Review: Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

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Anything can happen in Sin City

Following the formula of the first film. A Dame to Kill For shows four different stories all out of chronological order. Nancy (Jessica Alba) is still trying to cope after Hartigan's (Bruce Willis) suicide. She's turned into a hard drinker, and is hell bent on killing Senator Roark. (Powers Boothe) Marv (Mickey Rourke) is still beating people's asses whenever he feels like it. Dwight (Josh Brolin) is pulled back into trouble when a mysterious former lover Ava Lorde (Eva Green) reappears in his life. Johnny (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a hot gambler that challenges Senator Roark and pays the price.

I said going in that I wasn't going to be one of those people who said "they waited too long" to make this sequel. My interest in Sin City never waned. The first film is still among my favorite movies of all time. But the reality is they DID wait too long. Clive Owen had a scheduling conflict, so he couldn't cameo as Dwight with his new face. Michael Clarke Duncan, who played Manute passed away, so he was sadly re-cast. Not that the guy that played him was bad, it just made me sad not seeing Duncan. Brittany Murphy also passed away, so no Shellie. Devon Aoki, who played Miho was pregnant during filming, so she was replaced with Jaime Chung, who was horrible. How can a character with no dialogue be horrible you say? Just look at her face. Aoki's Miho was unreadable and a force to be reckoned with. Chung's looked permanently confused.

It's not to say this film is all bad. I enjoyed the addition of JGL and Eva Green. Juno Temple popped up for a second, and I did like seeing a lot of the original cast. The film was still very stylish and the cinematography and art direction were great, but a few gimmicks they used just flat out didn't work and looked too cartoony, even for a comic adaptation.

I guess they did wait too long, and the film suffered. It's a shame, because Sin City was always full of good stories.

Recommended: On DVD, perhaps, if you liked the original. Just know it isn't as good.

Grade: C

Memorable Quote: "You were the only man I ever loved, and you left me alone." - Nancy (Jessica Alba)

Comments

  1. Zach MurphyAugust 27, 2014 at 6:51 AM

    I watched the first one for the first time in years, shortly before I saw this new one. It's jarring how much the new one pales in comparison.

    Good review.

    - Zach

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamAugust 27, 2014 at 8:04 AM

      Thanks! It is. I have a lot of love for the first one.

      Delete
  2. UnknownAugust 27, 2014 at 9:44 AM

    I really need to re-watch the first one before I see this, it's been so long that honestly I've forgotten what happened! I remember that the first one was great though, it's a massive shame that it's taken so long for the sequel.
    - Allie

    ReplyDelete
  3. s.August 27, 2014 at 10:12 AM

    I'm glad you at least didn't hate it, I'm definitely going to see this for Eva. I think the big problem is Brolin who is nowhere near as charismatic as Owen was in first movie. From trailers he looks way too serious and miscast.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamAugust 27, 2014 at 11:53 AM

      Yes! That is his problem. Owen was perfect, but I understand why they couldn't use him again with the face thing. Brolin has really been full of misses lately.

      Eva is totally hot in this.

      Delete
    2. m.brownAugust 27, 2014 at 4:28 PM

      Sati's first sentence is exactly what I was thinking. Just add 'in 3D' to it.

      Poor Brolin! I don't think he can recover from Labor Day...

      Delete
    3. Brittani BurnhamAugust 28, 2014 at 6:41 AM

      lol. 3D Eva boobs would be spectacular. Was Old Boy before or after Labor Day? I don't think he can recover from that either.

      Delete
  4. Angela's Anxious LifeAugust 27, 2014 at 11:23 AM

    Honestly... I never liked the first film. So I won't be seeing this in the theater. I didn't realize how much casting had to be changed. WOW. The stylish film is the only reason why I would want to see this movie. I will watch it when it comes into the library for free.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamAugust 27, 2014 at 11:52 AM

      lol. I know the feeling of "I'll watch it when I don't have to pay for it."

      Delete
  5. Candice FrederickAugust 27, 2014 at 8:34 PM

    Dammit. I was really hoping Jamie Chung would do great in this movie. I still definitely want to see it, but this is disappointing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamAugust 28, 2014 at 6:40 AM

      I couldn't stand her. I love Miho and Devon Aoki was just so much better.

      Delete
  6. JoshDecember 2, 2014 at 3:02 PM

    I was ready for more Sin City as well. This one just felt so flat compared to the vibrant original, unfortunately.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tracy Carpet RestorationMay 7, 2016 at 3:51 AM

    Great movie! This movie is very original and daring. It has a distinct visual style along with a great narrative, it tells multiple stories but unlike many movies it knows how long to tell each story and when to elaborate more on a previous story...it never confuses you for no reason. Very well crafted! The cameo by Lady Gaga is also pretty cool.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 8, 2016 at 10:35 AM

      Thank you for visiting! Yeah, I'm never hear for Gaga, I had forgotten she had a cameo until now.

      Delete
  8. Time to check Brick FlooringJuly 26, 2017 at 10:26 PM

    This movie was great. If I had not seen the first Sin City, I would have been blown away.

    ReplyDelete

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