District B13 (2006)

Throughout cinematic history, stunt work has provided some of the most exciting moments of big-screen thrills, which as France's District B13 proves, is just as true in the modern era as when Buster Keaton wowed audiences at the dawn of filmmaking. Both Jackie Chan and Thailand's Tony Jaa have excelled at death-defying theatrics leading up to this, but this Luc Besson production truly takes it to the next level. From the very first chase scene on, the speeds at which the actors and stuntmen risk life and limb for the camera are unparalleled. It helps that first-time director and veteran cameraman Pierre Morel knows how to keep things moving -- and boy do they ever under his skillful eye. The same can't quite be said of his action direction, which while competent, features the same kind of sped-up, cut frame-rate of many of its action contemporaries (thereby adding extra action within the camera instead of in front of it). Still, complaints are low with this action flick. Besson has supplied a smart script that confounds expectations as he pits his heroic characters in a sort of Escape from New York scenario with an anti-government twist. That said, the flick could have used at least one final showdown fight scene, though action-lovers should remember that it's the stunts that reign supreme here, not necessarily the foot-to-the-face contact. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide