The Spirit

red_ice

Has anyone seen this? I saw it last night and my god i thought it was terrible!

Frank Miller really bores the crap out of me, that movie felt like an extended Calvin Klein advert. I've never seen so many people leave a movie in my life.

faceman

I'll be skipping this one, i heard its awful. Looks dire in the trailer.

Fizman

When I first saw the ad a few days ago I thought that it may be a decent watch (I enjoyed Sin City) but then I saw the 12 rating and thought hmmmmm, maybe not.

pipeliner

whats with all the top reviews in the advert. Bloody liars. Dark knight excluded, it has been a terrible year for movies. I was praying that this might be watchable but never believed it

monkeyfudge

Saw it this evening... it's easily one of the worst films I've ever seen in my life. And I've seen Catwoman.

It swings wildly from being really pretentious and taking itself way too seriously to being a horrific camp parody of itself.

The way the shots are framed is horrible as well, I guess they were trying to make it seem like comic book panels, but it just jumps from shot to shot and you can't tell where characters are standing in relation to each other. The plot is dull and uninteresting yet Samuel L Jackson (dressed as a Nazi for no good reason) spends about half an hour explaining it to the Spirit while he's tied to a chair.

There's barely any action in it at all either... and what action there is in there is dull and hard to follow... it's just an endless sea of boring monologues.

Lots of horrible anachronisms for the sake of product placement too. The film has a 1940s setting going by the cars and the fashions... but a character pulls out a Nokia N90 at one point and proceeds to play with it for the duration of the scene.

It's a disgusting travesty what they've done to Will Eisner's work.

Aidric

pipeliner wrote: »

whats with all the top reviews in the advert. Bloody liars.

It all depends on the reviewer. When you see a movie being proclaimed as brilliant by such rubbish as the news of the world or ain't it cool news, I usually stay well clear. If a film has been well received by respected film critics then its a safe bet that it's worth a viewing.

I watched an hour of it during my break at work.

All I can say, er, what the hell? It did too much talking. And not in any sort of good way whatsoever. The style just did not work. Mainly because it was too.. goody-goody. Sure there was some violence

the scene where Samuel L Jackson

(why is it whenever anyone talks about Samuel L Jackson, they always say his name fully)

checks the box to find the golden fleece and goes about killing the 3 henchmen

. There's no shock value. There's no grittiness. That's why Sin City worked IMO.

Then they would spend up to 20 minutes on each character explaining their back-story.

Watched this awhile back and felt what it is rape victims must feel after an attack. A true abomination of a film which should have been sent straight to cable television.

aidan_walsh

Somewhere, Will Eisner is spinning fast enough to generate electricity...

aidan_walsh

aidan_walsh wrote: »

Somewhere, Will Eisner is spinning fast enough to generate electricity...

Given how fast he's spinning he may well have dug to China by now.

Just saw the trailer on TV there and according to critics it's "One of the best films of the year". Tbh that would'nt be too difficult given that it's the first film released this year.

TerrorFirmer

Thank god, I thought I was going to wander into a thread full of praise and acclaim after I saw the trailer praising it as movie of the year, the day after I saw it and decided it was the furthest thing from that very statement.

Horrific movie, so bad that words can't do it justice. To give him credit, Samuel L Jackson does a great job with his wildly randomly generated scenes. I suppose a few bonus points as well for the eye candy that was Eva Mendes.

This film is actually so bad it hurts thinking about it.

TerrorFirmer

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

I suppose a few bonus points as well for the eye candy that was Eva Mendes.

Tbh any film featuring Eve Mendes instantly loses points in my book. A truely terrible excuse for an actress.

Delirium

Was thinking of seeing it tomorrow. But after reading this thread and hearing other people report bad things about it, I won't be going to it.

the flananator

I actually liked it. Thought it was good for what it was.

Zaph

It got slated on the movie show on Phantom this evening. As the reviewer said, any film that opens without a press preview is generally awful and they're just keeping people in the dark in the hope of getting some paying customers.

monkeyfudge

I thought Scarlet Johanson was actually not bad in it... her performance seemed to be pitched right.

She certainly made me think she'd make a good Harly Quinn if they ever put her in a Batman movie.

I've never really got the appeal of Samuel L Jackson though... the guy next to me in the cinema seemed to be chortling away to his lines... but some of them just didn't make sense...

"When you were brought in to me you were as dead as Star Trek."

What does that mean???

Nevyn

monkeyfudge wrote: »

I thought Scarlet Johanson was actually not bad in it... her performance seemed to be pitched right.

She certainly made me think she'd make a good Harly Quinn if they ever put her in a Batman movie.

Oh now that is a pretty thought.

DavyD_83

Worst film i've seen in a long time!!
And to top my day off i got clamped while watching it.
Result: E103 to watch this pile o kyokh (90 for clamping + 2 tickets). Unimpressed!:mad:

Pigman II

pipeliner wrote: »

Bloody liars. Dark knight excluded, it has been a terrible year for movies.

What's the matter? Did you miss your annual fix of Pirates of the Caribbean or the Scary Movie series? 2008 has been a very good year for films.

monkeyfudge wrote: »

She certainly made me think she'd make a good Harly Quinn if they ever put her in a Batman movie.

