The Spirit

Plot synopsis:
In a cat-filled mausoleum in Central City, Denny Colt (Gabriel Macht), also known as the masked vigilante The Spirit, receives a phone call from Detective Sussman (Dan Gerrity) about something big going on near an old shipwreck in the mudflats, something that could involve the Spirits arch-nemesis, The Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson). The Spirit dons his costume and travels across rooftops while delivering a voice-over soliloquy about the city being his one true love. A woman (Kimberly Cox) is being mugged in an alley below. He manages to save her, receiving a knife wound that he seems to not even notice. The woman asks, What are you? The Spirit runs away, catching a ride from Officer Liebowitz (Frank Miller) and heading toward the flats.At the swampland, a beautiful femme fatale, Sand Saref (Eva Mendes), rises from the water and appears to shoot Sussman multiple times. The Spirit and Liebowitz find the wounded Sussman, but a flashback reveals that it was really the Octopus who shot him in an effort to recover two identical chests underwater. Sand and her husband Mahmoud (Eric Balfour) tried to flee with both chests, but the Octopus wounded Mahmoud and snapped a line connecting the two chests. Sand escaped, leaving one chest behind, which the Octopus retrieved from the murky depths.After the Octopus kills Liebowitz by ripping his head off, he sends away his cloned henchmen, Ethos, Pathos, and Logos (all played by Louis Lombardi), to be alone to take on the Spirit. Octopus accomplice Silken Floss (Scarlett Johansson) drives up, running over Pathos in the process. She departs with the cargo, expressing her thoughts that the Spirit and the Octopus will be at it all night.The two enemies do indeed take part in a long and highly stylized fight. A still quite alive Pathos shoots the Spirit, putting the hero down for the count, while the Octopus claims that he and the Spirit share a connection in their capability to take such great amounts of punishment.The Spirit is awakened by his lover Dr. Ellen Dolan (Sarah Paulson), daughter of Police Commissioner Dolan (Dan Lauria). Appearing to be in perfect health despite his gunshot wounds (something which has occurred seemingly many times before), the Spirit is reluctant to be admitted to a hospital but Ellen insists. He is shocked to notice a gold locket in Sussaman's hand; a piece torn from Sand Sarefs neck earlier. He is berated by Commissioner Dolan, the only person who knows the Spirits true identity, for the loss of two officers due to going after the Octopus without permission or backup.Sand Sarefs locket contains pictures of a much younger Denny Colt (Johnny Simmons) and Sand (Seychelle Gabriel). The two grew up together in Central City. Denny bought Sand the locket as a gift to satisfy the girls love of diamonds and other such shiny things, including the Golden Fleece of Jason and the Argonauts. They lived happily until Sands father, a cop, was accidentally shot dead one night in a struggle between a mobster and Dennys uncle, a washed-up (and presumably alcoholic) boxer who then committed suicide. Sand said she now hated cops. Fleeing to Europe, she was never heard from again for fifteen years. With her back in Central City, the Spirits interest is obviously piqued. He concludes that her desires of youth have evolved into a criminal career.In a secret lair, the Octopus and Silken Floss open the chest but discover that it does not contain the mysterious Blood of Heracles as expected, but an unseen object that produces an otherworldly glow. Incandescent with rage, the Octopus exaggeratedly slaughters three of four more cloned thugs and orders a fourth to commit seppuku. He learns of Sands involvement in the mixing up of the chests and the villains decide a trade is in order.Sand and Mahmoud visit the office of a high-class fence named Donenfeld (Richard Portnow), whom Sand paid to locate the underwater treasure she wanted -- the Argonauts Golden Fleece. It is implied that Donenfeld gave up the treasures location to the Octopus as well to ensure his familys safety. For selling her out, Sand transfers Donenfelds payment into another account, then persuades the fence to shoot himself.At St. Alices Hospital, the Spirit has fully regenerated good as new. He nearly seduces Ellen, but she has a clearer understanding than expected of the Spirits tendency to fall in love with every woman he meets. Commissioner Dolan angrily enters with young rookie cop Morgenstern (Stana Katic) and calls the Spirit away to a case.Sand's history as one of the worlds great jewel thieves is relayed to the Spirit, the cops both unaware of his past life with the suspect. Unable to believe Sand could be a criminal, the Spirit tracks her down. He is about to arrest her when caught off-guard by her standing before him fully nude. He also sees that Mahmoud has died due to tasting the Blood of Heracles. Sand doesn't recognize the Spirit as the presumed-dead Denny. She is stunned when he reveals his knowledge of her looking for the Golden Fleece. Sand shoves the Spirit through a window. His trenchcoat stops his fall when it snags on the horn of a gigantic ram statue.Morgenstern calls with a lead: Pathos was found near the mudflats with his shoes