more on B13U
Aug. 7th, 2009 06:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
czeriI’ve spent the last two days analysing Banlieue 13 Ultimatum, like you do, and here are some of my conclusions:
I have to admit understanding the dialogues did clear up a few things I used to have problems with. Most notably it turns out it wasn’t Damien who figured out the diabolical plot, so that bit of characterisation remains intact from the first film. Damien merely realised what needed to be done about it once Leïto told him what was up, which makes perfect sense.
Secondly, all my reservations about why on Earth Leïto thought it would be a good idea to blow up the wall have actually been voiced in the film by Molko. Too bad Leïto was too distracted by a lollipop to pay attention.
There were some lines, however, that I would have preferred never to understand. Take Leïto scoffing at Damien for failing to hide his stuff better when he learns that Damien got arrested for having drugs in his kitchen for example. Leïto’s new-found relaxed attitude towards drugs is bad enough, but what’s even worse is that the comment seems to suggest Leïto has absolutely no idea what Damien is like. That’s wrong on so many levels I don’t even know where to begin.
Now, on to the good stuff. Leïto’s: “IT, I’m installing the new server” will never not be funny. And the slack-jawed amazement of the office drones as they watch him proceed to yank cables from walls is utterly perfect.
What’s also perfect is the disregard for each other’s personal space that Damien and Leïto display, as I’ve mentioned in my previous post. I’m not sure how I’ve missed it when I was watching the film in the cinema. I must have been too distraught by the girlfriend situation to pay attention. In any case, it’s a lovely touch and it’s a good thing on which to focus in the convoluted last half hour.
Now, has no one really watched the film yet? What are you waiting for?! Come on, let’s flail/commiserate!
I have to admit understanding the dialogues did clear up a few things I used to have problems with. Most notably it turns out it wasn’t Damien who figured out the diabolical plot, so that bit of characterisation remains intact from the first film. Damien merely realised what needed to be done about it once Leïto told him what was up, which makes perfect sense.
Secondly, all my reservations about why on Earth Leïto thought it would be a good idea to blow up the wall have actually been voiced in the film by Molko. Too bad Leïto was too distracted by a lollipop to pay attention.
There were some lines, however, that I would have preferred never to understand. Take Leïto scoffing at Damien for failing to hide his stuff better when he learns that Damien got arrested for having drugs in his kitchen for example. Leïto’s new-found relaxed attitude towards drugs is bad enough, but what’s even worse is that the comment seems to suggest Leïto has absolutely no idea what Damien is like. That’s wrong on so many levels I don’t even know where to begin.
Now, on to the good stuff. Leïto’s: “IT, I’m installing the new server” will never not be funny. And the slack-jawed amazement of the office drones as they watch him proceed to yank cables from walls is utterly perfect.
What’s also perfect is the disregard for each other’s personal space that Damien and Leïto display, as I’ve mentioned in my previous post. I’m not sure how I’ve missed it when I was watching the film in the cinema. I must have been too distraught by the girlfriend situation to pay attention. In any case, it’s a lovely touch and it’s a good thing on which to focus in the convoluted last half hour.
Now, has no one really watched the film yet? What are you waiting for?! Come on, let’s flail/commiserate!
no subject
Date: 2009-08-09 07:57 pm (UTC)I can imagine, though, several scenarios where he'd have needed some to cement his cover ID, in exchange for something else, or to appear as a seller to catch a buyer.
btw, did you see the music vid to Dúné - Heat yet?
no subject
Date: 2009-08-09 08:31 pm (UTC)I haven't seen the music video before. Looks pretty cool, and it's good to know there's a good parkour school in Germany! So far I've only heard about this one Austrian guy that trained with David and did Babylon A.D. with him.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-09 08:43 pm (UTC)poor Leïto, forgets just how well he can trust Damien. Damien should have slapped him upside the head for that comment *g*
There is a German parkour school?
There's an Austrian that trained with David?
I never looked into these things, but hey, that's cool. And it reminds me that one day, I should make sure to get to see Babylon A.D.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-09 08:57 pm (UTC)I know, right? But he merely explained that he'd been set up sounding vaguely defensive.
There is a German parkour school?
Well, I assume the traceurs in the video were German...
There's an Austrian that trained with David?
Evidently. I've somewhere read an interview with him about "Babylon A.D."
Speaking of, don't expect too much from the film. There's very little parkour in it, and what is there is filmed with a shaky hand-held camera.
On the other hand David does have a line, and in English, too. As requested by Vin Diesel himself, apparently.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-09 09:16 pm (UTC)I assume the traceurs in the video were German
The band is Danish, but who knows where they made the video, and where their traceurs came from, since they're pretty close to Germany...
oh, don't worry about me expecting too much of an action movie with Vin Diesel. LOL. I love Vinnie but his movies are enjoyed best when after a while one realizes with surprise that they actually do have some kind of redeeming value.
(but they do say the unrated version of the movie is better.)
the one thing about David's role that still cracks me up is the fact that he's credited as "kid" ... "kid with tattoos", but still. c'mon, he was 35 at the time.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-09 09:26 pm (UTC)It definitely is.
the one thing about David's role that still cracks me up is the fact that he's credited as "kid" ... "kid with tattoos", but still. c'mon, he was 35 at the time.
Tee hee. Then again, according to the B13 timeline Leïto was supposed to be 21 in the first film (as it was taking place in 2013 and the wall was built in 2010 on his eighteenth birthday) and 24 in the other...
Coming back to Babylon A.D., David's character's name is even more misleading when you take into consideration that not a single one of his tattoos is visible at any point...
no subject
Date: 2009-08-09 09:41 pm (UTC)*reminds me of Primeval, where Ben is actually Andrew's junior by four years, while I'm sure their characters are supposed to have approximately the same age difference, but reversed.
LMAO. so everyone who doesn't know David thinks "there was no kid with tattoos in this movie..." that's hilarious. or maybe his shirtless scene was cut :D
no subject
Date: 2009-08-09 09:56 pm (UTC)Heh. Well, at least he had some name, even if not a particularly appropriate one. All the other traceurs were just listed as "David Belle's stunt team".
or maybe his shirtless scene was cut :D
I've been thinking about that! There should have been a scene when Toorop and David's character were admiring each other's tattoos...
no subject
Date: 2009-08-09 10:10 pm (UTC)I like to think that Xander Cage too would LOVE Leïto and Damien. They would make one hell of a team, with one for the running/climbing, one for fighting/shooting, and one for driving "anything fast enough to do something stupid in".
no subject
Date: 2009-08-10 07:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-10 12:54 pm (UTC)now, Toorop though, what's his specialty?
no subject
Date: 2009-08-10 05:53 pm (UTC)