This artsy, stylized, star studded, action movie caught me of guard when I first started watching in it. I thought I was watching a new violent remake of Westside Story (minus the singing).
The movie takes place after of global war of some kind and soon after, all guns were banned. So the ways of the fist and sword returned to style. Ron Perlman plays Nicola aka “The Woodcutter” (he prefers axes to swords), the most powerful warlord/crime boss on the east coast. He has wronged a lot of people but none more than “The Drifter” played by Josh Hartnett and “Yoshi” played by Gackt. Both have vowed revenge on Nicola but they will have fight their way through an army of Nicola’s gangs with different fighting styles and are run by numbered killers (bosses), like Killer #7, Killer #2, ect.
They will need some help and combine forces with a philosophical bartender played by Woody Harrelson. Nicola has stolen the bartenders wife, played by Demi Moore, and has made her his bitch. He agrees to help them to get his wife back and the battle lines are drawn.Mayhem ensues and pretty cool artsy fight scenes through out. The 3 battle their way through the levels of gangs to the final showdown with “The Woodcutter” and Killer #2 played by Kevin McKidd.
This was a pretty cool movie but not my pint of beer for an action flick. It was like Sin City meets The Warriors meets The 7 Samurai meets Westside Story. You get the picture. I appreciated the art that went into the movie but it was kind of hokey. The acting of course was great, even by Gackt (he look’a like a woman) whose 1st language is definitely not English. However, the plot and script was just recycled stuff from old Spaghetti Westerns.
It is a cool movie but like I said, not my pint of beer. You may like it however, rent it but keep your expectations low and you might enjoy it.
I give this movie 3 Beers.
