Rating:
4 out of 5
Short version: A gritty, violent, and overall impressive film that may not go over big with the general public.
Wow... where to start with this review? To be honest I'm still not sure exactly how I feel about it. It's one of those films that takes multiple viewings to really take it all in.
First off, folks, can you please leave the kids at home for this one? It's rated R, and despite the use of color (or more accurately the lack of it), Sin City is not for the young 'uns. If you simply have to see this, do me a favor and fork out a couple of bucks for the babysitter, would 'ja please?
Sin City is based on a series of graphic novels written and illustrated by the great Frank Miller. For those of you unfamiliar with the world of comic books, he's the guy that invigorated the Batman and Daredevil titles with his realistic, film noir, gritty approach to these titles. His most famous work is probably "The Dark Knight" series of graphic novels where he painted a picture of an aging, bitter Batman living in a dark, apocalyptic future. This was a new take on the Batman mythos: realistic, gritty, and showing the slightly psychotic side of a guy who dresses up in a batsuit to fight bad guys in the middle of the night.
I'm reviewing the from the perspective of the average viewer: someone who has never seen Miller's original version of Sin City on paper. Whereas most comic book adaptations to film leave hardcore fanboys screaming in outrage (anyone remember the organic vs. mechanical Spiderman webshooter debate?), I sense that this is the exception to the rule. Frank Miller co-directed the film version of his creation with Robert Rodriguez and from what I've read online, and is evident on the screen, this is probably the most faithful book to screen adaptation to date.
Sin City is the dark side of New York city multiplied by one hundred. It's a dark and scary place, where an honest police detective is an endangered species, prostitutes rule a part of town, and high ranking religious and political figures make Saddam Hussein look like a girl scout.
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