Sins of the City
Jun. 15th, 2005 11:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kingandyJust been to see Sin City. It was alright.
In terms of cinematography it really can't be faulted - every shot, every frame is a work of art. Unfortunately - as with some of Kubrick's masterworks - they've concentrated so much on making stylish shots, and in many cases on slavishly reproducing the frames of the comic book, that they've forgotten to put a certain degree of life in the movie. It could, of course, be argued that this is the point, it's supposed to be a work of stylised noir, something to look at rather than get drawn into, and this is entirely true, but it does not change the fact that I spent two hours looking at a movie. Enjoying the visuals, certainly, appreciating the direction and being generally entertained. It should be noted, however, that I had time to appreciate the direction, which in essence meant it was not doing its job. To me, at least, it was saying "Hey look at me I'm cool direction!" rather than "Here is a story...".
I think somewhere along the way they forgot that a comic book is static and a movie is not, and to turn one into the other certain changes must be made.
I may be exaggerating my thoughts for the purposes of emphasis. There is motion. There's certainly a hell of a lot of fighting. The porpose of the film appears to mainly be to demonstrate how very much harder than nails their protagonists are. They are MAN'S MEN who will KICK YOUR ASS WITH THEIR TEETH and then KILL YOU SOME MORE UNTIL YOU'RE DEAD. People who can jump off buildings or through car windscreens for no reason other than that they are THAT HARD. Gosh what an impressive amount of testosterone. And my God, they all speak in clichés.
It is an excercise in 80's Grim, and that sort of thing didn't float my boat back in the 80's. But, as I say, very well made, and I did quite enjoy the middle sequence with the man in the red sneakers. If only for the over-the-top Women With Guns scene, and the ninja chick throwing swastikas at people. Decapitating people with her earrings. So utterly absurd that it was strangely endearing.
In conclusion ... I'm glad I saw it, but I'm not particularly fussed about ever seeing it again. It certainly didn't make me want to pick up the comic.
In other news, caught the Global Frequency pilot ... yes, I like them apples.
In terms of cinematography it really can't be faulted - every shot, every frame is a work of art. Unfortunately - as with some of Kubrick's masterworks - they've concentrated so much on making stylish shots, and in many cases on slavishly reproducing the frames of the comic book, that they've forgotten to put a certain degree of life in the movie. It could, of course, be argued that this is the point, it's supposed to be a work of stylised noir, something to look at rather than get drawn into, and this is entirely true, but it does not change the fact that I spent two hours looking at a movie. Enjoying the visuals, certainly, appreciating the direction and being generally entertained. It should be noted, however, that I had time to appreciate the direction, which in essence meant it was not doing its job. To me, at least, it was saying "Hey look at me I'm cool direction!" rather than "Here is a story...".
I think somewhere along the way they forgot that a comic book is static and a movie is not, and to turn one into the other certain changes must be made.
I may be exaggerating my thoughts for the purposes of emphasis. There is motion. There's certainly a hell of a lot of fighting. The porpose of the film appears to mainly be to demonstrate how very much harder than nails their protagonists are. They are MAN'S MEN who will KICK YOUR ASS WITH THEIR TEETH and then KILL YOU SOME MORE UNTIL YOU'RE DEAD. People who can jump off buildings or through car windscreens for no reason other than that they are THAT HARD. Gosh what an impressive amount of testosterone. And my God, they all speak in clichés.
It is an excercise in 80's Grim, and that sort of thing didn't float my boat back in the 80's. But, as I say, very well made, and I did quite enjoy the middle sequence with the man in the red sneakers. If only for the over-the-top Women With Guns scene, and the ninja chick throwing swastikas at people. Decapitating people with her earrings. So utterly absurd that it was strangely endearing.
In conclusion ... I'm glad I saw it, but I'm not particularly fussed about ever seeing it again. It certainly didn't make me want to pick up the comic.
In other news, caught the Global Frequency pilot ... yes, I like them apples.
