Banlieue 13 2004

Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times: Read more

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune: The movie doesn't make a lick of sense, but it's done with such zest and skill -- and such incredible stunt work and action choreography by co-stars Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle -- that the absurdities don't sabotage it. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: I was delighted by the balletic and acrobatic stunts, some of which evoke Tarzan. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: Real-life events have overtaken District B13, and they give this feverish, yet oddly flat French action adventure a whiff of substance to go along with its spectacular stunts. Read more

Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: B13 is watchable and, sometimes, quite invigorating. But only when it's getting its adrenaline rush from its stampeding macho duo. Read more

Scott Tobias, AV Club: A passable mismatched-buddy movie, goosed up by hard-hitting martial arts and flashy camera acrobatics. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: Like its stunt work, the movie is both ridiculously hyperactive and a muscular feat of absolute confidence. I don't expect to have a more adrenalizing time at the movies this summer. Read more

Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times: The typically moronic plot simply gets in the way of what might have been a super-ambitious sneaker commercial. Read more

Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle: District B-13 is bad sci-fi, but it succeeds as mindless action. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: It may be subtitled, and the faces may be unfamiliar, but District B13 is the best buddy action movie around. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: Terse, taut and willing to pack on some philosophical weight, District B13 wastes no time in shouting 'Action!' Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: Who hasn't wanted to leap down a stairwell, bounce from rooftop to rooftop, do a backflip over a bad guy, give him a few chop socky blows and then take away his gun? Read more

Marc Bernardin, Entertainment Weekly: The big innovation here is that the two nimble leads, stuntmen-turned-stars, are devotees of parkour, a fancy French word for the fluid use of urban environments as jungle gyms. Read more

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: When a film is this entertaining, it doesn't have to be all that original. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: Mix in a whole lot of automatic gunfire, an overblown crime plot, a heavy dose of industrial-strength techno and a dystopian view of French social policy. Stir. Enjoy. Read more

Ernest Hardy, L.A. Weekly: Go for the dazzling, if repetitive, human stunt work. Endure the appallingly simplistic politics. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: The latest attack of excess from French action impresario Luc Besson. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: District B13 is a fine, snappy little picture that's one-part Escape From New York, one-part martial-arts flick, and mostly silly fun. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: A scrappy action flick that shifts into high gear immediately and never slows down, this rousing French import aspires to no higher goal than flashy entertainment. In that regard, it succeeds entirely. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: District B13 is one of those films where you appreciate the artistry of violence, then forget about it as soon as you get into the car and head home. Read more

Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle: Note to moviegoers: If you can still be entertained by a thriller that unabashedly borrows from others of its ilk and don't mind reading subtitles, you could do worse than District B13. Read more

Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: District B13 doesn't waste time with fake personality clashes. Both lead actors are amazingly fluid athletes, and during the many getaway and shoot-'em-up sequences, there is a minimum of special effects or wire choreography. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: The creator of films such as The Transporter, The Fifth Element and La Femme Nikita can be counted on for movies that are big, stupid and often just skillfully demented enough to be fun. District B13 obliges on all accounts. Read more

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star: The French-made, futuristic adrenaline-pumper District 13 doesn't really grab you by the short hairs until it shows you why David Belle is the movie's star. Read more

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine: Let's put the matter simply: The French thriller District B13 makes everything Hollywood has lately done in the action genre look clumsy, dull and stale. Read more

David Jenkins, Time Out: As 85-minute testosterone binges go, you could do a whole lot worse. Read more

Lisa Nesselson, Variety: A message-based actioner that's fast, dumb fun. Read more

Jim Ridley, Village Voice: Spread the word: This delirious import is the most (maybe the only) fun action movie of the summer. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: District B13 is as slickly edited, filmed and choreographed as it is empty of compelling characters or the meaningful ideas (institutional racism, the bleak future) it professes to be about. Ultimately, it walls itself in. Read more