Don Lindich’s Sound Advice Blog

Babylon A.D.
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Blu-ray Disc Review By Don Lindich

Vin Diesel plays Toorop in this sci-fi action, tough-guy movie which is worth renting, especially if you are a Vin Diesel fan.  Toorop is a mercenary hired to smuggle a psychically gifted young woman named Aurora (Melanie Thierry).  He is accompanied by Aurora’s guardian, Sister Rebeka (Michelle Yeogh).

This team travels from post apocalyptic Russia back to the futuristically lighted New York City and the visualizations look great.  They are pursued by Russian mobsters, a religious “No Light”cult, and cybernetic futurists.  The arctic snowmobile chase sequence in the movie stands out as exceptional.  Other chase sequences are standard action fare.

Initially, Vin Diesel plays the traditional antihero – he trusts no one and is only completing a job.  Aurora in contrast abhors violence as a result of being empathically linked to those around her.  As the film progresses, Vin Diesel’s character is drawn into the mystery surrounding Aurora’s past and the meaning of her future for all of mankind.  He must decide if he is more than merely a mercenary for hire.

Some of the featurettes on Blu-ray Disc™ provide information some film critiques pointed out as missing from the film when it opened in theaters.  For example, “Babylon Babies” provides commentary by the author of the book upon which the movie was based about the book’s ending and the “Prequel to Babylon AD: Genesis of Aurora Digital Graphic Novel” provides further back story for the Aurora character.  Also included are clips on the making of the stunts, a deleted chase scene, in picture commentary, the ability to digitally copy the movie to PC, and enhancements to use the movie with the D-Box Motion Code System™ (see http://www.d-box.com).