No video game post this week as I wanted to get the summer blockbuster reviews out of the way so that I can do my top 10 list next week. But I'll have a video game post ready for next week so look forward to that. Anyway, so I briefly talked about the first film in my all time favourite films list earlier this year and while I haven't read any of the graphic novels that these two films are based on, given what I've heard about Frank Miller, its probably best being avoided. For those of you who don't know, Frank Miller is this comic book writer who likes to make some very dark and serious stories which for the most part, have him draw women in some quite bizarre fashion, hence the reason why many call him a nut case. He wrote a number of stories based on Batman such as The Dark Knight Returns (not related to Nolan's trilogy in anyway, but I think you all knew that anyway) and many others. As for this film, he not only wrote the graphic novel its based on, but also served as a director alongside Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids and Machete). So let's take a look at this film:
Now as its a film that has a few stories going on in it, I'll give a brief summary of each and then my closing thoughts and verdict so away we go.
Just Another Saturday Night
So after about 20 seconds of logos (seriously, do we really need to know all the contributors of the film at the beginning of it? Can't it be left till the credits at the end?), the film begins with the best character from the first film, Marv (reprised by Mickey Rourke) having regained consciousness with no memory of how he got into the situation that he is in and retraces his steps, recalling that its a Saturday (and like with the first film we got monologue that gives the exposition of all the characters' situations at the time).
The Long Bad Night (2 Part Story)
A cocky young gambler by the name of Johnny (played by what would've been the Robin of Nolan's Batman universe, Joseph Gordon Levitt) arrives in Sin City and heads to Kadie's place where thanks to a good luck charm in the form of a young waitress called Marcie (played by Julia Garner), he hits the jackpot on multiple slot machines which then leads to him playing poker against the all powerful Senator Roarke (played by Gorilla Grodd from the DCAU, Powers Boothe). He wins multiple times, but his luck may just be about to run out.
A Dame to Kill For
In the longest of the stories in the film and taking place years before "The Big Fat Kill" from the first film, Dwight McCarthy (played by the young Agent K, Josh Brolin) tries to put his violent past behind him by working as a private detective while also trying to control his inner demons. At some point during this time, he gets a phone call from his former lover Ava Lord (played by Eva Green who looks great and does well as a villain as seen in 300: Rise of an Empire which also came out this year) and they meet. But what Dwight doesn't know, is that she has a trap under her sleeve that would give her authority and be able to remove him from the picture.
Nancy's Last Dance
Four years after "The Yellow Bast**d" which is another story from the first film, Nancy Callahan (reprised by the hot, good looking, cute and sexy Jessica Alba) struggles to cope with a life without her lover, John Hartigan (reprised by Die Hard's very own Bruce Willis) leading her to become an alcoholic and having an obsession with killing Roarke who was the mastermind behind Hartigan's death which because of his ghostly appearance, has her fail to kill him. But when she changes her image and allows Marv to help her, she might just be able to kill him.
And there you have it and I got to admit, while I do like watching this in 3D (yeah its another film where the 3D works), I don't think its got the man power that made the first one great. I know that may be down to Frank Miller becoming the nutcase that he is, but I think there isn't many stories this time around to tell and the character of Marv seems to be left for hire soon after his story is told. But that being said, its one of a few films based on a graphic novel that stays faithful and true to the novel taking everything word by word and panel by panel from it which I know I haven't read, but with Frank Miller directing, I don't see how it could not be like that. Its got the same visuals that made the first one good with the majority of it being black and white as well as very dark while giving colour where needed and if you're after something that isn't as light hearted as the Marvel crowd (and I suppose some DC ones as well), this would be the film for you. 9/10
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