As a gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen more action movies than I care to remember. I’ve raced through the streets of Rio de Janeiro with Brian O’Conner, battled aliens in the heart of New York City with Max Rockatansky, and even saved the world from a nuclear apocalypse while riding a skateboard. So when it comes to action movies, I like to think I have a discerning eye.
In the world of contemporary action films, the “Fast and Furious” series stands out as an unusual choice. Every few summers, people seeking a blockbuster devoid of superheroes could find solace in Vin Diesel and his speedy family. Prior to Dominic Toretto becoming the least charming breakout character in the franchise, Paul Walker was intended to be the main star. Unfortunately, Walker’s untimely death in 2013 occurred after he had moved from leading roles to supporting ones in later “Fast” movies. It seems as though the filmmakers attempted to make up for this by casting him in “Brick Mansions,” a movie that unsuccessfully tried to fill his former position.
13 years on, can we confidently assert that The Raid: Redemption revolutionized contemporary action filmmaking? Gareth Evans’ groundbreaking debut, which catapulted him onto the international scene, crammed intense martial arts battles into a confined high-rise setting, intertwining them with gritty police gunfire. The film’s pace is relentless, scarcely allowing its viewers to catch their breath. While numerous movies have attempted to emulate the style of The Raid, Brick Mansions can be described as The Raid meets Fast & Furious, but unfortunately, its stylistic choices seem to dilute rather than enhance both original influences.
What is Brick Mansions about?
| Director | Camille Delamarre |
|---|---|
| Writer | Luc Besson |
| Stars | Paul Walker, David Belle, RZA, and Catalina Denis |
| Runtime | 97 minutes |
| Release Date | April 25, 2024 |
The title Brick Mansions may seem like it could be a film about Lego due to its similarity in name to LEGO Masters, but there’s no connection between them. However, the title card gives off an unexpected vibe that resembles a children’s toy setting rather than a gritty action movie. The titular Brick Mansions refers to a walled-off district in Detroit that is plagued by rampant drug crime so severe that authorities have decided to isolate it as a quarantine zone. The narrative revolves around two residents: Lino, a former convict of French and Caribbean descent who strives to maintain his innocence amidst the chaos; and Damien, an undercover police officer who appears to be one of the few honest cops in Detroit. RZA, a famous rapper, portrays Tremaine Alexander, the villainous drug lord of Detroit, who controls the local police force and uses his private army to imprison Lino as retaliation for stolen heroin. Damien enters the quarantined zone to free Lino and dismantle Alexander’s operation before he can launch a nuclear bomb he has somehow acquired. The film features action sequences, plot twists, and numerous parkour stunts, but its storyline is rather thin and relies heavily on fighting scenes to conceal its weaknesses.
What is Brick Mansions based on?
Brick Mansions is a remake of Pierre Morel’s 2004 action-thriller, District 13, written by Luc Besson, known for films like La Femme Nikita and Lucy. Both movies feature David Belle, who plays the same character in both versions. The stories are strikingly similar, with a troubled neighborhood situated in a low-income area of Paris instead of Detroit, but it’s still about an ex-convict and an undercover cop trying to save their community. The plot isn’t what makes these films stand out. Instead, it’s the impressive parkour stunts that earned District 13 considerable acclaim. Performers execute seemingly impossible feats of strength and skill in beautifully filmed parkour scenes, which are the heart of the movie. In fact, parkour is so integral to the story that it serves as the characters’ primary means of transportation, combat, conflict resolution, exercise, stress relief, and more. The films have been compared to Ong-Bak meets Escape from New York. Those who have watched Ong-Bak, Escape from New York, The Raid, and The Fast and the Furious might be able to anticipate some of the issues with Brick Mansions.
How was Brick Mansions received?
The movie “Brick Mansions” significantly outperformed its origin material financially. It raked in $73.4 million against a budget of just $28 million, whereas the original “District 13” likely didn’t recover its production costs despite costing less than half as much. Critics were rather harsh towards “Brick Mansions.” Many found it inferior to its predecessor, while even those who didn’t seemed to dislike the production. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 24% critics’ score. Audiences were slightly more forgiving, giving it a 47% positive rating, but it still falls short of fresh territory. The primary issue lies in its presentation. Despite all the stunts, car crashes, and excessive gun violence, the disjointed editing style dampens any excitement. It manages to make even real-life feats appear computer-generated, which unfortunately highlights the film’s poor quality, leaving behind a rather disappointing movie with little merit.
In a nutshell, “Brick Mansions” shares some similarities with “Fast and Furious,” almost like its younger sibling. However, it seems to embody the issues that plagued the franchise during its early stages without any of the standout moments. Paul Walker’s last film, “Furious 7,” still outshines “Brick Mansions” significantly. If you’re a fan and haven’t seen it yet, both movies are currently streaming on HBO Max. For those who prefer the original work, “District 13” can be found for free on platforms like Pluto TV.
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2024-08-08 17:03