covered in industrial salt. It allows the Spirit to deduce that his nemesis is headquartered under the Feiffer Industrial Salt plant. After taking down several clones, he enters a sewer tunnel and comes face-to-face with Floss, who kisses the Spirit as a distraction while she injects a knockout agent into his neck.In the Octopuss lair, the Spirit awakens to find himself tied to a dentists chair and surrounded by Nazi paraphernalia. A beautiful belly dancer sensuously dances behind a curtain, prompting the Spirit to break the fourth wall and claim to recognize her as the strangest woman he has ever encountered. It is revealed to be Plaster of Paris (Paz Vega), a psychotic assassin. The Octopus enters after a message from Sand an exchange of the Golden Fleece and the Blood of Heracles has been arranged at the city projects. The Spirit is told the story of the Octopus's quest for immortality. His and Flosss experimentation eventually led to the creation of a serum (something of a scientific equivalent to the Elixir of Life) that could grant immortality or, at least, nigh indestructibility. Dennys corpse was used as a test subject. He awoke in a casket, broke out of his grave, and went to see Commissioner Dolan, creating a new identity to fight crime as a police spy. The Octopus injected himself and arch-enemies were born.The Octopus intends to drink the mystical Blood and expand his immortality toward becoming a god. But first he intends to kill the Spirit by having Plaster slice him into tiny bits. She instead cuts him loose when reminded of a romantic encounter. The Spirit then gives the Octopus a beating, crushing him under a large Reichsadler eagle statue. He escapes with Plaster and they kiss, only for her to impale the Spirit on her sword.Bleeding profusely, he stumbles to the city docks, collapses into the water and confronts the beautifully ethereal Angel of Death, the siren Lorelei (Jaime King), who has haunted the Spirits sleep. He is the only man to have ever wrongfully escaped death. His hallucinations lead to surreal images of her taking him where he truly belongs. But he manages to gather his senses by remembering Ellen, Sand, and the city all needing him. As the Spirit swims to the surface, Lorelei vows vengeance.The Spirit is again put into Ellens critical care in the hospital. At the projects, Sand and her lastest henchman fly in with the Blood of Heracles to meet Floss and a clone carrying the Golden Fleece. After a four-way standoff, Sand attempts to convince Floss to get out of serving the Octopus before he kills her. They transfer the treasures and both minions are shot, at which point the Octopus emerges from his truck. He asks Floss for the vase. Unable to take a side, Floss drives off as the Spirit suddenly materializes.The Octopus unloads with progressively bigger guns, downing him with a pair of four-barreled shotguns. Dolans SWAT team then storms the area and opens fire. The carnage ends when Morgenstern uses a huge combination RPG to blow off one of the Octopuss arms and Dolan shoots him in the head. The Octopus gets to the Blood of Heracles and prepares to drink it, but Sand shoots the vase just in time. The Spirit then uses a grenade to blow the Octopus to smithereens.Showdown over, the Spirit gives Sand her locket back. They kiss as Ellen looks on, feeling betrayed. The old flames bid each other goodbye and the Spirit convinces Dolan to let Sand go in gratitude for saving the world. He tries to patch things up with Ellen, but she accepts that their relationship will always be fractured. Elsewhere, Floss discovers the Octopuss severed finger crawling toward her. She picks it up and departs with it, planning to clone the octopus.

Tags: cult, psychedelic, flashback

Review:
However, it doesn't matter how good the actors are if the plot and script are lame, and I am here to tell you -- I don't even think the likes of Anthony Hopkins and Meryl Streep could have saved The Spirit for this reason.I kept waiting for the story to intrigue me and for the characters to develop.
Finally, I checked the time (never a good sign when you're watching a movie), only to discover that the movie was nearly over, and there would be no chance for redemption.Aesthetically, The Spirit was interesting, but I couldn't help feeling like I'd seen it all before.
It all works wonderfully if you're willing to view the film as, uncharitably, being unintentionally funny or more genuinely as a gentle lampoon of comic book films by one of the great figures of the graphic novel genre.Frank Miller takes 'The Spirit' and has great fun with it.
our hero is in charge of doing good in the city and saving as many people as he can,, there are lot's of people who would rather not have him around Central City, especially the loathsome Octupus,, play by Samuel Jackson,, there are lot's of sexy women in the film,, good action, thrills, suspense , a lot of the good vs evil theme, I like the whole approach the movie took,, it takes you on a mythical journey to somewhere where you can only imagine,, a lot of people bash this movie because it's not like Sin City, well so what,, I didn't want it to be that movie,, this is a decent movie,, worth watching,, won't win any Oscars, but I really don't think that it was attempting to..