Give me strength! I'd take Eddie Murphy as the Riddler before having her in a Batman movie. Actually I'd take Eddie Murphy as Harly Quinn before I'd let her near it. What is it with peoples obsession for this talentless, plain-looking pod-person?

nix

Pigman II wrote: »

What is it with peoples obsession for this talentless, plain-looking pod-person?

Shes HOT, nothing more to it...

I was kinda looking forward to the movie till i saw this thread

Ah well, whens Valkyrie out? :P

monkeyfudge

Pigman II wrote: »

Give me strength! I'd take Eddie Murphy as the Riddler before having her in a Batman movie. Actually I'd take Eddie Murphy as Harly Quinn before I'd let her near it. What is it with peoples obsession for this talentless, plain-looking pod-person?

Not a big fan myself. But she did bring something to the role of a villains sidekick in The Spirit. It was one of the few performances in the film that I liked. If you see the film, and you shouldn't under any circumstances, you'll know what I'm talking about.

johnny_ultimate

Thing about Frank Miller is that he more and more appears to be a one trick pony: he can create shallow, stylised films and thats about it. Sin City was good because it was new and interesting, and the style suited the story (although Robert Rodriguez may have helped). Thought 300 was extremely dull: again good effects over anything resembling depth or originality. The Spirit just looks like an elaborate joke (based on the trailer alone, yes, but views here seem to support it), so will be avoiding at all costs. While Frank Miller will always have a little respect for creating the Dark Knight Returns and other decent comics, I just hope this film flops so it keeps him well away from the big screen where he is already embarrassing himself.

monkeyfudge

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

While Frank Miller will always have a little respect for creating the Dark Knight Returns and other decent comics, I just hope this film flops so it keeps him well away from the big screen where he is already embarrassing himself.

He's embarrassing himself in comics as well at the moment... See All Star Batman and Robin.

Pigman II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPRscxQZs8E

w. Frank Miller?

lostexpectation

these people obssessed with 50's style, need to realise they still need to make movies that read well in 2008, note frank miller and peter jackson with king kong

monkeyfudge

lostexpectation wrote: »

these people obssessed with 50's style, need to realise they still need to make movies that read well in 2008, note frank miller and peter jackson with king kong

It works when it sticks to it's time period just fine like in King Kong.

It doesn't work when you throw in mobile phones, handheld rocket launchers and Apache attack helicopters.

Pigman II

lostexpectation wrote: »

these people obssessed with 50's style, need to realise they still need to make movies that read well in 2008, note frank miller and peter jackson with king kong

In fairness I think making KK 2005 read well for a modern audience was the least of that movies problems.

Earthhorse

Wow, I was halfing planning on seeing this during the week, without having read anything about it. Just thought it would be on a par with Sin City - nice way to kill a few hours - and a good introduction to Eisner's character.

So glad I clicked on this thread now.

Galvasean

monkeyfudge wrote: »

"When you were brought in to me you were as dead as Star Trek."

What does that mean???

Maybe it means Star Trek hasn't been good for a very long time?
Pretty bad choice of phrase considering Star trek is making as much money now as it ever did.

shenanigans1982

Galvasean wrote: »

Maybe it means Star Trek hasn't been good for a very long time?
Pretty bad choice of phrase considering Star trek is making as much money now as it ever did.

And showing a trailer before the Spirit shows its alive and well.

I think the problem is that Miller is hugely influenced by Eisners work that the movie is a result of a fanboy creating the movie he wants to see. Not one that appeals to the masses but what he alone wants to see. If anything it should serve as a lesson to comic fans that changes have to be made for comics to work as movies and for the main part a straight adaptation will not work.

As for his comic work, aside from " The goddamn Batman" it has been enjoyable.

shane86

The fact the ad states "From the director of 300 " instantly meant I would have zero interest in seeing this.

This must be chronically bad, seeing as some lobotomised clowns actually thought 300 was a good film :eek:

Turncoat

I walked out when the nazi scene started and spent a good few minutes outside trying to get a grip on colours in nature. Its a complete waste of money.

TheVan

Not only does it look completely rubbish but this crap of saying "from the creator of Sin City and 300". It's even taken in boardsies in this forum.

Frank Miller created the comics/graphic novels of Sin City and 300. He was a "joint director" on Sin City with Robert Rodriguez (and who do you think did all the work!) and was just a producer on 300 (presumably because he wrote the comic).

On the other hand, he actually directed The Spirit. While its not telling a lie, its incredibly misleading.

amcalester

I'm just back from watching this drival. Waste of time and money.

TheDoc

Just back from watching this myself.

Was pretty much expecting to come here to see rave reviews, and then me go on the warpath. Thank god, youv restored faith in film going for me.

There has been 4 films I've wanted to walk out on in my life.
Epic Movie
Meet The Spartans
Alexander
The Spirit.

This is definitely on the top of my list. What the hell?

I didnt like Sin City one bit, but I'm always open to different films. But I just dont "get" the whole graphic novel thing. It doesnt appeal to me at all, and I cant understand how it appeals to anyone.

