Sin City

Starring:Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller (II), Jessica Alba, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Powers Boothe, Rosario Dawson, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Clarke Duncan, Carla Gugino, Josh Hartnett, Rutger Hauer, Jaime King, Michael Madsen, Brittany Murphy, Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke, Nick Stahl, Bruce Willis
Studio: Dimension
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Brutal and breathtaking, Sin City is Robert Rodriguez's stunningly realized vision of Frank Miller's pulpy comic books. In the first of three separate but loosely related stories, Marv (Mickey Rourke in heavy makeup) tries to track down the killers of a woman who ended up dead in his bed. In the second story, Dwight's (Clive Owen) attempt to defend a woman from a brutal abuser goes horribly wrong, and threatens to destroy the uneasy truce among the police, the mob, and the women of Old Town. Finally, an aging cop on his last day on the job (Bruce Willis) rescues a young girl from a kidnapper, but is himself thrown in jail. Years later, he has a chance to save her again.

Read our interview with Frank Miller.

Based on three of Miller's immensely popular and immensely gritty books (The Hard Goodbye, The Big Fat Kill, and That Yellow Bastard), Sin City is unquestionably the most faithful comic-book-based movie ever made. Each shot looks like a panel from its source material, and director Rodriguez (who refers to it as a "translation" rather than an adaptation) resigned from the Directors Guild so that Miller could share a directing credit. Like the books, it's almost entirely in stark black and white with some occasional bursts of color (a woman's red lips, a villain's yellow face). The backgrounds are entirely digitally generated, yet not self-consciously so, and perfectly capture Miller's gritty cityscape. And though most of Miller's copious nudity is absent, the violence is unrelentingly present. That may be the biggest obstacle to viewers who aren't already fans of the books and who may have been turned off by Kill Bill (whose director, Quentin Tarantino, helmed one scene of Sin City). In addition, it's a bleak, desperate world in which the heroes are killers, corruption rules, and the women are almost all prostitutes or strippers. But Miller's stories are riveting, and the huge cast--which also includes Jessica Alba, Jaime King, Brittany Murphy, Rosario Dawson, Benicio Del Toro, Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl, Michael Clarke Duncan, Devin Aoki, Carla Gugino, and Josh Hartnett--is just about perfect. (Only Bruce Willis and Michael Madsen, while very well-suited to their roles, seem hard to separate from their established screen personas.) In what Rodriguez hopes is the first of a series, Sin City is a spectacular achievement. --David Horiuchi

More Sin City at Amazon.com

The Graphic Novels and Books
Films by Robert Rodriguez
From Graphic Novel to Big Screen

The Soundtrack
Films by guest director Quentin Tarantino
Crime on DVD

Amazon.com

Read our interview with Frank Miller.

Based on three of Miller's immensely popular and immensely gritty books (The Hard Goodbye, The Big Fat Kill, and That Yellow Bastard), Sin City is unquestionably the most faithful comic-book-based movie ever made. Each shot looks like a panel from its source material, and director Rodriguez (who refers to it as a "translation" rather than an adaptation) resigned from the Directors Guild so that Miller could share a directing credit. Like the books, it's almost entirely in stark black and white with some occasional bursts of color (a woman's red lips, a villain's yellow face). The backgrounds are entirely digitally generated, yet not self-consciously so, and perfectly capture Miller's gritty cityscape. And though most of Miller's copious nudity is absent, the violence is unrelentingly present. That may be the biggest obstacle to viewers who aren't already fans of the books and who may have been turned off by Kill Bill (whose director, Quentin Tarantino, helmed one scene of Sin City). In addition, it's a bleak, desperate world in which the heroes are killers, corruption rules, and the women are almost all prostitutes or strippers. But Miller's stories are riveting, and the huge cast--which also includes Jessica Alba, Jaime King, Brittany Murphy, Rosario Dawson, Benicio Del Toro, Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl, Michael Clarke Duncan, Devin Aoki, Carla Gugino, and Josh Hartnett--is just about perfect. (Only Bruce Willis and Michael Madsen, while very well-suited to their roles, seem hard to separate from their established screen personas.) In what Rodriguez hopes is the first of a series, Sin City is a spectacular achievement. --David Horiuchi

More Sin City at Amazon.com

The Graphic Novels and Books
Films by Robert Rodriguez
From Graphic Novel to Big Screen

The Soundtrack
Films by guest director Quentin Tarantino
Crime on DVD

Description

An amazing cast of big-screen favorites is directed by Robert Rodriguez (DESPERADO, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN), Frank Miller -- and special guest director Quentin Tarantino (KILL BILL 1 and 2, PULP FICTION) -- in an acclaimed and visually stunning hit that's the coolest movie of the year! Straight from the pages of Miller's hip series of "Sin City" graphic novels, Bruce Willis stars as a cop with a bum ticker and a vow to protect a sexy stripper (Jessica Alba -- FANTASTIC FOUR); Mickey Rourke (MAN ON FIRE) as an outcast misanthrope on a mission to avenge the death of his one true love (Jaime King -- PEARL HARBOR); and Clive Owen (KING ARTHUR) as Dwight, the clandestine love of Shellie (Brittany Murphy -- LITTLE BLACK BOOK), who spends his night defending Gail (Rosario Dawson -- THE DEVIL'S REJECTS) and her Old Town girls (Devon Aoki and Alexis Bledel) from a tough guy (Benicio Del Toro -- 21 GRAMS) with a penchant for violence. Also starring Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl, Michael Madsen, Carla Gugino, and Michael Clarke Duncan.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent movie.......2007-07-01

This is one of my all time favorite movies. There is a short list of DVDs that I own which infinitely keep my attention, and Sin City is one of those I can watch three or four times in a row and not get bored. I am only giving this DVD set 4 stars however, only because there is no option to watch all the uncut parts together in full length. I kind of understand why the DVD was put together like this but it would have been nice to see the whole thing cut together so we can watch it beginning to end with all the added scenes integrated. Obviously it's good to have the full disc with the original cut, and this is the one I generally watch but it was great to see the uncut scenes as well. The added graphic novel to the box set was a nice touch as well. 5 stars for the film, but 4 for this edition. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Soooo Freakin Good.......2007-06-19

So, you watch movies to be entertained and that's what you get with this movie. You never want to stop watching AND then you want to watch it again. There is a lot of gore but, it's kind of abstracted by the comic book setting but overall it's a pretty rough movie. Still, it was good enough we are planning to watch it again.

A nice DVD package........2007-05-30

This is a nice package for a film such as this. My only wish, is that it would contain more interviews with Frank Miller and how he brought Sin City to life as a comic book. But other than that, there's a nice selection of interesting features on how they made this fantastic film. Plus, this DVD contains a complete copy of The Hard Goodbye, which is one of the original graphic novels. It's fun DVD to have. I hope you like it!

