I probably should have known better, but I was seriously disappointed by Vin Diesel’s attempt to get back into action this year with Babylon A.D.. I know the American version of the movie was cut down from the European version, but I don’t think that was the problem with the movie. Out of curiosity I even tried looking at Babylon Babies, the original novel which inspired the film, and even that didn’t help me understand why this movie was a good idea.
For those curious whether another cut of the movie might help fix the issues Babylon A.D. has, look no farther then the two-disc unrated extended cut of the movie. Actually, that’s a bold statement - I can’t tell from the press release if this is truly the extended version other countries saw or just extended from the version we had in theaters, so it could be just as bad a version.
The nice thing about the DVD release is that it includes a featurette that explains how the story was adapted from novel to screen. That means you don’t need to plod through Maurice G. Dantec’s novel to figure out where ideas got lost (or didn’t exist to begin with). All you have to do is check out the featurette when the DVD comes out on January 6th.
Here’s a look at what you can expect to find on the various editions coming out on January 6th:
- Babylon A.D. Single-Disc includes…
- Babylon Babies –How author Maurice G. Dantec’s novel went from page to screen
- Arctic Escape – An inside look at the snow mobile chase
- An inside look at Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia
- Babylon A.D. Special Edition Two-Disc Unrated Cut includes…
- Babylon Babies –How author Maurice G. Dantec’s novel went from page to screen
- Arctic Escape – An inside look at the snow mobile chase
- Fit For The Screen – A featurette about the martial arts and stunts of the film
- Flight of the Hummers – The exciting Humvee chase is dissected
- Genesis of Aurora – A graphic novel prequel to Babylon A.D.
- Still gallery
- Blu-ray Disc With Digital Copy includes…
…all of the featurettes included on the standard definition two-disc DVD as well as:
Interactive “Scene Evolution” in BonusVIEW Mode: - Exterior Housing Project
- Toorop’s Apartment (With Explosion)
- Gorsky’s Armored Convoy
- Gaz Limo on Magnet
- The Convent
- The Marketplace
- Trans-Siberian Train Interior
- Night Club: The Hackers
- Night Club: Fight Scene
- Night Club: Cage Fight
- The Stampede to the Russian Sub
- Russian Sub Interior
- Snowmobile Chase
- Snowmobile Explosion: Toorop is Hit
- Harlem Square Shootout
- Darquandier’s Laboratory
- Darquandier’s Laboratory: Memory Machine
