Babylon AD

Although Babylon A.D. was not screened for U.S. critics, it was for U.K. critics, who, as they might say, got their knickers in a twist over it. James Christopher comments in the London Times, "It''s utter codswallop, yet enjoyable if you unplug your brain." Xan Brooks of the Guardian uses the word "dunderheaded". Nigel Andrews, the Financial Times critic, calls it "tosh" (garbage). Horatia Harrod in the Telegraph says the movie''s plot "is equal parts baffling, boring and absurd." Several critics lay the blame on Vin Diesel''s performance. "Whatever happened to Vin Diesel''s career?" asks Chris Tookey in the Mirror. And the (also unnamed) Belfast Telegraph critic writes, "Diesel has been running on unleaded." Stateside, A.O. Scott in the New York Times writes, "The only explicable thing about Babylon A.D. is that it was not screened in advance for critics . . . [T]he director, Mathieu Kassovitz, has already publicly described it as ''pure violence and stupidity.''" Adds Michael Ordoñ,a in the Los Angeles Times: "Kassovitz and the studio are apparently feuding over the finished product. There may be an interesting director''s cut DVD down the line, but this theatrical version is less than riveting." Surprisingly, David Hiltbrand in the Philadelphia Inquirer raves, and compliments the director for doing "a remarkable job with this material.". It is, he says, "a disturbing, wonderfully executed vision of the future. ... Seamless in its execution, the movie plays out like a grittier version of The Fifth Element."

Oh, come now! Take a deep breath and admit it,... some of us believe this contrived future could actually happen. Hopeless? Yes. Dismal? Yes. Plausible? Have you checked out the economic news today? One wrong move and your world will evaporate just like the American banking system did in 2008. At least the end of this post apocalyptic vision is filled with hope in the form of one Melanie Thierry. We might all die, but her character cannot. A dark hope that reflects deep cynicism. But it is hope.A lot of critics will be looking for work later this year. I don't care for their letters. And we all know they're full of their own fumes anyway. Shut up, plug in and download. Watch this film and be your own judge.