03 January 2009

The Spirit

Spanks - 3.5

Director - Frank Miller

Writers - Frank Miller

Starring - Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Dan Lauria, Scarlett Johansson & Eva Mendes

Release Date - 25 December 2008

MPAA Rating - PG-13

The Spirit is a fun comic book adaption and nothing more. If you go expecting exactly that you will enjoy it. If you expect an award winning movie, you won't. Its an origin story about how The Spirit came to be the protector of Central City. It is a good starting point for a franchise series for Lionsgate, if they choose to make more.

The film is set in a unique noir-ish world. The cars, buildings, and costumes are very 30's and 40's looking, while there is modern technology like mobile phones, cloning, big guns. Some characters even talk like they are from that era. Its like Frank Miller took one of Will Eisner's stories and just modernized a few little details.

Of all the comic book adaptions that have come out, The Spirit is the most comic book like. Samuel L. Jackson said in a interview that fighting The Spirit was like Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner and that is the perfect comparison.

If you don't think they are reasons to see the film, here are 5 other reasons to see the spirit. Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Stana Katic, and Paz Vega.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Been waiting for this one. Glad to hear they are sticking to the comic. I hate when the original story gets re-vamped for the movies (like Batman - the Joker never killed Bruce Wayne's parents). I am eager to see if Denny Colt's hideout is the same as it was in the comic. Boy, you were busy writing all these reviews!