Review of The Spirit (1987) by Zach S — 10 Feb 2010

Style over substance is one crime - copied style over substance is enough to put this one away for life.

Frank Miller 'directed' this atrociously try-hard comic book adaptation. This was a huge error in judgment for everyone involved, who no doubt signed on purely because of the success of Sin City, and the blind hope that its brilliance was partly Rodriguez and partly Miller (who co-directed). Turns out it was all Rodriguez. Miller again uses every filmmaking technique he learned on Sin City to create a carbon copy, this time with desaturated colour instead of black and white, and with the added hindrance of attempted humour. The dialogue is whacky and zany, the way a child's cartoon is, but worse because it's aimed at grownups.

It really does make Ghost Rider, Daredevil, and yes even the Phantom look like classic superhero films. It isn't completely irredeemable though; it took about half an hour before it switched from 'so bad it's interesting' to 'complete waste of time.' It doesn't even quite make it to 'so bad it's good,' which must have been at least a faint hope for the editors.

Low points:

Samuel L. Jackson's mindless cackling and endless egg references...

Scarlett Johansson's complete lack of likability or commitment to the role...

The entire script...

The Octopus' bald, fat minions, who apparently were comic relief...

High point:

The end credits.