The Spirit

"The Spirit" was created by Will Eisner, a pioneer in American comics. Artist and writer Frank Miller brings the character to life in the film version. The film has the look and feel of Mr. Miller's earlier film, "Sin City" but not the energy.

Comic fans and fans of "Sin City" will flock to "The Spirit" and probably admire the effort but the problem is Mr. Miller should have left the direction to someone else. The material is fun and the visuals unique and exciting but the film drags the thin plot out like a wet rope. There are some inspired sequences but much of the film is boring exposition and Mr. Miller would have been better off again with Robert Rodriquez as director.

Curiously the look of the film is 1940's and yet, people use computers and cell phones. There is also a Nazi sequence for absolutely no reason. While it's an interesting script, it does tend to meander in strange directions and that's where a better director might have tightened the story.

The film stars Gabriel Macht as The Spirit, Samuel Jackson as his nemesis, The Octopus. Mr. Macht plays the part as straight as a boy scout while Mr. Jackson is totally over the top, obviously having fun with the part. Also starring as various good/bad girls are Eva Mendes, Paz Vega, Sarah Paulson, and Scarlett Johansson. Jamie King also has a minor role as Lorelei, the angel of death and is barely recognizable. Louis Lombardi plays multiple clones of henchmen to The Octopus and Dan Lauria does his best tough cop bit as Inspector Dolan.

This one is strictly for the fans...