Thank you again to everyone who showed such tremendous support while I was debating finishing up this video. I’m really glad I did. The rest of my breakdown will be up in just a couple of weeks. So stay tuned :) -Danny
Great video, can't wait for part ii. Loved the little bw tribute at the end too. Any hints to the other channel that made a sin city video that almost caused you to shelve this one?
“Implicitly Pretentious?” A twin separated at birth and accent? A ‘Tyler Durden’ type scenario? If not, it’s evidence that the multiverse is real…. Great stuff
For me, Sin City isn’t just a great adaptation of a comic, it’s one of the best (neo) noir films out there. It ticks all the boxes and goes darker than most movies in its genre.
Sin City was special, I was in awe watching it for the first time. I never knew Frank was that involved in the process, but I knew Rodriguez had pleaded with him to do the movie. Frank was so disenfranchised by Hollywood, that he wanted nothing to do with them. I'm so glad this one got made, it was amazing
I agree, it’s also timeless in my opinion. This movie could come out in theaters today and I doubt anyone would have an issue. Lol In fact with the recent slump of good movies I bet this movie would do really well.
Robert Rodriguez doesn’t get enough credit for help pushing the special effects field with the use of green screen in this. Also Robert Rodriguez seems like a really cool and down to earth guy.
Fans of the movie will hate me for saying this but little respect was given to GUNNM which was adapted to Alita Battle Angel. As he said he respected James Cameron’s script, but it seems he had none for the original. The script might have been a mess, but Robert also messed up the visual. Other than the few great night scenes, the rest were atrocious. He subverted the main conflict around Hugo by depicting the city as nice and sunlit. He also removed all of the environmental theme by showing the surrounding area as green and lush, when in the original it’s all sand and rock because the humans destroyed it. It’s a cyberpunk classic for a reason.
@@lc9245 Thank God I am not the only person who didn't like those aspects of that adaption of Alita. And what was up with the EYES, like christ her lips were the defining part about her not her anime eyes.
I believe that was more of an artistic choice for the eyes. Because it would translate better to the audience on screen than her lips.@@samueljones3668
Yeah, He serves and prioritizes the work.. not his legacy… more people should be like this imo… you see too often in other professions, a DA refusing to admit they were wrong and persue the win, a cop having tunnel vision to support their own theory… a construction worker not using an easier method because it wasnt their idea… big flaw in the human condition with many.
That Bruce Willis ending was so amazingly heartbreaking. I had no idea he could sing like that. A reminder of how talented and charismatic he was, before his disease cruelly took it all away from him.
@@notabannedaccount8362It's called "aphasia". I seem to recall it messes with short-term memory. He retired from acting recently since he couldn't remember enough of his lines to even act. EDIT: I was wrong, it CAN impact memory, but it's actually a speaking disorder. It's where you constantly misspeak and use the wrong words. Essentially you start speaking gibberish.
@@OldDemonToothyeah, i know he made an album back in 80s/90s, not sure if he made more tho. surprised a lot of people don’t know this about him. i guess it’s cuz he didn’t pull the Johnny Depp and and try to weave “rock star” into every fiber of his public persona…
@@Chinintoo16The form of aphasia he suffers from is progressive. As his brain deteriorates, so will his mind and everything about him that makes him himself. Utterly devastating for him and his family.
@@Chinintoo16 He was diagnosed with a form of dementia. Generally speaking, it's a slow death sentence with no options for recovery. He may live for many years yet, but he'll just continue becoming disconnected from the world around him. It's a terrible disease.
doesn't matter what the critics say this movie is so close to my heart, I remember watching this as a teen and been extremely impressed with the adaptation, script and effects, a classic, is one of those films that you show your kids and talk in detail about how this film was such a inspiration in graphic noir film.
Robert Rodriguez is one of my favorite directors because of his gonzo approach to directing-I read his book about how he wrote the script for El Mariachi while doing drug trials to pay for the film, intentionally bought the cheapest film because of budget and played it off as a stylistic choice, used every shot he could because of his limited budget and didn’t even reshoot takes if the actors flubbed but instead recut something else to cover the flub. Just a complete bulldoze of every stylistic movie convention and it absolutely worked. A lot of people prefer Desperado because Rodriguez could go back and do it better with a bigger budget, but El Mariachi was special.
@lyricalcleric8593 "A lot of people prefer Desperado because Rodriguez could go back and do it [bigger] with a [better] budget, but El Mariachi was special."
@@derinum Johnny Depp was amazing in that movie. The rest of it was so-so. I like his grindhouse duology with Tarantino, Sin City is a masterpiece, even the Spy Kids series is great fun. Rodriguez is a fun director, that’s fine by me.
Watched this in a cineplex. When it was over I was walking out and heard it starting again in another theatre. There was no choice to be made. I walked in, sat down and immediately watched it again. Loved it BOTH times.
This and Scott Pilgrim are two movies that embrace the graphic novels they’re adapting with such precision! I wish more movies were as stylized as this. Another great video, Danny!
@@NostalgiNorden Scott Pilgrim started production before the graphic novels were finished. Wright was working off of drafts and notes O'Malley made while working on the books. O'Malley was on board for the whole process, they made both together, and he even based some parts of the latter comics on the movie itself.
The cast was so amazing too, every actor/actress. I remember I played Max Payne a lot years before and loved the dark comic strip cutscenes of the game and lost my marbles when I first saw this movie (I was unfamiliar with the graphic novel prior to the movie). Great video, thank you!
Ahh, yes, I remember Max Payne. The movie with Mark didn’t live up to the game. They should have brought Rodriguez to shoot the Max Payne movie like the video game. Only way to truly translate a video game into a movie IMHO.
The thing about Sin City, even though it had style turned up way past 10, it was still substance over style. The acting, dialogue, pacing and story was exceptional with all direction cues based on a comic book masterpiece.
I was riveted. Every scene had me hooked. It was a singular cinematic experience for me that only a handful of other films have achieved. It's up there with the best of cinema.
