Autour de Deux

Tuesday AGAIN, how inconvenient it is having one every week. Did a couple of penny dreadfuls then headed home at lunchtime. Now I plan to watch Banlieue 13 Ultimatum, the sequel to the 2004 martial arts* film. Both have feeble plots trademark to the genre, and excellent choreography by traceurs David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli. There are distinct differences between what is predominantly focused on in various films based on fighting. In mainstream action films, you'll usually get about five flashy cuts for every punch the actor throws, and never see any full-body shots or fluid maneuvers being actually performed. In Ong Bak, you get hundreds of lingering shots of Tony Jaa performing elaborate and unique fighting moves - it's really artful. However, this is a cult film, not a blockbuster; because the story and acting are very poor, or so you would think. The real difference is the money spent on marketing - after all, when was the last time you saw a James Bond film or anything with Jason Statham in it that was remotely believable or moving?
   B13U's focus hits the sweet spot. Seeing the hundredth dispatchable peon propelled into a somersault by a powerful kick, only to collide with something else and tumble in the opposite direction before hitting the ground - it's just tremendous fun to watch, which is the crux of these movies. There's also some slick parkour-filled chase scenes. You know that cliché where the chased man executes some difficult jump or what have you, and the gang of baddies doing the chasing follow as best they can, but one unfortunate fellow doesn't manage and comes to an unpleasant end, never to be seen in the film again? I cannot get enough of that happening. It indulges my childish side, and the more contrived it looks, the bigger the grin that I break into. It was [Thug #3]'s destiny to slip and fall into that dumpster!

*Loosely.

I would find    another way