Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Console best movie i've ever seen.

Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Leofwine_draca A French producer had the bright idea of combining the extreme sport of Parkour – actually invented by one of this film's stars, David Belle – with a hard-hitting action movie along the lines of ONG BAK, and the culmination of these ideas is DISTRICT 13 – possibly the greatest French action film ever made, and one that certainly urinates freely all over the like of TAXI and other so-called classics. DISTRICT 13 is a simple film – as with much French cinema, it's all about style rather than substance, and there isn't a great deal of back story to worry about – and that's what makes it so great: it offers a ton of action, fulfils the promise, and that's it. No more, no less. A scant 80 minute movie packed with lots of Guy Ritchie-style bad guys, lots of chases and running about, and interspersed with action.When you actually sit down and watch the movie, there isn't actually a great deal of big action scenes. One each to introduce the two heroes, then about two to three once the story moves along. But it doesn't matter, because the plot is so fast-paced you'll never get bored. In regards to the acting stakes, David Belle doesn't, but I'm pleased to say that Cyril Raffaelli (familiar as the blond twin from KISS OF THE DRAGON) is effective and fits the 'action hero' role like a glove. The assorted goons and low-lives that flesh out the cast are comic-book cut-outs and the dialogue is suitably lowly, but that matters not. It's the action where this film hits hardest and most effectively.The film kicks off with actually the best scene of all (not always a great idea, as it sets a high which the rest of the movie cannot quite reach). David Belle practises Parkour against a bunch of thugs, and the result is breathtaking; tight editing, pounding music, and a ton of stunts that computers just can't emulate. Belle runs up walls, jumps off roofs, performs incredible feats of agility, and, in my favourite bit, jumps through a tiny window above a door all in one fluid motion. He literally doesn't stop moving for even one second and the result is a five minute sequence that's up there in the 'ten best action scenes' of all time ranking. After this, the other action scenes involve crisp shoot-outs (with John Woo style slow-mo and slick spin-in-the-air moves), speeding cars out of control, and lots and lots of machine guns. One stand-out is a comic fight as the two heroes team up to take on the Yeti, an impossible mountain of a man who resists breeze blocks smashing across his body and reminds me of WARRIOR KING's Nathan Jones. The final one-on-one between Raffaelli and Belle is also notable for being an intense and surprisingly violent fight scene as the two duke it out while a bomb ticks down nearby. DISTRICT 13 is certainly a watchable, efficient and highly entertaining movie, and I hope to see other films come along that follow suit.

ma-cortes Thrilling and violent movie with a phenomenal starring pair and in which Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle cast all the Stuntmen themselves . Set in the rundown ghettos of Paris in 2010, an undercover cop and ex-thug try to infiltrate a gang in order to defuse a neutron bomb . 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 . With acrobatic skillfulness and adrenaline pumping belief in their own abilities, they throw themselves out from incredible heights, and jump from roof to roof ; locked doors and 'No Trespassing' signs become irresistible challenges . 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 main couple is unabashed in its dedication to fanboy stunt work . From the beginning to the final the noisy action and fast movement is unstopped , including breathtaking scenes in which bounds and leaps through apartments blocks and at moments give the impression that they are flying . Cyril Raffaelli as a hard-rock , two-fisted agent is top-notch . This is a frantic rehash of ¨Escape from NY¨ , rightly realized in French style . 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¨ . Duo protagonist more than make up for in an skill to soar across a rolling medley highrise flats blocks . The way in which the actors prove this abilities , is in fact an activity called Parkour and was invented by David Belle himself , influenced by his father Raymond Belle . Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle had three months to prepare all their Parkour stunts for the film . There weren't any special effects , wire-work, computer graphics... used in 90% of the Parkour scenes . Good cinematography by cameraman Manuel Teran using Steadicam and zooms with numerous locations from Paris slums . The musician Da Octopuss creates a stirring, moving soundtrack fitting to frantic action . Lavishly produced by the successful French producer and director Luc Besson . The flick was stunningly realized by the habitual cameraman, Pierre Morel in his first film, -the second was the successful ¨Taken¨- , though Alexandre Aja was originally hired to direct the movie the first . Filmmaker Pierre gives the action a dance-like quality and the whole movie took 10 months for production , idea, script, casting, filming, etc , as from January 2004 to October 2004 . Followed by "District 13: Ultimatum" by Patrick Alessandrin again with Cyril Raffaelli as Capt. Damien Tomaso , David Belle as Leïto , Philippe Torreton as Le Président De la République and as well as starring in the film, Cyril Raffaelli also choreographed all the fight sequences ; however David Belle didn't practice all his Parkour stunts , most of the ones that you see in the film were of him performing the stunt for the first time . Rating: Better than average, well worth seeing , this is a highly agreeable action movie . The picture will appeal to explosive action fans