Yeah. When I watched it, I gave it no credit because of the title(I thought it was gonna be the most edgelord. Everything is a dirty joke or gratuitous violence and sex). But was blown away by how engaging and endearing the plot was
Been a fan of the comics for a long time and lo and behold my surprise when the live action was so faithful and well done! Never expected it, with how live adaptations go. Ty for shedding light on it and expanding on the visuals
Marjane Satrapi's own movie adaptation of her comic novel "Persepolis" from 2007 is another great example. She had the hitherto almost lost art of hand-drawn film animation re-animated for this heartbreaking, lovely, melancholic, bitter-sweet (almost entirely) black and white movie that tells an autobiographical tale of a childhood in pre- and post- revolutionary Iran and a refugee youth in Vienna and Paris as an endearing coming-of-age story. If you can dig pulp comic strip stuff done the old school movie way of matte paintings and physical props in a studio town, there is also the idiosyncratically odd but endearingly moody "Dick Tracy" hardboiled detective fiction meets over the top grotesque facial physiques and cardboard comic characters adaptation released by Warren Beatty in 1990. It is a rare case of a real live action comic hero movie that doesn't use any type of animation effects whatsoever, just plain old prosthetics and other physically present special effects, and besides Warren Beatty as the titular character it also features Al Pacino as a villain and Madonna as a femme fatale.
We will never see something like this from modern Hollywood. It's too much risk. They rather put out garbage because the critics will pan it and people will hate-watch it anyway.
I was talking about experimental movies at work and a co worker suggested Sin City. First five minutes I was already hooked. Anything that resembles a moving comic book I will instantly love and adore. So much passion and craft was thrown to this film it’s insane..
For those who didn't know, Bruce Willis published a couple of music albums in the early eighties under the stage name "Bruno" (no relation to the Sasha Baron Cohen character). Willis' singing career is older than you thought.
I remember seeing him sing in Hudson Hawk. It seemed really odd to me, since I had been introduced to Willis via Die Hard. But not as strange as seeing Clint Eastwood sing a love song in Paint Your Wagon!
This was one of my favorite movies ever. I never read the graphic novel originally, but I did afterwards. I loved the movie so much, I went back hours later and went again to the theater to see it. Went a third time the very next day. This is the only movie I've ever done that with.
I barely found your channel because I love Frank Miller's Sin City! And this video essay reminded me of Tony's video essays. I think it was your intro that got me into the headspace again. I loved it. Thank you, Danny.
Sin City blew me away when I saw it. I didn't even know about the graphic novels, I just knew that this was unlike any movie I had ever seen, and I fucking loved it.
I'm glad you submitted this video, Cinemastix. This was wonderfully put together. You said it in this very video: "when you go all in, that's when it works." Your integrity has never come into question. Keep shining.
Sin City is so good, not only cause of its adaptation, as for me I didn't know about the comic. To me it just felt like a true piece of art watching it. I feel so many movies ground themselves in clear visuals, even with CGI, instead of stylizing them HARD with insane camera angles and overly dramatic rain effects, etc. It turns the movie into a whole dream sequence, where you may remember bits that got stuck in your head, but cause everything were portrayed so vividly you can't really visualize them in your wake mind and instead you have to rewatch it.
That’s why I really enjoy Japanese anime. A lot of authors either end up writing for films based off of their works or straight up adapt it themselves, the greatest example would be Hayao Miyazaki who adapted his manga into his first original work, “Nausicaä and the Valley of the Wind”.
To me, this would’ve been the way forward for all the comic book films to come after. An artistic melding of mediums. I think even Scorcese would agree. The broad, melodrama, grit and graphic quality is combined to create a beautiful vision. Thanks for a great video.
I remember seeing this in theaters, after being a huge fan of the comics, and I was blown away by how accurate it was in both appearance, and the dialogue; in the vast majority of the movie, it was word for word from the comics, I couldn't believe it.
look at what frank did without robert there sitting next to him to guide him, THE SPIRIT.....one of the last movies i ever walked out of the theater on
I met Frank Miller in a bar in Manhattan. He was having a drink, I was there with a friend. It started with me asking what he did for work and he said "I make movies," and I said "Oh, is it something I might have heard of?" and he said "Sin City." My immediate reaction was "Oh, you're Frank Miller? I've been following your work since Ronin." And he said "Oh, so a long time." What I found fascinating about the discussion was how he, at that point, had giving himself the right to call himself a movie maker. There was a hint of reservation, however. Like he was trying it on for size. I was, and still am, a fanboy of his comics, so I gravitated to those topics. I thought perhaps he was moving into a new realm of creativity. The conversation was brief, but exciting enough that I recall it. I just thought it was interesting as a side note.
Sin City is a movie that invokes the feel of "art" inside of me, like no other movie so far... at least none i can remember right now. i am not really a fan of the movie, but i see its artistic value and craftsmanship and thats a big part on why i like to watch it when its randomly on TV.
One of my absolute favorite film series! My brother and I watched this series late one night in a whim years ago and still reflect on that night and these films to this day! So impactful!
The “ten minute flick schools” on Rodriguez’s dvds and his book “Rebel Without a Crew” inspired me to go to film school. I wish he’d do something like Desperado or Planet Terror again but I assume he’s happy doing what he’s doing.
I had always been disappointed with previous comic book film adaptions because the visuals weren't corresponding to the comic. When I learned about Sin City I was enthusiastic about the fact that finally, someone did it right.
I remember reading along with the film because the scenes in the movie were literally 1:1 to the novel. Almost every single frame was inspired directly from a panel and it was actually out of this world how devoted the film was to being a carbon copy of the comics, especially considering most people wouldn't notice.
True, comic authors have an enormous advantage over non-comic authors when it comes to film adaptation. They basically have to illustrate a storyboard as they write, which makes referencing back to what the story should look like worlds easier for both them and the people trying to adapt the piece.
Was about 20 when this was released. I knew it was something special right away, at the theatre. You're right, not everything needs to be 1:1 but if it can be, it's damn good art and storytelling.
I can’t speak on sound design, but music.. seriously, so good. There were three composers. One for each major section of the movie. And one of them was Rodriguez himself!
Genuinely love this channel, everything you do, your insight, and how you yourself tell a story. Thanks for the channel and highlighting great cinema. Sin City is still to this day, one of the most underrated graphic novel adaptations of all time. Keep up the great work!
