A Frank Miller Fan's Review of "The Spirit"

A Frank Miller Fan's Review of "The Spirit"

If you love Frank Miller comics, you will probably enjoy this movie ... for the most part.

Review Opinion
By CBMcontributor - Dec 26, 2008 11:12 AM EST
Filed Under: The Spirit

Well, I read the bad reviews on this website before I went and saw the movie. I could tell from some of the clips I watched that it looked somewhat comical and over the top. So I went in ... cautious. Which is probably why I wasn't really too disappointed. I am a big Frank Miller (comic book) fan, his style is unique, his dialog is unique (sometimes annoying, or a bit too much, he has a thing about repeating certain lines), but overall, I love his style and his sense of humor, etc.

This movie was essentially a Frank Miller comic book ... that moved. Similar characters and dialog to all of his previous works. The dumb henchmen, the cool hero, the hot babes, the old detective movie kind of dialog. Crazy ass characters. It was a Frank Miller comic book through and through, just on the screen ... which I would say is why parts of it were a bit hard to sit through. When I'm reading his comics, I can go right through them at my own pacing, imagining their dialog how I want ... sometimes it was just painful on the screen for some reason. Although I never felt that way at all during Sin City or 300, I loved those movies. So, I'm not sure exactly what it was, but maybe a more experienced director's hand is needed? Or someone who knows what to cut out of a script, and what needs to be added for the audience to invest in the characters?

Positives: I did like it overall, the girls were all incredibly hot, I liked the actor who played the spirit. There was a lot of good humor in there. And Miller really did a decent job for the most part.

Negatives: I was definitely fuzzy on the Octopus' motives and his sidekick. Even when they explained them, they were ... well, 2 dimensional, which is fine, again this really was a comic book kind of movie, not a real world kind of movie like the Dark Knight or Iron Man. I was also confused on why the Octopus was a Samurai (and the graphics in that scene were annoying, I get what he was going for, which is just making it look exactly like his comic would, with the unique backgrounds, but it didn't always work well in the movie), and then a Nazi ... were these references to the Spirit comic book that I just wasn't aware of? Was he just supposed to be this really eccentric guy that enjoyed dressing up as different characters or what?

Anyway, overall I would say ... I enjoyed Sin City and 300 a lot more than this movie. I think maybe Miller should team up with other directors, that might be a better way for him to make his movies? I would say its worth watching because its Frank Miller, fun action, hot babes, Sam Jackson is funny ... but i don't see my self watching it again and again like Sin City or 300.

Related:

QUIZ: How Well do you Know Frank Miller?

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DelDawn
DelDawn - 12/26/2008, 1:18 PM
First! To say, The Spirit is a weak character, just bring on Watchmen.
lilej2
lilej2 - 12/26/2008, 1:38 PM
The Spirit was pretty good,not great,but pretty good

and from whats been going on buddy,i don't think we can expect Watchmen anytime sooner
Joker1zero
Joker1zero - 12/26/2008, 1:48 PM
I was actually pretty psyched about seeing the Spirit when I first heard about it but when I saw that preview clip from Comic Con, I just thought "Wow, epic fail". It was the Spirit and Samuel L. Jackson fighting in a pile of s**t, which is fitting for the movie. I think I'll pass on the Spirit (again, the only reason I would see it is for the ridiculously hot babes).
phendry
phendry - 12/26/2008, 2:36 PM
im agree with Joker1Zero
Gose
Gose - 12/26/2008, 3:38 PM
I watch all comicbook movies.......as 4 d spirit, at least the babes are hot
Gose
Gose - 12/26/2008, 4:10 PM
& no make up on the eyes, just the mask on
TeenIdol
TeenIdol - 12/26/2008, 11:02 PM
"If you love Frank Miller comics, you will probably enjoy this movie ... for the most part"

I said this exact same thing in every Spirit thread since this whole "bad review" thing even started. But I will add that Im tired of people bringing up Watchmen. Okay, we all know it looks rad as [frick], but do we really need to bring it up in every [frick]ing thread? Stop comparing apples and oranges and start giving actual educational opinions on the movie the thread is based on.

It's pretty damn ironic too because I bet if critics bashed on Watchmen, everybody here would probably still love it. Which is my entire point of view on the Spirit. If it looks moderately interesting to you, watch it. If not, then skip it. No need for "This movie looks like shit, but I haven't seen it yet! duuurrrrr.."

I'll post my review tomorrow. I guarantee you won't read about me agreeing with Latino Magazine or Variety.
charli48
charli48 - 1/13/2009, 3:19 PM
Hi there. I'm working at Shortlist.com and at the moment you can check out an exclusive Frank Miller interview where he talks in candid detail about everything from his latest full directorial debut on Will Eisner's dark comic 'The Script' to his comic book movies' Sin City' and '300'. You can also take a look at 'The Four Decades of Frank Miller' tracing the key moments in Miller's career. Go to www.shortlist.com for the lowdown on this creative genius.
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