If you're looking for nearly naked and incredibly agile women fighting alongside men with brute strength, Sin City is the movie for you. And of course, any movie with characters like these is based on the world of comic books. Drawing from three of Frank Miller's graphic novels, The Hard Goodbye, The Big Fat Kill and That Yellow Bastard, director Robert Rodriguez creates a movie that goes beyond any other comic-book-turned-film attempt.
Rodriguez does an incredible job in keeping with the comic book style by using dramatic contrasts and shadows in the movie. In some scenes, the images are spectacular, as they seem somehow transcribed from Miller's illustrations to the big screen. Although most of the movie is done in black and white, there are few choice items that are in color. Different shades of blood and eyes were used as indications of the scenes moods, although various items such as Dwight's (Clive Owen) red Converse sneakers are in color for no other reason than the fact that it makes him look that much more like a bad-ass. The visuals in this film make Bryan Singer's X-Men/X-Men 2 look cheesy and bland in comparison. This time, even the comic book connoisseur can't complain with Sin City's remarkable resemblance to the drawing style found in Miller's works.
Along with the spectacular visual effects, Sin City features an all-star cast of Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Benicio del Toro, Clive Owen and Jaime King, as well an appearance from Frank Miller himself. Not since Tim Burton's Batman and Batman Returns has there been a more satisfying cast for a recreation of a comic book in the movies. The classic film noir style of gruff men with moral issues and personal conflicts is portrayed well through Bruce Willis who is Hartigan, the stern detective conflicted with his failing health and the desire to protect, and Mickey Rourke as Marv, a social outcast who is bent on avenging his true love's death. Benicio del Toro's intensity also adds humor to the section dealing with the "hookers vs. cops" war in Old Towne.
Just as the men are brimming over with testosterone, the women are over-the-top sexy, which makes it appropriate to cast some of Hollywood's hottest actress, such as Jessica Alba, Jaime King and Devon Aoki. There's nudity and a lot of skin in general, as seen in most comic books, but don't get your hopes up, guys-Jessica Alba doesn't peel off her leather chaps, although they're tight enough to keep you happy. The women all ooze sex appeal, and it's refreshing to see hot women able to hold their own in a fight. Devon Aoki does a great job in portraying Miho, the cold hearted, sword wielding Old Towne girl who doesn't mind a good beheading.
Although Sin City has a great cast, it's incredibly violent, making it a movie the weak-hearted should avoid. There is castration, an ax to a male nether-region, electrocution, complete with blood-lots of it. The action in the movie is intense and psychological, making the film even more satisfying to those who enjoy Quentin Tarantino-esque type violence. However, Sin City may prove to be a step above even the most insane scenes in Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Sin City elicits the audience's collective groans and laughs from disbelief, and one can't help but walk out of the theatre without their adrenaline pumping and the inexplicable desire to start a fight.
Sin City proves to be a relief for all moviegoers who are looking for something original and not-just terrible. If you have plans to go to a movie this weekend, make it Sin City and not this upcoming weekend's Fever Pitch, which from the looks of it, will most likely turn out to be yet another cheesy Drew Barrymore flick.
