Action & Adventure > French Action & Adventure > up to 5 GBP

The spirit of early Scorsese and Spike Lee films.

Advantages: Performances, soundtrack and cinematography are all ace.
Disadvantages: Rather downbeat.

A film that contains the spirit of early Scorsese and Spike Lee films. This is an enjoyable social document on the life of three ethnically different young friends as they pass a day on a Parisian housing scheme. The film effortlessly portrays the boredom and the need for cheap thrills in the lives of these disaffected youths. Vincent Cassel is excellent as the would be leader, trying his best to be as hard as De Niro yet can't hide his innocent ...
...and brings an odd elegance to the decay of the city around our protagonists. Mathieu Kassovitz direction is outstanding and deservedly walked away with the Cannes prize for that year. The script is also very funny and contains some moving and philosophical sections - best of all is the toilet scene with the old fella, one of my favourite scenes of all time! ...

Syklone 16.08.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of La Haine (Special Edition) (DVD)

District 13 is an exciting, and fast-paced action film.

Advantages: Just a brilliant film
Disadvantages: Subtitles

...story line about a French district that has been shut off from the rest of the world and crime reigns. The free-running is awesome in the film and the actors are perfectly cast. There are 2 options before you start watching, either you can watch with subtitles or dubbed. I found that the dubbed version was very unnerving as it was dubbed with voices that did not fit the characters. I prefer the subtitled version, although I do need to be awake to ...

sarahhighfield 25.10.2009 · Read full review

Review of District 13 (DVD)

Speed Cameras Beware!

Advantages: Wackier than the first, yet more high speed thrills!
Disadvantages: Sometimes the plots a bit too wacky

Taxi 2, the sequel to the original mad cap French driving antics of Taxi. And I'm pleased to announce to you all now, that it's absolutely no different. It's still madder, faster and packed with more tyre squealing than an entire years worth of Top Gear! Nice to see the French are on form then! Taxi 2 is rated as a '12' certificate, which you have to label as odd, as it seems to feature just as much, if not more swearing, random violence, and light ...
...above features are what 'make' taxi 2, and indeed, are the signature aspects of the 'taxi' lineage. The cast is largely similar to that of the original taxi, with the ever cool Samy Naceri playing the role of racing/taxi driver Daniel Morales, who, due to his ever increasing speeding, is pulled into the police force to once again help his willing yet entirely useless friend, and police officer Émilien who is played very convincingly by Frédéric ...

topgeartom 26.06.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Taxi 2 (Subtitled) (Wide Screen) (DVD)

La Haine - hatred breeds hatred

Advantages: Superb acting, engaging storyline
Disadvantages: Kassovitz is miscast as a skinhead

WHAT IS IT: La Haine is a French film - shot in black and white and released in 1995 - directed and written by Mathieu Kassovitz. It is in French with English subtitles and is around 90 minutes long. The film centres around 3 young men living on an impoverished housing estate in France. Vinz (Vincent Cassel), a French Jew, is full of rage at the injustices he is subjected to and the constant state of tension between the police and local youths in ...
...but of Moroccan/Algerian/Tunisian/Libyan/Mauritanian descent) who shares Vinz's dislike of the police but tries to keep the peace between everyone. Hubert is an Afro-French boxer and drug dealer who is philosophical about the situation he sees around him even when his gym gets burnt down during the riots. He suspects Vinz may have been involved and finds his aggressive attitude irritating. When a friend of the young men is put into a coma as a result ...

jesperado77 29.07.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of La Haine (DVD)

The Bigger the hit, the faster the rush, the Sweeter the revenge!

Advantages: Great action packed film, Great actors, Good storyline
Disadvantages: You may not be able to get into the story-line!

...WHSmith. ***CRANK 2*** Crank 2: High Voltage was released this year and contains Jason Statham again. Chelio’s tears through the town in search for the Chinese criminal who has possession of his heart. Amy Smart, Dwight Yoakham, and Efren Ramirez revisit their roles from the original film. ***OVERALL OPINION*** I think Jason Statham is a fantastic actor anyway and I have to say that I loved this film. It was full of action and also has some funny ...
...I wouldn’t hesitate to watch Crank 2. My dad did how-ever borrow the DVD and after 30mins he switched it off as he couldn’t quite get into the film. If you like Jason as an actor and if you like his other films I think you with thoroughly enjoy this film. I would recommend it to anyone who like’s action packed films. (review als on dooyoo) ...

kiss_me2070 27.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Crank (DVD)