Rough and tumble entertainment at its best

Rating: 10/10 (17 April 2005)

Surreal and artful, this movie hammers you through two hours of abstracted gore with stylistic vengeance that says "Gotcha!" It takes itself seriously - as a time-piece (which time, however, is arguable) and as a living graphic novel. It is truer to comic-book form than any sissy "Spiderman" or "Hellboy." It's characters are disgusting and lovable - from a blood-drenched Mickey Roarke to the scantily-clad women of old town; Samuri-sword yielding Devon Aoki and the chronically-naked Carla Cugino. If there's room for improvement it's that Mickey Roarke dies too soon, and that Bruce Willis shows too much restraint in the face of great temptation... sometimes, as is the case with Jessica Alba, less (clothing)is better! In short, Sin City hits the mark.. again and again, until it's pummeling bone chunks and pulp into the theater floor!