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From Amazon.co.uk
While not the career shot-in-the-arm that Vin Diesel was probably looking for and certainly needs, Babylon AD does have its merits, and they make it just the kind of fodder waiting to greet a DVD audience.
The plot of Babylon AD sees Diesel heading from Europe to New York, transporting a package that turns out to be more than it first seems. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Diesel’s mercenary character inevitably comes up against the dangers and problems of a world in chaos and disarray. This is a cue for plenty of action, and some solid effects, all of which are easy on the eye and the brain.
The problem with Babylon AD, though, is that the plot doesn’t make a great deal of sense, and the film displays all the hallmarks of one that’s been hacked too far in the editing room. This doesn’t fatally hurt it, but it certainly inflicts a good deal of damage.
As it stands, Babylon AD is a decent, and comparably brisk futuristic thriller, that had the potential to be a lot more than it is. But at worst, it’s still enjoyable enough, and a decent way to spend an easy night in front of the telly. --Jon Foster
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Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Ent.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Infamous as the film that was so bad even its director went public to warn audiences off (albeit his complaints were mainly aimed at the incomprehensible studio cut that is released as a single disc DVD), Babylon A.D. may be a huge step down from the days when Mathieu Kassovitz was making the likes of La Haine or even The Crimson Rivers, but in the director's preferred version released in French theatres and on DVD as the `extended version,' it's an okay silly scifi action film. There's not much in the way of the ideas from Maurice G. Dantec's novel that attracted him to the project in the first place and it's little more than another derivative Children of Men-style chase through a future dystopia with a few added cyberpunk fittings as Vin Diesel's mercenary is hired by an unrecognisable Gerard Depardieu's Russian mobster to deliver Mélanie Thierry's genetically engineered mystery girl from Eastern Europe to New York with a little help from Michelle Yeoh's two-fisted nun and hindrance from Charlotte Rampling's corporate religion and mad scientist Lambert Wilson's followers.
Take it seriously and it's a non-starter, but take it as an overpriced bit of Euro comicstrip nonsense with the odd striking scene - a terrorist bombing in a crowded railway station, refugees trying to scrabble aboard a submarine before it submerges beneath the ice - and it's an okay if rather familiar timefiller. The longer 'harder' cut certainly isn't a profound rediscovered masterpiece, but unlike the shorter cinema version that seemed to have been hacked to pieces by a combine harvester, the plot and characters do make a lot more sense and you do get to see Mark Strong with hair.
Take it seriously and it's a non-starter, but take it as an overpriced bit of Euro comicstrip nonsense with the odd striking scene - a terrorist bombing in a crowded railway station, refugees trying to scrabble aboard a submarine before it submerges beneath the ice - and it's an okay if rather familiar timefiller. The longer 'harder' cut certainly isn't a profound rediscovered masterpiece, but unlike the shorter cinema version that seemed to have been hacked to pieces by a combine harvester, the plot and characters do make a lot more sense and you do get to see Mark Strong with hair.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By intenseblue
Format:DVD
Despite being a huge sci-fi fan I have always found Vin Diesel's films to be very disappointing with the exception of Pitch Black. I will spare the long list of criticisms but usually the dialogue is a big let down for me. That said though I do like the guy and his enthusiasm so I picked this up because it was on offer and I was frankly curious thinking lets give it a chance. I was preparing myself for disappointment but I was very surprised to find myself really enjoying it.
Firstly I thought the envisioned tech level for the time period felt very realistic. In particular the massive divides between rich and poor societies. Although perhaps portraying the East as one enormous ghetto like something out the "STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl" games as opposed to having poorer war torn areas and affluent ones was a mistake. The portrayal of life in the complex, getting food at the start and the style and appearance of Diesels's apartment at the beginning scored instant points for just seeming 'right'. In addition there were many small little features which showed that someone had gone to a lot of trouble to think this future through (e.g. the paper maps, the surveillance footage, the submarine etc.).
The plot raced along merrily enough and I enjoyed the very strong cyberpunk feel (Yes I have read Gibson and Sterling so I do say that with confidence). Some of the action scenes and fighting did let things down as the film was doing such a good job of presenting a realistic portrayal of life in the future that having hordes of bad guys getting their backsides kicked did seem silly which was a great shame. Furthermore, some of the sci-fi concepts were really interesting and could have been expanded upon. The AI conditioned unborn children for starters (awesome idea!... Read more ›
Firstly I thought the envisioned tech level for the time period felt very realistic. In particular the massive divides between rich and poor societies. Although perhaps portraying the East as one enormous ghetto like something out the "STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl" games as opposed to having poorer war torn areas and affluent ones was a mistake. The portrayal of life in the complex, getting food at the start and the style and appearance of Diesels's apartment at the beginning scored instant points for just seeming 'right'. In addition there were many small little features which showed that someone had gone to a lot of trouble to think this future through (e.g. the paper maps, the surveillance footage, the submarine etc.).
