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Banlieue 13 / District B13

Plot is secondary to thrilling stunts

By BRETT MICHEL | May 31, 2006

3.0 Stars

FISTS AND FEET: Plot is secondary to thrilling stuntwork in Banlieue 13/District B 13

Taking a page from John Carpenter’s Escape from New York, cinematographer-turned-director Pierre Morel’s breezy assemblage of acrobatics eschews the former’s dark climes in favor of a brightly lit Parisian ghetto, the better to see the amazing action. In 2010, walled-in slums, abandoned by the state, have given rise to lawless gangs, led by Scarface-like Taha (co-screenwriter Bibi Naceri). When he comes into possession of a “clean bomb” that will kill millions, it’s up to über-flic Damien (Cyril Raffaelli) and sprung convict Leito (David Belle) to stop him — and dozens of stuntmen — with nothing but their fists and feet. Like last year’s Ong-bak (another enjoyable lark with ties to this film’s producer/co-screenwriter Luc Besson), plot is secondary to thrilling stunts, all performed without the aid of wires.

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Topics: Reviews , John Carpenter, Luc Besson, Pierre Morel, More

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