MOVIE REVIEW #1: "THE SPIRIT"

For my first online movie review, I have chosen a new release that isn't very cut and dry in terms of how "good" it is.  Where the film succeeds is where it also fails.  Director Frank Miller (Sin City) relies almost too heavily on his trademark pulp imagery and stark visuals.  While The Spirt is one of the better looking holiday releases, it fails to grip even its intended audience of comic lovers and noir fanatics.  While the actors do their best to translate each character from comic panel to screen, the laughable dialogue quickly takes the film from campy to absurd.  The one exception may be the usually predictable Samuel L. Jackson, who seems to be genuinely enjoying himself as the demented Octopus.  The nature of Jackson's character allows him to use the ridiculous script as a catalyst for many surprisingly funny moments.  This may be one of Jackson's best roles to date.

 

So is The Spirit worth the price of admission?  Well, it depends on who you are.  If you are able to keep your tongue nestled comfortably in your cheek for the duration of a 103 minute running time then yes.  If you are looking for a cerebral super hero/ action flick in the realm of Iron Man and The Dark Knight, then a thousand times no.  As first and foremost a comic writer himself, newbie director Frank Miller makes the mistake of attempting to re-imagine Will Eisner's Spirit in full Sin City garb.  Although a slick piece of cinematography, The Spirit doesn't really know what kind of movie it wants to be, and ends up becoming a beautiful, pulpy mess.  I liked it, I didn't love it.  However, if you are just a casual movie goer, stay home and let this spirit float away to DVD.

54/100

THE SPIRIT: Starring Gabriel Macht, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson - Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of stylized violence and action, some sexual content and brief nudity. - Running Time: 103 minutes - December 25th, 2008 - Lionsgate