Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that District 13: Ultimatum is a violent comic book-style movie intended to inspire laughter and applause rather than anger and tension. But it's still filled with guns, drugs, and other violent images, mainly as an attempt to depict the crime-ridden, walled-off slum neighborhoods of a futuristic Paris. A sequel to the French film District B13 (2004), the movie is presented in French with English subtitles -- including translations of some swearing. Despite all the violent imagery, the two heroes generally act selflessly and for the good of others, and their martial arts skills are very impressive. Mature teens can probably handle it.
Sexual
Content
Viewers see a couple kissing, and it's suggested that they make love, though nothing is shown on screen. A man appears shirtless, and we see a woman asleep, lying on top of him. We also see sexy female dancers in a nightclub and a brief image of two girls kissing. A man disguises himself as a serving girl -- in a skimpy outfit -- to capture some bad guys. (The close-ups of his partly naked buttocks appear to belong to a female body double.)
Violence
Plenty of action, fighting, and chasing, all presented in a broad, comic book-like way, with more emphasis on humor and outlandishness than on anger. Tons of guns, gunfire, and gunshot victims. One main character uses martial arts to dispatch many bad guys in violent ways. We also get stun guns and pistol-whipping, plus missiles and bombs. Brief images of dog fighting and cage fighting. One character wears a razor sharp knife blade at the end of her long ponytail.
Language
The movie is in French. "Merde" is spoken several times, but the subtitles translate it both as "s--t" and "damn." We also hear "hell."
Social
Behavior
Although you can find some positive messages if you look for them -- such as the heroes' attempt to act for the good of others and the emphasis on enemies learning to set aside their differences and join forces for a greater good -- the constant violence and drug content tend to complicate the message. Also, the movie has a strong political slant: The main villain works for a company called "Harriburton" and plans to blow up the slums so that he can build new buildings and profit handsomely. But the president firmly believes in the French motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" and tries to base his decisions around the needs of the poor.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Secondary characters are drug dealers. Drugs and drug paraphernalia are on display throughout the movie, including bags of pot and heroin and/or cocaine. Viewers see needles and drugs being smuggled inside watermelons. Some supporting characters are said to be on drugs. The bad guys plant bags of drugs in Damien's apartment and arrest him to keep him out of the way.
