HaemovoreRex To the best of my knowledge, this was one of the very first feature films to showcase the amazing art of Parkour. The plot (minimalist as it may be) concerns a group of seven Parkour specialists (the Yamakasi of the films title) who resolve to utilise their amazing skills in order to undertake some highly energetic burglaries; the intention being that the stolen loot will be used to pay for a little lads desperately needed heart transplant. The intentional irony is that the 'victims' whom our heroes are stealing from are the very same unscrupulous doctors who are making vast sums of money on the side for these dubious organ deals.The above scenario provides the requisite excuse for some awesome free running displays throughout, probably most spectacularly in one sequence wherein three of our heroes are chased around a lavish entrance hall by some ferocious guard dogs.Aside from the incredible acrobatic displays another factor which really lifts the film is its curious feel good factor which permeates throughout. Another reviewer here summed it up best by likening this to a children's film although certainly not in any derogatory way. Scenes of violence are entirely eschewed in favour of relief comedy instead which makes for a pleasantly refreshing change.I've read some reviews bemoaning the fact that with seven main protagonists plus a number of other major characters, all cramped into a 90 or so minute film, character development is inevitably limited. Whilst admittedly true, I really didn't find it to be an issue here as our hero's are such an instantly likable bunch and after all, it's their physical agility that is the real star anyway.Overall, after hearing so many Luke warm verdicts on this film, I was very pleasantly surprised after finally viewing it for myself. It requires nothing more than to sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacle. Certainly if like me, you enjoyed this and your Parkour appetite has been whetted, then you would be well advised to seek out its semi sequel, Les Fils Du Vent and the awesome District 13 for some more free running shenanigans.

meetjopeblack There's nothing noteworthy about the story. Very thin plot--I even felt the story was forced just to have a film on the yamakasis. Plot/conflict is based on an incredible story of a boy needing a transplant because of an accident? Why? There could have been a better plot for the yamakasis since they are not really misfits and/or outlaws. They're just extreme sports lovers who are in it for the adrenalin rush.Enough said about the plot. Yamakasi is basically about amazing stunts and maneuvers. They are breath taking! Yamakasi stunts defy gravity and inertia. True to it's subtitle, "Modern Samurais/Ninja" Who thought flying can be for men too!? For the stunts and (literal) flying... this film gets my thumbs up.

icelandknight The action was fun to see, the stunts were interesting, especially after reading that they were supposed to be real... but it's a movie not really made for thinking people, since there are terrible flaws in the plot that renders the whole process ridiculous and casts a shadow on the hero's self righteous deeds.Why is everyone (audience included) expected to blame the doctor for the price of the new heart! The movie attempts to show it as his fault! Or the fault of his social class! That's rediculous. He is simply stating the market price of the donor heart. It's probably being sold on the black market anyway, since I believe there are laws against such organ trading. It's then up to those RESPONSIBLE (and involved) to come up with the cash, if they want the transaction to go through. He does not make up this price, he is simply stating how much the people have to pay. - Think about it. What would happen if every doctor was made (forced / coerced) to pay the bill for patients requiring treatment? The price he quotes is the price that must be payed by those RESPONSIBLE for the boy's condition. Among those responsible were the terrible building climbing role models the boy was imitating in the first place. Which is why they got involved, right?Also, all this intimidation and threats made to others is very much against the, apparently very superficial, chivalrous code that these climbers are supposed to embrace. They are made to appear hypocrites and their eventual deeds lower them below the status of the lower class, to the status of thieves, extortionists, and criminals. Which, I believe the film was not intended to do. What great role models they became to save the boy! Do they still want him to grow up to be just like them? Apparently.Still there were some good suspense parts, like when they were stuck in the house and had to escape from the roof. One was left wondering how they were going to pull that off. Hopefully they didn't give too many burglars ideas. We don't need any more of that, thanks.Similar movies include: Robin Hood and the Pink Panther, although these are both much more heroic thieves than the Yamakasi. Perhaps Kamakasi would have been a better name, given the film's great number of negative reviews.

omergomerus I think that this movie was quite beautiful and it was not only a story created by kids at school yard, but it was talking about important feelings of people. As a french-speaking person, I can say that the actors aren't that bad. Actually they did a pretty good job, according to me.Everybody has to watch it in order to be able to criticize it. I personally recommend it to everyone.And those acrobatic skills of the actors were very aesthetic. They did everything to save their little brother.