I’m really happy to hear that. It felt risky to me making this call. But also like a pretty important experiment. Because I’m sure it won’t be the last time I’ll have more to say about a movie than I can reasonably fit in a 10 minute video. -Danny
@@CinemaStix seems like a no Brainerd specially because, as you mention, you dive into diferent things on each video. It's not like a 2 part extended Ramblin of what you said in the first part (:
Love Sin City. One of my favorite movies, especially visually. Roll in it's film noir aesthetic and dialog, and it is everything I love about a good movie.
Frank Miller went on to direct The Spirit movie using the exact same style as Sin City. It looks great and features an amazing cast, but it's not a great movie.
@@90Nightskies I'd agree that 300 is done in a similar style, but Watchmen (even though it's a good movie) is nothing like Sin City. The only thing they have in common is that they're both based on comics.
@@carlgibson285 welp.. i mean, take Watchmen of little from the style, let say 1:1 comic frame, so then yes i see Watchmen have it, some scene of it. you don't see it, thats ok, i just listed some of similar with slowmo 1:1 frame and color to look like a comic in a film, for the OP commentor above
With Miller’s reverence for Will Eisner, I really expected The Spirit to be just as good as the comics. The best we got was Samuel L Jackson and Scarlett Johansson in a movie together years before the MCU.
Success brought sycophants. They then influenced the new films. Miller probably didn't understand he was dealing with untalented locusts miming success.
@@timothymarkin4481it's really hard to see all that reverence for Will Eisner when he turned The Spirit into just another Sin City character, and not a good one at that. As someone who *actually* reveres Will Eisner, I hate that movie with a passion.
Man, I just want to say … I feel like I’m listening to a NPR program while watching your videos. And I mean that as a sincere compliment to your cadence, writing and editing. Love your videos. Keep it up!
I remember seeing the Sin City comics by chance and I was immediately hooked. My first one was literally Marv's story and god it was so good. Brutal, dark and dirty. No good characters but everyone corrupted to some degree clashing against deeper and far more horrifying corruption. I remember being so blown away when I saw that the movie was going to be just like the comics. Everything from the style, camerawork and even casting was so on point that this movie was and still is one of my all time favorites. To top it all off, the stories are timeless. I will be able to enjoy this gem in 50 years just the same as when I first had the pleasure to watch it in a cinema.
Take a graphic novel that you love, use it as a storyboard to translate it to film as faithfully as humanly possible. It's a style of movie that usually ends up being a work of art that lasts for generations. I can only think of a handful of such movies: Sin City, 300, The Crow, V for Vendetta and Watchmen. That said, anime tend to do this all the time with manga source material, but it rarely comes out as good as it should.
Quite possibly my favourite movie of all time, on every level it scored a perfect 10, and even more considering the multiple timelines that would often cross paths, just genius from start to finish, however what in the world happened to A Dame to Kill For, how was it even possible to screw this up, it was just so lifeless, it had no soul, no magic, and the fight scene between Marv and Manute could have been turned into a 20 minute epic, instead it was all over in less than a minute (i actually dont know how long that fight scene was, but it felt like under a minute) Would really like a video by you on what went wrong with A Dame to Kill For, sadly lol
I follow several channel that cover movie stuff. This is the first time your channel has come up for me, Although I've never seen Sin City, I've watched a couple of short pieces on the making of it. Though short, this video was really well constructed with steady pacing. Very enjoyable.
I've been introduced to a few young channels around or since xmas. Some of them had less than 200 subscribers at the time. 44 vids in over a little over a year with 300k subscribers, it's pretty solid. Been insanely busy lately so have a large list in my 'watch later' slowly working my way through them but will definitely check out more of your work. Looking at the thumbnails for your older work, the images are well chosen and are recognizable or evocative. Same with the titles, you get a sense of what element of film you are breaking down but it also sparks curiosity. The one from two weeks ago is a perfect example 'When the director forgets to call cut' I've watched exactly 8:42 of your channel, I'm not just curious I'm impressed. Keep doing what you're doing.
I am so grateful to be a lifelong fan of both Quentin and Robert. I grew up with them and this series in my formative years and I no one can take that away. A rare gem, this film.
Robert Rodriguez adopted digital filming before anyone else (Once upon a time in Mexico) like I would dive deep into the extras materials. He is one of the most adventurous directors out there. The fact that he brought up Frank Miller with him makes me respect him all the more.
Amazing, Thanks for making this. Dude, I like to enjoy the duality of the films ,with and with out the context, you add so much to the experience. Thanks really 🎉
Imagine a Guild that is created for the sole purpose of defending your rights as a director telling you what to do as a director. GTFO. 😂 Keep the videos coming! 👍🏾
First job of any union is to protect the interests of the union itself. The members are (hopefully) the second priority, but those two priorities clash from time to time like in this example.
@@asmosisyup2557 I almost wish that people read the reasons as to why they have this rule, instead of promoting the automated response as to why "union bad"
Visually, Sin City is one of my favourite movies of all time. It's so beautiful and special and unlike any other movie I've ever seen. Just incredible.
I remember those days, batman begins, sin city and 300 in a 18 month span, was so confident the comic book era was gonna be great. Genre peaked and descended for 15 years straight.
Agreed! A question: Why do studios purchase (often at great expense) the rights to cinematically drawn comics and then not use or at least attempt to use the comics cinematic style but instead often use generic Hollywood looks & visual shots?
Well that’s mainly just an adaptational question. Sin City and works like it kind of have to because they’re so style over substance that it would be pointless to do it otherwise, but most of the time, they’re not doing 1:1 adaptations of things, this goes for other book to film adaptations, for instance. Art styles are also usually hard to replicate in live action, unless you do something like Rodriguez did with Sin City (which personally I’m glad they don’t do, I didn’t really like this movie). And anyway, most comic films are stuff like Civil War, which only really take the concept of a story and adapt it to the already established cinematic universe.
Sin City truly was an anomaly. It has been my experience that, unless it's your own student work (intended to demonstrate your overall filmmaking skills), having the author direct is rarely a wise move.
The thing with Frank Miller is that he understands screenplay writing. He tried to enter Hollywood as a screenwriter in the late 80s, with screenplays for Robocop 2 and 3, which, sadly enough, were butchered by others production factors. That propably devastated him and sent him in a path that led to Sin City and 300, stories far darker and mature than his previous works. His Sin City comics show he can direct through the framing of his panels.
I liked watching random movies from the cable channel and this came on when I was 15, I was immediately bewildered by the colors and the story. I knew nothing then of how to describe how i t was so amazing, but I knew it was and I've never seen anything like it before.
