The Spirit (2008)

director: Frank Miller

writer: Frank Miller

starring: Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johanssen

genre: Crime,Comic,Thriller

As a big comic book fan The Spirit was on the top of my list of films to see. Written and directed by Frank Miller a comic legend with experience from co-directing one of the best comic book films Sin City seems as a match in heaven to helm a comic book film. But as of late Frank Miller has lost his flair of witting intriguing stories and still has a lot to learn in the directing department.

In Central City its savior and protector The Spirit (Gabriel Macht) looks for the well being of the city’s people. An evil lurks by the name of Octopus (Samuel Jackson). He and Sand Saref (Eva Mendes) are after some chests that hold mystical treasure and The Spirit is the only one who can stop him. Throughout the film we see his relationship with women who adore him, and with the police who he has a close relationship to. In the chase for the chest we find out the truth of the Spirit's origin and the secret connection he has with Octopus and Sand Saref.

This film is sorry to say silly, annoying, slapsticky and a waste of time. The Spirit is based on Will Eisner comic of the same name. Considered a great comic with detective and noir elements it’s weird that all those elements are missing from the film. Most characters speak as if they were making fun of 1940’s noir/detective films. The comic most likely portrays all this in a more realistic manner. Even the plot which I hope is not from the comic is really cartoonish and amateur to say the least. There after a chest that has for the Sand Saref a magical fleece and for Octopus the blood of Hercules to make him immortal. In comics today there are elements of magic and myth but are portrayed with respect, logic and not with loony toon non sense.

The thing is that the film is covered in weirdness. Situations happen out of the blue, weird performances that feel out of place and not to mention the overall feeling that this film needs badly a rewrite. Everything is over the top from the acting to the fight scenes. Its makes a B-movie look great. The trouble is the focus on the visual style of the film which is the same exact as Sin City. It's beautiful but it feels as the only thing that Frank Miller must have focused on. As a writer of many great stories how is it that this man could not see his flaws while he was working on this film.

If this was a comedy this would have been a much better film. Because this no action, not a serious detective story, I can’t call "The Spirit" a serious superhero film. When the Spirit searches the city for Sand Saref with a photocopy of her butt as evidence that is where I draw the line. The film doesn’t do anything properly and shows how that even the best of talents in the business like Frank Miller can hit rock bottom in quality and should take some pointers from others on how it is to make a movie without help.

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul