Sin City: A Dame To Kill For

2 out of 5 Stars

The sequel to the innovative Sin City film from Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller follows three primary storylines: Nancy Callahan's (Jessica Alba) plot to get revenge for Hartigan,  Johnny's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) plot to beat Senator Roark in gambling, and Dwight's (Josh Brolin) love affair with the deceptive dame (Eva Green). Much like the original film, the style is similar, saturated in a stylistic film noir world with a graphic novel feel and specific colors highlighted against the black and white shading scheme.

Outside of that element and closing the story on a few of the characters from the first film (namely Nancy, Hartigan, and Senator Roark), much of what made the first film unique and enjoyable is missing in the sequel. The interwoven plot structure of the first film that brought characters together is separate sequences is completely missing and traded for a simple through line that feels like it's trying to hold onto what the first film captured but failing. The characters fall flat in the new structure despite solid acting from most of the cast. But despite any of the performances, the characters just aren't as engaging as they were in the first film. Even Marv, who was a character that shined in the first film, only feels mediocre in this Sin City re-hash.

We are taken to many of the familiar locations of the first film, such as Old Town, and many of the characters from before are brought back into the sequel. Really, Eva Lord (Eva Green) and Johnny are the only major knew characters. It's still a fun romp with the enjoyable entertainment style that the first film brought. Yet, this time around the style isn't quite as fun and the simpler color scheme that the first film used is heightened with far more color in the sequel, detracting from some of the enjoyment. Rodriguez and Miller this time around should have stuck with the simplicity that made the first film work so well instead of trading it for heightened color schemes and 3D gimmicks.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars



Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is based upon a series of graphic novels of the same name. At the beginning of the movie Scott is dating a Chinese high school girl named Knives Chau and he's in a band. They are Sex Bob-Omb. He lives in Toronto, Canda. Then Scott meets Ramona Flowers, an American girl who has just moved to Toronto. They start dating. Then Ramona's evil exes begin to attack him because they have formed the League of Evil Exes in order to control Ramona's love life. Now Scott must defeat her seven evil exes to be with her.

The plot really is pretty simple. There isn't a whole lot to it. But that withstanding it really isn't that noticeable by the time the movie is done. It is done that well. The film was directed by a Canadian, the same guy who directed Hot Fuzz, and the film is American but doesn't feel that way. Scott Pilgrim is a unique piece of work unlike any other film to date. It's like a cross between a video game movie, graphic novel, and young adult comedy. It's a film specifically geared towards a younger generation that grew up in the advent of video games (though it doesn't mean that older generations can't enjoy it.) Scott Pilgrim is a super good time from beginning to end.

Despite Michael Cera being the lead in this movie it is quite amazing. He actually fits in the role of Scott Pilgrim and is balanced out nicely with the rest of the cast including Ellen Wong and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The movie is also pretty darn good. But when it comes to creativity, this film really takes it too a fun level. It's funny and clever. The references are done wonderfully. This is one of those movies that is a disappointment it does so terribly in the box office because it is so amazing. This is one of the handful of movies this year I have absolutely loved. If you haven't seen Scott Pilgrim then you should.

Kick-Ass

2 out of 5 Stars



Dave Lizewski is a loser high school kid who has a dream to become a superhero. One day he decides to make a costume and fight crime, a plan that goes terribly wrong and puts him in the hospital but at the same time a whole bunch of metal is put inside his body which makes him feel little to no pain. He then continues his quest for justice and is soon met by the much more skilled Big Daddy and Hit Girl who are currently working on a plot to take down a crime organization and get revenge.

Kick-Ass is based on the graphic novel, which I've never read. But this film felt like it was supposed to feel like a superhero movie and instead feels like a teen comedy gone wrong with lots of language and violence. The "superheroes" are not inspiring and do the opposite of what they should when it comes to wanting to bring others to the party. And half of the characters aren't even heroes, just people dawning suits to get revenge. The last time I checked that doesn't follow the ethics of a hero. And of course the director has a sick sense of humor. All of the jokes involve death or gritty violence for the most part.

What I can give to the film is that the action scenes are fun to watch and the lead actors are able to carry their roles. But as a whole I found no redemptive value to this film and very little artistic merit. It's a fun and brainless entertainment action flick that I found disappointing.