The Spirit (2008) - Movie Review

[HighlandsFilm]

i did kinda enjoy the film but they needed to put more into the sub characters such as Silken Floss & Sand Saref, what the hell was even the point of involving Lorelai & Plaster Of Paris, it should of been Octopus, Silken Floss & Sand Saref, if they had those 5 main characters (the spirit & helen dolan along with the above mentioned), they would of been able to focus on less characters and have a deeper plot which would be able to intertwine the characters more closely together!!!

[xdddre]

I think this movie was completely misunderstood. I mean... it's definitely not supposed to be watched like any other regular movie. It is not a regular movie. It's just nuts. It's not to be take seriously or anything, it's just some kind of crazy visual experience.

Of course you noticed that now, but it looks many people expected like a super deep and interesting superhero movie. It sure isn't. But I'm pretty sure it never even tried to be.

[gregarganda]

@xdddre, When the people who are making the movie are not trying to create a good movie there is something very wrong with that.

[Beeswax106]

my favorite part of the spirit is........"ITS THE OCTOPUS" scene :)))

[SaltWaterHippo]

I thought this was steaming pile of horse shit aswell. Inglourious Basterds is one I watched recently, I recommend it.

[gregarganda]

@SaltWaterHippo, You've got good taster, I saw and reviewed Inglourious Basterds, what a fantastic film. Christoph Waltz was did an incredible job in that film, thank you for the comment.

[Asianmanchan]

I liked Sin City, but someone please tell me how did Frank Miller fuck up so bad with The Spirit? Sure it had good visual effects. But the plot was non-existent, the writing was the worst, and the action in the movie was awful and cheesy.

[gregarganda]

Because it wasn't Frank Miller's baby, I wonder what it would have been like if Will Eisner was actually alive to defend his work from being made into a mockery in film making.

[Chosenviper]

I so agree with you,,,I HATED it!

[madmikejehuty]

Get swift covered.

[thebigragu009]

I agree, the movie was terrible.

The casting was horrible.

The acting was even worse.

The plot was ridiculous.

The only good thing about this movie was getting to see Paz Vega in the belly dancing outfit.

[pernch]

you forgot the script. Nearly every line that was supposed to be "witty" or "cleaver" made me wanna shoot myself.

[Ghlan]

This movie was AWFUL!

[uksteven21]

movie SUCKS BIG TIME

[tob1203]

i thoght it was ok better then spider man or iron man

[gregarganda]

The Spirit is a mockery of superhero films, the rating has only gone down since I reviewed it.

[tob1203]

i didnt like it either im just saying atleast its not as bad as like iorn man thogh

[guitarhero4504]

Iron Man was good though....not much fighting and action as I could have hoped but it was good.

[gregarganda]

Ironman certainly is much better than this pile of trash, and an overall good movie. The Spirit is not a Superhero movie, it is more like a "what not to do in a superhero movie." Guitarhero4504 has the right idea.

[gabymala1]

:( buzz-kill

[gregarganda]

Frank Miller should be forced to eat one of The Spirit DVDs so he can taste how bad his movie is like everyone that suffered in the theaters watching this dribble. Terrible film, don't watch it if you haven't already, you're brain might explode. Thanks for the comment.

[TheGrandEnemy]

I do think watchmen is going to be a far better movie than The Spirit.

[gregarganda]

I am incredibly excited to see the Watchmen the day that it comes out. There is more than nostalgia to be found in this upcoming movie, I think it will be wonderful. Hopefully Alan Moore's lack of interest in the making of this film won't be a problem in its outcome. I think that the story will make the movie prevail on its own.

[MarkArandjus]

Thanks, I'm a'saving mah money for WATCHMAEN!

[gregarganda]

Oh yeah man, I am excited to see that movie after reading the graphic novel I cannot wait to see Rorschach kick some people's heads in! Great comment, thank you!

[MarkArandjus]

Mmm, Rorschach :9 I saw the WM trailer and went TF is this? Read a lil bout it on Wikipedia, said this is worth checking out, read it 'somewhere' (ahem) then said AW SNAP MUST HAVE and I bought the comic, they started selling it round here because of the movie I guess I never saw it in the few comic shops round here til then. It's like yes it has superheroes but it's sooo much more than that; from the characters to the intertwinign scenes, can't wait =)

[gregarganda]

Oh yes, there is definitely so much history of each character packed into the graphic novel as well as a lot that does not meet the eye. I was unable to put the book down, it was too damned interesting hearing about the origin of Dr. Manhatten & the evil-doings of Eddie Blake or the strange political views of Rorschach. They put so much detail into the structure of the characters, I loved everyone of them. Except Veidt, I did not really enjoy him.

