My Sin City Review (SPOILERS)

[X'an Shin]

Well, I have to say that I wasn't overly impressed. I didn't think it was an awful film, but I think it really tried too hard to match the comic panel for panel and missed taking a chance at translating that comic to the big screen and telling a better story.

Some of the things that I really enjoyed was Mickey Rourke's performance as Marv. He nailed the voice and the subtle face action, but then I was taken aback at his physical acting. First off, he's not nearly big enough to be Marv. Second, what was with that intentionally goofy walk? There's determined, and then there's ministry of silly walks. His fell into the latter. It totally broke the "bad ass" image he was building up every few scenes. He'd kick ass, I'd be all "Marv!" and then he'd walk with that weird goofy shoulder strut and it would break it again.

One of the reasons I think they should have relaxed a bit on the whole "panel for panel" angle was that it just doesn't work in film. For instance, when Marv was interrogating the guy by grinding his face on the pavement. It's such a kick-ass panel in the comic because it contains all of this energy and movement captured in a single gesture, but in the movie, they pose the victim just like in the comic and he's now defying gravity. They're not going over a hill, and Marv didn't *just* push his face down into the pavement, so since his body's all up in the air and flailing, it looks like he's floating on wires (which, obviously, he was). It looked plastic and fake. Maybe that's what they were going for, I don't know. It didn't work for me. It felt like a cheap stage play instead of a feature film based on one of my favorite comics. This sort of thing happened again and again, like when Dwight jumps off of his girlfriend's apartment. The pose looked decidedly *not* Frank Miller, and was entirely too floaty and gimicky. It seems that maybe this is what they were actually going for, that this was more of a spoof of Film Noir than a sendup or a new take on it. /shrug

Another thing that broke it for me was that some of the actors didn't really seem to believe in their lines (with the exception of Clive Owens, he was AWESOME as Dwight, and Jessica Alba was equally awesome as Natalie (?)). Bruce did a pretty good job of it, but even Miho, who didn't have any lines at all, seemed more like she didn't want to be there rather than a stony-ice-cold killer.

Also: the CG car stuff looked horribly fake. They didn't even make the cars move on the right "splines" that physics makes real cars move on (for instance, they didn't roll much when they rounded corners, etc.)

So, since people will inevitably feel this review is more negative than positive (which I guess it is), here's the good stuff: Kevin was easily the most amazing character in the entire film. He looked, moved, and acted *exactly* like the comic. Mad props to Frodo. Who knew a hobbit could kick butt like that. Clive Owens felt REALLY good to me as Dwight. Jessica Alba did an amazing job (as did the young girl version of her). The car crash in Yellow Bastard was excellent. The color flashes worked pretty well and they didn't bother me nearly as much as I thought they would. Yellow Bastard was *exactly* That Yellow Bastard.

Final recap: Meh. Good to see it once, but after that, read the books again instead. Your memories and personal interpretation of them is probably better.

[Krusshyk]

Jessica Alba's character in the movie was "Nancy". Dunno bout the books, as I haven't read em yet.

I read somewhere that originally, Miller intended for the entire Sin City series to be a parody of the noir genere. He just kept going with it because people liked, whether or not they got the point. I think the movie was trying to capture a little of that parody. That was how I rationalized some of the hokey-ness.

[Zannon]

I have to say that I 100% agree with X'an here. The movie seemed like they were just trying to copy the comics in most parts and then in others trying to be as over the top as possible with the violence and boobie shots. Overall, I liked the style of the film and the art of what went into making it, but other than that, I just felt that it didn't work really well as a film. There's only so many times I can see guys get shot, axed, and grabbed in the nuts in one film before I start thinking, "Hey, this is really getting old."

I think the medium of the comic in this case just does not lend itself to a 2+ hour film. I think that if it was a series of short films on HBO or something, it would have worked a lot better and I wouldn't have found myself getting bored of it after a while.

Sorry, I know everyone is really ga-ga over this movie, but I just feel that there are a lot better movies out there to spend $9 and to rave about.

[Skorixor]

Well, I have to say that I wasn't overly impressed. I didn't think it was an awful film, but I think it really tried too hard to match the comic panel for panel and missed taking a chance at translating that comic to the big screen and telling a better story.

Some of the things that I really enjoyed was Mickey Rourke's performance as Marv. He nailed the voice and the subtle face action, but then I was taken aback at his physical acting. First off, he's not nearly big enough to be Marv. Second, what was with that intentionally goofy walk? There's determined, and then there's ministry of silly walks. His fell into the latter. It totally broke the "bad ass" image he was building up every few scenes. He'd kick ass, I'd be all "Marv!" and then he'd walk with that weird goofy shoulder strut and it would break it again.

be big enough for marv for ya, ahnold? the hulk?
and as far as weird walks, I didn't see it...can't see how a walk would ruin a whole character for ya

One of the reasons I think they should have relaxed a bit on the whole "panel for panel" angle was that it just doesn't work in film. For instance, when Marv was interrogating the guy by grinding his face on the pavement. It's such a kick-ass panel in the comic because it contains all of this energy and movement captured in a single gesture, but in the movie, they pose the victim just like in the comic and he's now defying gravity. They're not going over a hill, and Marv didn't *just* push his face down into the pavement, so since his body's all up in the air and flailing, it looks like he's floating on wires (which, obviously, he was). It looked plastic and fake. Maybe that's what they were going for, I don't know. It didn't work for me. It felt like a cheap stage play instead of a feature film based on one of my favorite comics. This sort of thing happened again and again, like when Dwight jumps off of his girlfriend's apartment. The pose looked decidedly *not* Frank Miller, and was entirely too floaty and gimicky. It seems that maybe this is what they were actually going for, that this was more of a spoof of Film Noir than a sendup or a new take on it. /shrug

