I first heard about District B13 when I read a brief review of it at the Home Theater Forum. I don't recall the specifics of the review, but I remember the short version basically said it was short on story and long on action, and on that level of action, it delivered. Then I saw a commercial. At that point, I was sold. Sadly, the movie never played theatrically in my area. Thankfully, the DVD is here to rectify the situation.
After watching the movie, I am forced to agree with the assessment. The story was thin and the action was high. District B13 is firing on all cylinders for the near 90 minutes of its runtime, stopping on brief occasions to spell out the plot for you. Dialogue is not a strong point, but having Luc Besson as the producer should probably tip you off to that. The name Besson become synonymous with over the top action, having produced films such as Transporter (1 and 2), Kiss of the Dragon, Unleashed, and Wasabi. This movie continues the tradition in explosive fashion.
Set in the near future, the bubbling undercurrent of class based struggles reach a boiling point. The government has constructed a wall around the low class ghettos to keep the "bad" influence away from the upper class. This ghetto is run by a drug dealer who goes by the name of Taha. All government influences are gone or leaving, no schools, no post office, an ineffectual police force. The plot kicks in when a prototype neutron bomb is stolen by Taha, who plans to sell it to the highest bidder – if he can do so before the timer runs out.
Before we get anywhere near the bomb plot, we need the requisite sequences to introduce us to the heroes. The opening scene introduces us to Leito, a man who has made an enemy of Taha by making off with a large quantity of heroin, and is proceeding to put it down a tub drain. In short order, Taha has his men, led by his right hand thug K2, retrieve the lost merchandise.
This leads to a breathtakingly exciting chase through, on, around, up, and down an apartment building. This is, quite possibly, the best sequence in the film. It shows off the athletic ability of David Belle, the actor playing Leito, and does a good job at setting the stage of what is yet to come. The sequence also sets up our hero as anti-drugs, someone willing to stand up for his beliefs, and with a strong sense of family. That may not all be apparent by this description, but once you see it, you will understand.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
I enjoyed the film and it's cinematography. Very over-the top action, indeed