[MarkArandjus]

Same here "Oooh look at me I'm so smart I can throw all my money away then go on a trip around the world and get a bunch of money from scratch because I'm perfect and flawless like an egyptian god and did I'm mention how rich and smart I am?" Purple wearing pompus wanker xP

[gregarganda]

I could not agree more with that characterization, he's too full of himself. Thinking he can get away with anything because he watches a bunch of televisions at once.

[videoner]

do you see eva mendez boobs for at least 20 seconds?

[gregarganda]

No one gets to see them, this movie is PG-13. There is no redeeming factors to this damned mess of a movie. I am horribly sorry in advance if you decide to actually go see this movie because you'll wish you could go back in time to the very moment you decided to and just want to kill yourself. This movie is horrible.

[islanbatman]

Dude do i agree with you i lost 20 bucks, going to see that shit. My son and I walked out on that shit.

[gregarganda]

I am so sorry your son and yourself had to sit through however long you stayed. I am thinking of looking in to the refund policy of most theaters so I can post it on my profile, because while people deserve to see good movies, they also deserve to get their money back for terrible ones. Again I am sorry you had to see any of that mess, and thank you for you comment!

[TheRaiderNation]

yea, it sucks, i don't know even why I went to go see it. I don't even know how 5.9 is possible with this movie... Knowing absolutely nothing about the comic I had no idea what was going on in the movie for the first all of the movie... yea, you read that right. I had no idea what was going on.

[gregarganda]

Its rating has gone down to a 5.3 out of 10 since I reviewed it, which may not sound like that big of a difference but basically means it went from an F+ rating to a F-. I'm really sorry that you had to sit through that, I completely recommend you go see "Doubt, Gran Torino or The Wrestler" to help you recover from watching "The Spirit." Thanks for the comment, is is appreciated.

[nimagpie]

Nimrod?

[gregarganda]

If you had actually watched the full video, I gave this movie two thumbs down. I love all moviegoers and think they deserve to know about great and horrible movies because that feels important to me. Everyone deserves to see movies like "Doubt" or "The Wrestler" but no one, no matter how evil and depraved deserves to see the "The Spirit." I hope you don't go out to see this movie just to spite me, and you actually go out and see one of the many good movies out there.

[ShammShamm]

Sorry!:)...I love motorcycles(my V-max), guitars(Martin D-18 and Strat),and Neil Young,this movie,not so much.I anticipated seeing it for 2 months,expecting to see another Sin City.ALMOST asked for a refund.I wanted to.But,sometimes you do have to pay for a good spanking:O uch!Don't blame yer puking on the bartender,eh? ;(<

[gregarganda]

Don't worry, I'm not getting mad at you, I am getting mad at nimagpie for commenting and spreading negativity on the comments, that's why I blocked her =). Sometimes watching terrible movies is a good thing to remind you what a great movie is all about. Like seeing "Doubt" and "The Spirit" in the same day gave me so much more appreciation for how good "Doubt" was. But if you don't get to see movies that often, this movie is a real outlandish buzz kill. Hate it or love it, this crap exists.

[nimagpie]

Did you not like it then? Perhaps if you didn't curse so much I could have taken this awful review somewhat seriously...

[ShammShamm]

Nimrod, what part of "This movie totally fucking sucks!" didn't you understand? ;b

[gregarganda]

Seriously ShammShamm, I thought I was clear about how I felt towards this mess of a movie. There should be a rule against commenting or rating before you're done watching a video on YouTube, it would stop ignorant questions and some headaches. Whatever though, if you get the chance, check out "The Wrestler" or "Doubt," they're fucking astonishingly good. I am possibly going to see "Gran Torino" tonight, I've heard it is fantastic.

[gregarganda]

This is not grade school, I will articulate how badly I hated seeing this movie how I see fit. As for thinking my review is awful because I use words you don't like, try to be more open-minded to how other people get their points across. I did severely dislike this movie to the point that I believed it warranted the use of foul language because this movie is so very foul. So if I wasn't clear before, this movie is horrible. No swearing, it's just downright terrible.

[ShammShamm]

Your right,WHAT a letdown,hype 100,reality 5..Jackson needs to turn down more work,even tho' the movies failure wasn't his fault,his name helped suck us in. I can't believe some of the garbage they try to foist on the public.Buyer beware!NO comparison to Sin City.

[gregarganda]

International Movie Database Rating= 5.3/10, 4,189 votes. Actually went down 0.6 since I reviewed it. This movie is a plague and the one fruit loop who down-rated this review knows the movie sucked. He or she is just so pissed off that they had to see it they need to spread the pain to everyone possible.

[bigmoney121]

i watched the curious case arready by the way

[gregarganda]

Tell me, what did you think of it? There's a lot of talk about it and I am scheduled to see it this weekend and I'd like to know what you thought of it.

