Jason KingDistrict 13 Ultimatum: A Review and Blu Ray Giveaway
August 10th 2011 09:17
:
I love Parkour!!
Category: Reviews, Interesting
The loud, intense, and explosive action saga Banlieue (District) 13: Ultimatum is a sequel to the 2004 European blockbuster Banlieue 13. This second installment was directed by Patrick Alessandrin but initially created from the vision of writer-producer Luc Besson, also responsible for scripting and producing the first film. Ultimatum starts three years after the original, in the slightly dystopian realm of suburban Paris, circa 2013. Ultra-violence now riddles the city -- to such a degree that cops have imposed a lockdown on the area, to little avail. Significantly, the neighborhood is also formally subdivided into ethnic enclaves, including Arabic, Asian, Caucasian, and African. As the tale opens, a crack team of rogue cops pulls off a police assassination inside of the district, prompting the police chief (Daniel Duval) to try to persuade the president (Philippe Torreton) to bulldoze the area and let the cops cash in on the turf's real estate value. In response, two of the said rogues, Damien (Cyril Raffaelli) and Leito (David Belle), hit the streets, guns blazing, and exude all of the force at their disposal to save the region from complete obliteration.
I thoroughly enjoyed this endless action film. Sadly, I missed the first one and didn't even know there was a first film until I started writing this article. This film is one of the truly successful films to utilise and highlight the crazy "sport" of parkour - or more precisely jumping from everything to everything while making it looking cool and not dying. It's like planking with movement
The two leads, Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle are just sensational. Raffaelli is basically the European Jason Statham who is a billion times more acrobatic and Belle is just as athletic - they make a mean onscreen combo. I wanted more at the end. This is the kind of action film that has a very 80's feel to it. Good guys, bad guys and everything very black and white. I could see Arnie and Eddie Murphy teaming up - if only they were acrobatic hahaha.
It is what it is and won't win any Oscar-like awards but it never takes itself too seriously and has an enjoyable plot and some very interesting characters when all the clans come together. Plus the action is top notch and definite A Grade.
The film is directed by Patrick Alessandrin who is a guy from France who has made some French films and forgive my absolute ignorance - I have no idea about any of his body of work. That will teach my ma for taking me to Cineplexes when I was younger But it is produced and written by Luc Besson who I know and love. This guy is one of my most loved film people - he made The Fifth Element and that is enough for me. Throw in Leon The Professional, Taken, The Transporter series of films and the guy reaches god like status.
The film is out recently on Blu Ray and again the amazing people at ICON have given me 3X Blu Rays to giveaway to my Australian readers. To win one of these three discs be one of the first 3 people to email me at jkdigitaldesigns@gmail the answer to this question:
what is the "sport" highlighted in the film?
Have a kick ass week and remember parkour is for professionals - do not try it at home - or that planking shit!
I thoroughly enjoyed this endless action film. Sadly, I missed the first one and didn't even know there was a first film until I started writing this article. This film is one of the truly successful films to utilise and highlight the crazy "sport" of parkour - or more precisely jumping from everything to everything while making it looking cool and not dying. It's like planking with movement
The two leads, Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle are just sensational. Raffaelli is basically the European Jason Statham who is a billion times more acrobatic and Belle is just as athletic - they make a mean onscreen combo. I wanted more at the end. This is the kind of action film that has a very 80's feel to it. Good guys, bad guys and everything very black and white. I could see Arnie and Eddie Murphy teaming up - if only they were acrobatic hahaha.
It is what it is and won't win any Oscar-like awards but it never takes itself too seriously and has an enjoyable plot and some very interesting characters when all the clans come together. Plus the action is top notch and definite A Grade.
The film is directed by Patrick Alessandrin who is a guy from France who has made some French films and forgive my absolute ignorance - I have no idea about any of his body of work. That will teach my ma for taking me to Cineplexes when I was younger
But it is produced and written by Luc Besson who I know and love. This guy is one of my most loved film people - he made The Fifth Element and that is enough for me. Throw in Leon The Professional, Taken, The Transporter series of films and the guy reaches god like status. 
The film is out recently on Blu Ray and again the amazing people at ICON have given me 3X Blu Rays to giveaway to my Australian readers. To win one of these three discs be one of the first 3 people to email me at jkdigitaldesigns@gmail the answer to this question:
what is the "sport" highlighted in the film?
Have a kick ass week and remember parkour is for professionals - do not try it at home - or that planking shit!
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Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
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Have a good one and more comps coming!