Dark Novel Comes to life

Rating: 8/10 (9 May 2005)

When taken in with the expectation of seeing a Dark Graphic Novel come to life, this movie delivers a solid 10 out of 10. From the cinematography to its time-line, its traditional film-noir mix of modern and gangster-era clichés and its testosterone-laden action, it delivers exactly what it promises, in spades.
However. A caveat.
As a movie for the casual viewer who is out to appreciate an action thriller, touted as a comic book come to life, it tends to confuse more than explain, to rely on a viewers' desire to absorb the visual feelings incited rather than analyze the content or the flow of action. Plot holes larger than a fleet of Mac trucks, with dialog as formulaic and stilted as a pulp novel, a richer script would have contributed immensely to the movie. Although the characters in the movie undergo ludicrous amounts of punishment (DieHard? Predator? The heroes in those movies were wusses compared to the 'real men' in this movie), this element actually contributes to the tone early on - every male teenagers' dream of being invincible and unstoppable; vengeance given life, justice given breath.
I, personally, got everything I expected out of this movie. The objectification of women was overly prevalent, albeit somewhat counterbalanced by their obvious power, however mitigated that might be through their surrender to the men in their lives.
The violence, the action, the stark imagery and striking iconography were perfect for this movie. The only ways I could see fit to make this movie better would be to have had a tad better script with a little more emphasis on certain characters' past lives, to stretch their two-dimensional portraits a little more over a wire-mesh frame. The Black and White and Gray on the screen is reflected in the souls of the shadows upon it - so devoid of color as to be washed out colorless. The 'heroine' should at least have had color. More consistency regarding the world environment would have pleased me more, as would a tad more pain evidenced by the victims of violence, both from heroic and villainous sources.
The more I review this movie, the higher the rating climbs. I had best stop now. A Solid Graphic Novel Experience that hit the mark solidly, but which could have stood another 3 to 6 months of writing development. Outstanding direction, editing and framing. A must see.