This sequel to the 2004 film that turned audiences on to the urban obstacle sport of parkour is at least as good, if not a few flying jumps and spinning kicks better, than its predecessor.
The oppressed ghetto setting of its title is worse off than ever in spite of repeated promises by corrupt politicians to address the area's crime-infested conditions.
Supercop Damien Tomaso (Cyril Raffaelli) is busy kicking ass and taking names — or at least saving a Van Gogh while using it as a kind of weapon.
Meanwhile his bad boy partner Leito (David Belle) busily blows holes in the concrete retaining wall surrounding the apocalyptic wasteland of District 13 that a group of corrupt cops plan to blow up along with their inhabitants.
The main conceit of the film is seeing Raffaelli and Belle pop skylines and stairwells with all-out parkour stunts that will make your heart skip.
Unlike its similarly timed cousin "From Paris with Love," "District 13: Ultimatum" carries enough of an anti-corporate humanitarian theme, albeit of a naive cartoon nature, to keep its quick punches and outrageous leaps in perspective.
Example: the company behind the ghetto invasion is named "Harriburton." Elodie Yung smokes up the screen as Queenpin Tao, a martial arts badass with deadly blades sewn into the end of her ponytail.
Rated R. 96 mins.
