SIN CITY!!!!!

[ringsyde]

I just got back from seeing the movie, SIN CITY. For those of you who are familiar with the books, you owe it to yourselves to go see this film. It's done in a way that makes it feel just like the books do. It's an excellent adaptation. Those of you who haven't read the books should go see this movie - then immediately pick up the books. Frank Miller is (usually) certified gold in the comics world ("The Dark Knight Strikes Again" notwithstanding), and this movie comes close to capturing what makes him such a pleasure to read.

[Chris Ingersoll]

Seconded. I didn't "get" the whole movie, as I felt that I missed a few of the keys that connected the three arcs, but it was still the most awesome thing I've seen thus far this year.

Just a warning for those with kids: this is STUPIDLY violent. Even though the film is largely black and white (like the GNs), believe the R rating on this one.

[Kreaton]

I saw it last night and I didn't quite get it either. I liked some parts, but I thought the whole thing with the hookers and cops just really fell flat, and dragged the whole movie down. Other than that, it was okay. Toward the end I was thinking that they really needed a knockout to make this one a winner for me, and they didn't quite get there.

[ringsyde]

I read all of the SIN CITY books a few years ago, so the hookers and the mob made sense to me. I'll grant you that they were subtly explained in the movie, and the explanaiton was easy to miss. Also, the three stories weren't as tied together as the appearance of the central characters in the bar would suggest. SIN CITY is really the only connection between all of the stories. A few characters do show up in two stories, but the city and it's degradation is the lone constant.

I felt the "knockout" was the inversion of ethics that led us to root for seriously flawed heroes (a psycho killer and a gang of whores, for example) and find beauty in all the blood and violence (Nancy's enduring love, Hartigan's crude justice, and Miho's bloody silent efficiency). I'm a Frank Miller mark, so my opinion here is a little tainted.

[Chris Ingersoll]

RingsYde said:

I read all of the SIN CITY books a few years ago

See, I think that's the problem with this movie. Fans of Sin City will know and recognize the three completely separate stories (plus the bits with the hitman), whereas non-fans will be expecting a cohesive movie and not get it.

Had I known that the three "chapters" aren''t to be related, I probably would have enjoyed the movie 100%...

...instead of just 90%

[ringsyde]

Chris, I completely agree with that. Folks who haven't picked up the books (or experienced anything Frank Miller has done) will be a bit bewildered by the premise of the movie.

I have it on extremely reliable authority that the DVD version of the movie will include:
-the original movie as we saw it in the theatre
-A version in which all three stories are completely seperate, and "She Wore A Red Dress" gets more attention
-An unedited version that contains nearly 20 minutes of movie thought to be too violent for the rating it got (Holy cow!!)
I had already planned on buying the DVD (that's right; no more going to see the movie 11 times at the theater). This certainly seals the deal.

[Kreaton]

I felt the "knockout" was the inversion of ethics that led us to root for seriously flawed heroes (a psycho killer and a gang of sleepers, for example) and find beauty in all the blood and violence (Nancy's enduring love, Hartigan's crude justice, and Miho's bloody silent efficiency).

I caught that too. The "heroes" are just as F'd up as the "villains". Kinda like real life. I liked that. But I would have like to have seen all the stories tie in a little better than they did. That for me would have been the knockout.

Oh yeah, and Tarantino's cameo was brilliant!

[ringsyde]

I knew Frank Miller was in the movie (the catholic priest that Marv shot in the confessional), but I was unaware Tarantino was in the movie. Did I miss something? Where was he?

[Kreaton]

SPOILER ALERT!!!


Wasn't Tarantino the bald guy who got shot thru the heart with the arrow and was standing there like, "huh. Would you look at that? Should you guys call me a doctor or something?" I thought that was him.

[ringsyde]

No, that wasn't Tarantino. I understand his only work on the film to be the shooting and editing of Marv walking through the rainstorm just before confronting the Cardinal.

[Kreaton]

You're right, my mistake. Apparently that was Nicky Katt and not Tarantino in the scene I referenced above. Great little part he had there.

[Chris Ingersoll]

RingsYde said:

No, that wasn't Tarantino. I understand his only work on the film to be the shooting and editing of Marv walking through the rainstorm just before confronting the Cardinal.

I was under the impression that he directed the scene with Jackie Boy and Dwight in the car. At least that's what some reviews I read mentioned.

[ringsyde]

I've read that a few times too, but Entertainment Weekly and Roger Ebert's Sun Times article from opening week were both pretty specific about him doing the rain scene. It wouldn't surprise me if he did both scenes (and more).

[brettj]

I am going to have to disagree with a few people here. I saw the movie and loved it and I have never read the books or Frank Millers stuff. I am now tho. I guse what did it for me is I am a complete comic geek and love them. I got the whole city being the key to lock all the characters together and stuff. The movie remined me of Pulp fiction on how it told different stories. I am now looking for the books for SIN CITY and am looking forward to the DVD release.

[Wad]

ringsyde said:

I had already planned on buying the DVD (that's right; no more going to see the movie 11 times at the theater). This certainly seals the deal.

Knowing how soon DVDs have come out, when can we expect to see it?

[stephenvegas]

According to amazon.com, Sin City's DVD release is currently scheduled for August 16.