by Robbie Jones
Comic book movies are more popular now than they have ever been. Thanks to the wonderfully crafted Marvel Cinematic Universe, they are all anyone can talk about. Example: Have you shut up about Guardians of the Galaxy yet? Of course you haven’t. Why would you? It was the best thing ever. But there are some comic books which, aren’t exactly underappreciated, but don’t get discussed to the same length despite being just as good or even better than most of what comes out today.
Comic book movies are more popular now than they have ever been. Thanks to the wonderfully crafted Marvel Cinematic Universe, they are all anyone can talk about. Example: Have you shut up about Guardians of the Galaxy yet? Of course you haven’t. Why would you? It was the best thing ever. But there are some comic books which, aren’t exactly underappreciated, but don’t get discussed to the same length despite being just as good or even better than most of what comes out today.
Sin City is one of those movies. Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novels, Sin City is like a comic book that jumped off the page and straight onto the screen. That magic happens again this week as Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For hits the big screen after nine long years, so why don’t we take a look back at the exceptional first outing?
The film is comprised of four interlocking stories: “The Customer is Always Right” starring Josh Hartnett as the mysterious salesman, “That Yellow Bastard”, in which cop John Hartigan (Bruce Willis) saves a young girl from being raped but is framed for the crime, and forms a bond with the girl (Jessica Alba) through letters in prison, “The Hard Goodbye”, where Mickey Rourke dominates the film as Marv, who awakens to find the prostitute he had been sleeping with murdered and vows to find her killer, and “The Big Fat Kill”, in which Clive Owen, Rosario Dawson and a lot of prostitutes have a serious problem with Benicio Del Toro.
The film is comprised of four interlocking stories: “The Customer is Always Right” starring Josh Hartnett as the mysterious salesman, “That Yellow Bastard”, in which cop John Hartigan (Bruce Willis) saves a young girl from being raped but is framed for the crime, and forms a bond with the girl (Jessica Alba) through letters in prison, “The Hard Goodbye”, where Mickey Rourke dominates the film as Marv, who awakens to find the prostitute he had been sleeping with murdered and vows to find her killer, and “The Big Fat Kill”, in which Clive Owen, Rosario Dawson and a lot of prostitutes have a serious problem with Benicio Del Toro.
Sin City is phenomenal. It’s perhaps the most visually appealing film I’ve ever seen, but it has a great script and stories behind it. The character’s narrations as we watch the events play out are so engaging, it’s like being inside their minds. Frank Miller (Who co-directed the film with Robert Rodriguez) created an immensely interesting group of character, all of whom are brought to life by these wonderful actors. Ok so Clive Owen’s American accent goes a bit iffy at times but it’s still a decent performance. In fact, there just isn’t a bad performance in sight. Even Nick Stahl who plays Roark Junior in a very over the top style still fits in perfectly. Rosario Dawson and all the ladies in this film kick arse. The film gets stick for being sexist with their costumes, and I suppose they’re right, but they are damn great characters, and the acting is certainly more interesting than their costumes.
But the highlight of the entire film is Mickey Rourke as Marv. Honestly, one of the best performances in a comic book movie of all time, right up there with Heath Ledger’s Joker. Marv is a total badass, but still a sympathetic character, and from the first few minutes of his story (In which he is framed for Goldie’s murder and takes out the cops) you’re immediately in love with him. Rourke is perfect in the role, and once his story ends, it takes a little while to enjoy it without him in. Plus, he had to go up against Kevin (Eljah Wood), the film’s creepiest villain and a comic book movie villain that doesn’t get talked about enough.
But the highlight of the entire film is Mickey Rourke as Marv. Honestly, one of the best performances in a comic book movie of all time, right up there with Heath Ledger’s Joker. Marv is a total badass, but still a sympathetic character, and from the first few minutes of his story (In which he is framed for Goldie’s murder and takes out the cops) you’re immediately in love with him. Rourke is perfect in the role, and once his story ends, it takes a little while to enjoy it without him in. Plus, he had to go up against Kevin (Eljah Wood), the film’s creepiest villain and a comic book movie villain that doesn’t get talked about enough.
The film is so delightfully cheesy in a comic book way, but so gloriously violent in a Robert Rodriguez way. As previously mentioned, the visuals are stunning; it’s just one of the most satisfying films to look at ever. The colour contrasts are amazing, but it’s just hard to describe the appearance, it has to be seen to be believed. And let me tell you now, on Blu-Ray, it’s freaking orgasmic to watch. Miller and Rodriguez have done a phenomenal job, and by the looks of things, they’ve done the same with A Dame to Kill For.
It may not be like the comic book films you’re used to, but Sin City really deserves your time if you haven’t seen it. It’s not just one of the best comic book films ever made, but one of the best films to come out in the last 10 years.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is in cinemas now.
It may not be like the comic book films you’re used to, but Sin City really deserves your time if you haven’t seen it. It’s not just one of the best comic book films ever made, but one of the best films to come out in the last 10 years.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is in cinemas now.
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