The Sin City Films (Miller & Rodriguez, 2005/2014)

[cbernard]

I like the fact that Bruce Willis looks, from some angles, almost exactly like a young Eli Wallach.

[milk114]

friends who drool at the mention of her name have said that they'd read in interviews that she will never do nude scenes for films or print. So why cast her at all as a stripper? There are plenty of women who would take their clothes off and dance on a pole (probably a lot better than she can, given Honey). But I think Alba was cast partly because she is a commodified name brand with a small sci-fi fanbase that will be growing in months with her involvement in Fantastic Four. I think also that to make a dancer in a sleazy bar attractive/sexy/all the qualities one would expect from a stripper while fully clothed will be much more challenging for the actress and director, sort of the Victorian notion of modesty being sexier than nudity. Though I haven't seen Alba in anything I get the impression that beyond good looks she doesn't leave an impression. Possibly Rodriguez and Miller are banking on the actrress's appealing "innocence" to heighten that of the character. And I do believe this will be an R-rating in the U.S., but remember that violence allowable but sex is not the the current political climate, so I would expect the rating for booze and bullets, not broads.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

But I think Alba was cast partly because she is a commodified name brand with a small sci-fi fanbase that will be growing in months with her involvement in Fantastic Four. I think also that to make a dancer in a sleazy bar attractive/sexy/all the qualities one would expect from a stripper while fully clothed will be much more challenging for the actress and director, sort of the Victorian notion of modesty being sexier than nudity. Though I haven't seen Alba in anything I get the impression that beyond good looks she doesn't leave an impression. Possibly Rodriguez and Miller are banking on the actrress's appealing "innocence" to heighten that of the character. And I do believe this will be an R-rating in the U.S., but remember that violence allowable but sex is not the the current political climate, so I would expect the rating for booze and bullets, not broads.

Yeah, I read somewhere that Frank Miller said that they weren't going to shy away from the violence in the comic book and depicting a lot of it in B&W will help them avoid an NC-17 rating. As for the casting of Alba... yeah, obviously, they were going for a name that will fill seats as she's got a considerable fan base already. It's too bad because she doesn't really resemble Nancy in any way.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

The official site is now online: http://www.sincitythemovie.com/

There are lots of goodies: wallpaper, icons, a game, picture gallery, etc.

Very nice...

[Fletch F. Fletch]

the new trailer is up... looks very good and with footage of more of the cast:

http://movies.channel.aol.com/franchise ... city_movie

[hearthesilence]

Funny, I just got a call from a marketing firm, asking about motion pictures I've seen or not, and THIS was one of them, as well as a dozen other pictures that were STILL UNRELEASED. And I asked them, "ROBOTS? SIN CITY? I thought those weren't out yet." Doubt it was a scam (caller ID, done this before, the questions, etc.), but still....

Anyway, this looks like it can go either way, REALLY BAD or REALLY GOOD. The make-up is a GUTSY move, but the right move. I haven't collected comics since I was a kid, but I remember thinking how no comic book picture can ever match the comic - especially if it's a great comic with a really strong, distinct style - because everything has to look like the real world. I'd always rationalize it, thinking, "If things looked like a Frank Miller/Todd McFarlane/etc. drawing in a live-action picture, it would look REALLY BAD, it can only work on paper, etc." but still lament the decision.

I guess we'll see how it plays with the public.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

I guess we'll see how it plays with the public.

The key to the faithfulness will be if they retain the comic's ultraviolence and don't wimp out with a PG-13 rating to fill seats.

I get the feeling that this movie will go the same route as Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and become a cult film on DVD. Despite the all-star cast it will probably be too extreme, too stylized for mainstream audiences and will probably disappear fast after a strong opening weekend.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Here's a good link to a bunch of new TV spots for the movie:

http://www.themoviebox.net/movies/2005/ ... railer.php

[Fletch F. Fletch]

A good collection of pics, posters, links to articles, etc.

http://www.joblo.com/upcomingmovies/movies.php?id=309

Also, an 11 minute featurette is online:

[Elephant]

Saw this one last night. Miller was there and had some funny comments before the movie ("In the comics industry we've been acting like film's retarded second cousin for too long"). It was one of the most purely entertaining films I've seen in a while--its two-hour running time felt like forty-five minutes. The ONLY way they avoided the NC-17 on this one is stylizing everything so much--there's so much dismemberment, decapitation, and worse--and it's all vicious and ceaseless. It seems like this is going to be far too violent to really do a lot of business in the theaters, probably the DVD is going to recoup the budget on this one.

