Grade: B+ | Genre: Drama Summary: Sin City is high style narratives overshadowed by Rodriguez's need to stay true to the graphic nature of Miller's books. It's Dick Tracy on crack. Originally released during the season of family fun and no-brainer entertainment of 2005, there lacked a film that went out its way to push the limits. From animated robots to beauty shop antics to date doctors, we were sheltered long enough, and it was high time we had our worlds rocked and our morals challenged. For those of you who have yet to experience this flick, the cold wet streets of Sin City will stretch your imagination in ways you never thought possible and have you running for your life. Director Robert Rodriguez's faithful screen adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic comic books are brought to life as the stories jump from the pages and are projected in gritty detail. It's nothing like you've ever seen...if you can keep from covering your eyes.

Sin City Starring: Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson, Brittany Murphy, Clive Owen Director: Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller You may also like... Dick Tracy Batman Email this article to a friend

In "The Yellow Bastard," Hartigan (Willis) is a hard-nose veteran cop close to retirement on a case to bust a pedophile (Stahl). His poor health doesn't allow for much mobility as he must power through to catch his man.

Before you know it, the action fast-forwards to "The Hard Goodbye," where we meet Marv (Rourke), an over-grown brut who's bitter of life's treatment of him. He wakes to find himself framed for the death Goldie (King), a prostitute with whom he spent the night. Goldie is the only person who has ever shown him genuine affection, and he vows to avenge her death by finding her true killer.

In the third story, "The Big Fat Kill," tough guy Dwight (Owen) goes up against a crooked cop (Del Toro) and the forces that threaten Old Town, a city ruled by prostitutes. In this act, we are introduced to Miho (Aoki), a samurai sword-totting vixen who steals the movie without even saying a word. Dwight can't do it alone and employs Miho and the girls to put an end to the corruption.

Sin City is high style narratives overshadowed by Rodriguez's need to stay true to the graphic nature of Miller's books. It's Dick Tracy on crack. The violence is over the top and the gore is very unnecessary...so much that you may see people get up and walk out of the theatre. You want to love this movie but have a difficult time keeping your eyes on the screen. The senseless violence unfortunately takes away from an otherwise successful comic to big screen adaptation that has set the standard for future comic book films to come.

We give it a B+ for innovation but a yellow light for its graphic nature. If you are able to stomach it, this may be the film for you, otherwise it may be best to stay in your happy place and see the non-threatening "Fever Pitch."

Original Post Date: April 5, 2005