They’re really playing up the dystopian poncho fashion with the new poster and teaser trailer for the perma-looming Vin Diesel sci-fi vehicle Babylon A.D. Might the eventual tagline be “This way late summer, put on your poncho as we journey into a future where anything can happen and it rains a lot“? You’ll find out nothing about the film’s plot from this hyper-edited clip, but the ambiance/marketing equation seems to be Blade Runner + Children of Men / xXx = “serious Vin Diesel action” from the mind of director Mathieu Kassovitz who brought America Gothika. That said, after last month’s barrage, seconds of anything that isn’t Iron Man looks slightly interesting mildly original. Here’s the Slashfilm synopsis…
Veteran-turned-mercenary Thoorop (Diesel) takes the high-risk job of escorting a woman (Mélanie Thierry) from Russia to China. Little does he know that she is host to an organism that a cult wants to harvest in order to produce a genetically modified Messiah. Based on the French novel by Maurice G. Dantec, who was strongly influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche, Philip K. Dick and punk rock. The film also co-stars Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Sunshine) as a nun.
You can watch the trailer in High Definition on the official website. Babylon A.D. is set to hit theaters on August 29th 2008.
Discuss: After the film was delayed from February to late August, how do you feel about the teaser for Babylon A.D.? Did the Statue of Liberty apocalyptic street art grab your attention or make you shrug? Question of the year, for sure.
poster source: vindieselgallery
May 1st, 2008 at 6:10 pm
this should be good. mathieu kassovitz rocks. la haine is one of my favorite movies of all time. a must see.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:22 pm
FINNNNALY a move worth reporting about! That’s what I’m talking about peter!
This movie is going to be soooooo kick ass and action packed. HELL YES VIN DIESEL ROCKS
May 1st, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Reminds me of The Fifth Element meets Children of Men. Sort of a big European design/action with that real gritty feel of Children.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:30 pm
You see, he was the actor Vin Deisel, but he got bit by radio active Osama Bin Ladin…
May 1st, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I think it will be worth a look at. Dissel’s more seriously toned films have always been interesting to me.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I have to admit that looks really interesting. I always thought Diesel could pull of more serious roles if he dropped the bad boy, ex-bouncer, character stuff. I just want to see more from this film, like some dialogue and so forth. This trailer does have me intriqued.
Also, Larry Leonardo most likely runs a Vin Diesel fansite.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:23 pm
@ jank
Yeah, but Le Haine was soooo long ago.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:24 pm
For some reason his face doesn’t look convincing to me in that spot. His face has “camera on me” all over it. I’ve always felt that way about him that he is a little too entrenched in overacting to be taken seriously. He reminds me of a guy who thinks he is tough. Real tough guys don’t have to think about whether they are tough or not.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Yeah…I’m pretty sure that if you divide by xXx, the world ends.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:42 pm
THIS MOVIE LOOKS AWESOME!!!!
May 1st, 2008 at 8:31 pm
a vin diesel movie worth watching? now thats a real question.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:08 pm
after watching this trailer twice i still have absolutely no fucking idea what its about.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I saw this the first time when it was called Pitch Black… and then I saw it again when it was called XXX…
Couldn’t care less
May 1st, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Got this trailer through the BAD Myspace site the other day, and I’m with most everyone else.
You too can be cool if you’ll shave your head, wear a rain-slicked poncho and scowl into the camera. W00t!
May 1st, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Vin Diesel FTW. Don’t care what the haters say.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:09 pm
The poster looks like a mash up of the opening sequence of Metal Gear Solid 2:Sons of Liberty and Bruce’s character in Unbreakable.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:20 pm
@skaught
Most teasers don’t tell you mostly what its about. Which is why its called a teaser. I don’t think Ive ever seen a teaser that has much on the story. Just gives a taste of the movie.
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:45 am
The plot synopsis for this seems like a dumbed down “Children of Men” The beginning of the teaser just reinforced that feeling.
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:59 am
I have high hopes for this movie and have read everything piece of blog buzz I can get my hands on for it. That said, I feel this movie is one of those “never heard of it”. I’ve mentioned this movie to several of my friends, some of who are total sciophiles, and they’ve never heard of it. I feel this movie needs a ton more buzz to be big, since 95% of the general public has no clue what its about or ever heard of it. IMDB doesn’t even offer more than one sentence for its plot synopsis.
If word reaches your average joe that the European version is much longer that might anger the U.S. fans as well. I figured the internet geeks already expressed their disappointment.
NOTE: August? Cmon especially the last week. From the middle of August to the end of October = the elephant graveyard for movie time. Anything that comes out then either sucks or has low appeal. If this movie was just slotted wrong then I’ll be good. But my hopes kinda dwindle given previous movie performances at that time of the year.
An actual trailer debuting during Dark Knight would be a perfect place for this movie to gain tons and tons of buzz.
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:36 am
Looks interesting, will probably be a rental though.
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:45 am
Kassovitz also directed a great movie called HATE (LA HAINE) and a pretty damn good one called CRIMSON RIVERS so why be snarky with the Gothika reference. I’m rooting for this to be good. But that trailer did nothing for me. Still hoping for the best though. I miss dystopic futuristic action movies.
@The E
I have one word for you: BLADE
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 am
pffffft
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:33 am
That teaser was just awful. Not only did it not tell you a damn thing about the movie it didn’t really show you anything other than random fast shots. Dumb.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:26 am
@ Chromey
Babylon A.D. bares a helluva lot more resemblance to the slick Hollywood stylings of Gothika than the gritty and personal Le Haine, that’s why. Just because a director made a memorable indie many years ago doesn’t mean the film needs to be mentioned in a piece about his latest mainstream movie…with Vin Diesel.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:10 am
This has potential.
Hopefully it doesn’t turn into a moronic punch/kick/jump off of stuff-athon.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 am
Great to see Michelle Yeoh in so many movies these days…loved her in Sunshine. Will be seeing this one most likely.
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
doesn’t look that good to me…
maybe if i’d just seen the poster and not the trailer. but then again, if i just saw the poster, i woulda thought it was the unbreakable sequel and wet my pants
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I swear Im going to start a company that does nothing but create post apocalyptic New York street scenes.
I will have job security forever.
Hard to tell just what this film will be like from this lame ass teaser.
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 pm
pls highlight michelle yeoh. she will be the biggest selling point for this movie at least in asia. who the hell does not know michelle yeoh in asia? when come to kick-ass, even vin got to stand a side to watch michelle. she is even to jackie & jet…
wish Kassovitz & his team can play smart this time. not just to market the movie with vin. pls emphasize michelle who is the box office number 1 in asia…
May 26th, 2008 at 12:19 am
I hope this turns into a moronic punch kick bash shoot film. I think diesel does a great job at those and they are fun to watch. It is when movies like this try to take themselves to seriously and send some message they get convoluted and miss out on being a good action flick. I go to the movies for action, fun. I read to learn, and experience life to learn deeper meaning. Stop acting like you come out a changed man from any action flick.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:52 am
this movies is definetly blade runner meets resident evil meets children of men . a trailer i saw for the movie shows that theres more to the woman hes protecting than meets the eye and im talking resident evil apocolypse more .