Movies To See: Sin City

Personally, I wasn't overly impressed with the movie output in 2004. There certainly were some great films released, but it overall seemed like a lackluster year. 2005, on the other hand, seems--from first glance--to be a bang up year for the movies. There are many films coming out that I'm excited to see and there will no doubt be plenty to hit that I didn't even know I wanted to see.

One of the films I'm really looking forward to is Sin City. The movie is based on the graphic novels of the same name by Frank Miller. I haven't read any of Miller's novels, but the trailer for this movie alone makes me want to pick some of them up so I can be at least partially versed in Miller's world before I see the movie.

Seriously, though, just watch the trailer and try to tell me you're not excited about this movie. The visual style alone looks amazing, the story seems intriguing and the atmosphere plays perfectly in the trailer. This is surreal noir in a world of fantasy. The black and white approach with the occasional burst of color--if that's how the movie actually is, then sign me up. Sin City looks fascinating.

This movie isn't exactly slouching on the cast, either. Bruce Willis, Benicio Del Toro, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Brittany Murphy, Elijah Wood, Clive Owen, Josh Hartnett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Michael Madsen, Rosario Dawson, and Maria Bello? Damn.

Robert Rodriguez directed the movie. He made El Mariachi and its remake, Desperado, as well as Once Upon a Time in Mexico. All three are cool films. He also made the Spy Kids movies, which I never saw but I heard were solid entertainment. Based on El Mariachi, Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, he's shown he has the talent to pull off a kick ass action movie. Combine that with Frank Miller's world--which received much critical praise in book format--and a great cast, as well as the freedom of a R rating, and Sin City is sitting very high on my Most Anticipated list.