Renaissance (2006)

Pretty Good

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Blistering performances.

The biggest problem people seem to have with this is understanding the genre so having proper expectations. So, some basics: - It is animated. It's not rotoscoped, but is entirely animated. Yes, computers did much of it, like anything today. - It's uniquely styled. It's no a ripoff, knockoff, etc. - It is animated because it is trying to be a comic book. It works. It's required in many ways, as it's b&w comic in tone and action, and is in a future city which would be overwhelming if rendered in CGI at live action quality, cheap if rendered in typical (e.g. Batman animated movie) style. Also some bits of technology that had comic conceits, and wouldn't have worked at all in live action style. - It's an SF detective noir. Which is a bit of a thing. Think Blade Runner or later Ghost in the Shell. - There are grays, but note when they happen. Use of gradients vs. black and white is occasionally for depth (transparency) but mostly for thematic reasons. The story is fine. The acting is good (though not everyone is equally good)... but not always drawn well. Some beautiful drawing, but too many faces are oversimplified, or overly stuff. Themes are as creepy as most any film, and coupled with sound design, animation style and editing, it works.

I heard many bad things about "Renaissance": That it was boring and flawed, that it was a rip-off of "Sin City". Too good I didn't paid attention to any of that criticism. "Renaissance" is a good, interesting thriller with incredible visuals and a fascinating story. A great homage to classic detective, films, with a great atmosphere. And just because it is black and white, it doesn't make it a rip-off, and what is more, I liked it more than "Sin City", because unlike that film, "Renaissance", this was subtle, thrilling and realistic, without any of the stupid and cartoonish excesses from movies as "Wanted" or "300"."Renaissance" is a good, underrated film that deserves a lot more of appreciation.I give this ten stars.

Blade Runner (Deckard is a Replicant!), City of Lost Children (augmented senses or whatever used and abused and mostly, well, just giving us far less than what we might dream of), andDark City: These really ought to be added.For a while now, I've been waiting for an animated film that might affect me as much as Miyazaki's stuff has. This one is the 1st.Hmm, scratch the "animated" part of that.I have an intense love-hate relationship with film noir and, hey, if you don't leave, it must be mostly love, right? But, there are so many sci-fi and noir themes totally submerged in this film that it's just a wonder to watch.These people did an incredible job!

I read that this did not well, that the story is not solid, that Volckman feels he has failed in some way.I disagree. First, it is well executed. Volckman is doing well to not only to try a new technique, but to have a focus that is worth thinking about: would immortality reduce the value of life? Big question ...I can see he trying hard to build a feeling, and he is not compromising. This is to be applauded. I am sure it was an interesting exercise to build characters in such a form. I have seen artists reduce a form to bare minimum to build the intensity of a moment. I identify this film with this.Further, it is much more interesting than Richard Linklater's roto-scoping, and Volckman's story has more meaning than Linklater's later stories of a wasted life on drugs. Old news. Everyone knows it, but no one does anything about it. Renaissance has more to offer, something new to think about. And there are many more stories out there with loads of holes in them that do far better.Well done, Volckman. Really nice work.