07:12 That’s what me and my dad always said! When a shot would look absolutely stunning in any movie, we’d just be like “aww, yeah. Storyboard magic 🤩 “
Frank Miller didn't direct it.. Robert Rodriguez did and let Frank have collaborative input as well as Quentin Tarantino. If anything, this was the anti derivative copy write problem of hollywood rather than.. letting the author direct the movie because if he did it wouldn't have been as good trust me.
Always felt like something so special with this film. It’s one of those desert island movies you can watch over and over again
Год назад+3
The first Sin City movie is excellent. How Rodriguez and Miller, who created this perfection, were able to make such a terrible sequel, I will never understand.
when all the stars align movies like Sin City come out. Take one or two elements out of the equation and the end result is not the same. Rodriguez and Miller are overly talented but they also need the support of other talented people to help bring their creative vision to life. If these people arent there, the product wont be satisfactory. Also, you need to hone your skills to keep them sharp. Almost 10 years passed between the first and the second movie, and those skills may have deteriorated as well. Another example would be Ridley Scott.
I did not get it then, and I don't get it now. If it is so faithful, then read the book. Now if you transform the material and adapt it to a Different Medium then do that. But no... IMHO you are Making Cinema Not a Live Action Motion Comic. I get doing it to an extent, because of technology, but the whole thing? Then were is the originality of it being a movie? All it becomes is an expensive/expansive companion piece really.
Such a visually beautiful film! Every shot pleases the eye despite the color palette. You don't see Hollywood doing GN adaptations this way, which is such a shame.
Thank you again to everyone who showed such tremendous support while I was debating finishing up this video. I’m really glad I did. The rest of my breakdown will be up in just a couple of weeks. So stay tuned :)
-Danny
Great video, can't wait for part ii. Loved the little bw tribute at the end too. Any hints to the other channel that made a sin city video that almost caused you to shelve this one?
i never knew i would like this type of content, thank you for sharing your passions my guy
“Implicitly Pretentious?” A twin separated at birth and accent? A ‘Tyler Durden’ type scenario? If not, it’s evidence that the multiverse is real…. Great stuff
@@dirkdiggler.Nerdstalgic. They’re quite good, but it’s a pure content farm.
I hope you talk about The Spirit, which Miller directed without help and is one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen
For me, Sin City isn’t just a great adaptation of a comic, it’s one of the best (neo) noir films out there. It ticks all the boxes and goes darker than most movies in its genre.
💯
💯
It's a modern classic, a high bar that a lot of films haven't risen to, since
Indeed
Pure kino
The actors all did a great job too
Sin City was special, I was in awe watching it for the first time. I never knew Frank was that involved in the process, but I knew Rodriguez had pleaded with him to do the movie. Frank was so disenfranchised by Hollywood, that he wanted nothing to do with them. I'm so glad this one got made, it was amazing
I agree, it’s also timeless in my opinion. This movie could come out in theaters today and I doubt anyone would have an issue. Lol In fact with the recent slump of good movies I bet this movie would do really well.
Frank was not too disenfranchised to come back and make a much worse sequel.
Robert Rodriguez doesn’t get enough credit for help pushing the special effects field with the use of green screen in this. Also Robert Rodriguez seems like a really cool and down to earth guy.
Agreed
Plus he made mfing shark and lava girl for like 50 dollars
Snyder owes Rodriguez fucking royalties for some of his moves imo
Meh he's boring
he is a hack filmamaker. if one thing, he should make less movies
The sheer level of humility required to do what Rodriguez did, its kind of astounding!
It's not so much humility, vut respect, when you absolutely love the source material and want to do it justice and want to present it as is.
Fans of the movie will hate me for saying this but little respect was given to GUNNM which was adapted to Alita Battle Angel. As he said he respected James Cameron’s script, but it seems he had none for the original. The script might have been a mess, but Robert also messed up the visual. Other than the few great night scenes, the rest were atrocious. He subverted the main conflict around Hugo by depicting the city as nice and sunlit. He also removed all of the environmental theme by showing the surrounding area as green and lush, when in the original it’s all sand and rock because the humans destroyed it. It’s a cyberpunk classic for a reason.
@@lc9245
Thank God I am not the only person who didn't like those aspects of that adaption of Alita.
And what was up with the EYES, like christ her lips were the defining part about her not her anime eyes.
I believe that was more of an artistic choice for the eyes. Because it would translate better to the audience on screen than her lips.@@samueljones3668
Yeah, He serves and prioritizes the work.. not his legacy… more people should be like this imo… you see too often in other professions, a DA refusing to admit they were wrong and persue the win, a cop having tunnel vision to support their own theory… a construction worker not using an easier method because it wasnt their idea… big flaw in the human condition with many.
That Bruce Willis ending was so amazingly heartbreaking. I had no idea he could sing like that. A reminder of how talented and charismatic he was, before his disease cruelly took it all away from him.
What disease?
@@notabannedaccount8362It's called "aphasia". I seem to recall it messes with short-term memory. He retired from acting recently since he couldn't remember enough of his lines to even act.
EDIT: I was wrong, it CAN impact memory, but it's actually a speaking disorder. It's where you constantly misspeak and use the wrong words. Essentially you start speaking gibberish.
Alzheimer
Bruce is literally the frontman, singer, harmonica player, and frontman for Bruno, his musical persona.
@@OldDemonToothyeah, i know he made an album back in 80s/90s, not sure if he made more tho.
surprised a lot of people don’t know this about him. i guess it’s cuz he didn’t pull the Johnny Depp and and try to weave “rock star” into every fiber of his public persona…
The whole movie was eye candy. Some of the most amazing cinematography I've seen.
Love the Bruce Willis performance at the end. He was a hell of a performer and it's sad to think his career is likely over.
@@BE.OFFICIALwhy, what do you mean?
@@Chinintoo16The form of aphasia he suffers from is progressive. As his brain deteriorates, so will his mind and everything about him that makes him himself. Utterly devastating for him and his family.
@@Chinintoo16 He's ill (frontotemporal dementia).
Yup. I liked him since being kid. Moonlightning with Sybil Shepard was my first "criminal" series. His smile and jokes got me.
