Bunraku Review
By David Kempler
Rocking After the Apocalypse
Japanese anime is not my particular thing. It's not that I dislike it; I just don't know all that much about it. Guy Moshe's "Bunraku" isn't really Japanese anime. However, it possesses some of its elements, although most of the action is of the flesh-and-blood variety. "Bunraku" blew me away, even though it is not perfect. I had a couple of problems with it. For one, it's a bit long. For another, the character Alexandra (Demi Moore) makes absolutely no sense. I'm not sure why she is here at all. Her character should never have existed.
That said, I loved "Bunraku". It's exquisite to look at and has a feel that combines lots of genres and films that I have enjoyed through the years. At different times, it reminded me of Tim Burton's work, "Dick Tracy", "West Side Story", "Total Recall", and westerns and martial-arts films, in general. It is a bit of a hodgepodge, but boy did I eat it up.
The setting is a post-apocalyptic future. Gangs with very exact hierarchies are in control of everything. The head hood is Nicola (Ron Perlman). In his employ, is a vast network of killers who are ranked by their abilities to kill. Killer 2 (Kevin McKidd) is Nicola's main enforcer, and he is a stylish fellow, never content to just take a life. Before doing so, he must make ballerina-like moves that end with a slash against a throat. He is a delightful villain to hate. Nicola, on the other hand, understands that once one reaches the top, his entire energy is devoted to staying there. He orders killing as a matter of necessity. It's nothing personal to him.
The Drifter (Josh Harnett), wanders into a bar. The Bartender is Woody Harrelson. It is made clear very quickly that The Drifter is a serious man on a serious mission. Some of the local scum in the bar mess with him but they are dispatched with hands that are quicker than they have ever seen. They stay clear of him after that first encounter. At the same time, Yoshi (Gackt), a Japanese warrior, is also on a mission. He is searching for an important medallion in Nicola's possession. Yoshi's relatives run a local sushi bar that is being terrorized by Nicola's gang. The Drifter and Yoshi prefer to work alone, but circumstance has brought them together to accomplish their respective tasks together.
"Bunraku" might not appear to be your kind of movie, but since it doesn't fit neatly into any pre-conceived category, it might end up being something you love as much as I did. I can guarantee you that it will be one of the most unusual things you will ever witness, as well as being one of the best looking. See it and admire the ride.
