As an experiment in marrying motion to a very painterly b&w two-tone storyboard, Renaissance is a breathtaking achievement. Sadly, as a full-length film with an involving plot and compelling characters, it fails completely.

| Feb 28, 2020

Ultimately saved by the strong performances, taut atmosphere, and awe inspiring animation...

| Apr 25, 2014

The script's fusion of B-movie crime cliches and dystopian futurism, if not exactly original, is nonetheless vigorously engaging, and the English-language voice cast is good enough to make the existential noodling seem like real dialogue.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 27, 2011

Visually impressive sci-fi noir

| Original Score: B | Jul 11, 2011

The visuals of Christian Volckman's film blow away just about everything else on the screen this year.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Apr 23, 2009

It is more Sin City (the graphic novel) than Sin City (the movie)! Or at least on a purely visual level . . .

| Nov 25, 2008

It's a testament to the production design that one quickly gets caught up in the story without ever completely losing the "ooh-ahh" factor. Ominous, wall-to-wall music bolsters the appropriately uneasy mood, and the bittersweet conclusion is satisfying.

Full Review | Jul 22, 2008

Like most cyberpunk, this film has a stellar premise. However, also in the tradition of cyberpunk, its storytelling and presentation is as murky as its production design.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Sep 9, 2007

...suffers from an unpleasant and relentlessly distracting animation style that ultimately renders its few positive attributes moot.

| Original Score: 0/4 | Aug 16, 2007

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 26, 2007

The movie radiates a dark, eerie, mysterious, otherworldly quality, yet it isn't enough to sustain over an hour and an half of story.

| Original Score: 5/10 | Jul 19, 2007

Renaissance is a victory of style over substance and technology over art, but to score a real win, the filmmakers need to strike a better balance between the two.

Full Review | Original Score: 73/100 | Jul 18, 2007

The inky blacks and bright whites make for a really interesting, printed look that's unique...

| Original Score: B | Jun 21, 2007

The style doesn't just overwhelm the substance, it makes it irrelevant.

Full Review | Mar 24, 2007

Lacks a beating heart at its core. It's all about its technical aspects and sense of cool, and that's just not good enough.

| Mar 1, 2007

Volckman and his collaborators have done a remarkable visual job that compares favourably with Sin City. The threatening nocturnal mood constantly amazes in a 'How did they do that?' sort of way.

| Jan 20, 2007

While the story is not compelling, the style of the film is amazing.

| Original Score: C+ | Jan 19, 2007

Graphic novel nerds will find much to love. But too much of Renaissance is stylishly stupefying.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 30, 2006

A pic of true craftsmanship that dazzles until it wears out its welcome and becomes a drag.

| Original Score: B- | Dec 3, 2006

For its retro-futurist look alone, this outdated thriller set in 2054 Paris is worth seeing.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Nov 3, 2006