@@Chinintoo16 He was diagnosed with a form of dementia. Generally speaking, it's a slow death sentence with no options for recovery. He may live for many years yet, but he'll just continue becoming disconnected from the world around him. It's a terrible disease.
doesn't matter what the critics say this movie is so close to my heart, I remember watching this as a teen and been extremely impressed with the adaptation, script and effects, a classic, is one of those films that you show your kids and talk in detail about how this film was such a inspiration in graphic noir film.
Robert Rodriguez is one of my favorite directors because of his gonzo approach to directing-I read his book about how he wrote the script for El Mariachi while doing drug trials to pay for the film, intentionally bought the cheapest film because of budget and played it off as a stylistic choice, used every shot he could because of his limited budget and didn’t even reshoot takes if the actors flubbed but instead recut something else to cover the flub. Just a complete bulldoze of every stylistic movie convention and it absolutely worked. A lot of people prefer Desperado because Rodriguez could go back and do it better with a bigger budget, but El Mariachi was special.
I love his work on Sin City, but let's be honest, don't get that guy close to star wars again after his episodes in Boba Fett, that was horrible !
@@ledernierutopisteanything owned by Disney is horrible nowadays, no matter who stars or directs. They're al hampered by Iger's vision and KKs egoism
@lyricalcleric8593 "A lot of people prefer Desperado because Rodriguez could go back and do it [bigger] with a [better] budget, but El Mariachi was special."
Once upon a time in Mexico is him at his peak then surely
@@derinum Johnny Depp was amazing in that movie. The rest of it was so-so. I like his grindhouse duology with Tarantino, Sin City is a masterpiece, even the Spy Kids series is great fun. Rodriguez is a fun director, that’s fine by me.
Watched this in a cineplex. When it was over I was walking out and heard it starting again in another theatre. There was no choice to be made. I walked in, sat down and immediately watched it again. Loved it BOTH times.
This and Scott Pilgrim are two movies that embrace the graphic novels they’re adapting with such precision! I wish more movies were as stylized as this. Another great video, Danny!
Scott Pilgrim changed alot of the story.
I will also add 300 to this list
@@NostalgiNorden Scott Pilgrim started production before the graphic novels were finished. Wright was working off of drafts and notes O'Malley made while working on the books.
O'Malley was on board for the whole process, they made both together, and he even based some parts of the latter comics on the movie itself.
I remember watching the movie 'The Spirit'. A 2008 production also directed by Miller that was a flop but the style was beautifully done
@@cangooz2240And Watchmen.
The cast was so amazing too, every actor/actress. I remember I played Max Payne a lot years before and loved the dark comic strip cutscenes of the game and lost my marbles when I first saw this movie (I was unfamiliar with the graphic novel prior to the movie). Great video, thank you!
Ahh, yes, I remember Max Payne. The movie with Mark didn’t live up to the game. They should have brought Rodriguez to shoot the Max Payne movie like the video game. Only way to truly translate a video game into a movie IMHO.
The thing about Sin City, even though it had style turned up way past 10, it was still substance over style. The acting, dialogue, pacing and story was exceptional with all direction cues based on a comic book masterpiece.
I was riveted. Every scene had me hooked. It was a singular cinematic experience for me that only a handful of other films have achieved. It's up there with the best of cinema.
Sadly with The Spirit - the style was ratcheted up to 11 but everything else was hollow, empty, flat.
Yeah. When I watched it, I gave it no credit because of the title(I thought it was gonna be the most edgelord. Everything is a dirty joke or gratuitous violence and sex). But was blown away by how engaging and endearing the plot was
The only movie I watched in the cinema more than two times. A masterpiece of pulp noir.
Even jessica alba acted well in this.. that is saying something
Been a fan of the comics for a long time and lo and behold my surprise when the live action was so faithful and well done! Never expected it, with how live adaptations go. Ty for shedding light on it and expanding on the visuals
This completely changed my understanding of what adaption can be. I recognize it will probably be a onetime accomplishment, but it’s fascinating
We're just lucky he was a fan and wanted that exact vision brought to life.
Marjane Satrapi's own movie adaptation of her comic novel "Persepolis" from 2007 is another great example. She had the hitherto almost lost art of hand-drawn film animation re-animated for this heartbreaking, lovely, melancholic, bitter-sweet (almost entirely) black and white movie that tells an autobiographical tale of a childhood in pre- and post- revolutionary Iran and a refugee youth in Vienna and Paris as an endearing coming-of-age story.
If you can dig pulp comic strip stuff done the old school movie way of matte paintings and physical props in a studio town, there is also the idiosyncratically odd but endearingly moody "Dick Tracy" hardboiled detective fiction meets over the top grotesque facial physiques and cardboard comic characters adaptation released by Warren Beatty in 1990. It is a rare case of a real live action comic hero movie that doesn't use any type of animation effects whatsoever, just plain old prosthetics and other physically present special effects, and besides Warren Beatty as the titular character it also features Al Pacino as a villain and Madonna as a femme fatale.
We will never see something like this from modern Hollywood. It's too much risk. They rather put out garbage because the critics will pan it and people will hate-watch it anyway.
I was talking about experimental movies at work and a co worker suggested Sin City.
First five minutes I was already hooked. Anything that resembles a moving comic book I will instantly love and adore. So much passion and craft was thrown to this film it’s insane..
Check out "a scanner darkly"
Check out Speed Racer.
@@RaiohTheHunter that’s pretty underrated from what I hear.
But do not check out “The Spirit”
For those who didn't know, Bruce Willis published a couple of music albums in the early eighties under the stage name "Bruno" (no relation to the Sasha Baron Cohen character).
Willis' singing career is older than you thought.
Under the boardwalk: watch?v=en9ZWmt5UxI
I actually love his rendition of "Under the Boardwalk"
I remember seeing him sing in Hudson Hawk. It seemed really odd to me, since I had been introduced to Willis via Die Hard. But not as strange as seeing Clint Eastwood sing a love song in Paint Your Wagon!
Bruce Willis’ musician alter ego isn’t related to a gay German fashion icon?
@OutrageIsNow Bruno wasn't even a character until the 2000s. Not sure why op thought to make that distinction
This was one of my favorite movies ever. I never read the graphic novel originally, but I did afterwards. I loved the movie so much, I went back hours later and went again to the theater to see it. Went a third time the very next day. This is the only movie I've ever done that with.
