Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014) (Blu-ray/Blu-ray 3D/DVD Review)
Directed By: Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Jessica Alba, Powers Boothe, Josh Brolin, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Rated: UR/Region A/1:85/1080p/Number of Discs 1
Where to get it: ANCHOR BAY
Straight from the pages of Frank Miller’s cutting edge series “Sin City”, co-directors Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez reunite to bring the visually stunning stories back to the screen. Dwight McCarthy (Josh Brolin) struggles with his inner demons and tries to maintain control until his former lover, the goddess Ava Lord (Eva Green), returns wanting his help to escape her abusive husband. Though once he learns her true intentions are far more sinister than they appear, he recruits the help of Marv (Mickey Rourke) and Gail (Rosario Dawson). While a cocky young gambler (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) takes his chances winning against the most powerful man in Sin City, Senator Roark (Powers Boothe). But this is Senator Roark’s least of problems because Nancy Callahan (Jessica Alba) has been driven insane by John Hartigan’s (Bruce Willis) selfless suicide and is no longer a damsel in distress and is out for blood, compelled to avenge Hartigan by hunting down Senator Roark.
I loved the original Sin City movie. I also loved the comics, so I went into this long awaited sequel with perhaps too high oh hopes. That being said, I will say off the top that while this movie isn’t anywhere near as good or as effective as the original Sin City, I can’t call it a total waste and condemn it like many other reviewers have. The film does come with issues and I think a lot of the issues are with the re-casting of some roles. Some had no other way around it and others were just because of bad luck. If you loved the original film as much as I do you can’t help but notice these things. I also think the story “The Long Bad Night” while featuring a great performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt feels a little pointless in the broad prospective of things. It is also a bit of a mood killer in an otherwise fun film. Also while fun, I think the character of Marv is great, but overused a bit here. It is better to leave the crowd wanting more (like the original Sin City), than to feel like we’ve seen a bit much. It also doesn’t help when one appearance in it brings the continuity into question like it does with the Nancy (played by Jessica Alba) based story. There is a lot of fault to find when over thinking Sin City here, so it is best to just try not to.
On the good side of things, while Robert Rodriguez seems to still be stuck in Machete mode for much of the film, the core story here of A Dame to Kill For is as solid as it will get in this film. The comic was always a fun and twisty tale and it comes to life on screen with the help of Eva Green and Josh Brolin about as good as you’d want it to. Sure, some parts of the story seem a bit useless, but those same issues were in the source. The arch is of course the anchor of this Sin City film and might be the one that seems closer to the original in tone, but only gets held back by those re-casting issues we’ve already talked about. Overall, you probably won’t find another movie in 2014 as visually awe-inspiring as Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. You might also not find another film that can be as frustrating at different points either. Still, this is a fun movie despite any flaws and while it isn’t in the same ballpark as the original, if you are looking for action, violence, and a hot and naked Eva Green, you’ve come to the right place. It might not hurt down the road for Robert Rodriguez to reel himself in a bit more down the road. This Sin City doesn’t feel as dark in mood and tone, but it isn’t afraid to have fun regardless if the audience is wanting that or not.
- High-Speed Green Screen Version
- Character Profiles
- Makeup Effects of Sin City
- Stunts of Sin City
- Original Theatrical Trailer