I actually think Max Payne set a better city and graphicy novel feeling then this. What was the deal with the nazi thing? Why was it toned to be set pre 1940's, yet that annoying rookie cop plods along with a completely ridic gun you wouldnt see in airsoft. Why was there apache attack helicopters.

The story completely stunk to high heaven, the script was absolutely laughable. The main character, was extremely annoying.

And as my local cinema ticket prices just hit 9.90 euros, people have the cheek to give out to me for being a pirate....the way i know look at it is Iif i keep my ways up, only good films will get into cinema.

I'm actually raging that cost me €20( me and misses)

Avoid at all costs, not even worth the bandwidth,rental or as a gift.

Pigman II

[DM]-TheDOC- wrote: »

And as my local cinema ticket prices just hit 9.90 euros, people have the cheek to give out to me for being a pirate....the way i know look at it is Iif i keep my ways up, only good films will get into cinema.

.... and the way I look at it is you've just given 20 quid to the "lets make more movies like The Spirit" fund.

TheDoc

I know, I feel so dirty right now...

shane86

[DM]-TheDOC- wrote: »

There has been 4 films I've wanted to walk out on in my life.
Epic Movie
Meet The Spartans
............I'm actually raging that cost me €20( me and misses)

.

Ah now i fairness, surely you could see a mile off these two would be awful. Ive seen neither, with good reason. There hasnt been a decent parody flick in about 12 years ffs.

This sounds so hilariously bad Im nearly tempted to watch it. And it does have Eva Mendes to look at, which surely pushes its rating to at least 4/10 no matter how bad the script

And seeing as that muck 300 didnt actually have a script, or a real plot, credit where its due! A bad script and plot is better than no script/plot.......

monkeyfudge

shane86 wrote: »

This sounds so hilariously bad Im nearly tempted to watch it. And it does have Eva Mendes to look at, which surely pushes its rating to at least 4/10 no matter how bad the script

It doesn't even work on that level. It's actually incredibly dull.

And also Eva Mendes used a body double for her ass apparently.

the flananator

monkeyfudge wrote: »

It doesn't even work on that level. It's actually incredibly dull.

And also Eva Mendes used a body double for her ass apparently.

Source?

Catari Jaguar

I liked it. Went to see it with the fella. He liked it too.

It was bizarre and very funny, the dialogue was so cheesy (just like the old detective films it's emulating). Loved the

Nazi scene

. Was not expecting that. I loved Scarlett Johanssen in it too, she was so funny during

the exchange and her dealings with the Octopus

. The film didn't take itself seriously neither did the cast.

The fighting scenes were cool, and the Spirit was yummy eye candy. 7/10. But I loved Sin City and 300.

Killme00

Awful film. cannot describe how bad this was without getting banned. I left after 30 mins and i havent walked out of a film since the Big Yellow.

Really excited about the Star Trek trailer though.

Shanotheslayer

Found it absolutly Dredful

That_Guy

Saw this today. Was less than impressed. I didn't understand the whole Nazi thing. I was baffled. When Frank Miller was writing this for the screen he must have missed a huge chunk of detail explaining exactly what this film is about.

It's lucky it wasn't longer than it was or I would've walked out. Some nice visuals here and there but they're very rare as a lot of times the framing of some shots was terrible.

I'll take the dialogue for what it was. It was supposed to be cliched comic book style speech but it was bland acting at times.

I'd recommend avoiding if I were you.

monkeyfudge

That_Guy wrote: »

I'll take the dialogue for what it was. It was supposed to be cliched comic book style speech but it was bland acting at times.

Which is all well and good in a comic book. But sounds terribly awkward when read out loud.

That_Guy

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Which is all well and good in a comic book. But sounds terribly awkward when read out loud.

Too true. Bring on Sin City 2 eh?

Pigman II

Might as well go against the grain and say I actually thought this film was ok. I wouldn't recommend it or anything but it's not as bad as this thread makes out. Went into it cold (don't know the comic or even who that star was) so I had no real preconceptions beyond the fact that Scarlett Borehansen and Samuel J. Hackson were in it. I think the trick is to just treat it like a ridiculous super-hero comedy ala The Return of Captain Invincible and then you can get into the mindset that the movie is (presumably?) trying present itself with.

The story is pointess, the characters are just talking-heads and the overall look of the film is already cliche in 2009 but somehow there's a stupid charm about the whole thing that keeps you interested for the duration.

Anyway like I say it's no world-beater but it does have 'something' to it. I enjoyed it more than than watching self-reverential crap like Sin City or 300 anyway because at least The Spirit here knows it's a piece of crap and then acts appropriately. Pity Sin City and 300 didn't have equal levels of self-awareness.

senordingdong

Totally worth it, just to see Samuel L.Jackson in a Nazi uniform.

the whole year inn

What a waste of time ,where did the Nazi scene come from,it came form nowhere, I cant believe somebody actually sat down to write that and thought to film it.

I liked Sin City and 300 tho espically Sin City but the way this was shot was terrible and what was with the monologues.

worst quote of the movie "I like toilets, toilets are funny " and that crap about egg on the face .

The one thing I did like was the character himself not the actor tho!