I don't
how the conversations went to get all the actors involved to sign onto this movie because BUNRAKU is an overcooked stylized
mess. Maybe they needed the extra paychecks.
I don't understand the quotes from the internet critics at IGN and Ain't It Cool News either. BUNRAKU again is a crappy comic book style film. If
it wasn't for the action scenes (which I have seen much better), BUNRAKU would have not held my attention to the end as I
wondered why I was watching this film the theatrical trailer made look so much better.
A mysterious
drifter (Josh Hartnett) and Yoshi, a Japanese samurai, come into town to bring down the corrupt reign of Nicola the Wooodcutter
(Ron Perlman) and his lady Alexandra (Demi Moore). With the help of a bartender
(Woody Harrelson) of the Horseless Horseman Saloon, they go through fight after fight to get closer to Nicola and kill
him.
I go back
to what in the heck did the actors see in director Guy Moshe's story. Maybe Demi thought she needed to do a Sin City visuals type story. The script isn't very clear and well written. The first fact is I think
the film would have been better without the narrator character (every time the narrator talked, I wanted him to go away as
it took me away from the movie). Second, Alexandra's relationship with Nicola isn't very fleshed out and a last minute
reveal shows her connection to another character in the movie (very lame last minute mention without doing some foreshadowing).
Third, The set design is too much like they shot this on a big stage set more fit for a theater play environment instead of
a movie environment. Sometimes this type of look works for movies like SIN CITY. Four, it is a world where all guns are banned and people are back to fighting with swords
and spears. I wish they had one character breaking the law and shooting someone (we do see a glimpse of an old man in
a uniform with a pistol and that's it).
SPECIAL
FEATURES:
The audio
commentary is with Writer/ Director Guy Moshe and Actor Kevin McKidd. The other
extras are the theatrical trailer and trailers for other Arc Entertainment releases.
FINAL
ANALYSIS: I don't see why the cast became attracted to this overstylized mess known as BUNRAKU. Don't buy.
rent at your own risk. better yet, go see better movies starring these actors instead of this one.
This DVD
review is (c)11-4-2011 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted in full without permission. send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com
