Movie 2005.07.22 - Sin City

This is one of those movies wherein you either like it or you don't. In my case, I quite liked it. Sin City is a direct adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novels (read comic books) of the same title. First thing you'll notice is the striking black-and-white images with splashes of color here and there for emphasis. As the story (or stories) unfold, you forget about the lack of colors and concentrate on the characters.

Bruce Willis is just a natural playing tired old policeman characters with his mumbling and pained look. Jessica Alba plays 19-year old Nancy Callahan, who works part-time as a bar dancer. (And boy, can she dance.) It's a mystery why Bruce Willis refuses her advances. Elijah Wood as the super-silent super-fast killer is just creepy. He doesn't say a word; he stares right into you. He remains this way even when all his limbs have been hacked off by Marv and the dog is chomping at his bloodied stumps. Mickey Rourke as the tough street fighter is a casting coup. When he first came on screen, I thought he's a computer animation or something. The man is HUGE. And every wrinkle and scar on his face looks so real. Devon Aoki also played her part well as a cold-blooded killer. Too bad there's no showdown between her and Elijah Wood's character. Benicio del Toro plays laidback Jacky Boy, who keeps on talking in his signature drawl even when he's half-dead already.

And let's not forget Nick Stahl, who plays a child molester about to prey on Nancy Callahan. Bruce Willis overcame his heart attack and managed to blow his balls off. Eight years and a reconstructed thingie later, Nick Stahl comes back as the Yellow Bastard. He takes Nancy hostage and prepares to resume his unfinished business. This time, Bruce Willis isn't taking any chances. He rips off Yellow Bastard's thingie with his bare hands and pummels his yellow face into the ground until there's nothing much left.

Powerful, groundbreaking movie. Directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez with a little help from Quentin Tarantino.