Frank Miller Fan.......2007-05-26

This is an amazing two-disc release. Director Robert Rodriguez brilliantly brings to life Frank Miller's graphic novels, and does not hold back with the development of these gritty characters. Mickey Rourke alone deserves 5 stars for his portrayal of Marv. This set is worth having strictly on the merits of the development of that character. For anyone who has a love for the making of films and the time consuming processes involved in the "behind the scenes", the bonus disc will satisfy your appreciation for the multifaceted areas of story telling. Let's hope that when Frank Miller's "300" is released to DVD, that the extras will be just as enjoyable.

a 12 year olds review.......2007-05-26

i have never read the comics but i got to say that this is one of the best movies ever!!!! lots of great action vilonce and some humor i loved this movie so much i have seen it about 6 or 5 times sooooo good i love this movie. i give it a 5 outta 5 i have to say that this movie is a cult classic!!!!!!(but my friend said he didn,t like it)!!!!!!
i love it and i hope every one else loved it.(by the way i am not michelle hall thhis is my moms account lol)!

Sin City - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Excellent movie
Soooo Freakin Good
A nice DVD package.
Frank Miller Fan
a 12 year olds review

Sin City - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Jessica Alba , Devon Aoki , Alexis Bledel , Powers Boothe , and Jude Ciccolella
Director: Frank Miller (II) , and Rodriguez, Robert
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BCKFWK
Release Date: 2005-12-13

Amazon.com

The two-disc edition of Sin City easily makes the earlier single-disc theatrical-cut release obsolete by including the regular theatrical cut on the first disc, recutting the movie into four extended segments on the second disc (separated by story line), then piling on an impressive load of bonus features. But there's a catch. Billed as "Recut, Extended, Unrated," with "over 20 minutes" of new footage, the new set's four separate stories are extended by only about 6.5 total minutes of movie action (see details below in "What's New"); the rest of the added running time is the splashy new title shots (named by the title of the story or book) and the four minutes of credits that run at the end of each segment. Each addition makes the movie even closer to the comic books, and these extended segments are generally preferable to the theatrical equivalents (unfortunately, there's no Play All option), but don't expect the same impact as Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings extended editions. And although this version is unrated, the only risqué addition is a bit of violence from Miho that's no worse than the rest of the crazy violence in the film.

How Are the Bonus Features?
Robert Rodriguez has always loved DVDs, so the bonus features are extensive. On the first disc, there is somehow room for the theatrical cut of the film with its DTS track (the extended versions have only Dolby 5.1), two commentary tracks, an alternate audio track with a live audience in Austin, Texas, an interactive map of characters and locations, and 47 minutes of featurettes covering Frank Miller, Quentin Tarantino, cars, costumes, props, and special effects. The first commentary is Rodriguez and Miller discussing the concepts and the cast. The second commentary is mostly by Rodriguez, but Tarantino drops in briefly for the scene he directed (with Clive Owen and Benicio Del Toro in the car), as does an enthusiastic Bruce Willis for his segment.

The Tarantino scene gets a lot of attention on the second disc as well, in a 14-minute take in which he can be heard coaching the actors. Also on the disc are Rodriguez's usual "flic school" (among the topics is how scenes were created by merging footage of actors who never actually met), footage of Bruce Willis's band performing in Austin at the time of the shooting, and another Rodriguez cooking school (this time it's breakfast tacos). But the most interesting feature is the "green screen version" of the film: the entire film as it was shot in front of the green screen, sped up to play in only 12 minutes. You can see the actors (in color!) interacting only with the props and each other. Last, there's a DVD-sized complete comic book of The Hard Goodbye.

What's New in the Extended Version?
"The Customer Is Always Right" (the opening sequence with Josh Hartnett and Marley Shelton) has no new footage, but now goes straight into the one-minute epilogue with Hartnett and Alexis Bledel that closed the theatrical cut. "The Hard Goodbye" (with Mickey Rourke as "Marv" ) has two new sequences totaling about two minutes: Marv encounters his mother and finds his gun, and talks to Weevil in the club. In "The Big Fat Kill" (with Clive Owen and Benicio Del Toro), some short dialogue is restored, along with another wicked slice by Miho (Devon Aoki)--about a minute total. "That Yellow Bastard" (with Bruce Willis and Jessica Alba) has about 3.5 new minutes: there are more visitors to Hartigan's hospital bed, including his wife and a nurse; Carla Gugino's Lucille character comes to assist Hartigan when he wants to get out of jail (probably the best addition); and Mr. Shlubb and Mr. Klump have some more lines. --David Horiuchi

More Sin City at Amazon.com

The Graphic Novels and Books
Films by Robert Rodriguez
Our interview with Frank Miller

The Soundtrack
From Graphic Novel to Big Screen
Films by guest director Quentin Tarantino

Description

This Recut & Extended Edition is the ultimate SIN CITY DVD Collection and features a new, never-before-seen extended version of the original motion picture, the original theatrical release with three new commentaries, and extensive brand-new bonus material! Also included, a complete SIN CITY graphic novel: "The Hard Goodbye." The acclaimed hit from director Robert Rodriguez delivers explosive stories straight from the pages of Frank Miller's hip series of "Sin City" graphic novels ... and stars Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Jaime King, Clive Owen, Brittany Murphy, Rosario Dawson, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Benicio Del Toro, Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl, Michael Madsen, Carla Gugino, and Michael Clarke Duncan.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent movie.......2007-07-01

Soooo Freakin Good.......2007-06-19

A nice DVD package........2007-05-30

Frank Miller Fan.......2007-05-26

a 12 year olds review.......2007-05-26

Average customer rating:

Awesome! One of my top 10 favorite movies!!!
Sinful "City"
PSP Review - Forget the DVD, get the UMD!!!!
Noir reinvented
Miller's graphic novels become Rodriguez's film noir epic

Sin City (UMD Mini For PSP)
Starring: Powers Boothe , Steve Buscemi , Benicio Del Toro , Johnny Depp , and Leonardo DiCaprio
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP

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Accessories:

Sony PSP PlayGear Amp
Sony PSP Comfort Grips Black
Sony PSP Psyclone Nodus Sound System
Sony PSP Travel Case

ASIN: B0009VCSXW
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Description

Welcome to Sin City. This town beckons to the tough, the corrupt, the brokenhearted. Some call it dark. Hard-boiled. Then there are those who call it home. Crooked cops. Sexy dames. Desperate vigilantes. Some are seeking revenge. Others lust after redemption. And then there are those hoping for a little of both. A universe of unlikely and reluctant heroes still trying to do the right thing in a city that refuses to care. Their stories -- shocking, suspenseful and searing -- come to the fore in a new motion picture from co-directors Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez, and special guest director Quentin Tarantino.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome! One of my top 10 favorite movies!!!.......2006-08-15

I bought this on launch day for the UMD and DVD versions! I bought a copy for my homedawg, DJ Honeybear, and the UMD version for myself! I could not believe the cinematic brilliance of this movie! Truely one of the best cinematic features I've ever seen in my life!

Somebody else said "jawdropping video presentation" or words to that effect, and I would have to agree with that! Clearly an award winner in this department!

Just writing this review and reading the other reviews, is making me want to rewatch it. I also will probably get the DVD special edition of this movie by this Holiday.

Highly recommended!!!