It is my favourite movie of all time
I barely found your channel because I love Frank Miller's Sin City! And this video essay reminded me of Tony's video essays. I think it was your intro that got me into the headspace again. I loved it. Thank you, Danny.
Thank YOU! The second part to the video comes out tomorrow morning, so your timing is perfect :)
-Danny
Certainly a must watch movie because of the unique style. Cast is also top tier. Great choice for a topic of video
Except for Jessica Alba. She is horrendous actress
Unbelievable cast!
the music for the dvd menu was pretty good. Also the whole production and publishing was on point.
Always felt like Sin City is so singular that it’s not even from this dimension. So excited to see you giving it some due credit .
0:27 Makes you think every high school theater club could pull this off (if they can afford the after effects).
Woah, I had no idea Bruce Willis could sing like that
Right? Blew me away.
Bruce Willis actually started out as a singer I believe.
@FreakieFan He certainly performs with the confidence of someone who’s done it a lot.
@@CinemaStix
His album The Return of Bruno (which came out 1 year before Die Hard) was quite a big hit in the 80s!
I wish all the best to Bruce Willis, he is just so an awesome actor.
Sin City blew me away when I saw it. I didn't even know about the graphic novels, I just knew that this was unlike any movie I had ever seen, and I fucking loved it.
I'm glad you submitted this video, Cinemastix. This was wonderfully put together.
You said it in this very video: "when you go all in, that's when it works." Your integrity has never come into question. Keep shining.
Warms my heart, thank you :) I’m very glad I did, too. And I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
-Danny
@@CinemaStixfantastic outro too btw
Sin City is so good, not only cause of its adaptation, as for me I didn't know about the comic. To me it just felt like a true piece of art watching it. I feel so many movies ground themselves in clear visuals, even with CGI, instead of stylizing them HARD with insane camera angles and overly dramatic rain effects, etc.
It turns the movie into a whole dream sequence, where you may remember bits that got stuck in your head, but cause everything were portrayed so vividly you can't really visualize them in your wake mind and instead you have to rewatch it.
An author directing an adaptation of their work is a pretty cool thing so no wonder this worked.
In 10 years Disney will make a race-hustled version starring some minority women and lesb!an communist theme
Counterpoint: Maximum Overdrive.
I think the main difference is a comic author already understands storyboarding, vs a book author.
That’s why I really enjoy Japanese anime. A lot of authors either end up writing for films based off of their works or straight up adapt it themselves, the greatest example would be Hayao Miyazaki who adapted his manga into his first original work, “Nausicaä and the Valley of the Wind”.
tell me how much you loved Spirit then
To me, this would’ve been the way forward for all the comic book films to come after. An artistic melding of mediums. I think even Scorcese would agree. The broad, melodrama, grit and graphic quality is combined to create a beautiful vision. Thanks for a great video.
I remember seeing this in theaters, after being a huge fan of the comics, and I was blown away by how accurate it was in both appearance, and the dialogue; in the vast majority of the movie, it was word for word from the comics, I couldn't believe it.
look at what frank did without robert there sitting next to him to guide him, THE SPIRIT.....one of the last movies i ever walked out of the theater on
I met Frank Miller in a bar in Manhattan. He was having a drink, I was there with a friend. It started with me asking what he did for work and he said "I make movies," and I said "Oh, is it something I might have heard of?" and he said "Sin City."
My immediate reaction was "Oh, you're Frank Miller? I've been following your work since Ronin." And he said "Oh, so a long time."
What I found fascinating about the discussion was how he, at that point, had giving himself the right to call himself a movie maker. There was a hint of reservation, however. Like he was trying it on for size. I was, and still am, a fanboy of his comics, so I gravitated to those topics. I thought perhaps he was moving into a new realm of creativity.
The conversation was brief, but exciting enough that I recall it. I just thought it was interesting as a side note.
that's a really cool interaction, and interesting analysis... thanks for sharing
well, he did the spirit later but between the box office failure and his sickness he is back at comics
i met flying lotus in a grocery store
@@TheJacklikesvideosThat’s pretty dope too.
Very interesting!
Underrated movie doesnt quite cut it.
As a comic and cinematography enthusiast, this movie was the quintessential art piece for me.
I'm so glad you're covering this!
:)
Sin City is a movie that invokes the feel of "art" inside of me, like no other movie so far... at least none i can remember right now.
i am not really a fan of the movie, but i see its artistic value and craftsmanship and thats a big part on why i like to watch it when its randomly on TV.
One of my absolute favorite film series! My brother and I watched this series late one night in a whim years ago and still reflect on that night and these films to this day! So impactful!
The “ten minute flick schools” on Rodriguez’s dvds and his book “Rebel Without a Crew” inspired me to go to film school. I wish he’d do something like Desperado or Planet Terror again but I assume he’s happy doing what he’s doing.
That’s was great! But wait a minute, you just blew my mind with that footage of Willis! I had no idea he could jam and sing like that!
I know, just incredible. Soon as I saw it I knew I had my outro.
I had always been disappointed with previous comic book film adaptions because the visuals weren't corresponding to the comic. When I learned about Sin City I was enthusiastic about the fact that finally, someone did it right.
"Persepolis" is also picture perfect.
What the hell - I had no idea Bruce could sing like that!
Soon as I saw it I was like, well, yep, that’s going in the video. Whether it makes sense or not.
It works great as an outro - excellent choice.@@CinemaStix
ruclips.net/video/UTIjgkp0Xws/видео.html
the fact that is was on a stage with digital background shows how amazing these actors are in their roles
I remember reading along with the film because the scenes in the movie were literally 1:1 to the novel. Almost every single frame was inspired directly from a panel and it was actually out of this world how devoted the film was to being a carbon copy of the comics, especially considering most people wouldn't notice.
True, comic authors have an enormous advantage over non-comic authors when it comes to film adaptation. They basically have to illustrate a storyboard as they write, which makes referencing back to what the story should look like worlds easier for both them and the people trying to adapt the piece.
Many folks here surprised Willis can sing. Save the last dance for me was something of a hit back in the late 80s/early 90s.
I always hear such good things about actors and staff that work with Robert Rodriguez. He seems like a great guy and director.
