The most visually stunning film of all time!

Rating: 9/10 (21 November 2005)

Sin City. It's a city where criminals rule everything, because the government is made up of criminals. It's a place where violence awaits at every turn. The movie consists of 3 story lines, all set in this dark city. Most people in these stories are brutally, and explicitly killed in various gruesome ways. In other words, this city is not where you go for a family vacation.
The first story, "The Hard Goodbye" follows Marv (Mickey Roarke). He is a big, ugly, and sadistic brute who just had a one night stand with a hooker named Goldie (Jamie King). He wakes up to find her dead, and is framed for her murder. He goes on a murderous rampage in trying to find the real killer. This chase leads him to a remote farm, where the killer is revealed. But is Marv strong enough to take him down?
This is a VERY disturbing story. It has some of the most sadistic killings ever shown on film, particularly what Marv does to Elijah Wood's character, Kevin, and what he does to a cardinal (Rutger Hauer). It is also really cool. The blood in this story flows red. Marv, I guarantee, is not the kind of guy you'll want to meet in a dark alley. He kills without mercy, and is good at it. He is what is called a sympathetic monster, like Frankenstein's monster. He is good, but he does awful things. The acting from Jamie King couldn't be much worse. She delivers her lines in the cheesiest way possible. I didn't let that one lousy performance ruin my good time. This is what I would call an action-packed horror story. Also, you get to see the mom from Spy Kids' breasts.
The second story, "The Big Fat Kill," follows the comic book series' main character, Dwight McCarthy (Clive Owen). He is a ladies man, with a criminal record, and a bad attitude. While protecting the old Town hookers, they accidentally kill a cop, Jackie-Boy (Benicio Del Toro). This murder, if the cops find out, will end a truce that has held Sin City together for years. Can Dwight dispose of all the evidence before the authorities get a hold of it?
This story is the most action packed of the movie. It features a really disturbing scene between Jackie-Boy and Dwight in a car, which was the scene directed by Quentin Tarantino. It also has the most story. The only problem is that it doesn't make too much sense at times.
And the third story, "That Yellow Bastard," follows John Hartigan (Bruce Willis). He is the only good guy in Sin City, whose life goes down the drain after he rescues a little girl, Nancy (Jessica Alba), from a sadistic child rapist. He returns 8 years later, only to find that the same killer is after her. Can Hartigan get to her and save her on time?
This is more of a tragic love story than an action. It has a little action, but is mostly a character study between Hartigan, and Nancy. It is definitely the most heartfelt of all of them, and has an ending that could make a strong man cry. Jessica Alba isn't a very good actress, but Bruce Willis, reprising his traditional character as a hero cop, is top notch. The ending to this story is sad, because we probably won't ever see his character in another story again.
This movie is not only a perfect comic book adaptation, but it is Robert Rodrieguez's best film. It has an insanely cool visual style, blending black and white with color in a flawless fashion. It almost doesn't feel like you're watching a black and white film. Quentin Tarantino guest directed one scene, and that scene, of all of them, has the best use of color. All the color splashes are beautiful, and could be freeze framed, and hung in the museum. The trailers make this look like a big, fun, loud, exciting, popcorn action movie. It sort of is, but what the movie really is, is a disturbing, and depressing drama with a grim and downbeat atmosphere. It has plenty of action, but not quite enough to fit the genre. It leaves little hope for the characters in the end. All in all, I say watch this film. It is the most fun I've ever had while watching a movie, and I can 55% guarantee that's how it will be for you, if you're okay with extreme violence.
Sin City is rated R for Sustained Strong Stylized Violence, Nudity and Sexual Content Including Dialogue. Sex: 7/10 Violence: 10/10 Swearing: 4/10 Drugs: 6/10