This got mentioned in the Terrible Summer o’ Movies thread, so I thought I’d give it its own thread.
It’s been getting good reviews, but I didn’t dig it(and I’m a big fan of crap. I loved Transporter 1). I mean, yeah, it’s awesome that there is a freestyle walking action movie, and both of the stars are definitely kickass stuntmen, but, uh, the plot? The movie is only like 80 minutes long and it was still confusing and/or stupid.
Oh, and pacing is relatively terrible. There are 3 signficant action sequences, and 2 of them take place in the first 20 minutes. The first two are absolutely fantastic, though, but I’d recommend just watching them on Youtube because the rest of the movie kind of sucks.
I didn’t know about it until now, but there actually is a sequel on its way.
I also agree with you on the first movie. The first 20 minutes are really great, and then it turns into a mess. Doesn’t help that the two main protagonists can’t act their way out of a phone booth.
It’s available for Netflix streaming, definitely worth checking out on there for the action sequences alone. You won’t miss all that much if you fast-forward through the boring parts.
This is one of those flicks that would be better if everyone responsible had simply realized the very best approach would be the following opening plot exposition: “Protagonist(s)! You only have 90 minutes to get through the Dangerous Prop Warehouse and Setpiece Locations! Watch out for the ninjas! Go!!!”
The opening parkour chase sequence is great, though. It was nice of them to put the best bits first.
Honestly, I agree that it’s frontloaded, but I loved the whole thing. I’m leery of a sudden unnecessary sequel, but on the other hand, as long as the action’s suitably intense and spectacular…this is the sort of movie where it would be acceptable.
The main wonderful thing about this movie is that the actors do all the stunts themselves, which gives an incredible visceral punch to the action sequences; watching those men perform those moves is amazing. The actuality of their bodies in space was amazing to me.
Watching this movie, I felt like we’d lost something important in modern action movies, and that District B13 was giving it back.
That’s probably because the two main “actors” are a professional stuntman / choreographer and the founder of parkour. They make me think of HK actor-stuntmen like Jackie Chan, rather than Hollywood leading men - good for the action scenes, not so good for the drama.
The initial Parkour action scenes are just fantastic - but the movie just gets stupider and stupider, and the fun action is heavily frontloaded, unlike ONG BAK, for instance.
It’s stupid action fun but I like it. The fact that it’s in crazy foreign speak also helps keep the bombastic story at a distance. Fun trivia, while the male leads are stuntmen-turned-actors the female lead is a pornstar-turned-actress.
