The Spirit is an American comic book adaptation, written and directed by Frank Miller and starring Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Dan Lauria, Paz Vega, Jaime King, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson. The film is based on the newspaper comic strip The Spirit by Will Eisner. OddLot and Lionsgate produced the film.
The Spirit was released in the United States on December 25, 2008, and on DVD and Blu-ray on April 14, 2009. Despite being a commercial and critical failure in theatres, the film found more success on DVD and Blu-ray.
The film works with the Sin City like look. It gives you the graphic novel feel. The overall plot was alright. Gabriel Macht did good as The Spirit and Samuel L. Jackson as the Octopus was hilarious. The two's first fight scene is completely hilarious (and it is meant to be). Overall it was a fun time at the cinema.
B
Sat Dec 27, 2008 10:35 am
A. G.
Draughty
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:23 am Posts: 13347
Re: The Spirit
It's kind of amazing that a Frank Miller comic book film is getting so few reviews on wokj. Even if it doesn't look great, I'd have expected people to run check it out for curiosity.
Sat Dec 27, 2008 3:42 pm
Libs
Sbil
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 3:38 pm Posts: 48667 Location: Arlington, VA
Re: The Spirit
Archie Gates wrote:
It's kind of amazing that a Frank Miller comic book film is getting so few reviews on wokj. Even if it doesn't look great, I'd have expected people to run check it out for curiosity.
Not when there are so many other things to see and this looks bad on an epic scale.
Sat Dec 27, 2008 8:48 pm
Bradley Witherberry
Extraordinary
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 1:13 pm Posts: 15197 Location: Planet Xatar
Re: The Spirit
Libs wrote:
Archie Gates wrote:
It's kind of amazing that a Frank Miller comic book film is getting so few reviews on wokj. Even if it doesn't look great, I'd have expected people to run check it out for curiosity.
Not when there are so many other things to see and this looks bad on an epic scale.
Yeah, but how many times can one person see Marley & Me?
Sat Dec 27, 2008 8:54 pm
Grill
Forum General
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:01 am Posts: 8684
Re: The Spirit
Alot of eye candy and I liked seeing the Wonder Years Dad.
Jaime King ... Lorelei Rox Eva Mendes ... Sand Saref Scarlett Johansson ... Silken Floss Sarah Paulson ... Ellen Dolan
but this movie was mixed with brilliance and garbage. B-
It's kind of amazing that a Frank Miller comic book film is getting so few reviews on wokj. Even if it doesn't look great, I'd have expected people to run check it out for curiosity.
Not when there are so many other things to see and this looks bad on an epic scale.
Yeah, but how many times can one person see Marley & Me?
More times than you know.
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Sat Dec 27, 2008 9:00 pm
Alex Y.
Top Poster
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 4:47 pm Posts: 5764
Re: The Spirit
Sin City was my favorite movie of 2005, this however was underwhelming. The problem was that the movie wasn't very fun, something sorely needed for a trashy b-movie with lame dialogue and low-budget looks. The protagonist being a really flimsy hero didn't help either. C+
Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:12 am
David
Pure Phase
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am Posts: 34865 Location: Maryland
This film could have been *great* if the overall vision was tighter and more clearly defined (I wondered at times if they were coming up with the storyline and set pieces as they went along) and the action was better directed and more exciting. Still, it's passable and doesn't exactly deserve the BRUTAL reviews it's enduring.
B-
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Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:37 am
Bradley Witherberry
Extraordinary
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 1:13 pm Posts: 15197 Location: Planet Xatar
Re: The Spirit
Heh. I loved The Spirit!
A fine return to campy form for the superhero genre after the tediously dour Dark Knight. This is what I'm looking for - - finally, some laughs!
Gabriel Macht was perfect as the clutzy lead character - - I'd love to see him in a sequel with another villain played by an Samuel L. Jackson grade actor. Also, even though I'm not usually a Scarlett Johansson fan - - I thought she was great as The Octopus' personal assistant.
The best part though was the idiosyncratic direction by Frank Miller - - this is not yer usual by-the-book pedestrian storytelling - - it is like a live action storyboard which suits the material perfectly. It is so over the top that it can see it's own bottom.
If you're a fan of the original Batman TV series, be sure to check out The Spirit - - don't let the naysayers sway you - - it's just another one of those movies too offbeat from the authorized norm these days, hated on by the corporate media. Go and see it on the big screen and enjoy Miller's wacked out frame composition and high contrast graphic novel style appled to film.
23 out of 5.
Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:29 pm
The Dark Shape
Extraordinary
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 3:56 am Posts: 12119 Location: Adrift in L.A.
Re: The Spirit
Didn't see that one coming.
