Sin City [DVD] [2005]

Sin City is one of those films that you see posters for, think it looks interesting but don't neccessarily get the point. At least, until you sit in the cinema and get to see the full glory.
That is the word for this film - glorious. Filmed with techniques and a style that haven't been used for a long time, Sin City presents three stories that, whilst not consecutive or concurrent, are nonetheless compelling. Each actor lived their character so deeply I could believe that this was all they ever were, who they had ever been. Despite the previous hits, both film and telelvision, spread between Willis, Owen, Rourke and Alba (as the easiest faces to identify), even my Sin City mad friend could see no one else when they went home to read the books!
This film is a rule breaker. The last film I saw that involved thought as an important feature of the script was Dune. As much as I love Frank Herbert's work, I was completely in awe of the way the three directors matched unspoken dialogue with fantastic colour technique to provide a thrilling, astounding vacation into a world that is both different and similar to that in which we live. Black and white filming is mostly restricted to flashbacks within any genre but here it is used to effect, making even the most bloody of scenes somehow softer.
I'm sorry to say I was not impressed with Kill Bill...yet Tarantino's scene was not only bloodless but hilarious. There is a wonderful amount of dark humour to be found within this delightful film - delightful as a study for media students, as the final pleasure for fans of the books and even for those who have never read them before. I am in the last catergory. And I can assure everyone, I loved this film so much I'll happily watch any others that are screened. (And thankfully, I hear more are planned)
If you're a fan, you've seen it all ready. If you're not and you like the difference in films, films that change the rules, that break them, then watch this film. It's worth renting at least once, just to be able to say you've seen a masterpiece.

Sin city is a film made in 2005, directed by robert rodriguez [and one scene by quentin tarantino] that adapts three of frank miller's graphic novels for the screen. these are all set in a place called sin city, and tell classic film noir tales, from a private eye getting caught up in a turf war to a tough guy getting revenge for the death of a lady, to a cop risking all to protect a girl from a psycho killer. filmed with computer graphics and motion capture and lots of technology this is the most faithful literary adaptation ever. the film looks like the pictures from the book, and the script follows them totally. brutal and brilliant and fully deserving of an 18 certificate.

the first dvd region 2 release had one solitary extra. a ten minute featurette. the region 1 version had lots, but this version never appeared in the uk. so imagine my surprise when walking into HMV for a browse the other week as I had a few minutes to spare, and finding this had finally come to region two!

And it was worth the wait.

there are two discs. the first contains the cinema released cut of the film, and the following extras:

three commentaries. one by rodriguez and tarantino. one by rodriguez and frank miller. and the audience commentary, which is a recording of how the audience at the premiere reacted. shouting and cheering, mostly.

There are lots of documentaries, most of which run ten to fifteen minutes:

how it all went down: convincing frank miller to let the film be made

a piece about the scene tarantino directed

documentaries about the cars, props, costumes and make up.

Two different cinema trailers for the film.

And a ten minute concert piece, showing bruce willis and his band playing at an impromptu concert the cast and crew held. they're very good as well.

on disc two:

an introduction to the disc by robert rodriguez.

the three stories, plus the short one that starts the film, all recut so they now stand alone and can be watched in any order. the story that yellow bastard is the only one to contain any new footage, but these are scenes that were in the book and not the original cinema cut so it's nice to see them

a fifteen minute documentary about the production of the movie. which is very interesting in regards to technical details of how it was made

the long take: a fifteen minute long showing of the scene tarantino directed

the all green version: the film with no backdrops or effects. speeded up to run no more than fifteen minutes. I'd be tempted to watch this even if it wasn't speeded up. it's interesting to look at.

and a ten minute cooking school showing rodriguez telling you how to cook one of his favourite delicacies.

and as the other reviewer said, this comes in a very sturdy box. I wish all dvds had boxes like this.

This is a brilliant package, and it was worth the wait

The collector's two disc DVD edition of Sin City has finally made it to PAL, and in a beautifully designed tin box, too. I never thought tin could be so sexy! The Region 2 version has all the extras the NTSC discs have, except the Sin-Chroni-City Interactive Game. The package doesn't include the graphic novels either, but real fans will have those anyway.

Are the extras worth the money? Well, I certainly think so. If you're interested in graphics you get a fascinating insight into how Sin City became the stunning, original work of modern film art that it most assuredly is. If you're interested in film making you get commentaries from director Rodriguez, and from Quentin Tarantino and Frank Miller, plus Rodriguez's specials on disc 2. If you're into props, special effects make-up and cars, there's something here for you. You even get Bruce Willis (and John Laurie!) performing at the wrap party.

Plus you get the film, of course. And that lovely tin box. Mmmmmm!