Renaissance - So familiar but you just can't place it

Perhaps this movie snuck by you like it did me. I recall seeing all the internet ads for it, I had the interest in it, but then one day the ads were gone and no theater seemed to be carrying the product I was looking for. The style is hard to place, since it almost looks cell shaded and CG, at times the characters move just like a real person. I'm fairly certain that some degree of real acting was done by the original French actors and I'm sure the information is available at my finger tips but I'm here to review a movie not the making of the movie so really let's begin.

Renaissance, is a bare bones story with cool effects and a unique presentation. A research Scientist for a Avalon goes missing, and the police are on the case. It's a mystery as to why the Scientist (Ilona) has been kidnapped, and who the villain behind it really is. That's pretty much it, the story is so familiar you'll swear you've seen it before. Probably because you actually have, but I really can't place it. The cop has a dangerous past voiced by Daniel Craig (Bond!) and for some reason he gets really involved in the case, and the missing woman's sister. Avalon is the company of the future that takes care of everything for you and comes complete with Billboards that turn on when you walk by and stare at you and everything. Of course their evil, but there's an evil doctor involved in the mix as well, who ends up being the bigger bad guy? Well they're French so probably everyone! Nah, just joking I love the French.

The action is okay, there's some invisible trench coat ninjas (they're just security guards but by damn they act like ninjas), the gun play is okay as well. There's a car chase scene that really didn't work with the cell shading/CG, but the on foot chase scenes worked very well and helped counter the car chase scene. The city looked good, but at times it was difficult to tell what level of the city you're looking at and the sidewalks were clear so the first time you see it, it's a bit confusing. Other than showing the Eiffel Tower once, you wouldn't think it was taking place in France.

Watching the movie I could spot it's many influences. Obviously Bladerunner and the Matrix being key influences. The overall plot and how the it was directed reminded me heavily of a Japanese Animation that I had scene, but can't quite place my finger on. The storyline and overall plot truly remind me of a movie I have already seen, but again I can't place it. If you're into CG/cell shading, or like animations and action, then give the movie a rental. I think that movie took some bold steps towards making interesting movies in this style; if you enjoyed Sin City's look then you'll like the shading and lighting of this movie. If the same company were to venture another CG/cell shading adventure, then I would definitely see what it has to offer.

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TMNT (2007) Holding it's own against the original

We've come a long way since the first Ninja Turtles, I remember as a kid not being able to wait to see the movie. When I saw the poster I freaked out, and still to this day whenever I randomly see it, I can't help but smile. Originally when I heard about the new movie I got that same kind of excitement... until I saw that it was CG. The Turtles need a break, they've been franchised out too many times since the height of their popularity and every installment since has been worse and worse. This movie might be a slight improvement though. The CG was actually very very good and rivals that of Pixar and other CG studios.

The story on the other hand was not very good. It was short and bit off more than it could chew. It did stand on it's own which is rare in a sequel. Essentially the store picks up after the first Live Action movie, Leo has been sent to the jungle to train and become a better leader. He hasn't returned after being away for a year so the other Turtles have taken up other activities to fill their days. They'll show you in the first 20 minutes of the movie so I'm not going to bother stealing the fun of the scene. The movie centers around Raphael and Leonardo, as the butt heads over leadership and everything else brothers fight about. My problem with the characters, is that while Raphael learns and grows, Leo doesn't and actually comes off pretty pompous. Michelangelo has a decent presence in the movie but Donatello is lacking from the film, I could count how many scenes he was in. It's fine if the Director and most of the other fans don't think Donatello is a strong character, but when the movie is about the bonds of brotherhood then you should probably include ALL of the brothers. The ending was convenient and quick, with the last of the 13 monsters running in and taking down the General's for the Turtles. I'll never understand why they didn't just turn off the General's electronic activators that allowed them to move and talk, but hey that's just me.

I have to fall back on the story and how rushed it felt, when I got to the ending I had the overwhelming sensation of being incomplete. In typical Turtle Movie fashion it was left wide open for another sequel, and ended with a rap song about the Turtles. Unfortunately there's not a lot of action/fighting scenes to speak of, and the jokes were pretty far and in-between as well. I did laugh at the end when Michelangelo wanted to retire his over sized turtle head costume, but other than that the most I crack was a smile. The voice acting was actually really good, with of course one exception... Splinter. His dialog was so weird and acted poorly. With Cartoons and CG movies it's all about timing and Mato, who was the voice of Splinter, just didn't have the timing to make it work. Everything sounded like a line being read, rather than acted. The movie did earn my trust enough to watch a second outing if it was made, and guessing by the $93 million it made world wide I'd say another is already in the works.



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Now playing: "I Just Do" by Dear and the Headlights
via FoxyTunes

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