Babylon A.D. (2008)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Mathieu Kassovitz

Writers:

Eric Besnard (writer)
Maurice G. Dantec (novel)

Release Date:

29 August 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

Veteran-turned-mercenary Toorop takes the high-risk job of escorting a woman from Russia to America. Little does he know that she is host to an organism that a cult wants to harvest in order to produce a genetically modified Messiah. |

Plot Keywords:

Organism | Cult | Russia | Host | Harvest

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 15	3:00 PM	MAX
Sat. July 25	12:00 PM	MAX
Sat. July 25	8:30 PM	MAX

Cast

Vin Diesel	...	Toorop
Michelle Yeoh	...	Sister Rebeka
Mélanie Thierry	...	Aurora
Gérard Depardieu	...	Gorsky
Charlotte Rampling	...	High Priestess
Mark Strong	...	Finn
Lambert Wilson	...	Darquandier
Jérôme Le Banner	...	Killa
Joel Kirby	...	Dr. Newton
Souleymane Dicko	...	Jamal
David Belle	...	Kid with Tattoos
Radek Bruna	...	Karl
Jan Unger	...	Fight Promoter
Abraham Belaga	...	Assistant to High Priestess
Gary Cowan	...	Neolite Executive

Also Known As:

Babylon Babies (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

USA | France | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44122) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-13 | South Korea:12 | Malaysia:U | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Sweden:15 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 (extended version) | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

French actor Vincent Cassel was initially sought to be cast in the lead role.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Toorop is checking his interactive map after picking up Aurora at the convent, it shows the Bering Strait separating Russian and Canadian territory. It should separate Russian and American territory. If Toorop could have gone directly from Russia to America, he wouldn't need an implantable passport. It's possible, in this future, that Alaska is part of Canada, but no one mentions that.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Toorop: Save the Planet.

Movie Connections:

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Soundtrack:

Dueuces

Interesting Futuristic Details Stitched into a Poor Story

Wow. I didn't have high expectation, but thought I'd at least enjoy Babylon AD. I like just about anything science fiction and most B movies. Babylon AD seriously got the Homer Simpson treatment which I explain later in my review.

The setting is the world in ruins after nuclear war. Vin Diesel comes in as the anti-hero, terrorist hired to deliver a "package" to the US. Enter Michelle Yeoh as the protector and chaperone to the package. She's excellent in her role as a nun in a seemingly peaceful cult spouting lines such as, "just because we are peaceful, doesn't mean we are weak." There are some nifty special effects and enough mystery at the beginning to make me believe the film is going to get 7 stars.

Except for some futuristic technology, that's about it for the good parts of the film.

As for the bad parts, have you ever seen The Simpsons episode with Mel Gibson? The last half hour of Babylon AD is treated like Homer Simpson's version of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I'm not kidding. It was shockingly bad and truly follows Homer's vision.

I'm still not quite sure what point the movie was trying to make. The story becomes so muddled and the acting is so bad at times that I had no idea what was going on. About 3/4 through the movie, one of the most awkward sexual tension scenes is thrown in for the hell of it. There's no build to it and it makes absolutely no sense, which unfortunately becomes the recurring theme until the end.