Renaissance

An animated feature that looks like a black-and-white graphic novel sprung to life, French filmmaker Christian Volckman's Renaissance is a lustrous visual success dragged down by an unremarkable futuristic cop narrative. Featuring the voice talents of Daniel Craig, Jonathan Pryce, and Catherine McCormack, this neo-pulp sci-fi noir is set in 2054 Paris, a city where recognizable landmarks like the Eiffel Tower now sport newer structures (such as glass walkways) superimposed over or situated around them. When a brilliant young scientist working for an all-powerful corporation that markets beauty products is kidnapped, a hard-nosed cop assigned to track down the woman's abductors finds himself squaring off against the firm's CEO over the company's experiments on eternal youth. Using motion capture techniques, the “performances” by the actors (not the voice talent) have been overlaid with animation that initially seems striking but begins to feel tiresome after nearly two hours (but might not have, if the story or characters had been more compelling). Renaissance is little more than a flashy animated variant of the innumerable futuristic thrillers about powerful corporations and corrupt governments that Hollywood has churned out ever since Blade Runner set the mold; by the end, it's as boring as most of its live-action siblings. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a 26-minute “making-of” featurette, and trailers. Bottom line: a small extras package for a visually innovative but narratively inert film.] (F. Swietek)[Blu-ray Review—July 3, 2012—Echo Bridge, 106 min., R, $14.99—Making its second appearance on Blu-ray, 2006's Renaissance sports a good transfer and features a DTS 5.1 soundtrack. Extras are identical to the DVD release and include a “making-of” featurette (26 min.). Bottom line: if you already own the initial Blu-ray release of this so-so animated thriller, you won't need this re-release.]