Danger After Dark opens this year with a resounding bang! District 13 — the latest French property to be imported by producer Luc Besson — is a thrilling action film stripped down to its bare essentials. What emerges is a triumphant return to form for the action film genre, one that is delightfully reminiscent of the early days of Jackie Chan.

Set in Paris in the year 2010, District 13 depicts a dystopian milieu in which concrete walls are erected around the least desirable neighborhoods. Hope for these people is dwindling as schools, hospitals and police stations are closed one after another. The film opens with righteous Leito (David Belle) struggling to rid his ghetto of drug trafficking, but a failed clash with local ganglord Taha leaves him imprisoned and his sister kidnapped.

Meanwhile, special forces agent Damien (Cyril Raffaelli) — fresh from a one-man bust of another crimelord — is sent on a mission to deactivate a stolen bomb now in the possession of Taha. He busts Leito out of jail, and after some initial trust issues the two proceed to infiltrate B13. All doesn't go according to plan, but the good guys still prevail, leaving a trail of thoroughly kicked asses in their wake.

Parles vous le parkour?

Damien and Leito debate the best way to leap from the building. (Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Film Society)

While its premise is reminiscent of any number of similar titles, District 13 still manages to feel remarkably fresh. Eschewing digital effects in favor of good ol' fashioned stunt work, the film exhibits a number of breathtaking action setpieces featuring true-to-life stunts performed by the lead actors. Devoid of shaky-cam closeups and wirework, the film offers up strikingly real cinematic martial arts not seen since the likes of Ong Bak. Damien, pitted against two dozen armed thugs, shows off his derriere-booting abilities in a particularly bone-crunching sequence.

But the films' most jaw-dropping scenes feature Leito and Damien escaping their pursuers through urban obstacle courses with techniques based on Parkour, a French-born discipline which Belle helped to create. Leito performs seemingly miraculous feats of agility as he scales walls, jumps over gaps and leaps from dizzying heights, all while besting his adversaries while unarmed. These unique setpieces drive the film forward and give it plenty of "omg!" moments throughout its brisk 85 minute running time.

The repoire between Leito and Damien is standoffish at best, but thankfully the film steers clear of predictable buddy comedy territory and remains even-keeled thanks to a minimum of exposition and restrained — if not entirely compelling — dialogue.

District 13 may not exactly reinvent the action film genre, but it strips out the fat and leaves us with the meaty core that makes action films so entertaining in the first place. In an age dominated by green-screen sensibilities, Morel's film is a welcome punch in the mouth that reminds us that cinema that explores human potential is often more compelling than sass-mouthing digital puppets. And with Hollywood films routinely tipping the scales at over two hours, the director also reminds us that brevity is a virtue. Highly recommended.

Thumbs Up. Exhilarating parkour-based escapes and true-to-life fight scenes highlight this tightly-paced ass-kicking action flick.

Learn more about District 13 at its official site. Be warned, it's in French!