The plot raced along merrily enough and I enjoyed the very strong cyberpunk feel (Yes I have read Gibson and Sterling so I do say that with confidence). Some of the action scenes and fighting did let things down as the film was doing such a good job of presenting a realistic portrayal of life in the future that having hordes of bad guys getting their backsides kicked did seem silly which was a great shame. Furthermore, some of the sci-fi concepts were really interesting and could have been expanded upon. The AI conditioned unborn children for starters (awesome idea!... Read more ›
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Ironspider
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
First off, I really like Babylon Babies by Maurice Dantec; it's a complex tale of social engineering and evolution, both racial and individual. Toorop, the hero of the tale, is a philosophical warrior who has seen too many conflicts and not enough resolutions.
Toorop is also around fifty years of age, Vin Diesel isn't - the beginning of the films' divergence from the book! The film tries to boil down the complexities of the book into a more linear action film, but it doesn't work. I suppose Christophe Gans might have made a better director and added some French flair to the proceedings, but it's hard to see any film really doing justice to Dantec's story.
So, Babylon AD is a fun action film, but it leaves out all the questions Dantec poses, opting instead for louder gunfights, and replaces Toorop's anguished musings with Mr Diesel's sometimes incomprehensible drawl. Even Michelle Yeoh spends most of her screen time looking slightly bemused, whether because of the script or a feeling she was in the wrong film... The other players in the story fulfil the necessary roles, but there isn't anything new or shiny to raise this above the other sci-fi actioners that unfortunately take the place of decent science fiction films.
Toorop is also around fifty years of age, Vin Diesel isn't - the beginning of the films' divergence from the book! The film tries to boil down the complexities of the book into a more linear action film, but it doesn't work. I suppose Christophe Gans might have made a better director and added some French flair to the proceedings, but it's hard to see any film really doing justice to Dantec's story.
So, Babylon AD is a fun action film, but it leaves out all the questions Dantec poses, opting instead for louder gunfights, and replaces Toorop's anguished musings with Mr Diesel's sometimes incomprehensible drawl. Even Michelle Yeoh spends most of her screen time looking slightly bemused, whether because of the script or a feeling she was in the wrong film... The other players in the story fulfil the necessary roles, but there isn't anything new or shiny to raise this above the other sci-fi actioners that unfortunately take the place of decent science fiction films.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is one of the French school of dystopian near-futures that betrays its origin as a BD with lots of action and not quite enough explanation. I enjoyed it though I am not sure I would have been able to answer a pop-quiz about the plot afterwards. One problem is that Vin Diesel tends to mumble and after a while it all sounds like "Should have taken the money, Toombs" (great line though that is) but in part also it is the racy pace of the action.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good movie if you like action
I only gave it a 4 star as i found it a little hard to follow the storyline i had to watch it a few times to understand it but thats just me apart from that the action it really... Read more
Published 3 months ago by EmmaJBrowning
5.0 out of 5 stars
babylon a d
this was a really good film.vin diesel was excellent as the main character.The storyline was most unusual with a lovely ending
Published 4 months ago by ladyeliza
4.0 out of 5 stars
great film
i had been wanting to watch this film for a while but couldnt find in any store's
but here it was and the buy button was pushed, good film can be a bit slow but who care's... Read more
but here it was and the buy button was pushed, good film can be a bit slow but who care's... Read more
Published 4 months ago by emma stapley
5.0 out of 5 stars
good
I really like the game and would recommened it to anyone who liked simular films as myself and its interesting
Published 5 months ago by Katiecoo
3.0 out of 5 stars
Last 20 mins sucked..overall GOOD movie
the movie not as bad as stupid critics put it.
Well i saw EXTENDENED version and i liked it except last 20 mins where i expected van to kill all reamining bad guys. Read more
Well i saw EXTENDENED version and i liked it except last 20 mins where i expected van to kill all reamining bad guys. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ryan
4.0 out of 5 stars
take off your jacket and relax
Sci-fi. Set in the future. Reasonable plot. Some good actors and acting. Turn the pace to medium. Put them all together and, you have a decent action movie. Worth a watch. Or two.
Published 18 months ago by liver12
5.0 out of 5 stars
pleased
the disc is a realy good buy,does as described.i no where to get another 1 if needed,gud work guys.fab work guys.
Published 19 months ago by Keith C. Hales
2.0 out of 5 stars
Save the planet, one child at a time. Ain't that a bitch.
Babylon A.D. is directed by Mathieu Kassovitz who also co-adapts to the screen with Éric Besnard & Joseph Simas from the Maurice G. Dantec novel, Babylon Babies. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2011 by Spike Owen
1.0 out of 5 stars
bad experience, lot of good intention and no result
It could be a good film, they could be good actors, It could be very good FX.
...but the sum of all the items it's lower then the set of the single item. Read more
...but the sum of all the items it's lower then the set of the single item. Read more
Published on 8 May 2011 by athecat
4.0 out of 5 stars
good sci fi action movie
i cant understand why everyone is giving this movie a hard time..? even though it did borrow heavily from the classic ''bladerunner''.. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2011 by rama o rama
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