In 2005 Robert Rodriguez presented us with Sin City, a great cinematic work based on the graphic novels of Frank Miller, who brought something new with a very original style of Film Noir but with an absolutely brilliant visual concept. After nine years Robert Rodriguez returns to carry us to this "world of sin", and this time he is not alone, since Frank Miller leaves only the writing to join him in direction.
In Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, Frank Miller wrote two unpublished tales purposely for the film and two other already existing in his works. The problem is that they all does not seem to have the same impact of the first film. The originality, vitality and energy of the first film is not reflected in this one.
It remains brutal, violent and visually is definitely worth seeing on the big screen, but when it comes to the characters, can not be as strong and charismatic, and the story always seems to be unsatisfactory given each end. The interest that is awakened in each one of us is not even close to what the first film managed to make to the audience. Despite being entertaining, sometimes we find ourselves kind of bored.
The characters we already know from the previous film are not as solid or raise as much interest as the first. As for the characters introduced for the first time, they do not have the same strength and effectiveness. With a cast full of pretty big names, many of the actors are underused having very little time on screen.
I was expecting to see how Joseph Gordon-Levitt would be in this project. He is one of the young actors I most like to see on the screen today and after all this kind of role does not seem to fit well in his profile. That does not mean that he had a bad performance, but it was simply a bad choice of role I guess. Eva Green is the only one who can give the film a certain feeling of seduction and danger, she is totally the femme fatale but the overuse of nudity (nothing against it, I have no problem about it) despite they are quite artistic, just made the most important segment in the entire film turned into something inelegant. Eva Green's performance however is the best of the film, she can be all that her character requires, sensual, engaging and totally fatal.
What was missing in Sin City: A Dame To Kill For was the same attitude, enthusiasm and freshness of the first film. Perhaps the fact that they had waited nine years to make a sequel also was not the best decision.
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Great review, as usual. Only thing I differ in opinion with you is the miscast of Gordon-Levitt. Even though I hoped for a different outcome of the his story, but I guess I get the conflict it creates in the finale of the film.
Something I want to add is that it feels like less work was done on the elaborate costumes. Many characters were just 'to normal' compared to the first one. It all feels more rushed and less detailed. Which is weird with a 9 year time-gap.
But maybe my/our expectations are just too high after such a long wait.
ps. Gordon-Levitt isn't that young (33) and has been on screen for major projects since the 90s with the (in)famous 3rd rock series.
I don't even know where to start. Enemy was one of my most anticipated films for this year. It is based on José Saramago's book called "The Double" (in its original Portuguese title "O Homem Duplicado") and it was constantly delayed here in Portugal but now I understand why the wait. They wanted to release it at the 4th year anniversary of the death of José Saramago, winner of a Literature Noble Prize in 1998 and one of our the greatest Portuguese writers ever! It was a beautiful homage, afterall this country unfortunately did not praised him as much as he deserved during his life. He had his very own philosophies, he was a very peculiar and different man. He was against Catholic Church and in a country where most of people are catholics, he was not very well regarded and I think his writing was damaged before the eyes of a country that sometimes cannot see through differences. I look at the writer not at the man, everyone is free to think whatever they want but well, that's another story. Now back to the film!
Enemy is a very complex thriller, very nightmarish and dark with an absolutely engaging atmosphere that will twist your mind and oh, how do I like this kind of mind-f*cking films! As a film that is based on a José Saramago's book and I know that he is a very metaphoric writer, who liked to makes us pull things from our head, mixing reality with mere thoughts, I knew that I would have to pay very attention to all of the details and that's what I did.
I also loved the claustrophobic feeling in the air, it's almost like we are trapped into the film and the absolutely creepy and dreadful soundtrack helps to create that feeling.
There are some things left hovering the air but I have a pretty strong theory for this story. This is a film that requires more than one viewing and I believe that can become more special to us in each visualization. Is very difficult to talk about it without spoiling anything. I think it is a film which is best experienced and then discussed.What can I say more about Jake Gyllenhaal that I haven't said before? He must be one of the most underrated actors ever and he is so amazing! I can't remember to had seen a single bad performance from him. Once again he shines and what can be better than have, not one but two Jake Gyllenhaals?