Lost in Film UK Story/Plot - District 13 (Banliue 13) is a French film by director Pierre Morel. Set in the segregated slums of Paris in the not so distant future District 13B has been declared the most crime ridden and infested of all. Leito a bit of a thug himself is brought into a crisis when his sister Lola is kidnapped by a ruthless crime boss. Leito does everything he can to get his sister back but does not foresee himself being arrested in a deep story of betrayal.We flash forward six months and Leito is paired with undercover cop Damien as news of a stolen neutron bomb hits B13. Together these two must work together to ensure the bomb does not go off. They fight of the crime bosses and their gangs to reach the bomb in time. However, when Damien receives the deactivation code, Leito quickly sees that the code references the District and that date. This prompts Leito to stop Damien from entering the code, the clock reaches zero ........................................................ the bomb does not go off. Leito was right.The French government are now seen as responsible for the bomb being taken to B13 and installed ready to be triggered by the deactivation code. The bomb is taken to the government and a senior member is taped confessing to the plans to destroy B13. This tape is broadcast immediately and B13 becomes a slightly better place to live.My verdict - To me this films was simply outstanding. Action films full of the art of parkour will keep you gripping onto your seat as you cheer on Leito and Damien in their mission. Plenty of fights, chases and a decent soundtrack is enough to keep you entertained all the way through.This film is very highly recommended.

ajs-10 I reviewed the sequel to this, Banlieue 13 - Ultimatum (2009) (a.k.a. District 13 – Ultimatum), back in June 2010 (you can find that review here: film-review-district-13-ultimatum-2009). Funnily enough, this film is very similar, with just as much action as in the sequel. But more of that later, here's a very brief summary first (summary haters please wait outside the walls of District 13 while I write the next paragraph).The French government have walled off a section of Paris to contain lawless elements within. A vigilante who lives there, Leïto, is in a dispute with a drug lord, Taha, when Taha kidnaps his sister. Taking revenge, Leïto captures Taha and takes him to the police, only for the corrupt cops to release Taha and lock up Leïto. Some time later, a straight-up cop, Tomaso, is tasked with retrieving a bomb that has been stolen in District 13. He takes Leïto to help him, on the promise that they will also rescue his sister. The bomb will explode in just a few hours and Leïto has a plan. I won't say any more, don't want to give too much away.This is a very well made film that has some great fight sequences and some brilliant free-running segments also. Performances were also pretty good, although it's quite hard to judge with an action film in a foreign language. But honourable mentions must go to; Cyril Raffaelli as Capt. Damien Tomaso, David Belle as Leïto, Tony D'Amario as K2, Bibi Naceri as Taha Bemamud and Dany Verissimo as Lola.Like the sequel, I found the plot a little simplistic, although there were some nice little twists in this one that were missing from the second. As I said, the fight sequences and free-running were excellent; I just felt there could have been a little more of them. The film did get a little too bogged down in dialogue from time to time which, I felt, didn't help the flow of the action. Having said that, it's still worth seeing for the action sequences, and so, recommended.My score: 6.8/10