And now for something completely different, the exhilarating and insane action flick District 13. Stylistically there is a certain sense of Luc Besson's involvement here (at times it's hard to know whether or not that is a good thing these days), but unlike his other recent projects this appears to be a film he really wanted to get made and boy is it worth it! Incorporating 'Parkour' or free-running as it has become commonly known in the UK, the Besson script fuses high-octane action, Martial Arts, futuristic sci-fi, and spectacular stunt work to give you an awesome, if bewildering outcome.

When his sister is taken hostage by a ruthless drugs lord, Leito is forced to break into the highly dangerous suburb of Paris and get her back. He is joined by an unconventional police officer (Damien) and they initially work as a pair. However things change when it emerges that Damien may be on an even more important mission to save the city.

Don't worry about the plot, its derivative and only really has resonance when dealing with the segregation in modern day France. The leads give great acting performances and phenomenal stunt routines which is really what the film is all about. Parkour has been heavily featured on our screens recently but is actually relatively dull unless enthused with great cinematography, a relentless soundtrack, and physical violence. You get all that in spades here in a film that can be described as an amalgamation of films like The Rock? Ong-Bak (2003) and Escape from LA (1996), and yet something entirely original as well.

Although the idea of a film based entirely on free running might not seem that appealing, the films master stroke is to combine this with visceral violence of the highest order. French purists may shun this in their droves, but snobbery has no place in the modern cinema, and this is the most modern of all cinemas in its undiluted form.

Whereas the TV programmes promising highflying antic across the Thames have ultimately disappointed, this does not. With your eyes wide open, and brain in neutral this will take you on an unforgettable ride…