I'm SURE they were going for a SPOOF the whole time...but you gotta realize there are limitations to movie making...such as, you can't really drive down the street and grind someones face into the ground...you can't just film people falling at you from 3 stories up...you have to create it somehow, and if there was a better way, i'm sure they'd do it

Another thing that broke it for me was that some of the actors didn't really seem to believe in their lines (with the exception of Clive Owens, he was AWESOME as Dwight, and Jessica Alba was equally awesome as Natalie (?)). Bruce did a pretty good job of it, but even Miho, who didn't have any lines at all, seemed more like she didn't want to be there rather than a stony-ice-cold killer.

you see I though the opposite, that clives were weaker than the other two
as far as miho, well you can only cast so many big budget actors before you run outta cash

Also: the CG car stuff looked horribly fake. They didn't even make the cars move on the right "splines" that physics makes real cars move on (for instance, they didn't roll much when they rounded corners, etc.)

I viewed that as a "comic book" aspect of it...because obviously the tech is out there for real-looking cg cars...hell every background in the movie is CG and looks real, so why not the cars? so I took a different view on it...

So, since people will inevitably feel this review is more negative than positive (which I guess it is), here's the good stuff: Kevin was easily the most amazing character in the entire film. He looked, moved, and acted *exactly* like the comic. Mad props to Frodo. Who knew a hobbit could kick butt like that. Clive Owens felt REALLY good to me as Dwight. Jessica Alba did an amazing job (as did the young girl version of her). The car crash in Yellow Bastard was excellent. The color flashes worked pretty well and they didn't bother me nearly as much as I thought they would. Yellow Bastard was *exactly* That Yellow Bastard.

Final recap: Meh. Good to see it once, but after that, read the books again instead. Your memories and personal interpretation of them is probably better.

no you're never more negative, than positive about things

[X'an Shin]

...but you gotta realize there are limitations to movie making...such as, you can't really drive down the street and grind someones face into the ground...you can't just film people falling at you from 3 stories up...you have to create it somehow, and if there was a better way, i'm sure they'd do it

Dude, I fake this shit for a LIVING. If I could show you some of the things I'm working on now, I would. Like, how I made a guy believeably jump up a 14 foot high wall when our capture studio space is only 9 feet high, and we don't have any walls to jump on in our capture space...

I'm saying it can be done.

See also: Mortal Kombat: Deceptions intro. We uh, didn't have a 40 foot tall fire snake in the motion studio ;P

[Skorixor]

See also: Mortal Kombat: Deceptions intro. We uh, didn't have a 40 foot tall fire snake in the motion studio ;P

LIES I TELL YOU, LIES!!!

but i'd welcome to see your version of someone driving down the street dragging someones body down the street by their head

[Krusshyk]

...but you gotta realize there are limitations to movie making...such as, you can't really drive down the street and grind someones face into the ground...you can't just film people falling at you from 3 stories up...you have to create it somehow, and if there was a better way, i'm sure they'd do it

Dude, I fake this shit for a LIVING. If I could show you some of the things I'm working on now, I would. Like, how I made a guy believeably jump up a 14 foot high wall when our capture studio space is only 9 feet high, and we don't have any walls to jump on in our capture space...

I'm saying it can be done.

See also: Mortal Kombat: Deceptions intro. We uh, didn't have a 40 foot tall fire snake in the motion studio ;P

No fucking way...are you kidding? I thought that was like someone's pet fire snake.

[X'an Shin]

...but you gotta realize there are limitations to movie making...such as, you can't really drive down the street and grind someones face into the ground...you can't just film people falling at you from 3 stories up...you have to create it somehow, and if there was a better way, i'm sure they'd do it

Dude, I fake this shit for a LIVING. If I could show you some of the things I'm working on now, I would. Like, how I made a guy believeably jump up a 14 foot high wall when our capture studio space is only 9 feet high, and we don't have any walls to jump on in our capture space...

I'm saying it can be done.

See also: Mortal Kombat: Deceptions intro. We uh, didn't have a 40 foot tall fire snake in the motion studio ;P

No fucking way...are you kidding? I thought that was like someone's pet fire snake.

We're THAT GOOD.

[X'an Shin]

but i'd welcome to see your version of someone driving down the street dragging someones body down the street by their head

I've actually considered doing stuff like this for a "demo reel" to submit to the film industry contacts I have, but I can't move, so it's a bit pointless.

I may or may not be working on something animated of the Sin City nature in the near future (on my own), so we'll see how I do. But I need some free time first.

[Krusshyk]

Oh and by the wat X'an...Im' not saying I don't believe you...but...


The "I can do that, but I don't wanna" excuse looks a little weak. Make up something stronger like, I will get stabbed in the eye if I show you.

[X'an Shin]

Oh and by the wat X'an...Im' not saying I don't believe you...but...


The "I can do that, but I don't wanna" excuse looks a little weak. Make up something stronger like, I will get stabbed in the eye if I show you.

Ha ha ha. Buy a house, work a 60 hour work week, get married, and have a baby, then get back to me on that.

The eye-stabbing might look like a vacation.

[Skorixor]

Ha ha ha. Buy a house, work a 60 hour work week, get married, and have a baby, then get back to me on that.

The eye-stabbing might look like a vacation.

don't forget, "and then be pussy-whipped"

[Jaminos]

I do not know, for some reason this movie just turned me off. The Title itself kinda just bothered me. I heard good reviews but I just am not into these kinda movies I guess.

[alexandria nexus]

so In other words its not worth 6.50 cuz thats how much we pay for movies in california at least in my City!!!