This occasionally lavish, often clunky venture is consistently watchable if not terribly memorable or distinctive.
Comment
10/18/08
Babylon A.D. (2008)
7
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:96
Fresh:7
Rotten:89
Average Rating:3.2/10
Consensus: A poorly constructed, derivative sci-fi stinker with a weak script and poor action sequences.
Theatrical Release:29-08-2008
Synopsis: In sci-fi thriller BABYLON A.D., Vin Diesel's Toorop is an antihero who quotes the best of cinema's bad boys from films such as THE GODFATHER and SCARFACE. But all the tattooed muscleman really... [More]
Starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Melanie Thierry, Lambert Wilson
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz
Reviews for Babylon A.D.
So overwrought and over-serious that it never really engages us, and all of the laughs feel unintentional.
08/29/08
Babylon A.D. has its moments and is never less than watchable, but it's ultimately scuppered by a disappointing finale. Approach with caution.
08/29/08
French director Mathieu Kassovitz was once touted as the next Scorsese, thanks to his gritty debut, La Haine. Alas, this action-adventure epic suggests he has settled for being a Hollywood wannabe.
08/29/08
Kassovitz creates a grungy dystopia, but the action has the crazed, over-edited ruckus of a death-metal video and the top "international" cast is notable only for being miscast.
08/29/08
Babylon AD is a Blade Runner/Fifth Element wannabe which doesn’t have the budget to match its ambitions.
08/29/08
The film’s makers clearly aren’t big on originality, taking an old concept, asset-stripping a bunch of better movies and hoping nobody would notice. Given the few people who are likely to pay to see Babylon A.D., they might just get their wish.
08/29/08
The staleness of the script is reflected only too accurately in the kind of action sequences that most of us have seen dozens of times before. Not even Diesel can power this one.
08/29/08
Hard to believe, but there was a time when the phrase ‘starring Vin Diesel!’ was more of a promise than a threat.
08/29/08
He does, however, leave the door open for a sequel. But who'd want to clone a runt?
08/29/08
When your source material is as derivative and silly as this film's to begin with, you a have the perfect recipe for an all-mighty turkey. No wonder Kassovitz is hiding on the beach.
08/29/08
Fairly terrible techno-punk action flick.
08/29/08
Top CriticYou don't need to have a grudging affection for Vin Diesel to appreciate this dunderheaded comic-book adventure - although, obviously, it helps.
08/29/08
Top CriticIt’s utter codswallop, yet enjoyable if you unplug your brain.
08/29/08
Top CriticUnfortunately, a ‘Matrix’-style shoot-out offers a glib, violent solution to what is otherwise an intriguing emotional conflict.
08/29/08
Top CriticBrawny but brainless techno-twaddle.
08/28/08
Top CriticThe story makes little sense - least of all why Charlotte Rampling's Priestess doesn't just treat herself to a few Dalmatians and call herself Cruella De Vil.
08/28/08
The future looks a lot like the past (or at least like past movies) in this lazily derivative SF action flick.
08/27/08
Top CriticThere are moments here that are spectacular, and there are many more that are spectacular failures.
01/29/09
Kakostimeni apopeira foytoyristikis klotsoperipeteias, me metaiores senariakes akrobasies, tsoyhteres eksarseis melodramatismoy, asygkratites aythairesies metafysikoy kai enohlitikes omoiotites me to Pempto Stoiheio (1997), poy dinoyn neo noima stin euro-
01/20/09
Latest News for Babylon A.D.
September 15, 2008:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Coen Brothers Ring in a New Weekend at the Box Office
Joel and Ethan Coen scored the largest debut of their career and first-ever number one opening with the crime caper Burn After Reading. More...
September 08, 2008:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Worst Box Office in 5 Years
Americans spend the weekend doing everything but watching movies as the box office spills into a five year slump. More...
September 07, 2008:
Johannesburg Times: More murky travelogue and hi-tech apocalyptic tall tale than crystal ball thriller terror ride, Babylon AD and its own destiny appear lurching toward Babylon DVD, prophetically much sooner than later. 
More...
September 03, 2008:
More murky travelogue and hi-tech apocalyptic tall tale than crystal ball thriller terror ride, Babylon AD and its own destiny appear lurching toward Babylon DVD, prophetically much sooner than later.
More...
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