What a Fantastic Film!

Rating: 9/10 (5 February 2006)

I've have got to go on record to say that this was one under-rated film when it comes to the film industry patting itself on the back.
Technologically speaking, this was a marvel. Creatively speaking, this was very creative. This is a rare film of bringing to film a mixture of elements together that makes you WANT to watch, and an ensemble of actors and actresses that make it work.
Over a decade ago, Oliver Stone put together his version of "Natural Born Killers". Although it was only a fraction of Quentin Tarrintino's original tale, it was the film itself that made me take notice. Every element known at that time was used to bring to the screen a frightening tale. I feel the same about this one.
A mixture of film noir, live comics, color, action and story, this was one of the films that was a refreshing change in what has been placed out there. Violent, you betcha. Adult themes? Above and Beyond. A film homage to the comic itself.
To put something like this on the screen you need to cast the appropriate actors....and the casting, for the most part, was the best. Bruce Willis was great, the usually annoying to me Jessica Alba did a good job here, Clive Owen is just a buzz to watch on the screen, Benicio Del Toro shows why he is a breakout actor...supporting roles of folks like Rutger Hauer, Josh Harnett (who'll show you he's just not another "pretty boy for the movies"), Brittney Murphy, Nicki Katt, Carla Gugino (a very underrated actress!), Jamie King (just wonderful!), Powers Boothe (chillng!), Elijah Wood (scary!), Michael Madsen were all the bomb.
But the two that will definitely stick with you are Nick Stahl and Mickey Roarke in his best performance in YEARS. These actors and their characters were the best and had me on the edge of my seat.
The only actor that wasn't that exciting to me was Rosario Dawson - could be because she didn't have much to do in this one....and I kept thinking of a parrot every time she came on screen and not about the tough character leader she was supposed to be.
But even with that, this film was still the best. A must not miss for anyone interested in film, a gem for the fans of the comic series.