MC White said: Check it out!!!!

Sinful "City".......2006-07-19

The nights are cloudy, the alleys are dark, the men are dangerous, bars are smoky and femmes are fatale. "Sin City" is a thing of dark, bloody beauty.

It certainly says something if a graphic novel author helps out with a movie... especially if that creator swore he'd never let it be adapted. That is only one of the things that makes "Sin City," the adaptation of Frank Miller's comic, such a fascinating film.

"Sin City" is actually made up of three stories: In the depths of Basin (Sin) City, scarred hulk Marv (Mickey Rourke) sleeps with a beautiful prostitute, Goldie (Jaime King), only to find her dead beside him the next morning. Enraged, he goes on a killing spree to find her murderer, and learns that sinister cannibal Kevin (Elijah Wood) is responsible. But there's a powerful figure behind Kevin, who calls the shots.

Elsewhere in Sin City, Dwight (Clive Owen) does his best to defend Gail (Rosario Dawson) and the other Old Town prostitutes. But when Dwight kills a crooked cop, he has to somehow cover up the crime. And Hartigan (Bruce Willis), a cop with a failing heart, goes out of his job with a bang: He rescues little Nancy Callahan from a child molester who happens to be a senator's son. Hartigan is jailed, and when he gets out, he finds that Nancy (Jessica Alba) has grown into a lasso-twirling stripper. But the senator's son -- nicknamed Yellow Bastard -- is still after her.

"Sin City" is one of those few comic book adaptations that doesn't seem... well, cartoonish. Sure, it's the very image of noir, but the grim tone and grey characters are very real. It's not a movie for the fainthearted, but whoever enjoys the films of Quentin Tarantino (who directed one scene here) will surely be blown away.

Like "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," this film is done almost entirely digitally. But unlike "Sky Captain," it has substance as well as style. All the sets and props are done with computers, and nearly everything is in black and white. Here and there we get a splash of colour -- red lipstick and matching dress, Yellow Bastard's face, green eyes.

The contents of three "Sin City" comic books are interwoven here, and Rodriguez is constantly faithful: A lot of these shots could have been lifted straight from the comic's pages. He also preserves the stark, black-and-white style that the graphic novels are known for. You can't get much more faithful than that.

"Sin City" is not quite a "Kill Bill" bloodfest, though -- surprisingly, this brutal movie has a dark sense of chivalry. Each story is about an outcast man defending a woman's honor, safety, or memory, even if he sacrifices himself in the process. "Sin City" wears its heart on its sleeve, even if that sleeve is bloodstained and torn.

Most of the actors do wonderful jobs -- Owen's dark photographer, Rourke's scarred strongman, Stahl's revolting Yellow Bastard, and Alba's surprisingly sweet stripper. Only a few, like Brittany Murphy, have lackluster performances. But perhaps the most memorable performances come from Bruce Willis and Elijah Wood. Willis plays his aging cop role with unusual grace, even when shooting the genitals off Yellow Bastard. And Wood plays Kevin with both creepy evil and spiritual ecstacy. All without saying a word.

"Sin City" is a remarkable, bleak, intense movie -- a halfway point between Tarantino and Raymond Chandler. An outstanding piece of work.

PSP Review - Forget the DVD, get the UMD!!!!.......2005-09-07

Sin City has finally come out on PSP, and my god it doesn't get better than this.

A few words about the movie - This is, without a doubt, a MASTERPIECE of film-making, and definately live's up to the hype surrounding it's release.

Now that's said, let's get onto technical side of the UMD disc.

Video:

Sin City looks absolutley JAW DROPPING on PSP. Consistently sharp, contrasty as hell with solid "BLACK" blacks, no evidence of grain or compression artifacts, and no bleeding whatsoever...it's a SOLID performance from Mirimax/Dimension. The OAR is untouched, keeping it's original 1:85 ratio (with tiny little black bars at the top and bottom). Subtitles are large, displayed in yellow, and easily readable against the image. Overall, this is a faultless presentation.

Video: 5/5

Audio:

The sound on this baby packs quite a punch, and right from the word go you'll be pleasantly surprised. Make sure you crank this up to full volume, as it deserves this experience to be fully appreciated. Overall, a nice job boys.

Audio 4.5/5

Extras:

Now, this is the first UMD disc that i own, to spoil you with more than just your usual trailers. Like the DVD release, we get the gorgeous animated menus aswell as the 8 min "Behind-the-scenes" featurette, giving you a teaser of what we'll expect on the future Director's edition coming out.

Extras: 4/5

Overall this is, without question, the disc to own this season. And for under $20, there's no excuse not to buy. Fantastic Visuals, Excellent Audio, and great extras, this is the benchmark for future UMD releases. Get used to this kinda UMD treatment boys and girls.

Overall 5/5

-zallapo

Noir reinvented.......2005-08-29

If there's anything you knew in advance about "Sin City" (aside from who gets naked -- show a little class dammit) it's that director Robert Rodriquez went as far out of his way as humanly possible to make this film adhere as closely as possible to the visual feel of the comic book source material. Well, I haven't read any of Frank Miller's legendary "Sin City" comics, but having seen the movie, I can't imagine it existing without them.Many people will see similarities between "Sin City" and the work of Quentin Tarantino, both because Robert Rodriquez will probably never break free from this stigma no matter how many kiddie flicks he makes, and more importantly -- gulp -- he actually inviteds QT on board to direct one of the segments, this after he'd torn up his DGA membership card in disgust after they wouldn't allow him to list Frank Miller as a co-director, so as far as integrity goes it's hard to one-up Sir Robert here. I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to which segment QT was supposed to be directing ahead of viewing this flick, and it's to the film's credit that it all seems of a piece no matter how the chores were divvied up.

Now, there are a couple of things that are immediately going to weed out a certain part of the older audience (hello Ma!), this being the "artsy" use of black-and-white splashed here and there with purposeful primary colors, and also the integrity of the action sequences. I shouldn't diss the so-called "older" audience, being in my third decade of existence myself, but my parents and everyone else their age have certain prejudices toward a particular kind of modern film, this being the type that has "far fetched" action sequences. Yes, in "Sin City" the characters are able to take a ridiculous amount of bullets and keep on ticking as well as jumping out of windows several stories to the ground without any apparent injuries, but to that I say that there is a reason this kind of thing works in a film like "Sin City" whereas it can easily wear thin in a movie like, say, "The Matrix". Sin City is portrayed as a hopelessly fatalistic backdrop against which the best the characters can hope for is to die with a little bit of dignity. It doesn't really matter that Marv doesn't croak after taking a bullet to the head because you know the dice are gonna roll cold for him sooner or later.Another comparison people may make to Tarantino is to point out that "Sin City" is also an anthology film. I could mention the fact that this is based on three graphic novels featuring different protagonists and leave it at that, but -- at the risk of unduly diminishing the genius of Quentin Tarantino, whose "Pulp Fiction" is undeniably the most influential film of the 90s and a work of art in it's own right -- it should be noted that QT did not, in fact, actually INVENT the anthology film. No, that would be George Romero and Stephen King with "Creepshow" (I'm kidding, of course, but you get my point...).

