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Diesel and director Mathieu Kassovitz

Even more saddening is that there's some real wasted potential here; the visual effects and set designs are somewhat impressive, but, because there is never any explanation or exposition given, no sense of world-building whatsoever, it simply comes across as a totally random hodge-podge of images and cultural tropes, most notably a Coke Zero product placement that pops up several times throughout the movie. Sadder still is seeing the talented Yeoh stoop so low; unsurprisingly, Diesel wanders through the movie saying supposedly witty things in a gruff voice, which is apparently his excuse for acting.

Christians with the misfortune of seeing this movie might want to search for some sort of meaning in the religious imagery throughout the film, particularly in its second half. It would be nice to be able to comment on them here, but in truth, there's simply no discernable design to any of it, no meaning to be found, and, as such, its utilization of religious symbols can only be called crass and vulgar—much like the film itself. A completely incompetent mess of a movie, Babylon A.D. is a joyless and totally unrewarding piece of work that, alas, doesn't even live up to the colorful denouncements offered by its own creators.

Talk About It

1. There are various religious symbols and images employed in this movie. Does the film say anything meaningful about religion or spirituality? What view does it seem to take of religion, if any?
2. Does Toorop undergo any sort of character change by the movie's end?

The Family Corner

Babylon A.D. is rated PG-13 for violence, language, and sexuality. The violence is fairly intense in places, but no more so than any other PG-13 movie of its kind; there is some blood and gore, as well as gunfights and explosions and a bit of kung fu. The language includes numerous swear words, including a few uses of the Lord's name in vain. The sexuality is minimal, involving only one scene of brief sensuality with nothing explicit seen.

Photos © Copyright 20th Century Fox

© Josh Hurst subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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