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Babylon A.D.
Generally unfavorable reviews
Based on 15 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 51 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Action | Adventure | Sci-fi | Suspense/Thriller
Written by:
Maurice G. Dantec (novel)
Eric Besnard
Mathieu Kassovitz
Joseph Simas
Directed by: Mathieu Kassovitz
Release Date:
Theatrical: August 29, 2008
DVD: January 6, 2009
Running Time: 90 minutes, Color
Origin: USA | France
Summary
RATING: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and some sexuality
Starring Vin Diesel, Mélanie Thierry, Michelle Yeoh, Lambert Wilson, Mark Strong, Jérôme Le Banner, Charlotte Rampling, and Joel Kirby
It is the not-too-distant future, a hardened mercenary known only as Toorop lives by a simple survivor's code: kill...or be killed. His latest assignment has him smuggling a young woman named Aurora from a convent in Kazakhstan to New York City. Toorop, his new young charge Aurora and Aurora's guardian Sister Rebeka embark on a 6,000 mile journey. Facing obstacles at every turn, Toorop, the killer for hire, is tested like never before, in ways he could never have imagined - as he comes to understand that he is the custodian of the only hope for the future of mankind. For the first time in his life, Toorop has to make a choice: to make a difference or walk away and save himself. Too bad it came on the day he died. (20th Century Fox)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
TV Guide Staff (Not credited)
Rich with atmosphere but too similar to films ranging from "Children of Men" to "Doomsday" to carve out its own distinctive niche.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Vadim Rizov
If nothing else, it's nice to see an action movie that takes Europe, not America, as its grounding point.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Michael Ordona
This is not a terrible movie, but it's too familiar by half and too confusing by a third.
Read Full Review >Variety Jordan Mintzer
A noisier, costlier version of "Children of Men," yet lacking that film's social-political significance and jaw-dropping direction.
Read Full Review >ReelViews James Berardinelli
The lackluster acting and horrendous dialogue don't help.
Read Full Review >The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jason Anderson
The storyline is a sinkhole that swallows up any sense and suspense.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Adam Markovitz
When martial arts star Michelle Yeoh shows up as a pious, butt-kicking nun, you have to wonder if Kassovitz isn't accidentally cribbing from Mel Brooks, too.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps
As long it sticks to that chase, Babylon A.D. remains a sub-passable lead-footed action film with neat scenery.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Tom Russo
When this Vin Diesel vehicle isn't pointlessly frenzied, it's narratively inert, wasting some decent production design, and a French-flavored cast primed for fun.
Read Full Review >Film Threat Felix Vasques Jr.
Wants to be three different films at one time but sadly never asks much from Diesel other than to grunt, stomp around, and reprise the role that made him a star.
Read Full Review >The New York Times A.O. Scott
Our judgments, in any case, may be superfluous, since the director, Mathieu Kassovitz, has already publicly described it as "pure violence and stupidity."
Read Full Review >The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen
A towering heap of nihilistic nonsense that plays like a cornball "Children of God."
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 4.2 (out of 10) based on 51 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Enzo P. gave it a1:
Babylon A.D. is one of the worst action films I have ever seen. Once I start to get interested again something stupid happens that ruins my charming moment. It's a good idea it is just made very badly. Mathieu Kassovitz has made the worst action/thriller of 2008.
Zarghev I gave it an8:
I found that it's a pleasant science-fiction movie. Probably, it's cultural. I watched "Southland Tales" and "Babylon A.D." back to back - I fail to understand how "Southland Tales" could even remotely have better ratings, but for some reason it has. Every flaw you can find in Babylon, is about ten times worse in "Southland Tales". I found that interesting.
Essi S gave it a2:
Well it wasn´t good... I thought it started out some what interestingly, but it quickly turned into boring and pointless.
jane d gave it a1:
This was appalling. I saw it on dvd so maybe some scenes were removed, and also we had to watch it on my brothers computer where you can't turn the subtitles off. However. The future always looks either poor or rich in futuristic films and this one chose the cheap option - poor. But having everyone living in burnt out apartment blocks warming their hands over 40 gallon drums is not very imaginative. Frying up a cat was vaguely interesting. Then all the action scenes are cut to buggery to disguise the fact there is no fight choreography. That is also cheap n nasty, and a waste of Michelle Yeoh. By the time you discover there is no story, for example they NEVER REVEAL what is so special about the damn babies, you don't care anyway. Any entertainment you derive from this movie comes from inside your own head, and I failed and went to make hot drinks. The only visually imaginative bit was the submarine. Also, Toorop, who is meant to be protecting his clients, keeps stomping off through the crowded market leaving them to follow. Even if you go to a rock concert with your mates you make better sticking-together arrangements than that. Charlotte Rampling was just doing a Judi Dench imitation. Female villainy needs to diversify a bit. Yeah, so, I can't think of a good thing to say about it. The first half of the movie has hardly any story at all and no background, and the second half summarises some world-changing climax without giving any details. It's not even so bad it's good, and you will regret watching it.
Timo V gave it a1:
Utter bs with the world's most pretentious story. How on earth sh*t like this can cost 70 MILLION DOLLARS?
e Ronin gave it a5:
Requires heavy suspension of disbelief. Scenes are set up well. FX are interesting. Actors are good. The script... the story... unfortunately isn't there.
BAD NAD gave it a1:
The movie was so timing wasting, I cant believe they chose such a great actor like Van Diesel for a pathetic role. Movie finished so quickly, it seemed like the director was in a hurry to make a second part!!!