Aside from the anthology aspect, there is one thing that actually does somewhat resemble "Pulp Fiction": Bruce Willis' character makes an early exit only to return later in the film. It's not the same chronological gimmick that QT utilized but I've said enough as it is.The one aspect that got so much press in the film's pre-release was the unprecedented decision to film the entire movie in front of a green screen. This move not only doesn't come off as a gimmick but you'll find yourself forgetting that "Sin City" isn't absolutely real about five minutes into the movie. Sure, there are numerous improbabilities, as detailed above, but it's the MOVEMENT of the characters, vehicles, weapons, etc. that seem a bit cartoonish; nothing about the actual scenery really does. In essence, "Sin City" sticks to the elements that continue to make noir so compelling: great camerawork, gritty characterizations, and the theme of a hardened soul holding out some kind of remote hope for redemption. Bruce Willis was an absolute no-brainer for this flick: he's spent the last decade perfecting this world-weary gutter saint character, and "Sin City" is arguably his best portrait of this tortured soul archetype yet. Willis, Clive Owen and Mickey Rourke are the three main protagonists, and you'll find yourself rooting for them not through point-of-view bias alone, but because each of these guys completely earns the right to be called a bad ass. In a way I'm glad they saved the fate of Willis' character for last as the whole movie seems to be building to such tragedy.

So, yes, it's unfortunate that so many people will rent this movie sheerly on the recommendation of Mr. Skin, but hopefully "Sin City" will turn more than a few heads on to a new, hightened quality of experimental film-making in the same way that the aforementioned "Pulp Fiction" did a decade ago. Word is that Rodriquez is planning two back-to-back sequels as we speak.

Miller's graphic novels become Rodriguez's film noir epic.......2005-08-07

"Sin City" is a black and white world, except when the blood is being sprayed around and then be prepared for lots of red or white or even yellow. Based on three of the first four "Sin City" graphic novels by Frank Miller ("The Hard Good-Bye," "The Big Fat Kill," and "That Yellow Bastard") and "The Customer Is Always Right" short-story from "Babe Wore Red" that was the test run for this project, this 2005 film sets the standard for what film noir will be in the 21st century and advances the cause of digital filmmaker even more than "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow." That film was pure eye candy, but "Sin City" is much too gritty to be that sweet. You are going to wince at some of what happens in this film and you might even turn away once or twice as the over the top violence hits you in the gut as hard as it hits some of the characters in the side of the head. But chances are you are going to love this movie to death.

Frank Miller's "Sin City" is a world where the heroes can take a whole series of punches as well as deliver them, where justice has nothing to do with either mercy or the cops, and the system is crooked from top down to pretty near the bottom of the barrel. The dames are still worth dying for and some of them might even be goddesses, but others can defend themselves quite well, thank you. This is a world where protecting women is hard-wired into the psyches of guys like John Hartigan (Bruce Willis), Marv (Mickey Rourke), and Dwight (Clive Owen). If you fail to protect a dame, then somebody has to pay and in a way that will make the scum bucket think Hell is heaven when you finally let them go there. This movie is rated R for sustained strong stylized violence, nudity and sexual content including dialogue, but that is an R that is a lot closer to NC-17 than it is to PG-13.

Ang Lee tried to have parts of "The Hulk" look like a comic book, but that meant throwing several frames on the screen at the same time. But with "Sin City" director Robert Rodriguez knows that a comic book panel can be like a frame in a motion picture and visa-versa, so his solution was to embrace Miller's visual style and make him the co-director of the film (and give him a small role as a priest hearing his final confession). The "Sin City" were done largely in black and white, although sometimes white and black, and other times when the strategic addition of a single color as in the red of a woman's lips, the yellow of her hair, or the blue of her eyes. Sometimes the red is a cool looking car.

This is the bloodiest film noir of my experience, so it is a good thing that when there is a lot of blood is it just as likely to appear as bright white or neon yellow as globs of the red stuff. But it is also evokes more bursts of laughter at the audacious violence and the perfectly timed one-liners, most of which will never work uttered in Dirty Harry fashion out of the context of the film. This is film noir in the tradition of Mickey Spillane updated for the Quentin Tarantino generation.

The standout performance in "Sin City" is clearly Mickey Rourke as Marv, who is buried under so much makeup you keep assuring yourself that he is really in there somewhere. In keeping with the formula of the film Marv is both the most violent of the protagonists, giving taking somebody for a ride a whole new meaning, and the funniest, in both word and deed. Willis and Owen are both fine as the other two protagonists, but they are more the strong and silent types, neither as reflective nor as sardonic as Marv. Willis definitely has the world weary act honed down to perfection, but Owen seems a bit too mannered in his detachment in his story line and ends up finishing third in the hero sweepstakes. Elijah Wood as Kevin does not get to speak but still creeps you out as Frodo gone over to the Dark Side. Benicio Del Toro shows some nice comic timing as Jack Rafferty and Michael Madsen has not changed a bit as Bob, while Nick Stahl is scum of two different colors. Rutger Hauer, Powers Booth and Michael Clarke Duncan all take turns playing heavies and it becomes pretty clear Rodriguez could get just about anybody he wanted to do this movie.

Of the women of "Sin City" it is Devon Aoki as Miho who stands out although she never says a word (she does not have to). Jessica Alba's best moments as Nancy are silent, although there is a change in why that is the case as we go through the movie. Rosario Dawson has fun going over the top as Gail, Brittany Murphy goes slumming as Shellie, and Jaime King plays two sides of the same coin as Goldie and Wendy. Alexis Bledel is certainly trying to get as far away from Rory Gilmore as possible by playing Becky, but I am afraid she does not get far in that regard. Then again, if you have read Miller's graphic novels you will be impressed by how Rodriguez has brought the stark black and white images of Becky, Hartigan, the Yellow Bastard and the rest of them to life on the screen. This movie is going to make a ton of money, Miller is going to sell a lot of copies of the new editions of his "Sin City" graphic novels, and hopefully it will not be too long before we get the next cinematic installment, which should have Johnny Depp playing Wallace in the "To Hell and Back" segment.

Average customer rating:

Not My Cup of Green Tea...
Haunting film, stays with you long
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Release Date: 2002-02-26

Description

Bae Yong-kyun's Zen masterpiece. Acclaimed by critics and audiences throughout the world, "Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?" is simply one of the most ravishing films ever made. In a remote monastery high up in the mountains, an old master, a young monk and an orphaned boy devote themselves to their Buddhist teachings. As the master faces death, he becomes more desperate to lead his disciples away from the outside world and point them toward their quest for enlightenment. This magnificent film, astonishingly rich in its formal beauty and affirmation of life, is not only a cinematic gem but a transcendent evocation of the mystery and humanity of Zen Buddhism. Selected by three international film critics as "One of the Ten Best Films of All Time" in the 1993 Sight & Sound Critics Poll.