Halfway through everyone except me and my company left to "get their money back." Blah, hope Watchmen isn't as much of a let down :/ Totally not worth the 10bucks a ticket unless your a die hard DC fan and have actually read the Spirit comics, if not then its kidna not worth seeing, unless your friend has it on DVD and your high and need a good movie to pass out to.
Spirit was marketed to be the next Sin City or 300 which makes you think of hardcore action not quirky humor or PG-13 What most people hate about this movie I found awesomeYes, one liners were cheesy.
The one liners, the acting, and the style all made it feel like the comic strip.The plot was a little thin but they had the back story catchup so you still get the whole movie experience.The only major downfall I see to this movie is the PG-13 but thats why the DVD will be amazing.You will know if you love/hate this film within the first 10 minutes so go see it and if you hate it, walk out fast so you get your money back..
Ultra-Stylistic Noir and Cheesecake Fun, Filmed and Framed like the Comic Book from Will Eisner in High-Artistic Frank Miller Fashion.
Much Like Sin-City (2004) from the Frank Miller Comic, and the Author-Artist was Awarded Co-Director Credit on that Ground-Breaking Movie.But Folks Expecting the Gruesome Violence and Graphic-Gore that was so Unique in Sin-City may be a bit Disappointed with The Spirit.
But They were Unduly Harsh and this Movie will be Watchable Years from Now as Pop-Culture Iconic and Artistic Playfulness, whereas a lot of those that get Great Critical Acclaim, and Academy Awards will be Ignored and Dismissed.Recommended for Fans of the Character, Frank Miller's Style, and for those Searching for Something on the Edge and Atypical of Comic Book Movies in General.
Nor am I familiar with this comic book character.So, I gave The Spirit an "8" simply because I think it is entertaining, creative, good production values, tongue-in-cheek, funny, well-acted and written for what it likely is, a satire on a comic book series.
It's not that I feel especially motivated to write a review about this film, I just feel that all the negative reviews fail to take into account people like me who know little of the genre or comics books and have no desire to compare it to Sin City (which I have seen).I watched The Spirit on TV recently and I enjoyed it!
The title hero of the quirky, over-the-top but romantic "The Spirit", has none, but that's doesn't make him uninteresting, especially in the surprisingly competent, script/directorial hands of Frank Miller, the Sam Peckinpah of the comic book industry.Based on the 1940s comic strip created by the late Will Eisner, the master of sequential illustration and an influence/friend of Mr. Miller's, Central City cop Denny Colt (adept, GQ model-like Gabriel Macht) is killed in action.
Guns are drawn; knives are thrown and sexual pheromones creep in the cold air of the metropolis.If you find this film a Batman rip-off, you're so laughable to feel that way ( Eisner went to Dewitt Clinton High School, Bronx, NY with Batman framer Bob Kane) and if you think Mr. Miller should stick to comic books, you're certifiable (He could balance both film and comic books, if need be).After co-directing the cine-translation of own crime saga, "Sin City" with Robert Rodriguez (the Spy Kids and El Mariachi sagas; "Planet Terror") and producing the adaptation of his take of the Thermopylae battle, "300" by Zack Snyder ("Watchmen"), Miller proves to be up to the task of helming a film featuring a mentor's signature character, whose own obscurity is enough to reason why Mr. Miller handled the film.
A second fiddle in films like "Behind Enemy Lines" and "Because I Said So", Mr. Macht resurrects the late Cary Grant and Chris Reeve (the latter watched the former in "Bringing Up Baby" in order to play Clark Kent in the "Superman" films, and Mr. Eisner used the former as a model to create his hero) with his valiant yet skirt-chasing persona while Jackson, a Miller fan, redeems his absence from "Sin City" by matching dire villainy with Macht's classic heroism.Like Denny, it's hard to choose a favorite among the ladies: vixen Saref (Ms. Mendes should play assassin Mariah, if "Sin City: Hell and Back" is cine-adapted); the Octopus's brainy, sexy gun moll Silken Floss (Woody Allen stable actress Scarlett Johansson); Dolan's daughter/Florence Nightingale doc Ellen (Sarah Paulson of "Studio 60" and "The Notorious Bettie Page"), chipper rookie cop Morgenstern (Stana Katic of the crime drama TV series "Castle"); dancing torturer Plaster of Paris (Paz Vega of "Spanglish") or death goddess Lorelei ("City" alum Jamie King).