I don't see everyone enjoying this film, some might think it is too slow or too boring. Some will feel very bothered with the atmosphere and with what they are watching but for me worked even better than what I was expecting.
Denis Villeneuve amazed me with Prisoners, one of my favorites of last year and he amazes me again with another fantastic work directing Enemy.loading replies
Definately a movie you have to watch multiple times. At the end of the movie I was like, What?? xD
Spoiler warning...
Where, to hell, is tactical nuclear weapon? Why humanity doesen't use in?
Why do not bomb Paris for a cause?loading replies
Because it can be predicted and therefore pretended.
Am I the only one who didn't like the movie all that much?
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I didn't like it either. Too straightforward, and the concept of Captain America is already one of the least interesting characters in the Marvel (movie) universe.
It was a good movie, but couldn't they just release the bomb midair?
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No, and this was explained in the movie. The bomb has a trigger that responds on pressure. Normally when the trigger is removed it explodes because the pressure is taken off. The pressure outside of a plain is always lower so it would've exploded immediately after throwing it out, or probably already when opening a door/window. Not even considering the option how to do that safely :P
i did not see one Negro in this film. When were Negro's invented?
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It is because there probably was none in the story.
Awesome movie! Great for kids and adults!
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A bit too violent for kids imho, it's more a 13+ movie.
One of the better Dance industry related movies.
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If you enjoyed this, check out 'It's All Gone Pete Tong'
This is a typical Bource film but... without anything that made the Bourne Trilogy a good series of Movies.
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Exactly this. If it didn't had the name 'Bourne' on it, people probably would have liked it much more.
Those who liked the tone and feel of Fate/Zero should try Kara no Kyoukai/The Garden of Sinners. Also animated by studio ufotable and "kinda" set in the same verse as Fate, it's a series of movies about mages, vampires and stuff. It was considered the precursor to Tsukihime (again set in the same verse as Fate) which also has an anime adaption (or not, depending on who you ask :P)
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I hear this a lot, but I thought the themes were very different and Kyoukai is more mature and dark. Kara no Kyoukai is a great franchise though!
Hi guys, just FYI F/SN and F/Z are now separate entries.
F/Z can be found here http://trakt.tv/show/fatezero
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Thanks, I just noticed.
Do you know why? Since this website usually groups all seasons together. This is a bit inconsistent.
Just perfect. Kept to the storyline of the book to an impressive level. In some parts, specially near the end, it was clearer than the book. When the uprising in the arena began, we knew pretty well who was on Katniss's side.
One thing to love: everything. If you had any reservations concerning Jena Malone or Sam Claflin, just don't. They were perfect for their characters. The SFX are just something else. The poisonous mist had an eerie Stephen King-ish look to it. The training center was pretty good, and I don't even have words to describe the areena. Hollywood mastered action tracks eons ago, so I don't know why I'm mentioning it.
One thing to hate: fangirls. Bitches screamed and squeaked through half the fucking movie. “Omigod Sam Claflin.” “Hahaha Peeta and Finnick are kissing.” “I want Johanna Mason to murder my vagina.” Ugh, please, I didn't pay to listen to that. (Maybe I thought one or two of these things but at least I kept it to myself.) But maybe you're like me and you, too, feel a sadistic pleasure in telling people to STFU.
And if you're wondering how a mortal watched the movie one week before premiere: I'm from Brazil suckers ;-)loading replies
That's why I wait 2-3 weeks before watching a movie in cinema. 90% of the fangirls are out + you have better chance at a good seat :)
Long story short: movie is terrible.
Yeah, great colors, and such, but that all just give an overall feeling like "hey, this is just fake!".
There's no wonder at all in this movie.
Acting is poor, also, and I kinda used to like Franco.
I wish I could have my 2h back.loading replies
I have to agree with this comment. It's ok to watch, but I guess the actors decided to do this on their day off or something.
Secondly, there are green screen scenes that are so badly edited that it hurts the eyes. YOu can just see them walking in front of the scenery.