[The Invunche]

Jessica Alba's nipples would have made it better.

[cdnchris]

Jessica Alba's nipples would have made it better.

Rosario Dawson's, too. Which reminds me that I have to rent Alexander when it's on DVD.

I've become intrigued by this one since I've seen the trailers. I don't know the comic book AT ALL but I think the film looks interesting. My wife actually wants to see this, too, so I think we're seeing it this weekend.

[lord_clyde]

Harry Knowles and Roger Ebert have posted gushing reviews. I can't wait!

[The Invunche]

Fat bastards.

[Morbii]

Just got back from seeing it... good stuff!

[THX1378]

Just got in from seeing it at the midnight screening. Must say that it blew everyone away that saw it. Even Mickey Rourke, whom really hasn't had a major part in a movie in a long, long time, does a great job here as Marv. It was nice to see him get a major part in a film that I hope will help him get some sort of a comeback from. Sin City is going to be the Kill Bill of this year, and so far it's the best film I've seen in a theater this year.

[The Invunche]

I sure hope it's a lot better than Kill Bill.

[Napoleon]

Somebody put 'The Invunche' out of his misery and bite at his bait. Come on people!

[The Invunche]

No bait and no misery.

[Oedipax]

I'm with Invunche. In a strange way I'm hoping this is the film I wanted Kill Bill to be - violent, fun, highly stylized, and so on...

[lord_clyde]

Kill Bill was viotent, stylized and a hell of a lot of fun! Just saw Sin City myself, very pleased to see Mr. Rodriguez finally tap his own potential. A bit on the long side, but it's bloody, pulpy fun.

[The Invunche]

Except form Harry Knowles and here, I'm hearing really terrible things about this movie.

[lord_clyde]

Well it's got a 78% on the Tomatometer if that helps. I really enjoyed the film, very dark and extremely violent. Definitely not a movie for people who can't stand noir dialogue and beating of women (not saying I condone the beating of women or the beating of anybody for that matter, but I know people are particularly sensitive when it comes to that) or multiple castrations. It's worth checking out for Mickey Rourke as Marv and Elijah Wood as Kevin (having trouble thinking of a single more frightening character in the movies) though. Great flick, I don't think there will be many better films this year.

[dx23]

Harry Knowles. Ugh!!! I really don't care at all about his opinion since he comes as a tool when he open his mouth.


As for Sin City, I just went to see it and I found it very entertaining although it seems to drag for a while. It is very true that the film is more style than substance but most of the performances are amazing except fro Brittany Murphy, who can't act her way out of a paper bag. Rourke, Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, Clive Owen and even Jessica Alba gave exceptional performances that carried the substance of the film and brought to life replicas of their comic book counterparts.

Spoiler

I absolutely loved that most scenes where exactly as the comic book including the memorable Marv jumping out of the window scene.

My only complain is that I'm not enjoying anymore the theater experience. My cinema was filled with stupid teens that go to the movies to socialize instead of watching the film. To many other obnoxious people making unnecessary out loud comments on the nude or violent scenes and the occasional ditz who couldn't follow the story and began asking out loud "WHAT HAPPENED?" every single time they got lost. I'm a patient guy, but really, people are becoming a pest at the theaters and the imbeciles ushers don't do anything about it. Completely disrespectful.

Wow! Blew off some steam.

[dekadetia]

My cinema was filled with stupid teens that go to the movies to socialize instead of watching the film.

Two of my fellow viewers tonight got into a scuffle early on in the "Big Fat Kill" storyline. Nothing like a reminder of the possibility of real life violence to place you at a distance from the stylized.