Customer Reviews:

Not My Cup of Green Tea..........2007-05-24

I am not a novice to zen, buddhism, enlightenment, in both life experiences, books and films. I find it fascinating as well comforting. I respect it and in many ways I try to practice it. I watched this film twice giving it my full attention. I truly enjoyed the scenery and the overall artistic style was very nice. I did watch it on a VHS tape so it was a bit grainy but that may have added to the charm. The problem I have with this film is that it goes against my understanding/concept of Buddhism and Zen teachings. The entire film was a depressing ordeal from beginning to end. I understand the intent and lessons of the film but I would rather see a Zen Master who treated his family with kindness and affection. A boy lost in the woods and no one cares. A group of people sitting around the fire in silence who do not recognize the existance of another human being. This is not a Master who I would respect or even enjoy being in his company. A dying Master who smiled on his death bed and showed compassion is what I want to see. Life and Death is a combination of emotions. There should be SOME joy in both Living and Dying. Perhaps this Master needed more training... Then again maybe it will be better for him the next time around. If the intent of this movie is to show how unhappy people can be then it is a Winner. Looking at the other reviews for this film shows that I am in the minority... Guess I can live with that (LOL).
-JMHO

Haunting film, stays with you long .......2007-04-12

I stumbled upon this movie at a movie store in Seoul. My interest in Buddhism was growing at the time, so I watched the film at home after borrowing the video. Of course, being a beginner in Buddhism, I was lost on many of the movie's meanings and messages, but after a few more viewings after I bought the DVD and reading other critiques of the film, I got a better understanding.

To those who disliked or didn't care for this movie, I'd like to quote film critic Roger Ebert, in that you should rate a movie for what it DID rather than what YOU thought it should've done. Korean Buddhism has helped Koreans weather their turbulent and sad history, and well, I'm sorry if you were disappointed that it wasn't a "yipee, I'm so happy" type of feel-good film.

At any rate, this film should be required viewing for anyone into Buddhism (and for some who are not). I wish the director, a professor at the Buddhist university Dongguk in Seoul, made more movies.

It approaches the quality of a sutra.......2007-01-01

The disaffected viewer in Canada, I wish him a greater awareness of what's in front of his face.

This film approaches the level of a sutra. Be not distracted.

Top One.......2006-09-10

I was thinking (first mistake!) of saying, "Top Five." Then I realized that this is more than even "Top Three (or Two)" of all the movies I have in my collection, or have ever viewed, for that matter. The real perplexity is that I don't know why, exactly, except for the fact that it is the only movie that I think about and view more than any other DVD that I have. And so that is why it stands foremost (Doctor Zhivago has now been relegated to the silver podium, at least for these reasons) above of all the other DVD's in my assorted collection. True, as some have commented here, it is not astutely a portrayal of Zen Buddhism as it might be explicated in the truest sense of its dogmas. How would you depict and encapsulate the essence of Zen through the modality of a visual, i.e., movie experience anyway? Pretty tall order, even for The Buddha, I would imagine. This movie for me, however, is a catalyst for SOME things that are related to Zen Buddhism. But overall it leaves that stage and affords me with a visual, meditative experience, be it akin to Zen Buddhism or something other (even Christianity -- for me). Needless to say, this is not a film for everyone; it is not of the "Saturday Night at the Movies" genre; it just touches me in a deep, esoteric psychological and spiritual way. Perhaps this movie is something as to what Paul Valery stated: "To see is to forget the name of the thing one sees."

Gives the Experience of Buddhism.......2006-02-26

This is one of my favorite spiritual movies. Although it preaches a bit here and there, it mainly works by giving you the experience of being a Buddhist monk in a more powerful and authentic way than any other piece of cinema I've seen. The spectacular cinematography is somewhat lost on this DVD (by all means see this on film in a theater if you can) but the meditative, transformational quality remains. That is, if you can really shut out all the distractions of your home and sit and watch this as if you were in a theater. If you do that, you will be rewarded with a spiritual experience unlike any other film has to offer. On the other hand, if you stop for interruptions every 20 minutes, this movie may seem like the most boring thing you've ever tried to sit through. So you have to ask yourself, what kind of viewer are you? Because this is not a film that hooks you, it is a film you have to commit yourself to. Some will see that as a failing; it all depends on what you want and expect from a movie.

Average customer rating:

jackie vs gary
My Review
pitiful
don't believe the people telling you to just try this out and you'll see, yeah fu^%&%^ right you f^%$^&$& pieces of ^$%&$
just a fun movie

City Hunter
Starring: Jackie Chan , Joey Wong , Chingmy Yau , Richard Norton , and Michael Wong
Director: Jing Wong
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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My Lucky Stars
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ASIN: B00008WJE4
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Amazon.com

Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan gives his self-mocking humor full flourish in City Hunter, adapted from a Japanese comic book. But that doesn't mean there isn't a solid dose of action--after a brilliantly cartoonish opening, the movie settles into a half-comedy, half-thriller variation on Die Hard, in which Eurotrash terrorists have hijacked a plush ocean cruise liner and super-detective Ryu Saeba (Chan) has to stop them, aided by his lovely, love-lorn assistant (Joey Wong, A Chinese Ghost Story, Green Snake) and a beautiful undercover secret agent (Chingmy Yau, Naked Killer). Though City Hunter is short on breathtaking stunts, there's plenty of well-choreographed hand-to-hand combat. Jackie Chan's lecherous, self-absorbed character (accompanied by a parade of girls into skimpy or skin-tight outfits) come across like a gleeful parody of James Bond (slightly marred by a bit of homophobia). All in all, a high energy romp. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Based on a popular Japanese comic strip, Hong Kong's high-flying martial arts action hero Jackie Chan stars as private Ryu Saeba in City Hunter. Hired to find the runaway daughter of a Japanese publishing tycoon, Ryu's first impulse is to turn the job down - until he sees a picture of the beautiful Shizuko (Kumiko Goto). Hot on her heels, Ryu tracks her down on board a cruise ship, and much to the annoyance of his jealous female sidekick Kaori (Joey Wong) the womanizing Ryu seems more interested in catching Shizuko's attention than returning her safely to her father. However, Ryu's romantic plans quickly go astray when a gang of ruthless criminals hijack the ship and hold the passengers to ransom. To save the day Jackie Chan's unique action style reigns supreme in a series of brilliantly conceived fight sequences as Ryu swings into action to dispatch the bad guys and rescue the goergeous Shizuko!

