We Have a Jumper!

Frenchies mix action films with hopping

It’s always surprising when the French do something cool. (OK, let’s be honest, it’s irritating.) Still in 2004, we have to give them credit for masterminding the action film District 13, which introduced the world to parkour, the art of jumping up, down and around buildings like Spider-Man on crack. Directed by Pierre Morel (who would go on to helm 2008’s Taken and this weekend's big budget action release From Paris With Love), District 13 was released in the U.S. in 2006 under the name District B13 and became a cult hit. Check out a sample scene here.

Today, the film’s sequel District 13: Ultimatum finally hits U.S. theaters. Once again set in a Paris ghetto that’s been walled off by police, the sequel joins original co-stars parkour co-creator David Belle and French martial artist (yes they exist) Cyril Raffaelli three years after the original left off. This time the two must unite the area’s rival gangs to thwart a government plot to blah, blah, blah. Whatever. Look, the new movie has way too much plot and talking, but as soon as an action scene starts up, it’s once again awesome.

Final analysis: District 13: Ultimatum is worth a mindless night at the movies if you can stomach the slow parts. But if anyone hasn’t seen the original, it’s unquestionably worth Amazoning it up.

Forward to a Buddy Invite a Buddy