Awful performances (except by Gabriel Macht as Our Hero, who looks great with his wide earnest eyes and buff physique, and handles the lines about his love for the city with fine, tough conviction), jaw-droppingly overdone dialogue, what seems like hours of totally unnecessary comic material ...man, it's just dreadful, and a great disappointment to me.
The scenes and the dialogues are just like watching moving comic book's drawings.Frank Miller was born to direct this film.
It is hard to imagine any movie that would have used The Spirit as the main character and not look ridiculous, so what they did is accept it is ridiculous and go for a totally amazing visual experience and a noir comedy feel, and they succeeded.I don't know what people disliked in the movie, but my guess is that they wanted it to be a serious thing, something they can relate to, maybe even believe in.
The acting overall in the movie is fairly good and the film noir setting really gives a great feel to things.
I really like Frank Miller's work and if you liked Sin City then I can guarantee that you will enjoy this one.Overall with the enjoyable nature of the film with light doses of comedy and heavy action this film is truly a good way to spend time..
I thought it was going to follow the noir runs of The Spirit after the teaser as well, but after the second trailer which had that line "I'm going to kill you all kinds of dead!", I knew I was in for a slap-sticky comedy of awesome proportions written by the great Frank Miller.Just know you're going to watch an Action-Comedy (which a lot of Eisner's Spirit ended up being) and you won't be disappointed.
That's what comic books do, and this film is one of the most faithful adaptations I've seen.Those who criticize this movie for "bad script", "bad acting", etc would have a point if we were talking about some snotty, pretentious too-cool-for-mainstream flick, but no, this is the opposite: pure fun.
(Miller is the artist and thinker behind some of these dark comic books which are being made into films of late.) Samuel Jackson plays his normal over-the-top character.
If you're looking for a more comedic bent on Frank Miller's noir style and the comic book crime fighting world, then this movie's great..
I think they pulled it off.At first the fight scene at the beginning looked like the movie was going to be bad when Samuel Jackson and the Spirit were talking, and saying cheesy things.
But after that the movie picked up its socks and turned out very well.Good acting, cool fight scenes, and I don't know what it is with the color of the film but it makes all the women look so perfect and pretty like a model.
Decided to re-watch The Spirit after having binge watched the TV series Suits which stars Gabriel Macht as well as others.I wanted to see some of Macht's earlier work since he comes off so commanding and charismatic in Suits.He makes a compelling Super Hero despite the flawed script and direction, this is after all Frank Miller directing.Despite that Gabriel's efforts radiate more charm in view of his future role in Suits.Eva Mendes, not used enough, has a thankless role as eye candy Sand Serif, but even that is worth a look.Some other major attractions like Stana Katic as Officer Morgenstern has a kick-ass appeal since she will go on to play Kate Beckett opposite Nathan Fillion (Firefly) in Castle.As many reviewers have commented, the imagery is striking, not withstanding the script and plot.I think it's worth more than the 4.8 it's rated at,and it's a revelation to look back and see an early performance of Gabriel Macht.He would make a great Superman.Don't go in expecting too much, it's a visual comic book.
Samuel Jackson's over the top performance might make some a bit leery, again, it's just a visual comic book that hasn't been taken to the next creative level.One last observation,is it just me or does Frank Miller have a thing about people blowing their own brains out?.
It really made me feel like I was reading a "live" comic.The movie was supposed to be ridiculously dark, funny, and cheesy....most people will not like it, and those that do will love it.Definitely a cult classic.
At times though I do feel that the references to "my city" do seem a little Bat-heavy.And I guess when it comes to casting the femme fatales that The Spirit flirts with given his Casanova erm, spirit, this film had its cake and eaten it as well with the likes of buxomy actresses in skimpy outfits, such as Paz Vega in a minor role as Plaster of Paris, Scarlett Johansson as The Octopus' partner in crime Silken Floss, and Eva Mendes in a meatier role as an old flame with a thing for bling, Sand Saref, and this in addition to Jaime King's head- scratch inducing Lorelei Rox, Sarah Paulson as The Spirit's current squeeze Ellen Dolan, daughter of the commissioner, and a whole host of beauties as well.The Spirit is probably hit and miss for most audiences given that the negative factors outweighing the positives, but I suppose if one approaches this with low expectations, you might just get some kicks out from the load of sticky cheese this movie gets to fester with.
