‘Sin City’ and ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’ gave birth to ‘Bunraku’

Although Bunraku promises to be a cutting-edge film with all the trappings of green screens and exquisite CGI work, the end result is actually quite two-dimensional. There isn’t much going for this fantasized noir featuring the wasted acting talents of Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore and Ron Perlman.

We’re in an alternative world with hyper-stylized skyscrapers and seemingly endless landscapes. A drifter (Hartnett) teams up with a samurai (Gackt) and employs the help of a bartender (Harrelson). Their mission, if they choose to accept it, is to take down the violent crime lord known as the Woodcutter (Perlman) and his band of sword-wielding bandits. Motives are typically thrown out the window.

The film is heavily influenced by comic books, spaghetti westerns and film noir. Although, these influences beat the audience over the head incessantly. Writer-director Guy Moshe is much more interested in visually stunning the viewer, rather than spinning a yarn with believable characterization and thoughtful plot points.

Bunraku is the type of movie that spawns after the success of much greater fare, like Sin City, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and even Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Its concept gets ahead of its execution. Everything in the movie exudes a polished coolness: Nothing is left to the imagination and everything feels forced.

Quentin Tarantino freely uses conventions from his favorite genres. But rather than overtaking the movie, those conventions simply inform the characters and storyline. Not so with Bunraku. This is a plodding mishmash of contrived ideas and pop-art pastiche. It may work on page in a graphic-novel form, but as a living, breathing cinematic testament, the film fails badly.

Hartnett grumbles his lines behind a silly mustache and perpetually furrowed brow. Moore adds nothing to her role of a high-end prostitute with a special connection to the Woodcutter. Perlman does what Perlman always does: He’s Perlman, just with dreadlocks.

Harrelson is likable and Gackt provides some much-needed martial flair, but two diamonds is not going to save this rough.

The entire film was seemingly shot on a sound stage, and although it offers some impressive visuals, it also lacks texture and tangibility. At times, it feels like these characters are walking around a cartoon, from postcard to postcard. There’s never any sense that this world actually exists, or that it could exist in some alternative reality. It feels like a bad video game, and it doesn’t help that many action sequences throughout the movie are highlighted by annoying electronic sounds that will remind audience members of Zelda.

There is some admirable work in the design aspects of Bunraku. One can’t call it a complete failure, because too many of the landscapes are visually arresting. There is a sense that much effort was put into the 125-minute feature; it’s just that the payoff is fair to middling.

• Bunraku

• 2010

• Written and directed by Guy Moshe

• Starring Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, Gackt, Kevin McKidd, Ron Perlman and Demi Moore.

• Running time: 125 minutes

• Rated R for bloody violence and language

• Rating:

• Blu-ray features: Commentary track by Moshe and McKidd; theatrical trailer