Blu-Ray Review: Frank Miller's Sin City - Page 2

The best Bonus Feature on Disc One and a Blu-ray exclusive is “Cine-Explore.” It’s fascinating to watch as it compares scenes from the film with the source material and what was happening on the green screen set during production. The audio running underneath is commentary by Rodriguez and Miller. It’s amazing for fans interested in learning the secrets behind the magic of filmmaking. Although once you know the tricks, like how some actors were never in the same scene, it can change the experience of subsequent viewings because it causes you to see more of what’s not real.

Another commentary by Rodriguez provides more technical aspects about the making of the film. He is a very forthcoming speaker, and doesn’t mind sharing. It’s interesting to learn how he created the film, dealing with light and actors only and then dealing with everything else in post. Quentin Tarantino, who directed a sequence and ran a camera, and a special guest star from the movie, joins Rodriguez.

The last audio track is from the audience reaction from the Austin Premiere. The viewer can hear what they reacted to, but the vocals have a bit of an echo, so it’s not worth the trade off.

Disc Two features a Recut, Extended, Unrated Version that presents the four individual stories in their entirety and adds 23 minutes of material. The only Blu-ray exclusive on this disc is the “Kill ‘Em Good” Interactive Comic Book. Marv’s story is brought to life using clips from the books, sound effects, and cast voices and puts the viewer in a video game version

All the remaining bonus features are presented in standard definition. The features cover all aspects of the film’s creation. We get interviews that discuss the involvement of Miller (“How it Went Down: Convincing Frank Miller to Make the Film”) and Tarantino (“ Special Guest Director: Quentin Tarantino). A number of short features are self-explanatory: “A Hard Top with a Decent Engine: The Cars of Sin City;” “Booze, Broads and Guns: The Props of Sin City;” “Making the Monsters: Special Effects Make-Up;” and “Trenchcoats and Fishnets: The Costumes of Sin City.”

Article Author: Gordon S. Miller

Gordon S. Miller is the artist formerly known as El Bicho, the nom de plume he used when he first began reviewing movies online for The Masked Movie Snobs in 2003. Before that year was out, he became that site's publisher. …

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