District 13: Ultimatum Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

District 13: Ultimatum Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 25, 2009

Patrick Alessandrin's "Banlieue 13 - Ultimatum" a.k.a "District 13: Ultimatum" (2009) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of UK-based distributors momentum Pictures. Amongst the supplemental features on the disc are: a lengthy "Making-of", production diary, extended and deleted scenes, and more. With optional English subtitles for the main features and supplemental features. Region-B "locked".

Yes, we're back!

Banlieue 13 Ultimatum begins exactly where its predecessor, Banlieue 13, ended – at the gates of District 13 where Damien (Cyril Raffaelli, District 13) and Leito (David Belle, District 13) shake hands, wish each other good luck and part ways. Now, three years later, they are about to meet again.

Damien and his fellow colleagues have just busted a drug-smuggling organization in the heart of Paris. Bruised and exhausted, he heads back to his place where his lover awaits him. A few hours later, he is arrested and transported to a local prison.

Leito is still living in District 13. Though he gets along well with the local gang leaders and no one bothers him, he does not trust anyone. He is loner, a man who does not like to be told what to do and how to do it. While wandering around District 13, Leito is given a memory disc by youngster trying to evade a group of armed men. While checking the disc’s content at his place, Leito notices that there is a message on his answering machine from his old pal Damien – he is asking that Leito gets him out of prison as soon as possible.

Fastforward. Leito and Damien are now targets. The memory disc Leito was given contains footage showing a terrible crime that links members of DISS (a protection unit whose members report directly to the President) with a plan to destroy District 13 and have it rebuild by a large corporation. The corporation has already bribed the man in charge with DISS – he has to convince the President that things have gotten completely out of control in District 13 and have it leveled - and its members are now looking forward to securing a guaranteed by the government rebuilding project. The corporation’s name is Harriburton.

However, having figured out what DISS and Harriburton are after, Leito and Damien unite the gangs in District 13 and head straight to a heavily guarded building in downtown Paris where the President, the leader of DISS, and other government officials have gathered to initiate the bombing of District 13. They hope to reach the President before the bombs are dropped in District 13 and reveal to him Harriburton’s plan.

Based on a screenplay by Luc Besson, the sequel to Banlieue 13 a.k.a District 13 is a straightforward action affair with few redeeming qualities. Aside from the stunning acrobatic performances, courtesy of Raffaelli and Belle, there is little in the film that we have not already seen before.

Comparisons with John Carpenter’s Escape From New York (1981), Ariel Zeitoun and Julien Seri’s Yamakasi - Les samouraïs des temps moderns (2001), and Chris Nahon’s Kiss of the Dragon (2001) are certainly unavoidable, but it has to be said that District 13 Ultimatum is hardly as entertaining as these films are. It rehashes a familiar concept, and most viewers who end up giving it a chance would quickly realize that.

The introduction of serious social overtones in the narrative further devalues what the creators of District 13 Ultimatum are selling. The final act, in particular, where the Arabs, Latinos, Asians, North Africans and Skinheads applaud the President is beyond ridiculous.

There are, however, a few curious cameos in District 13 Ultimatum – sexy French model and TV star Elodie Yung appears as the leader of the Asian gang, and Belgian rapper James Deano plays the leader of the Skinheads. French rappers Laouni Mouhid, MC Jean Gab'1 and La Fouine also have small roles. Unsurprisingly, the film is complimented by a trendy hip-hop soundtrack.

District 13: Ultimatum Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with VC-1 and granted a 1080p transfer, Patrick Alessandrin's District 13 - Ultimatum arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of UK-based distributors Momentum Pictures.

I don't have any major reservations with the transfer. Contrast is strong, clarity good and detail convincing throughout the entire film. The color-scheme is quite interesting. Some of the daylight footage, for example, looks bleached (though, not as much as what Mabrouk El Mechri and cinematographer Pierre-Yves Bastard did in JCVD). On the other hand, a lot of the nighttime footage looks natural. Edge-enhancement and macroblocking are not a serious issue of concern. There are no stability issues to report either. However, during a few selected scenes I did notice a bit of mild flickering around the edges. Finally, there are no disturbing flecks, debris, scratches, or cuts to report. All in all, this is a fine presentation that I have absolutely no problem recommending to you. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

District 13: Ultimatum Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: French DTS-HD Master 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. For the record, Momentum Pictures have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I liked the audio treatment a tad better than the video treatment. The French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is strong, aggressive and very effective. The action scenes, for example, have been enhanced notably well - many of the shootout scenes during the second half of the film convey strong surround activity. On the other hand, the dialog is very easy to follow; it is crisp and clear. Also, there are no balance issues that I noticed. Finally, I also did not detect any annoying pops, cracks, or hissings.

The English dub is actually quite entertaining. The dubbers have nice British accents that are flat out hilarious (especially when they try to sound serious). Technically, the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is practically identical to the French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

District 13: Ultimatum Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: All of the supplemental features on this disc are in PAL. Therefore, if you reside in North America, or another region where PAL is not supported, you must have a Region-Free player capable of converting PAL to NTSC, or a TV set capable of receiving native PAL data, in order to view them.

Making of - courtesy of Europacorp, this standard featurette shows raw footage from the shooting of the film. Cyril Raffaelli, David Belle, and director Patrick Alessandrin also discuss how some of the more challenging scenes from the film were done (a few of the jumps are quite unbelievable) With optional English subtitles. (27 min).

Production Diary - a standard featurette chronicling the production process. With optional English subtitles. (35 min).

Deleted and Extended Scenes - a collage of action oriented scenes. With optional English subtitles. (10 min).

Music Video - "Determine" by hip-hop artist Alonzo (4 min).

Teaser - with imposed English subtitles. (1 min).

Trailer - with imposed English subtitles. (2 min).

District 13: Ultimatum Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you enjoyed Pierre Morel's District 13 then you would at least appreciate what its sequel, District 13: Ultimatum, has to offer - which is more of the same adrenalin infused action. The Blu-ray disc herein reviewed, courtesy of UK-based distributors Momentum Pictures, looks and sounds great. It is, however, Region-B "locked". RENT IT.