Babylon AD
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz
Rated: M
Now screening


Taking its cue from the fabled kingdom of antiquity, the term Babylon conjures many meanings. Used to describe opulent decadence or societal bankruptcy, no less so can this be attributed to commercial movie-making. Suitably excessive in a gaudy fashion, 'Babylon AD' received recent notoriety from the sledging its director gave before release. Angered at studio interference which saw an hour supposedly thrown out, this once intelligent thriller gained an extreme action heavy make-over. The resulting messy film proves that even studio executives aren't immune from over indulgent creative antics.

Seeking escape from his post apocalyptic Eastern European country, mercenary Hugh Cornelius (Vin Diesel) receives an unexpected offer from rough mobster Gorsky (Gerard Depardieu) to transport Aurora (Melanie Thierry), a girl from a Russian monastery to New York. Accompanied by kung-fu fighting nun Sister Rebeka (Michelle Yeoh), they are shocked to discover their part in a mysterious agenda. Pawns in a quest from an influential high priestess (Charlotte Rampling) to take over the world, the trio flit from one escapade to the next in a continuing high velocity frenzy.

'Babylon AD' sets a new benchmark in film. Using their wisdom in providing a fast moving blockbuster, the editors have spliced together a multitude of action scenes to the detriment of character development and story. Discarding the necessary moments showing how characters move from A to B, the film replaces the 'boring bits' of smart plotting with leaps of logic. What little script is allowed to breathe is certainly interesting, but as soon as things start to get interesting another action scene suddenly cuts in without warning. This also extends to the characters who appear and vanish without any explanation making for very disjointed viewing.

Although appallingly butchered, 'Babylon AD' does have a few merits. Chief amongst these is a bizarre screenplay blending moments of great stunts and high camp. Whatever can be said against the film, it at least maintains its entertainment value to the end with some eye catching visuals and fertile imagination. Not the best actor in the world, Vin Diesel does his mumbling he-man routine with gusto, with Rampling having a wonderful time as the hammy villain. Its biggest drawback is that pivotal moments are frustratingly left unexplained particularly in the confusing ending. There's a message somewhere about religion and technology, although these get quickly forgotten when the next explosive event arrives.

A garbled and scraggy mess of a movie, 'Babylon AD' is woefully devoid of any narrative clarity. Left from the meddlesome hands of greedy producers, the film could have made for an engaging sci-fi film in the style of 'Bladerunner'. As it is, 'Babylon AD' resembles the cobbled together and dis-jointed farrago that its unfortunate director never intended.

Patrick Moore