It’s no surprise that comic book films have firmly established themselves as the dominant money makers in cinema. With the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, X-Men: Days of Future Past and the upcoming release of Guardians of the Galaxy, superhero movies are clearly the type of big screen entertainment that people are willing to pay to see.
With so many big budgeted films about men and women in tights, a comic book movie that tackles something a little more mature-rated is always a good palette cleanser. Enter the most recent trailer for Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, a movie that shows that violence seems to be the only option to solve one’s problems.
Co-directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, Sin City: A Dame To Kill For reunites the two directors for the latest adaptation of Miller’s graphic novel crime series. With a release date of August 22, this sequel is the follow up to Rodriguez and Miller’s 2005 film, Sin City.
Much like the first movie, multiple stories are set to cross one another in this neo-noire thriller. The main story is a prequel, and follows Dwight (Josh Brolin) as he tries to get revenge on his former lover, Ava Lord (Eva Green). Originally played by Clive Owen in the first film, audiences will finally learn what led to Dwight’s facial reconstruction. Viewers are also greeted with the return of Hartigan (Bruce Willis) and Nancy (Jessica Alba), with the later going on a mission to assassinate Senator Rorke (Powers Boothe), the father of “the Yellow Bastard.” Mickey Rourke returns as Marv, who is suffering from amnesia. The cast also includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays Johnny, a slick card player getting way over his head with an assortment of criminals and mobsters.
While most comic book films work hard to present a somewhat realistic version of our world, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For makes it very clear that it’s set in a world entirely different from our own. As if entire scenes were lifted from the panels themselves, Rodriguez and Miller continue to present the hyper stylized nature of the source material to the best of their ability. Black and white are the dominant colors of A Dame To Kill For, but sometimes reds, blues or greens can be glimpsed occasionally. The use of color stands out especially well when Green’s Ava is featured in the trailer. Her brilliant green eyes and blood red lipstick make her the focal point in a scene dominated by black and white. This artistic choice gives the film a unique look that’s rarely seen in most movies today.
Part of Sin City’s appeal is also its over-the-top violence, and this trailer has made it abundantly obvious that A Dame To Kill For hasn’t abandoned that violence for something more grounded. Beatings, shoot-outs, and fist-fights are displayed in all their bloody glory. While they may appear unrealistic, even cheesy, the action in the trailer is simply trying to capture the same look and feel of the stories in Miller’s original books.
Despite the style and impressive ensemble cast, I couldn’t help but feel a little lost while watching the trailer. I did see the first film in the theatre years ago, but I had some trouble remembering most of the characters here. While visually striking, the trailer does little for those who might be unfamiliar with Rodriguez and Miller’s hyper violent world. Nearly a decade since the release of the last film, another viewing of the first might be necessary.
What about you reader? Did this recent trailer for Sin City: A Dame to Kill For pique your interest? Let us know in the comments below.
