Babylon A.D.
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Pointless futuristic action outing in which a mobster (Gerard Depardieu) hires a mercenary (Vin Diesel) to escort a mysteriously gifted young woman (Mélanie Thierry) and her guardian (Michelle Yeoh) from Mongolia to New York and deliver her to the minions of her cult’s high priestess (Charlotte Rampling). Though not excessively violent, director Mathieu Kassovitz’ leaden adaptation of French author Maurice G. Dantec’s novel “Babylon Babies” is driven by a muddled mythology that includes the repetition of a Gospel miracle, a plot turn requiring, though hardly meriting, mature interpretation. Moderate action violence, one use of the F-word, some crude language, a couple of profanities, brief background view of a stripper.
L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.
(PG-13)
2008
When a director describes his own film as “pure violence and stupidity,” expectations ebb to Dead Sea level. As it turns out, Mathieu Kassovitz’ characterization of “Babylon A. D.” (Fox) in an interview with AMCtv.com is a shade pessimistic. The violence quotient of this pointless futuristic action outing is not that high, but then its I.Q. is even lower.
Mobster Gorky (Gerard Depardieu) hires Toorop (Vin Diesel), a mercenary, to escort Aurora (Melanie Thierry), a mysteriously gifted young woman and her guardian, Sister Rebeka (Michelle Yeoh), from Mongolia to New York and deliver her to the minions of her cult’s high priestess (Charlotte Rampling).
These gun-toting foot soldiers wear a variation on a clerical collar and have tin lapel pins with black crosses on them, indicating that the phony, power-hungry sect is a sort of anti-church. But the endurance of orthodox Christianity is implied by a market scene where crucifixes and statues of the Blessed Mother are on sale. And, surprisingly for this type of character, Toorop is seen early on pausing for a silent grace.
Though not excessively violent, director Mathieu Kassovitz’ leaden adaptation of French author Maurice G. Dantec’s novel “Babylon Babies” is driven by a muddled mythology and includes the repetition of a Gospel miracle (the virginal Aurora gives birth to twins), a plot turn requiring, though hardly meriting, mature interpretation.
The film contains moderate action violence, one use of the F-word, some crude language, a couple of profanities and a brief background view of a stripper. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic
merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating,
the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief
synopsis of the movie.
The classifications are as follows:
- A-I -- general patronage;
- A-II -- adults and adolescents;
- A-III -- adults;
- A-IV**
- L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
- O -- morally offensive.
** Discontinued classification. All archived movies that were originally in the A-IV category are now classified as L.