Visually Stunning....but BORING!

Rating: 2/10 (3 April 2005)

I agonized over seeing this movie. I've never read the graphic novels. I appreciate Robert Rodriquez "chop and tech" approach to film-making and I will watch anything with Elijah Wood in it...at lease once! A movie with the title "Sin City" and made in this day and age with its callousness and utter intolerance of anything the least bit cerebral caused me many an anxious moment. Actually, I didn't find it as harrowing as I feared. It is a technical marvel but there it ends. Like many movies nowadays...all style but nothing to keep your mind or emotions engaged. Yes, this movie reflects the prurient, juvenile decadence of our day but I wouldn't mind that so much if there was something to it besides very slick special effects. I need more story, brilliant dialog and fleshed-out characters. I was bored stiff after 20 minutes. This would have made a very interesting short but to drag out the thin plot and shallow characterizations for over 2 hours to a very predictable ending was too much for me. I just don't find scantily dressed, cardboard prostitutes and brutal, macho men that interesting. My fault....I was expecting The Maltese Falcon on steroids. See it once and then move on!