Bunraku (2010)

• Year: 2010
• Released: 30 Nov 2011
• Country: United States
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1181795/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bunraku
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/bunraku
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: English, Japanese
• MPA Rating: R
• Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
• Runtime: 124 min
• Writer: Boaz Davidson, Guy Moshe
• Director: Guy Moshe
• Cast: Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson
• Keywords: revenge, drifter, bartender, uncle nephew relationship,

	6.1/10
	28/100
	17% – Critics
	49% – Audience

Bunraku Storyline

The story of a a young man who has spent his life searching for revenge only to find himself up against a bigger challenge than he originally bargained for.

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Bunraku Movie Reviews

Moving pictures. Literally.

What a pleasant surprise! So many symbols, details and colors. This movie is, like it says in the summary – moving pictures. Of course, the comparison with Sin City is inevitable, but this is different. Original. Poetry of composing colorful images. And yet, it still looks like a comic book brought to life. Or a theater of shadows. Or puppets (which is what Bunraku is all about, as a traditional Japanese theater). Everything made of drawings, cardboard and wood, except for some vehicles (Europeans will feel some nostalgia seeing old Fiat 600 and Reanault R8 Gordini) and swords. Surreal and yet very much close to what we imagine as real. Cast is excellent, as well as direction, editing, music and camera. Why not 10 stars then? There are some theatrical element I thing are not adequate for the whole composition. But you don’t have to be so picky. Watch it and enjoy the art of making movies as moving pictures.

Solid visuals in an all too familiar storyline

BUNRAKU is one of those hyper-fantasy action flicks that looks like a comic book, a la 300 and SIN CITY. The story takes place in some colourful fantasy world where everyone seems to be an expert in the martial arts and has some legend or other connected to them. As the tale progresses the story lines gradually coalesce with the heroes teaming up to battle the big bads at the climax.

According to the director, his intent was to make a film that looks and feels like SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, with the twist that the dances are replaced by fights. To this end, BUNRAKU is a success. There’s a lot of action here, and while none of the fighters are amazing, the choreography is crisp and fluid. The fights look good, at the very least. They reminded me of the famous tea house battle in KILL BILL: VOLUME 1.

The producers have also assembled a decent cast for this one, and I appreciate the casting of a Japanese guy in the lead role (even though he’s a singer, Gackt looks the part all right). I’m no fan of Josh Hartnett but he’s at the very least passable, while Woody Harrelsen brings plenty of charm as the third person in the story. Thankfully Demi Moore’s screen time is kept to a minimum, but Ron Perlman and Kevin McKidd make a good tag team as the bad guys. BUNRAKU isn’t a perfect film – it’s not something I would be tempted to watch again – but at least it looks and feels fresh and invigorating, which is more than can be said for most modern American productions.

YOU CAN’T BEAT ME WITH A STICK

In the post apocalyptic world guns are outlawed, swords are used. A district/town is run by Nicola (Ron Perlman). He has an army of killers known as Reds because the dress in red. Kevin McKidd plays Killer #2 the strong arm for Nicola. He has the ability of Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill.” The people dress in gray…guess what they’re called? Woody Harrelson is Little West Town’s bartender at the Horseless Horseman. He is known as “The Bartender.” One day a drifter comes to town…known as “The Drifter.” He looks like Leonardo DiCaprio and wants to get into a high stakes card game. The sets has that surreal CG look that we originally saw in “Dick Tracy.” The scenes are all done on a stage.

In a subplot, another stranger named Yoshi (Gackt Camui) comes to town. He is looking to avenge his father by taking back a golden dragon talisman. Both men have the ability to fight multiple trained fighters at one time without breaking a sweat. They bump heads at the Horseless Horseman and decide to join forces against Nicola and his red suit fighters as a cowboy without a gun and samurai without a sword.

The film is something Quinton Tarantino might have done growing up watching “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.” It has cartoon segments, numbers dropping down by people, extreme amount of fighting, and quirky humor. Woody Harrelson provides us with philosophy and pop-up books. If you like weird action films and Scott Pilgrim type of movie, this one will blow you away. The dialogue is filled with symbolism, metaphors, and double entendres. “The fight is not about who’s right, but who’s left.”

The film makes full use of the soundtrack. Bravo to relative new comer Guy Moshe.

F-bomb (Demi Moore is in it), no sex or nudity.