack of fast editing and more focus being put on actually being able to see what our two heroes are up to.Leïto is a local resident of the infamous Banlieue 13, a district cut off from the rest of France in 2010 due to uncontrollable crime.
This is because the stunt-work is so amazing and insane that I STILL recommend you see it.When the film begins, you learn that in the future, cities are often walled up and the scum inside are allowed to flourish--sort of like in "Escape From New York".
Its just basic stuff but i have to give the film a thumbs up for sheer over achievement on the technical side.Its like watching a really good advert that goes on for just a bit too long but still leaves you with the feeling that you've experienced something quite fresh and unique.I cant really say a great deal more about the film, the stunt work pretty much does all the talking and gives the film a 7/10 all by itself.
i had heard of this movie having David belle who inspired me and many young men alike to take part in parkour- so I had to see this movie.David and Cyril did great acting i thought and the director's use of camera angle was really effective in capturing the audience.The dialogue drags out a bit but well worth waiting to see the action- truly inspiring!
The music is well suited to the movie and provides great effect to the scene presented and to the audience watching.The combination of drugs, politics, hot cars, parkour and kung-fu make this movie one to see just for the action..The storyline is not the best, however once the movie starts it will have you waiting to see the action of David and Cyril.
- I thought.The writers had other ideas, however, and turned in a story written by one of their 13 year old children - drowning in cliché and hackneyed movie concepts, awful simplistic characters and unbelievable plot developments.I feel sorry for the free jumpers involved in this film.
Parkour, a martial art in which the expert uses his environment to bounce around like a monkey on speed, is indeed an art, and just amazing to watch, and when this film is in action mode, it can be a lot of fun.
It just leaves me with my jaw dropped - most of us would actually die if we tried to do what they can do!**Small spoiler to anyone unaware of the plot**So as I said, it is quite simple close to a perfect action movie; it has; very simple plot, loads of fantastic real stunts (not CGI made for a change) performed by amazingly fit guys, an honest cop, a noble criminal, bad & good guys are evenly matched (which is rare), there is a criminal kingpin & his underdogs, at stake: honour and the lives of millions & all that in 85min!.
With incredible Parkour stunts and one of the main characters played by David Belle, considered by many the founder and leading pioneer of Parkour, "District B13" delivers what you can ask from a good action-thriller - and more.
The straight-faced absurdity is part of the film's charm, but it's the relentless pace with invigorating action sequences that comes to define "District B13." Director Pierre Morel, working from a script by producer Luc Besson, focuses only on the essentials for an action film: speed, stunts, and the kind of human special effects that technology can't deliver.Set in future of 2010, "District B13" imagines crime and anarchy to have gotten so out of control that the government has erected a wall to isolate a suburban ghetto from proper Paris residents.
Produced by Luc Besson (one of the coolest directors of all time), directed by Pierre Morel (who went on to make "Taken" and "From Paris With Love"), and starring David Belle (the guy who founded the urban sport of parkour, where people run and move in fancy ways to overcome obstacles), "District B13" is all about style and action, and it's pretty damn cool that way.
Towards the end, a type of "fight the power" message emerged, which might be seen as a little pushy, dumb, or one-sided; I personally thought it was something of a redeeming factor.With quality, stylish photography and editing effects, the film looks really cool, especially in the way it captures the action and the seedy ghetto settings.
It's probably one of the coolest flicks that I've seen, French or otherwise, and chances are that if you enjoy action, impressive stuntwork, and stylish cinema like I do, then this film should be right up your alley.4/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Average | Film: Pretty Good).
I can not possible say enough good things about the action and stunt work in this film, it is absolutely jaw dropping, I have never seen anything like it, ever.
One of the heroes' sister is kidnapped by a gang of underworld-type drug dealers who have also stolen a rather large neutron bomb, cue the other hero, an undercover cop sent to retrieve the bomb.Penned by the legend Luc Besson, you can guarantee the story is gripping enough to hold its own with the mix of the extraordinarily executed parkour, this movie is definitely designed to have you holding your breath on the edge of your seat.Packed with adrenaline, District B13 is a must for action lovers!.
I like the quiet meandering of traditional French films; the tranquil village settings, occasional incidents, such as when a young woman takes a dip in the lake or a bottle of wine is opened in a sensual manner, ah yes, vive la difference...until this, Pierre Morel's Banlieue 13, a wham bam thank you m'am action picture that beats some Hollywood movies at their own game.I quite liked the asides and minor whimsy interspersing the action and fighting; the 17 year old who lent me the DVD loves action movies, but I also enjoyed the plot, energy and traditional good guy versus bad guy theme.
Most of the acting of all the side characters is only so-so or just what you'd expect from an action-flick, but the two male leads (David Belle, in his first leading role as Leïto and Cyril Raffaelli, who started out as a stunt choreographer in the late 90's, as Damien Tomaso) are doing a damn fine job and even have a nice bit of chemistry together on-screen.
Not at acting of course, but at putting their very lives on the line to deliver a movie that revolves around the sport and makes similar action movies look stale.The story takes place in near future France where a massive wall has sprung up around district 13, the most crime-riddled ghetto in the country in an attempt to keep the unsavoury inhabitants separated from everybody else.
Each of these sequences are incredible - Belle makes running away from fights look phenomenal, while Raffaeli comes across as a French Tony Jaa as he gets up close and personal with some bone crunching martial arts fury - but unfortunately, they unleash the full bag of tricks too soon.Not that there isn't plenty of similar stuff to follow, it just pales in comparison to these opening scenes.
It isn't meant to be a work of great drama its merely a well put together entertaining french action film, with some amazing parkour stunts.
My favorite movie last year...even above Ong Bak. Le Parkour (the art of movement) is featured prominently in this sci-fi action film featuring amazing martial arts and "stunts".
