Style isn't everything

Rating: 1/10 (22 June 2005)

It seems to me that a lot of action movies these days are 'powered by style'. That, or an overkill of action, special effects, violence, explosions, and rapid camera movements that make my stomach turn and my mind puzzled. Is this all the movie entertainment business has to offer? The first half hour I was impressed with the movie. Beautiful and 'stylish' black & white imagery, comic wise camera views, all very slick. Then I began to wonder why I kept on looking, while getting more nervous every minute. Beneath that superbly styled skin of the movie was this constant tone of stupid violence, aggression, pure negative energy. Do I really want to look and feel that for two full hours? What's the point? I have to say I like comic movies like the first two Batman movies, Spiderman, X-men (very good balance between story, characters and special effects), and even Hellboy or the not so very good Spawn. And although I must say this movie is an extremely good adaptation of the original comic, I have to say "So what?". Is it a good movie? Well, technically speaking yes. Very good indeed. Is it worthwhile watching it? Well, if you're a designer, photographer or something like that, it can be very inspiring. At least for some time. But for the rest it's a complete waist of time. And I can stand some violence in movies if it's meaningful or 'human'. I liked Kill Bill and I like the movies of Kitano. But this was all just so negative! And if that was the intention you might say this film is a success. But do I ever want to see it again? Never!