recommended

Lack of good storyline.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Banlieue 13 is a thrilling straightforward action movie.I debated with myself if a 10/10 score would be giving it too much credit, but no, this movie deserves it. This movie is awesome.The stunts are believable and outstanding to watch. It has that thrilling effect where everything is on the edge.The plot was OK to me. It's simple and it's done in a great manner. For a 84 minutes movie, everything looks fine. Though I think IMDb's description about the movie is kinda off: Leito is not a thug by any means. I'd describe him as a punisher; or just a good guy who got tired of all that cr** -- not a thug by any means, though I get what they were thinking!Action at its best!

Phenomenal parkour stunts, phenomenally thin plot. I only watched this for the parkour, and if that is all you are interested in also, this is not a waste of time. Otherwise, the basic plot has been done in better and more interesting movies, such as "Escape from New York" and "Dredd", i.e., mission into a sector which has been abandoned by the government to criminal elements set in the relatively near dystopian future. Still the stunts made it worth watching, because they were highly skilled and not performed by stunt men--really great stuff. It's best to view this movie as a display of remarkable athletic ability, instead of having any significance as an actual film, although it does manage a powerful atmosphere throughout most of the movie. Even though this movie is less than 90 minutes long, it drags at the end when the filmmaker tries to throw in some heavy-duty moralizing, a check that this light-weight film can't cash. So, at the risk of repeating myself one too many times, this movie is simply an excuse to film excellent parkour--don't expect much more going into it and you won't be disappointed.

I am not normally one to watch a film where I have to read subtitles the whole way through but I still decided to give this one a go after hearing about the free-running type action in the film. It didn't disappoint.The subtitles were easy to follow and the action just kept me glued to the screen from start to finish. The story is good and develops at a good pace.Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle deserve huge credit for the way they performed in this film, the stunts were all real and just looked incredible. The fight scenes were just brilliant, it was a complete thrill ride. If you want good over the top action this is for you! It was only an hour and 15 minutes or so and it was over in what felt like 20 minutes, that's how fast and good the action was. Would recommend this film to anyone wanting to see some great action and fighting scenes. Looking forward to watching the sequel now.8/10.

I'll always remember how I discovered this incredible movie ; I was bored late one evening and tried to look for something watchable on TV because I couldn't sleep...And then, BOOOM! the introductory chase sequence! like a punch in the stomach! And then all the rest of the film, aaaaww..wonderful, just wonderful.This film will leave you exhausted and relieved : AT LAST a REAL ACTION FLICK! bow your head in shame, Hollywood!Definitely in my 10 best films ever list, no matter how good the rest.Three remarks now :The only drawback of this film is, yes, that it slows a bit after twenty terrific first minutes, but such an explosion of action can just not last for the duration of one film, alasPeople regularly ask if CGI was used in this film ; as a fan of David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli, I've read the interview about the stunts : the only trick they used was a harness securing David Belle in the scene when leïto jumps from the window to catch the rope. NOTHING ELSEThey are people who say all over IMDb that the plot twist in the end is unbelievable and stupid...Oh, really? Well I can tell you as a real Paris banlieusard -my first 39 years of life in Sarcelles and Les Ulis, this will legitimate me with the French readers-, that many many people in my country would feel VERY COMFORTABLE with that plot twist! And concerning the violence in the banlieues, just let me tell you that, if the violence isn't yet up to this film's, it is slowly but surely going up and up! so no, this isn't totally a fantasy, just a exaggerated image of a terrible reality.