It’s part of the remit of this website to punish the guilty, but also to reward the innocent; Matthew Kassovitz’s career as an English-language director ended abruptly with Babylon A.D., and aside from a French hostage drama and a popular TV show, he’s not been heard of again. But having made such a splash with stark urban drama La Haine, and then scoring a considerable hit with his Hollywood debut Gothika, plus a massive homeland success with cop drama The Crimson Rivers, even this Vin Diesel sci-fi thriller must have some merit, right?
Right enough, Babylon A.D., based on the book Babylon Babies by Maurice G Dantec, is far more interesting than most junky sci-fi product. The story is set in the far-off year of 2027. The world is socially and racially divided in a bad way; drones are used to control a desperate, constantly migrating populace, people have their bodies augmented by technology, and Thoorop (Vin Diesel) is entrusted with a mission to safely deliver a young woman who may be a religious figure, but may also harbour a deadly virus. As futuristic visions go, Babylon A.D. actually gets a lot right, from the video-call screens to the streams of refugees to the global warming, and even elements like the implanted neck-passports don’t seem a million miles away.
Kassovitz disowned the results, and Babylon A.D. didn’t gain enough traction as a big, expensive, international film. But unravelling the story offers some rewards; stolen child Aurora (Melanie Thierry) has been created as a breeding machine, with her abilities programmed by super-computer. Aurora becomes the central figure in a conflict between business (her father, played by Lambert Wilson) and the church (called the Noels and led by her mother, played by Charlotte Rampling). This parental squabble is the source of the global conflict about Aurora’s future, resolved when she confirms her godliness by giving a virgin birth to ethnically-diverse twins. But it’s notable that both religion and commerce seek to cynically exploit this natural event, and the relationship between Thoorop and Aurora is the one pure thing that Babylon A.D.’s world pivots on. Gerard Depardieu, Mark Strong and the eternally agile Michelle Yeoh provide diverting support turns on the margins.
So maybe audiences found the above plot confusing, but it’s a perfectly serviceable structure to hang action on, and even if Babylon A.D. has a few horrid CGI flourishes, most of the film has an impressive physicality, from the snowmobile pursuits to the submarine rescue, and some satisfying Hummer vs Range Rover chases. Diesel knows his way around a world of punch-ups, car-smashes and growling, and Babylon A.D. is far superior to other Diesel vehicles like Bloodshot, The Last Witch Hunter, The Chronicles of Riddick or The Return of Xander Cage. Unfavourably compared to the far brainier Children of Men on release, Babylon A.D.’s warnings about the future look rather smarter now than on release, and the whole package is brisk and effective. Can Thoorop ever forget the Noels and find true happiness? Negative reviews on initial release might put you off finding out, but for those prepared to swim against the tide, there’s just enough remaining of Dantec and Kassovitz’s vision to made Babylon A.D. worth another look.
I liked this film when it came out. Havent rewatched it again but have good memories of it. Great review.
It’s better than might be expected. Nice to hear that you dig it too.
There are some good post apocalyptic movies mong all the drak, Book of Eli was another that did not get a lot of recognition.
Agreed, but this is the best of a not great bunch. I liked the action and the story has some ideas to play with.
Thanks for agreeing with me.
Format mucx?
Well, I can write in actual paragraphs without my witterings looking like the end titles of a Pixar movie. Looking for some tips on how that could work for you, Bunty?
We’re not all slaves to Gutenberg. Some of us try to uphold classical literary models.
Are you still doing community service for that? Terrible misjudgment on your part, I heard you were backlisted by the modeling agency after that.
Their loss, as I just get sexier with age.
Now back to A Quiet Place Part II. So much more peaceful than the natterings around here.
No wonder you’re in a quiet place with patter like that…
Well AQP2 wasn’t very good. I wonder if any credible critics online have anything to say about it.
*does a quick check*
Nah, looks like I’ll have to handle it myself.
An incredible critic nailed it in his three star review, you could improve your blog by just cutting and pasting his text in…
The review only got three stars? Doesn’t sound worth hunting down. I’ll try and bang out another one of my five-star reviews this aft.
Haha, now you show your ignorance. No, the film got a three star review. That’s what it deserved. You would get the same number of stars as a broken fridge with a dodgy icebox ie no stars at all. Hahaha! Took you to school again, it’s SO easy!
He was brilliant in The Boys from Brazil and Police Academy.
Another one-star comment. Wherever it belongs.
I don’t normally rate your comments, but one star is about right. There’s only one star on this website, and it’s not you. Bunty.
When you have a confusing plot call on Vin Diesel. Not to unravel it but to cause enough violent distraction to steer the viewer clear. Diesel never had much luck with sci-fi.
Sheep dip!
I accidently closed the tab and deleted my comment. For goodness sakes…..
Anyway, after watching F&F and Triple X, I came to the conclusion that I didn’t like Diesel and so have avoided most of his films. Of course, I’ve never even heard of this so that didn’t enter into the equation. What does the title mean, do you know?
This film is actually ok for you, Booky, good action, no rudeness, although the quasi-religious theme might grate. Babylon as in a time and place of excess. AD I guess reflects that.
Does Diesel have more acting chops here than in Triple X or Riddick though?
Actually, he’s better here because he’s not quite as full of himself as usual. The grip of self parody has not taken hold.
This isn’t going well is it?
Sigh.
Haha! Nope.
I bet they’re both banned again within a week tops.
You tried Dix, you tried….
Vin Diesel? No thank you! I was going to say this sounded like Children of Men, before I got that cold slap in the face…
A hard punch is also on offer.
Already resorting to violence? I thought this was a 12A blog.
https://www.ukofficedirect.co.uk/category/office-supplies/desktop-stationery/hole-punches
You’re a bit trigger happy with the links today, aren’t you? Been saving them up?
Sigh.
Hey, you asked for insightful comments!
I did, yes, Let me know when you might provide some, I’m able to clear 2027…
Six years to think up an insightful comment. Can it be done? It took Robbie Collins 24 years…
Never heard
Of him.
I thought you said you didn’t want too many comments, but now you’re splitting your sentences into two? Seems like someone’s trying to boost their stats…
I’ll boost your through the nearest window if your patter does not improve, sunshine.
Note taken! Tomorrow, you won’t know what hit you…
I never do.
Good call, I remember liking it, but don’t remember much about it, will give it another go. You didn’t give the date it was made so I looked it up, 2008, a good imagining of 2027.
It’s more like 2027 than 2008! This is how I’m living NOW!
What a delightful review! Could you just help out and translate the following into English?
“the streams of refugee to the global warming”
“most of the film has an impressive physically”
Must be a mark on your screen, no such errors in the final copy. But thanks for the positivity!
Here I was thinking it was almost time for you to take the training wheels off and run a big-boy blog on your own, to finally let go of my guiding hand.
Oh well. I guess another few years of mentoring can’t hurt.
I’ll mentor you in a minute Baldy!
Vin Diesel is bald. People say I look a bit like him.
People say you make as much sense as him in The Last Witch Hunter.
Was this picture originally captioned “bathtime for Alex good’?
https://aleteia.org/2018/01/15/who-was-the-first-christian-hermit/