Cyril Raffaelli & David Belle

On the heels of "From Paris With Love" is "District 13: Ultimatum," more frenzied action from style-conscious Gallic popcorn impresario Luc Besson, and a follow-up to 2004's "District B13."

That cult hit (directed by of "From Paris With Love") took the reality of France's immigrant unrest and devised a future Paris in which the government has cynically walled off the most gang-infested and racially charged ghettos.

The tasty filling to that superficially political shell, though, was its showcasing of the gymnastically vigorous, obstacle-hurdling sport called parkour.

This time, with Besson scripting / producing and Patrick Alessandrin directing, it amounts to a raucous and colorfully junky helping of seconds.

Returning for more acrobatic combat unburdened by vertical challenges -- including a car making its way to, and through, the second floor of police headquarters -- are unlikely partners Damien (Cyril Raffaelli), an undercover super-cop, and antidrug vigilante and district resident Leito (David Belle, an originator of parkour).

Their mission may be preventing a secret cadre of corrupt cops, politicians and developers from stoking civil strife inside the titular zone for their own capitalistic ends, but the only explosiveness moviegoers will care about is stunt-worthy: Raffaelli dexterously fending off attackers while protecting a valuable Van Gogh, or Belle navigating rooftop gaps, walls and tight-squeeze passageways.

 

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"District 13: Ultimatum" Movie Trailer

Two years have passed since elite police officer Damien Tomasso (Cyril Raffaelli) teamed up with reformed vigilante Leito (parkour originator David Belle) to save the notorious District 13, a racially charged ghetto populated by violent drug dealing gangs and vicious killers. Despite government promises to maintain order, the state of the district has deteriorated, and a group of corrupt cops and elected officials are conspiring to cause civil unrest in D13, looking for an excuse to raze the area and cash in on its redevelopment. Now Damian and Leito must join forces again, and use their mastery of martial arts and their unique physical skills to bring peace to the neighborhood by any means necessary

 

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MPAA rating: R (for some violence, language and drug material).

Running time: 1:41.

Cast: Cyril Raffaelli (Damien); David Belle (Leito); Philippe Torreton (French president); Daniel Duval (Walter Gassman).

Credits: Directed by Patrick Alessandrin; written and produced by Luc Besson. A Magnolia Pictures release.