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

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?

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-

More times than you know.

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+

If you forgive The Spirit its flaws and submit to its madcap, scattershot spirit, it's an enjoyable experience. The visuals are certainly memorable (shots of the hero in silhouette, only his bright red tie shining, racing along the rooftops of snow-swept Central City steal your breath away) and most of the cast is clearly having a ball, though they may not want to put it on their resumés in bold.

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-

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.

Didn't see that one coming.

Well, I mean, we did. But I want to feign shock for Bradley's sake.

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+

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

*

So sadly underrated...

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