I believe this film will spark more directors and writers to include parkour into their movies.With fantastic performances from David Belle and Cyril Rafaelli and great choreography this film is simply fantastic.This film uses no stunt doubles as far as the main characters go, and there are no wires used, this film has drawn comparison to Ong Bak also used these factors.
I'm a girl who loves action films (unlike many females) and guys, many girls will actually enjoy much of this film; try to talk them into watching it for just 10 minutes ...they should be hooked after Leito's opening Parkour scene.
Though predictable and familiar,District B13 is one heck of an adrenaline excitement that won't be seen in a Hollywood film.It's not best action film,it's actually an action film featuring one of the best action scenes in recent years.The best action film is packed with smart writing,characters,drama,like Matrix or T2.But here you'll get fantastic action scenes.This is the new age of action films and the impact that Tony Jhaa fight style has made ,I hope future action films can be as jaw dropping as this.Cuz once the action starts you don't give a damn about the plot holes or errors of the script including a weak third act.Set in the year 2010,in a dystopian France,a young man and his sister attempts to get a ruthless crime lord who's turned District B13 a hell, to the government.But when the government police back stabs him,his sister is captured by the crime lord and he's imprisoned.Months later, a bomb is stolen by the crime lord that will go off in 24 hours,and will wipe out District B13.A military officer is assigned to go to the worst sides of the area,that is to the Crime lord and diffuse the bomb.He's teamed up with the young man and then they combine their skills and energy and watch these two men as they blow your mind away with their athletic performance that can be compared with that of TOny Jhaa's.It's as simple and predictable it gets.I wish I could learn Parkour.It's an exciting sport,where you are taught to defy gravity.These guys are super-humans.Watching them do all those path breaking stunts without any safety really kicks your ass.The plot is good enough to keep you engaged.But it's two leads,who surprised me that they don't just do incredible stunts,but can act.The directing and editing is solid and the action scenes,like I said, are unbelievable.Packed with ultra cool chase scenes and soundtrack.This is not to be missed if you love action films.It's fast,kinetic and non-stop thrill ride with enough drama and fun.It avoids cookie-cutter speeches and skips straight to the point.It's short and sweet.Vastly entertaining action film.Recommended..
Cyril Raffaelli (who attended the screening) is a long-time associate of Besson, mainly working stunts or as a body double in a number of movies such as Double Team and Ronin before moving on to acting in films such as Kiss of the Dragon (where he can be seen fighting Jet Li in the climax) and Crimson Rivers 2.David Belle is an interesting choice in that he is the founder of Le Parkour, a movement where people try to move from point A to point B as fast as possible, in the most fluid manner as possible, without stopping, and always moving forward, never backward.
He's now been in almost 70 films, 10 of them with Europa, Luc Besson's company.He's been a body double for Jean-Claude Van Damne in Double Team.Raffaelli's work in Kiss of the Dragon led to the role in Banlieue 13.He is very into martial arts and action films of all kinds from all over, but when he is making or choreographing a film, he likes to read the entire script to get a sense of the character, and tries to be realistic in the stunts and the combat, unlike a lot of US films.Raffaelli tried to show the differences between Leito and Damien in their fighting styles; Leito, being from the street, has a rougher style, more boxing-like, while Damien, being from the more civilized part of Paris, has a cleaner, more calculated style.Since Belle had no background in acrobatics or martial arts, Raffaelli took him to Thailand and trained him over a two-year period.Raffaelli doesn't do parkour himself in the pure sense, but has used elements of it in a chase scene he choreographed for Crimson Rivers 2, plus as a stunt professional he feels he is supposed to be able to do anything (he's certified in scuba diving, skydiving, horseback riding, driving cars/trucks/motorcycles).He has trained in multiple martial arts, including karate, Tae Kwon Do, Brazilian ju-jitsu, and combat-style kung-fu (of which he was the French champion in 1997).
Ostensible the story of two guys, one a local from District 13 who's been wrongly imprisoned and the other a Cop who are brought together to work for the French Government when a Nuclear Warhead goes missing (As they tend to do, if you will it's a bit like Escape to New York).The beginning of the film certainly packs a punch, with a 5 minute action sequence built around the French phenomenon of 'Le Parkour' or 'Free Running'.
With a poll coming up on IMDbs Classic Film board for the best titles of 2004,I was happily caught by surprise,when a very kind fellow IMDber sent me a DVD of a great-looking French Action movie,which led to me getting ready to enter District 13.The plot:Seeing crime go out of control,the French government in 2010 decide to build a wall to separate the most crime-ridden ghettos from the rest of France.2013 (How futuristic!):Finding that all of his heroin supply has been destroyed by Leïto,leading gangster Taha Bemamud decides to get his revenge by kidnapping Leïto's sister Lola.Discovering that his sister has been taken, Leïto fights to get her back,but his stopped in his tracks by a group of corrupt police officers,who put Leïto in jail.6 Months later:Learning that Bemamud's gang has gotten hold of a nuclear bomb which is set to go off in 24 hours,the French government decide to send Capt.
spelling might be wrong) and www.le-parkour.com (have to look around for David belle) are better choreographed and executed.But i can't complain, I mean to see these guys on film is simply my dream come true...it's like watching people who have worked SO HARD in their life finally get some credit.I TRULY hope they get some more rules and control in the action scenes.Final score: 8.5/10 because of how amazing the action is it's a sight to see and judge only from a first hand perspective.
The Transporter, Ong Bak and Escape From New York, and while I enjoyed the action and the chemistry shown between the two charismatic leads Cyril Raffaelli|Damien| and David Belle|Leito| the story was often lacking in my opinion, it was much too simple.