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Sin City
You never quite know what you’re going to get when the director is Robert Rodriguez. Sometimes you end up with a steaming pile like Spy Kids (never going to be reviewed on this site), and other times you get the great visual spectacular that is Sin City. As soon as a film is based on a comic book there is a good chance for dodginess, but sometimes it can go too far. This one goes just far enough.
The film doesn’t really have a coherent plot, being a series of short stories patched together, but this doesn’t hamper it in any way. It allows each of the main characters to take centre stage, without worrying about anyone really stealing the show. It’s difficult to pick my favourite story from Marv, Dwight and Hartigan as each of them have great scenes. But if push comes to shove, it would have to be Hartigan’s. The whole damsel in distress thing appeals, especially when Bruce Willis gets to play the hero cop. Again.
The stylised nature of the film also appeals, as does the Film Noir narration. To be honest though, I am not sure how much credit should go to Rodriguez as Frank Miller did a great job with the original comics. Rodriguez should get some kudos for not screwing it up.
Dodginess
This one gets 5 Stay Puft Marshmallow Men of dodgy goodness. The black and white filming with touches of colour for emphasis serve to highlight the dodginess inherent in the script. And boy is there a lot of it. Dead men talking, hookers with guns, and Marv jumping through a police car windshield are not the dodgiest moments in the film. That honour goes to Hartigan removing The Creeps weapons, both of them, twice. The first time with a gun, the second time with his bare hands.
Rewatchability Rating
The first time I saw this one I was a little sceptical and wasn’t really sure how I would feel watching it again. I was very surprised to find out just how much more I loved it on the second viewing. Not being overcome by the cinematography allowed me to really focus, and enjoy the dodginess. The only reason this one doesn’t get the maximum rewatchability rating is that it is a little intense, and for that reason it gets a 4 on the scale.
Most Memorable Quote
Just about everybody in this film has a great monologue at some point but in the end it came down to two lines. Marv’s “I love hitmen. No matter what you do to them, you don't feel bad.” while great and really in character only takes second place. Bruce Willis as Hartigan gets the double, dodgiest moment and most memorable quote with “I'm about as expert as a palsy victim doing brain surgery with a pipe wrench.” I can see that being said the next time I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.
Final Thoughts
This one really has it all, in fact, it has it all three times, once for each story. However, it’s a little gory and intense, and probably won’t be everyone’s favourite, but I loved it, and on this site, my opinion is the one that matters.