Coincidentally I just watched Sin City again a couple weeks ago and reminded myself how good it is. Good video, keep’em coming!
The directors cut of both movies are definitely worth watching.
Was about 20 when this was released. I knew it was something special right away, at the theatre. You're right, not everything needs to be 1:1 but if it can be, it's damn good art and storytelling.
I loved those movies so much like when I was watching I couldn't keep my eyes off of it.
The music and sound design are amazing too, I’m curious if that was all a team effort too between the directors
I can’t speak on sound design, but music.. seriously, so good. There were three composers. One for each major section of the movie. And one of them was Rodriguez himself!
Genuinely love this channel, everything you do, your insight, and how you yourself tell a story. Thanks for the channel and highlighting great cinema. Sin City is still to this day, one of the most underrated graphic novel adaptations of all time. Keep up the great work!
No matter the length, I always get exited when someone mentions it will be a "2 part" 👌🏻
Great video as always (:
I’m really happy to hear that. It felt risky to me making this call. But also like a pretty important experiment. Because I’m sure it won’t be the last time I’ll have more to say about a movie than I can reasonably fit in a 10 minute video.
-Danny
@@CinemaStix seems like a no Brainerd specially because, as you mention, you dive into diferent things on each video. It's not like a 2 part extended Ramblin of what you said in the first part (:
Love Sin City. One of my favorite movies, especially visually. Roll in it's film noir aesthetic and dialog, and it is everything I love about a good movie.
That was a beautiful video, man. I may be high as a kite right now but I just love how you structured that whole thing and the stories within. Kudos.
:D
Oh wow. I had forgotten how much I loved this movie. I have never read the comic / graphic novel, but I thought it was mesmerising. Thanks.
this was an amazing video! i cant wait for part 2
:D
Would love to see more movies using the exact same style, not just leaning close to it.
There's a sequel, lol
Frank Miller went on to direct The Spirit movie using the exact same style as Sin City. It looks great and features an amazing cast, but it's not a great movie.
well... hate or like it
there are 300 and Watchmen directed by Zack, yep Zack
@@90Nightskies I'd agree that 300 is done in a similar style, but Watchmen (even though it's a good movie) is nothing like Sin City. The only thing they have in common is that they're both based on comics.
@@carlgibson285 welp.. i mean, take Watchmen of little from the style, let say 1:1 comic frame, so then yes i see Watchmen have it, some scene of it.
you don't see it, thats ok, i just listed some of similar with slowmo 1:1 frame and color to look like a comic in a film, for the OP commentor above
Id never considered watching this film before now. Thanks for stirring my interest in what looks like a great piece of art :)
I adore this channel. Awesome video!
:D
Rodriguez is too kind. If Miller had any hint of talent as a film director Sin City 2 and Spirit wouldn't be atrocious.
With Miller’s reverence for Will Eisner, I really expected The Spirit to be just as good as the comics. The best we got was Samuel L Jackson and Scarlett Johansson in a movie together years before the MCU.
Success brought sycophants. They then influenced the new films. Miller probably didn't understand he was dealing with untalented locusts miming success.
@@timothymarkin4481it's really hard to see all that reverence for Will Eisner when he turned The Spirit into just another Sin City character, and not a good one at that.
As someone who *actually* reveres Will Eisner, I hate that movie with a passion.
@@timothyblazer1749...Or he just doesn't have any real film-making experience and doesn't know what the hell he's doing.
@@ImVeryOriginal I disagree.
Man, I just want to say … I feel like I’m listening to a NPR program while watching your videos. And I mean that as a sincere compliment to your cadence, writing and editing. Love your videos. Keep it up!
That’s amazing, thank you!! I uh.. do listen to a lot of NPR :)
-Danny
@@CinemaStix Yeah, you sound a LOT like a younger Peter Sagal.
Eww!
YES!!! to this day one of the COOLEST films ever put together. so striking, engaging... just an absolute piece of art.
Another great informative piece by CinimaStix. Congrats my boy!!
Thank you so, so much!
I remember seeing the Sin City comics by chance and I was immediately hooked. My first one was literally Marv's story and god it was so good. Brutal, dark and dirty. No good characters but everyone corrupted to some degree clashing against deeper and far more horrifying corruption.
I remember being so blown away when I saw that the movie was going to be just like the comics. Everything from the style, camerawork and even casting was so on point that this movie was and still is one of my all time favorites.
To top it all off, the stories are timeless. I will be able to enjoy this gem in 50 years just the same as when I first had the pleasure to watch it in a cinema.
Take a graphic novel that you love, use it as a storyboard to translate it to film as faithfully as humanly possible.
It's a style of movie that usually ends up being a work of art that lasts for generations.
I can only think of a handful of such movies: Sin City, 300, The Crow, V for Vendetta and Watchmen.
That said, anime tend to do this all the time with manga source material, but it rarely comes out as good as it should.
Quite possibly my favourite movie of all time, on every level it scored a perfect 10, and even more considering the multiple timelines that would often cross paths, just genius from start to finish, however what in the world happened to A Dame to Kill For, how was it even possible to screw this up, it was just so lifeless, it had no soul, no magic, and the fight scene between Marv and Manute could have been turned into a 20 minute epic, instead it was all over in less than a minute (i actually dont know how long that fight scene was, but it felt like under a minute)
Would really like a video by you on what went wrong with A Dame to Kill For, sadly lol
I follow several channel that cover movie stuff. This is the first time your channel has come up for me, Although I've never seen Sin City, I've watched a couple of short pieces on the making of it. Though short, this video was really well constructed with steady pacing. Very enjoyable.
Really glad you enjoyed it! And then I popped up. I’m relatively new, so I’m still making my rounds :)
-Danny
I've been introduced to a few young channels around or since xmas. Some of them had less than 200 subscribers at the time. 44 vids in over a little over a year with 300k subscribers, it's pretty solid. Been insanely busy lately so have a large list in my 'watch later' slowly working my way through them but will definitely check out more of your work. Looking at the thumbnails for your older work, the images are well chosen and are recognizable or evocative. Same with the titles, you get a sense of what element of film you are breaking down but it also sparks curiosity. The one from two weeks ago is a perfect example 'When the director forgets to call cut' I've watched exactly 8:42 of your channel, I'm not just curious I'm impressed. Keep doing what you're doing.