Customer Reviews:

jackie vs gary.......2006-08-07

this flick is kinda cool... although i prefer the fighting sequences. i think that they tried to do this flic an family action flick. but anyways, what impresses me the most in this film is that use see how good people from the west is comparing to people from the east. take th fight scene jackie chan v gary daniels. u see that this is withoutv a doubt gary daniels best performance... jackie is funny as usual... if like jackie chan, or gary daniels thisis a must see movie

My Review.......2006-07-13

This movie was an ok movie to watch but I think this movie could be alot more better made. But I like Jackie chan's movie so i'm not going to complain that much about this movie.

pitiful.......2006-03-31

I've been reading the reviews... and noticing how everyone who gave it 'top marks' saying it was 'hylarious', 'the bets movie ever', and so on and so forth, have never seen the original anime, or even better, read the manga.
If they had I'm sure none of those people would give it more than it's due - 1 star (for J.C. fans, maybe 2).
This movie is a poor excuse for an adaptation. And a disgrace for the original City Hunter. Jackie Chan as Saeba Ryo?! Puh-lease!
The attempts at manga/anime humor fall on barren ground and turn the movie into an even more of a farce as it already is.
I wouldn't recomend this movie not even to my worst enemy and I agree with the reviewer who said 'when you die and go to Hell, Satan makes you watch this movie'. I can't imagine a torture greater than that. I'd take boiling oil any time!

don't believe the people telling you to just try this out and you'll see, yeah fu^%&%^ right you f^%$^&$& pieces of ^$%&$.......2006-03-16

So , I had heard from a lot of people that this is a very fun movie.

Other than seeing some of the hottest chinese chicks I have ever seen, nothing too special about this flick. I guess it's based off a comic book, so at least it makes sense of why this is so stupid.

The parts that threy call jokes in this movie include things like women falling over because their boobs are just too big. Come on Jackie, do an r movie, get out of the way, and showcase these women that you work with.

The action is pretty substandard all-around. The end fight just looks like they are hitting weaopns as hard as they can against eachother, this waas ok back in the 60's, but I expect a little more out of jackie. I think that there was around 3-4 min of action that I enjoyed in this.

To be honest, the best part of this movie is when the 2 gay guys start singing on stage with a woman or two. That song was freaking hilarious, AND WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN BETTER IF IT WAS EFFING TRANSLATED. I HAVE VHS TAPES FROM LIKE 82 THAT HAVE SUBS ON THE SONGS.

Also the streetfighter scene, don't believe the hype, it sucks. It is one of the few funny parts in the entire movie, but is only good when Chun Li shows up.

EXTRAS-interview with jakie and the idiot of this project, jing wong. Jackie has a very lively interview talking about how america didn't like him because he didn't get to do what he wants to do. Action 1st, storyline 2nd, acting # 27, sound effects #5, special effects #24. This is the first interview with Jackie that I can remember him getting really mad. I thought he was gonna start cussing out evry american, but by the end he is talking about rush hour and seems pretty happy.

just a fun movie.......2006-01-04

I wish people wouldn't bag out this movie on the basis of it not being a serious fighting movie... its not, its obviously not - its just a stupid movie to enjoy in a similarly stupid fashion!!!

The movie in general is light-hearted and silly, though granted they could have put a little more effort into the fights (Jacky doesn't use as many 'enviromental objects' as he usually does), and the music can be a bit irrelevant and occasionally annoying (note the fight between Jacky and Kim in the bedroom, where the music is clearly looped thrice).

Also the english dub is nothing short of DREADFUL, as a part-cantonese I can tell you the dub matches the original about HALF the time - it looks like they tried to sync lips in some scenes by changing the words (but apparently no-one told em it would make for some totally irrelevant speech). Thats not to mention the thick american accents totally disillusioning the viewer. Stick with the cantonese track, and if you don't know cantonese make do with the subtitles, they're way more accurate!

If I was a nitpicker pro movie reviewer I'd probably give this two or three, because there are plenty of areas that could be refined or improved. But remember: this is a 1992 film, rereleased in western society, so don't focus on the music or the effects (which aren't too bad for a 92, actually).

But I aint a nitpicker: I rate on how much I enjoyed a film. And I enjoyed this one! You don't need to know anything about the City Hunter anime to see this, just rent it out cheap and watch it!

Return to Sin City - A Tribute to Gram Parsons

Average customer rating:

Sin City Forever
Keith is GOD!
A great concert
A must for Gram freaks, others may find it jaded. Feb. 18, 2006
Great Despite Omissions

Return to Sin City - A Tribute to Gram Parsons
Starring: John Doe , Steve Earle , Norah Jones , Keith Richards , and Dwight Yoakam
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Gram Parsons - Fallen Angel
Lucinda Williams - Live from Austin, TX
Grievous Angel : An Intimate Biography of Gram Parsons
Grand Theft Parsons
Hickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsons

ASIN: B000777I74
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Amazon.com

Return to Sin City - A Tribute to Gram Parsons offers clear evidence that Parsons, who died at age 26 and whose output consisted primarily of just five recordings (one with the Byrds, two with the Flying Burrito Brothers, and two solo albums), commands a degree of respect and influence these days that's far greater than the modest success he enjoyed before his death in 1973. Recorded in Los Angeles, this 106-minute, 21-song concert features some big names (Keith Richards, Norah Jones) and slightly lesser lights (Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle, John Doe) performing tunes Parsons wrote and/or recorded before his career was cut short by drug and alcohol problems (executive produced by Parsons' daughter, Polly, the concert and DVD will help raise funds to battle substance abuse). And if the material's country-rock flavor (Parsons disdained that label, preferring to call it "cosmic American music") sounds a bit hackneyed nowadays, well, it's not his fault; after all, Parsons was only around to help invent the genre, not run it into the ground. On this night, it's left to the artists with unique voices and personae to lift the flavor of the proceedings from the merely pleasant to the truly inspiring, and that's precisely what Doe ("Hot Burrito No. 2"), Earle ("Luxury Liner"), Williams (a raw, somewhat ragged, and unabashedly vulnerable "Sleepless Nights"), Yoakam ("Sin City"), and Richards (who croaks his way through "Love Hurts," a duet with Jones, and "Hickory Wind") do. After that string of remarkable performances, closing the show by bringing everyone (including the great guitarist James Burton) onstage for "Wild Horses" and "Ooh Las Vegas" may be a tad anti-climactic, but Return to Sin City is still a fine way to remember a music legend. --Sam Graham

Description

Return to Sin City: A Tribute to Gram Parsons celebrates an artist who made his greater mark in the years following his death and has become a contemporary music icon. The late, great Gram Parsons refused to let anyone call his music "country rock." With the soul of a true cowboy, he just couldn't be fenced in. His vision was much more grandiose than the words "country rock" would allow. The cosmic American music of Gram Parsons celebrated diversity. Sure, the broken hearted sentiment of country music was firmly rooted in his musical upbringing. But so was the burning urgency of soul music's dramatic melodies as well as the sweet, uplifting, revelatory harmonies of gospel choirs and of course the hip shaking, hand clapping strut and boogie of rock and roll music. Thirty years after his untimely death in Joshua Tree, CA., musicians and music lovers still name check Gram Parsons with the utmost awe and respect. He saw beyond labels and boundaries in music and in life. In his time he influenced the music of his prot#g# Emmylou Harris, as well as his friends the Rolling Stones and the Byrds. He was the first longhair country boy-just ask any of the outlaws from Willie Nelson to Kris Kristofferson-someone who could bring country music to the closed minds of those who previously dismissed it as "hillbilly" or "hick" while turning on many a good ol' boy to the sounds of sweet soul music. Staying true to her father's vision of diversity in music, his daughter Polly organized Return to Sin City: A Tribute to Gram Parsons. She recruited both close friends and ardent fans of her father and his music as well as contemporary artists inspired by his work and vision. "He changed the face of country music without anybody ever knowing it. After he died, there was this whole different aspect of country music which pervades to this day." -Keith Richards, According to the Rolling Stones.