Well, I mean, we did. But I want to feign shock for Bradley's sake.
Sat Jan 03, 2009 10:26 pm
Mr. Lobotomy
Well I'm not stoned, I'm just fucked up - I got so high I can't stand up
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:21 am Posts: 993
Re: The Spirit
Really a lot of fun. Samuel L. Jackson was just fucking hilarious. The only problem was Eva Mandes and this being PG-13. No.
C+
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Sun Jan 04, 2009 12:32 am
Bradley Witherberry
Extraordinary
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 1:13 pm Posts: 15197 Location: Planet Xatar
Re: The Spirit
The Dark Shape wrote:
Didn't see that one coming.
Well, I mean, we did. But I want to feign shock for Bradley's sake.
This type of comment from you is becoming tiresome, The Dark Shape - - especially when you haven't reviewed the film yet yourself - - it was funny the first dozen times, but now the joke is broke.
Why not spend your time adding more comments to the films you've seen and enjoyed such as this one from The Dark Knight:
The Dark Shape wrote:
Jesus Christ, it's good. A+
Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:01 am
i.hope
Defeats all expectations
Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 5:04 pm Posts: 6665
Re: The Spirit
If there hadn't been Sin City that came 3 years before it, this would have had garnered more praise.
Like in Sin City, the mystical elements about the characters remain intact throughout The Spirit. The Spirit's "love" for The City was barely felt even though the lead character more than one time pronounces it in a poetic way.
The myth is still a myth. But a fresh idea exercised twice is a tired idea.
Sun Jan 04, 2009 2:50 pm
Goktor Who
Angels & Demons
Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:27 pm Posts: 235
Re: The Spirit
Level with me guys. I absolutely loved Ghost Rider. Based on that, would you expect me to enjoy this?
Sun Jan 04, 2009 3:28 pm
Johnny Dollar
The Lubitsch Touch
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:48 pm Posts: 11019
Re: The Spirit
Goktor Who wrote:
Level with me guys. I absolutely loved Ghost Rider. Based on that, would you expect me to enjoy this?
Pretty awful. Now I love highly stylized comic films, hell, I'm one of Dick Tracy's biggest defenders, but this is painfully mannered in its "oh boy, aren't I cheesy?" schtick it's painful. I was fidgeting 40 minutes in, bad sign.
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Thu Jan 08, 2009 5:03 am
Goktor Who
Angels & Demons
Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:27 pm Posts: 235
Re: The Spirit
yoshue wrote:
Goktor Who wrote:
Level with me guys. I absolutely loved Ghost Rider. Based on that, would you expect me to enjoy this?
Sounds like you'd like anything, so, yeah.
On reflection, Ghost Rider was a special case. I can fully see why other people hated it, but for me, it was like halloween decorations... tacky and cheap but still fun. I'd write a review if there was a thread, but I don't think anyone much would go for it if I asked for one. Fact is, I'm a sucker, an absolute sucker, for any superhero who is technically a monster but does good anyway (Hellboy, Spawn, Angel...) - to the extent, I guess, where I can overlook a lot of faults.
Fact is, I've rewatched Ghost Rider a few times and never been bored. By way of comparison, I fidgeted during my first go of Inkheart today, so I have to be honest with myself about which film I prefer.
Best description I saw of Ghost Rider was "bad fun if you're in the right mood."
Anyway, thanks for posting the vid. Doesn't looks like my kind of film. Too affected and Sky Captain.
Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:10 pm
Jmart
Superman: The Movie
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2004 8:47 am Posts: 21198 Location: Massachusetts
Re: The Spirit
Sin City had interesting characters. This doesn't. And with the same exact look as Sin City it's not helping itself. The only part of the movie that really distinguishes itself in a good way from Sin City is Eva Mendes' ass. If the movie had just been a 90 minute still photo of her ass it would've been much more enjoyable and actually worth something. Instead it's just a great ass mixed with some decent visuals. Nothing more.
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 1:13 pm Posts: 15197 Location: Planet Xatar
Re: The Spirit
So sadly underrated...
Sat Nov 27, 2010 9:10 am
Algren
now we know
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:31 pm Posts: 67688
The Spirit
The Sin City-wannabe. This movie is a let down. The graphics and effects are uninspiring and the story is pretty empty and unimportant. The main character is uncharismatic and too jovial. It's justnot badass enough. The script is simply awful and Samuel L. Jackson's character is batshit crazy (what the hell was the Nazi part about??). This movie is proof that Robery Rodriguez is a great filmmaker.
Apart from Eva Mendes', Paz Vega's and Jaime King's cleavages/beauty, the film is a sleep-inducing bore.
D
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