I left a reply but it looks like it replied to my own comment, I didn't want you to miss it by not getting a notification @@CinemaStix
I am so grateful to be a lifelong fan of both Quentin and Robert. I grew up with them and this series in my formative years and I no one can take that away. A rare gem, this film.
Sin City is a masterpiece
Robert Rodriguez adopted digital filming before anyone else (Once upon a time in Mexico) like I would dive deep into the extras materials. He is one of the most adventurous directors out there. The fact that he brought up Frank Miller with him makes me respect him all the more.
Maybe one about video game adaptations and why they're not working
Which one?
@@rashedulkabir6227 all of it
Amazing, Thanks for making this. Dude, I like to enjoy the duality of the films ,with and with out the context, you add so much to the experience. Thanks really 🎉
Imagine a Guild that is created for the sole purpose of defending your rights as a director telling you what to do as a director. GTFO. 😂
Keep the videos coming! 👍🏾
First job of any union is to protect the interests of the union itself. The members are (hopefully) the second priority, but those two priorities clash from time to time like in this example.
Every Union's purpose is to protect and enrich the union.
@@asmosisyup2557 I almost wish that people read the reasons as to why they have this rule, instead of promoting the automated response as to why "union bad"
@@nokeechia(a curious question, not at all in a provocative tone:) what are those reasons?
That’s not just unions, it’s all institutions. That doesn’t mean we can abandon the idea of institutions.
Visually, Sin City is one of my favourite movies of all time. It's so beautiful and special and unlike any other movie I've ever seen. Just incredible.
Wow had no idea Bruce Willis was such a great singer.
Great movie and the director giving this guy a chance to be Co director is so generous and genuine.
One of my top 3 favourite movies of all time! A masterpiece. I love Frank Miller!
one of my favorite movies of all time so well done across the board
Bruce Willis can SING?!
ruclips.net/video/5OvBgZB7OfU/видео.html
This was a masterpiece not a comic book movie. All the actors and actresses were in their prime and were true professionals.
I remember those days, batman begins, sin city and 300 in a 18 month span, was so confident the comic book era was gonna be great. Genre peaked and descended for 15 years straight.
@@dixonhill1108 05-07 is a blur to me. Jay-z Kanye 50 Cent was dominating the music industry and Seth Rogen was pumping out comedies left and right.
@@dixonhill1108dark Knight? Watchmen? Kick ass? Sure buddy sure
I wish there were more stylized neo noir films being made.
Batman vs Superman should've been made in such a way ... * sigh *
Amazing video and what a treat for some bonus content! Had no idea Bruce Willis played music and sang!
Agreed!
A question: Why do studios purchase (often at great expense) the rights to cinematically drawn comics and then not use or at least attempt to use the comics cinematic style but instead often use generic Hollywood looks & visual shots?
because people that crave and achieve power without talent or merit are narcissistic morons, i.e. studio heads.
Well that’s mainly just an adaptational question. Sin City and works like it kind of have to because they’re so style over substance that it would be pointless to do it otherwise, but most of the time, they’re not doing 1:1 adaptations of things, this goes for other book to film adaptations, for instance. Art styles are also usually hard to replicate in live action, unless you do something like Rodriguez did with Sin City (which personally I’m glad they don’t do, I didn’t really like this movie). And anyway, most comic films are stuff like Civil War, which only really take the concept of a story and adapt it to the already established cinematic universe.
Damn, i didn't know Bruce was chill like that!
🤜🏽🤛🏽
He did what Snyder did with Watchmen and 300. The results on the 4 movies were excellent.
This is why quentin tarantino movies are perfect. HE WROTE THE SCRIPT!
I need to see this film
be sure to watch the correct version. Not the recut and extended or the one where every story has an intro and credits.
Bro! Your analysis and synopsis is SO ON POINT!! Love hearing your voice! Keep it up, kiddo!
Sin City truly was an anomaly. It has been my experience that, unless it's your own student work (intended to demonstrate your overall filmmaking skills), having the author direct is rarely a wise move.
Preston Sturges and Billy Wilder wouldn't agree.
@@jonathangems operative word: "rarely" 🙂
The thing with Frank Miller is that he understands screenplay writing. He tried to enter Hollywood as a screenwriter in the late 80s, with screenplays for Robocop 2 and 3, which, sadly enough, were butchered by others production factors. That propably devastated him and sent him in a path that led to Sin City and 300, stories far darker and mature than his previous works. His Sin City comics show he can direct through the framing of his panels.
@@hebanker3372 agree! 👍
I liked watching random movies from the cable channel and this came on when I was 15, I was immediately bewildered by the colors and the story. I knew nothing then of how to describe how i t was so amazing, but I knew it was and I've never seen anything like it before.
I bet Bruce is bitching about something at 7:38
07:12
That’s what me and my dad always said! When a shot would look absolutely stunning in any movie, we’d just be like “aww, yeah. Storyboard magic 🤩 “
Frank Miller didn't direct it.. Robert Rodriguez did and let Frank have collaborative input as well as Quentin Tarantino. If anything, this was the anti derivative copy write problem of hollywood rather than.. letting the author direct the movie because if he did it wouldn't have been as good trust me.
Always felt like something so special with this film. It’s one of those desert island movies you can watch over and over again
The first Sin City movie is excellent. How Rodriguez and Miller, who created this perfection, were able to make such a terrible sequel, I will never understand.
when all the stars align movies like Sin City come out. Take one or two elements out of the equation and the end result is not the same. Rodriguez and Miller are overly talented but they also need the support of other talented people to help bring their creative vision to life. If these people arent there, the product wont be satisfactory. Also, you need to hone your skills to keep them sharp. Almost 10 years passed between the first and the second movie, and those skills may have deteriorated as well.
Another example would be Ridley Scott.
such a unique style. i loved this movie as a kid, i might give it a rewatch
I did not get it then, and I don't get it now. If it is so faithful, then read the book. Now if you transform the material and adapt it to a Different Medium then do that. But no... IMHO you are Making Cinema Not a Live Action Motion Comic. I get doing it to an extent, because of technology, but the whole thing? Then were is the originality of it being a movie? All it becomes is an expensive/expansive companion piece really.
Such a visually beautiful film! Every shot pleases the eye despite the color palette. You don't see Hollywood doing GN adaptations this way, which is such a shame.