Customer Reviews:

Sin City Forever.......2007-03-30

Even if you are not a fan of Gram Parsons, have a look and think again. This tribute to Gram & his music is made up of old friends, and young musicians who love music that tells a story and makes you wish you could play a guitar or sing a song, or both. Gram Parsons influenced a whole generation of blues, country & rock stars and is still doing so 30 years after his untimely death. The music is absolutely sensational and the feeling of being at Sin City with all these great players is just wonderful. From his old mate Keith Richards to the very young and sweet Norah Jones, they all sing with their hearts and pay tribute in their own way, with their own styles and voices and it comes together beautifully. A great DVD that you want to play over and over again. I think the man himself would be proud of what he began all those years ago and to see that his influence is still going strong in the world of music today.

Keith is GOD!.......2007-01-11

Lay of Keith Richards. He's absolutely fantastic during this show. Anybody who thinks otherwise needs their head examined!

A great concert.......2006-03-05

The folks who had reservations and/or strong criticisms of this DVD, especially of Susan Marshall's performances, should just defrost their hearts. Everyone involved in the DVD played and sang their hearts out. Some of the performances were extraordinary for sure: Al Perkins' steel on every song, James Burton's Tele playing, Raul Malos' singing and the manic but totally appropriate lead playing of Dwight Yoakam's guitar player to name a few. All the "big stars" rose to the occaision. The concert rocked from the first note to the last. What more do ya want if you love Gram Parsons?

A must for Gram freaks, others may find it jaded. Feb. 18, 2006.......2006-02-19

This DVD has A billing that reads like A whos who of the Alt Country scene.My only disappointment is that neither EmmyLou Harris or Chris Hillman were involved with this project.
Lucinda Williams doing A Song For You is one of those tear your heart out moments.
Dwight Yoakam appearing in A Nudie Suit was A real show stopper. What really was impressive was when Dwight broke A Guitar string while doing A rip it up version of Sin City he had enough stage smarts to do A band introduction while A Roadie brought out A fresh Guitar.
It was very heartening to see young artists like Kathleen Edwards, Jim James & Norah Jones embracing Gram Parsons music.
It was nice to see Keith Richards but lets face the fact that the parade has passed him bye A long time ago.
One of the lowlights was Susan Marshall. She had no business being on that stage.
Overall I found this DVD to be quite good. Remember that this project was set up to assist musicians with major problems. After all Gram Parsons had more talent then sense.
Also on this DVD are steel guitar player Al Perkins and Guitar wizard James Burton. Both of these pickers actually played with Gram.

Great Despite Omissions.......2006-02-12

Yes, I'll echo the disappointment of the perplexing absences of Chris Hillman and even more glaringly, Emmylou. You'd think those would be the first two names on anyone's Gram Parsons tribute list. In fact their absences, especially Harris', are so conspicuous that one is left with a strange sense of incompleteness when its over. No explanation at all.

Notwithstanding that, this is a great DVD. Steve Earle absolutely rips the place up during his two songs, and a great unexpected treat is the John Doe-Kathleen Edwards duet of Sweeping out the Ashes.

And everybody should lighten up about Keith Richards. He did fine on Hickory Wind and the duet with Norah Jones was a lot of fun. She looks kind of afraid at times.. "Oh God he's not gonna touch me is he..." It was hilarious, and the music was not bad at all. And I loved the Wild Horses/Las Vegas finale.

Some complain that the varying stylings here make for an inconsistent show. I disagree. Gram Parsons' disrespect for those phony musical boundaries are what made him great and so memorable and influential all these years later. These performances reflect that nicely.

Chris and Emmylou, you were indeed missed. But I loved it anyway.

Average customer rating:

City of Sin Xtreme Series

Manufacturer: Central Park Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Bible Black 4 Revelations
Bible Black 3 Origins
Bible Black 2 Second Sacrament

ASIN: B000NF7SMU

The City of No Limits (En la Ciudad Sin Limites)

Average customer rating:

Confusion Masks Reality: Sorting Out the Mystery
"Sin Limites" brings Humanness to the City
a lot of quiet
Film does not dissapoint
A story about absolution ...

The City of No Limits (En la Ciudad Sin Limites)
Starring: Alfredo Alcón , Leticia Brédice , Àlex Casanovas , Geraldine Chaplin , and Alain Cipot
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Dust to Dust (Por la Libre)
En la Puta Vida (Tricky Life)
Without a Trace (Sin Dejar Huella)
Nadie Conoce a Nadie (Nobody Knows Anybody)
Vidas Privadas

ASIN: B00020HAN8
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Customer Reviews:

Confusion Masks Reality: Sorting Out the Mystery.......2006-11-15

Maximillian Martin is an elderly Spanish gentleman who is hospitalized in Paris in an ultramodern high tech hospital ... where each patient resides in a two or three room suite while undergoing tests and procedures or recovery from an illness or surgery ... His son Victor and girlfriend Eileen from Argentina arrive at Charles DeGaul Airport where they are met by Alberto another son and his wife Carmen and Luis, Max's third son. The family is gathering to support Max during this difficult time when he has been diagnosed with brain cancer and is preparing for brain surgery.

Victor keeps company with his dad at the hospital and listens closely when his dad rambles about needing to leave the hospital ... to find Rancel. He provides Victor a key to a secret apartment in Paris which his dad had owned for 40 years and also gives him a button which will verify to Rancel that Victor is who he says he is ... Victor is puzzled by his dad's rambling and mentions some of it to his mom. Later, he sees his mom, Marie berating his dad and begins to wonder if maybe she is hiding something from him, holding back information or misdleading him. There are some fascinating family dynamics within the story. For example, Luis who divorced his wife is making love to his mistress (who used to be the nanny to their children) and the exwife makes a loud scene at the hotel about their relationship causing other guests to come out into the corridor to find out what all the noise is about. Victor has been having an affair with Carmen, the wife of his brother Alberto but Eileen understands (so she says). Eileen is completely aware of this, declares her love for him but lays down an ultimatum, he must make up his mind whether or not he will marry her. Essentially he must choose between Carmen or Eileen ...