It's all about the mythological struggle of good and evil with visual delights and a bunch of bright dialog.Denny Colt (Gabriel Macht) is a former cop, recently dead, come back as Spirit, an avenger trolling the city for the very alive bad guys, especially Octopus (Samuel L.
Well, that's a bit of a stretch because Spirit spends a good deal of time seducing most of the skirts he meets with a special eye for childhood sweetheart Sand Saref (Eva Mendes), now a notorious global jewel thief and implicated in murders in Spirit's own Central City: The Spirit: "There probably isn't a law in the books that you wouldn't break." Sand Saref: "Do I look like a good girl?"The comparisons with Sin City are inevitable but not difficult because Miller seems to be approaching Spirit as visually more stylized and plot less complicated.
Even the narration and dialog are minimized and more exaggerated, but to good effect.Spirit is one of the best movies of the year: an imaginative take on a comic book character that visually stuns and verbally amuses.
Not so great for a comic superhero conversion.Being a Miller directorial effort, The Spirit rides the Sin City bandwagon for all its wheels can carry, taking the same noir, graphics-over-live-action, hyper real approach but retaining little of the novelty.
When I started watching this movie I really didn't know much about other that the visual fx reminded me of Sin City so I really didn't know what to expect, I'll try to go in depth without saying any spoiler.The actors are just amazing the only reason I think someone would say there were terrible is if they didn't get the movie this movie is basically a Buggs Bunny cartoon like on the part there at the first crime scene and there finishing each others sentences, It actually made me think of Road Runner and Wiley Coyote just the way The Spirit and Octopuss are together I don't think everybody quite got that when they watched it because I though this movie was amazing best I have seen in a long time anyway.This movie made me laugh in so many parts too like every time the clones came on screen they remind me of hired goons of old Batman cartoons and in a lot of films where there is a masked hero the love of his life usually gets to see his true identity made me laugh at the end anyway don't know about anyone else, The villain, Samuel L Jackson played his role perfectly here he was evil hard to stop and also funny in parts.All in all the movie was fantastic if you look at it as more of a cartoon if you look at it like a serious movie it seems terrible, So if you're a fan of Superman, Batman or Warner Brothers cartoons and as far as special effects go this is fantastic I would recommend this to you..
Eva Mendes and Scarlett Johansson also seem to be having a good time, both playing strong characters both after separate goals.It may look like Sin City, it does come from the same creator after all in Frank Miller.
and again, had they not just sucked all of the color out of it so that it looked all noir-like, I think it would have come off better.Throwing this film out there so quickly after Sin City and 300, with so many of the same types of effects was probably a bad idea and may have ultimately led to some of the bad reviews that it received.
here it is the worst of the worst.this movie is so painful to watch ,so mind numbing,so terrible if you look at this movies for to long your eye just might just explode.if movie had a hell your looking at Satan.the scipt is so bad people listing to it you can actual feel your self becoming dumber.this film Had nice visuals and everything else is insult on entertain a insult on human emotion and insult to comic book creator Will Eisner.
But there are some comic-book films that are great (Like Iron Man and Watchmen) and some that are bad (Like Batman and Robin and Catwoman).In 2008, Frank Miller (The creator of the Graphic Novel, Sin City) directed an adaptation of the Will Eisner comic, "The Spirit".
The only thing's I liked about this film were the visuals and the action scene's were pretty good.The Spirit, is just an awful comic-book adaptation.
If you're a Frank Miller fan, and you're hoping for a film that was as good as Sin City, look elsewhere!!
I must say, I hadn't heard much other about this film beyond it was Frank Miller and that it "looked awesome." I saw a commercial or two and was enamored because I really enjoyed "Sin City" and appreciated "300," both for their stories and their art direction.
Prior to seeing this movie i was expecting the same suspense and solid plot as to 300 or Sin City, but a few minutes into the film it hit me and hit me hard at the lack of a good story line.
As a disclaimer I will say that I'm not familiar with Will Eisner's source material, so I have no idea how faithful the movie is to the spirit of, erm, The Spirit, but on its own I thought it was a blast.Frank Miller returns to the same comic book ultra-noir territory that so distinguished the style of Sin City, although The Spirit makes that film look restrained and subtle by comparison.
The Spirit is a movie based on a comic book that is brought to the screen by Frank Miller.
Everyone in the film seems (even Johannsson no offense) to be on autopilot while saying lines like "I'm gonna kill you all kinds of dead" and "Toilets are always funny." If you want to see a good comic by Frank Miller brought to the screen I suggest you see 300 or maybe Sin City.