Victor helps his dad escape from the hospital for a few hours and they roam Paris, looking for the address his dad needed to find. Max is looking for "The Fountain" and is seriously distressed when it is not where he believed it was. After returning to the hospital, Victor discovers a book written by Rancel with a title that begins to make sense out of his dad's ramblings. The biography for Rancel as written on the jacket inside cover begins to put things together for Victor and he suspects his mom has been lying to him. Victor tries to find Rancel, the author ... Victor learns Rancel and his dad were Communists 40 years ago and both were supposed to meet at a railroad station. His dad did not show up but Rancel did and was arrested, imprisoned for 10 years. Max felt guilty for Rancel's imprisonment, yet he never visited him in prison. He wanted to make peace with this aspect of his life ... The story and plot are mysterious as the pieces of the puzzle come together and add some surprises which twist and turn the ending into a very fitting conclusion. This is a highly recommended film for mystery fans who love a good thrill ... Erika Borsos (pepper flower)

"Sin Limites" brings Humanness to the City.......2006-03-08

The movie is good but the item was received damaged (the DVD box was cracked and torn around the stem and edges - but the DVD disk was OK). The storyline is capable. The acting is very good and plays with depth: layers of tension, conflict, human frailty and determination. The actors chosen for the roles are excellent.

a lot of quiet.......2005-11-05

I have to be a dissenting reviewer from the norm, as I found the film so lifeless, I looked at the clock 45 minutes into it, then at the halfway point at one hour actually put it on pause and took a nap. Though the acting is fine, with all the undercurrents suspected, you'd expect a livelier group, more histrionics, something to pick up the pace. Instead, there are long silent and ultimately pointless moments, when the film isn't supposed to be photography (and I appreciate cinematography just fine) but a motion picture. On the other hand, it's a movie on how a selfish and/or immature love is both destructive and ultimately a life force, and how cowardice has both its positive and negative contradictions as well. As different secrets amongst the members of one family could be tearing that family apart, denial has been the saving grace and practice and therefore the family stays together no matter what, with none of the members as happy as they could have been if they'd been honest or honorable or less determined to keep resentments old and current completely dormant as tiny conspiracies are forming like clouds over everyone. And geographical escape, also practised, is as bad a condition as denial, since it leads to the same conditions. Finally, a main reason to find a film boring is if the characters don't engage you, and I found this to be the main fault.

Film does not dissapoint.......2005-09-05

Rarely does one see a film that grips the viewer from start to finish. American films lack the human values, the insights into character, the depth of feeling and understanding that motivate key characters. One wants to see more such films. American films, in contrast, rely on special effects, vulgar language, gratutitous sex, violence and sensationalism. Actors like Bruce Willis irritate me with their brazen arrogance, while Fernando Fernan Gomez brings the humanity of his role to life. This particular film will endure long after most current American pot boilers are forgotten.

A story about absolution ..........2005-08-08

This is a wonderfully different movie that addresses a complex emotional theme in a very creative manner. The story revolves around a large upscale Spanish family. Fernando Fernán Gómez plays the part of patriarch, who is diagnosed with Cancer. However, he is a reluctant patient and secretly flushes his medicines in the toilet. He is extremely paranoid about a candid conspiracy and talks incoherently about a fountain, a train, a city with no limits and a person called Rancel. This behavior forces his family member to believe that his mind is going senile. He finds some support in his youngest son, Victor (the very talented, Leonardo Sbaraglia).
Suspiciously, the symptoms of his father's cancer are not very distinctly obvious and yet his wife Geraldine Chaplin) and other two sons insist on him getting operated. They seem to be running with an ulterior motive of closing a big business deal.
Victor is very close to his father and decides to unearth the seemingly fictitious Rancel. Some clever investigation leads him to Rancel, who is a famous novelist and had been an underground republican during the troubled Spanish times. Rancel and Victor's father were planning a covert escape, but Victor's father backed out at the last moment (motivated by Victor's mother) leading to Rancel's arrest and incarceration. Victor's father couldn't forgive himself for quisling and lead a life of repent. He wants to relive the moment and save Rancel from getting incarcerated. Victor helps his father touch absolution before his death. The father-child relationship is very touching.

Each character in the movie has his/her own little story that has been mingled with the main storyline to perfection. Victor, himself is fighting a little battle between temptation (his brother's wife) and self-righteousness. His choosing the correct self-righteous path has been depicted in a very subtle manner.
The story, cinematography, acting and background score, have all been woven to near perfection by the director. Impressive stuff!!

World Extreme Fighting: Sin City Shootout - Dreams Arena 1

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World Extreme Fighting: Sin City Shootout - Dreams Arena 1
Starring: World Extreme Fighting
Manufacturer: Phoenix
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Average customer rating:

Excellent movie
Soooo Freakin Good
A nice DVD package.
Frank Miller Fan
a 12 year olds review

Sin City

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Batman Begins [HD DVD]
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)
V for Vendetta (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Wedding Crashers - Unrated (Widescreen New Line Platinum Series)
King Kong - Extended Cut (Three-Disc Deluxe Edition)

ASIN: B000BU0B6W

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Brutal and breathtaking, Sin City is Robert Rodriguez's stunningly realized vision of Frank Miller's pulpy comic books. In the first of three separate but loosely related stories, Marv (Mickey Rourke in heavy makeup) tries to track down the killers of a woman who ended up dead in his bed. In the second story, Dwight's (Clive Owen) attempt to defend a woman from a brutal abuser goes horribly wrong, and threatens to destroy the uneasy truce among the police, the mob, and the women of Old Town. Finally, an aging cop on his last day on the job (Bruce Willis) rescues a young girl from a kidnapper, but is himself thrown in jail. Years later, he has a chance to save her again.

Based on three of Miller's immensely popular and immensely gritty books (The Hard Goodbye, The Big Fat Kill, and That Yellow Bastard), Sin City is unquestionably the most faithful comic-book-based movie ever made. Each shot looks like a panel from its source material, and director Rodriguez (who refers to it as a "translation" rather than an adaptation) resigned from the Directors Guild so that Miller could share a directing credit. Like the books, it's almost entirely in stark black and white with some occasional bursts of color (a woman's red lips, a villain's yellow face). The backgrounds are entirely digitally generated, yet not self-consciously so, and perfectly capture Miller's gritty cityscape. And though most of Miller's copious nudity is absent, the violence is unrelentingly present. That may be the biggest obstacle to viewers who aren't already fans of the books and who may have been turned off by Kill Bill (whose director, Quentin Tarantino, helmed one scene of Sin City). In addition, it's a bleak, desperate world in which the heroes are killers, corruption rules, and the women are almost all prostitutes or strippers. But Miller's stories are riveting, and the huge cast--which also includes Jessica Alba, Jaime King, Brittany Murphy, Rosario Dawson, Benicio Del Toro, Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl, Michael Clarke Duncan, Devin Aoki, Carla Gugino, and Josh Hartnett--is just about perfect. (Only Bruce Willis and Michael Madsen, while very well-suited to their roles, seem hard to separate from their established screen personas.) In what Rodriguez hopes is the first of a series, Sin City is a spectacular achievement. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Excellent movie.......2007-07-01

Soooo Freakin Good.......2007-06-19

A nice DVD package........2007-05-30

Frank Miller Fan.......2007-05-26

a 12 year olds review.......2007-05-26

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Bonanza: The Last Trophy

Night of the Blood Beast

Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Thriller II Pack (3pc) (Sbs)

The Rivals

The Graphic Novels and Books	Films by Robert Rodriguez	From Graphic Novel to Big Screen
The Soundtrack	Films by guest director Quentin Tarantino	Crime on DVD

The Graphic Novels and Books	Films by Robert Rodriguez	Our interview with Frank Miller
The Soundtrack	From Graphic Novel to Big Screen	Films by guest director Quentin Tarantino