[bigmoney121]

ok. i thought it was a pretty good film. the story was good and it was directed well.

yes, it is long but the story keeps on moving. acting was good and it was entertaining. last christmas it was i am legend, before that it was king kong, this christmas it was the curious case.

[gregarganda]

That's good, I am aiming to see it this week. I Am Legend, god I love that movie. If I hadn't read the book and watched Omega Man I am not sure that I would have had the same reaction to it. As for King Kong, I always thought Kong would have been more realistic if he had eaten Naomi Watts.

[bigmoney121]

Wat do you recommend to see in theaters right now?

[gregarganda]

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Gran Torino, Doubt." The movies I recommend to some would be: "Valkyrie & Seven Pounds." There is a lot of good in the theaters right now, take full advantage of viewing these amazing movies.

P.S.- There is a movie out there called "The Wrestler" than is not being shown in a lot of places, yet I have heard amazing things about it. If you ever see it being played, go run to the theater and watch it! I've heard such amazing things about it.

[evesapple]

I went in expecting another sin city, or for it to have undertones of philip marlowe, so 10 mins in, I was much like you thinking, 'yeah...this is shit.'- Laughing at it rather than with it. But then I realized that I was judging it with the wrong frame of mind. It isnt meant to be a film to make you think deeply or to change your life, but to simply be entertained by. Sometimes, we need to have a gorilla moment, and embrace the b movie splendour of it all.

[gregarganda]

This movie was way too much like Batman & Robin, like who's idea was it to take a semi-serious movie like Batman with subtle amounts of comedy produced by the arch-enemies that really works well and then later turn it into a complete comic, erasing the serious meaning of Batman, he is the enforcer of justice. Why am I talking about Batman? Because "The Spirit" is a lot like him in many ways. He fights for the same reason, yet he is portrayed as a lady-chaser and an outright joke in this movie.

[evesapple]

Im with you in hating batman and robin- I much prefer Nolans take on it, which is how I always wanted batman to be. I'm not going to pretend I have read 'the spirit' comics- but others who have claim that the movie is quite faithful in terms of its humour and feeling. It sounds like you would have preferred more of a film noir- as would I- a real philip marlowe style story- but in terms of what Miller was striving for, I believe he succeeded, and unlike Batman and Robin, it was executed well.

[gregarganda]

From what I have read of "the SPIRIT" pop-up graphic novel and Will Eisner's mini-bio, the character "The Spirit" was noir-incarnate. Tales of blackmail, romance and murder. Frank Miller's adaption is unique in its differences from Eisner's work. It is definitely a "comic book" of a movie, without the darkened soul and life of a noir.

[Gyropitus]

Mmm, you have the two most important things that any true film reviewer needs: a love for movies and slightly longer hair than most guys.

Even though you're not Lemurian, I'll keep an eye on your work.

[gregarganda]

I got my hair cut a couple of days ago so I went from metal head to an almost jar head kind of look. Do not fear, my hair fights its cuts in the easiest way possible, it grows very fast. As for me loving movies, I think that movies are naturally good, just random upsets happen in the Hollywood industry that aren't easily forgotten. Thank you very much for the comment.

[SunshineQP]

It sucked and it was another movie that should not have reached the box office also Hancock Max Pain in the ass and 4 those hating on the Punisher Warzone thats his job to kick killers,robbers and rapist asses Tom Jane was too soft if u dont know the comics Shut up

[gregarganda]

I agree with you on Hancock, I didn't watch Max Payne but plan on seeing it eventually. As for Frank Castle's character, he deserves a brutal comic-to-film adaption, Sin City got theirs, it's time to hand the blood-covered torch of to others. While the Spirit may have not been the most serious of characters, it would do very well as a dark film-noir, it had the ability to be more than a blockbuster, but an amazing memory in film-goer history. We deserve to watch great movies. Thanks!

[SunshineQP]

true true

[sparkymagnet]

i watched it and i liked it,it was pretty funny

[gregarganda]

Hang on to that, enjoying a movie for your self is the most important thing.I could find few chuckles while watching it and came out of the theater feeling disillusioned and plain old angry.

[DontMockTheCheese]

hahahhaha! u all hate it becuz none of u have the mind to understand it!!ur all probably 5 years old and will spam this becuz u dont want the truth to get out about ur incompetence.

[RedC1nONLY]

i only fucking watch 5 mins. of that shit, walked out, then got my money back, then took a shit outside in front of the movie theater.

NO LIE!

[gregarganda]

And a righteous shit it was! If only more people would empty their ass in protest of this movie's viewing in theaters, maybe they would take it down sooner.

[Tyrushumphrey]

worse movie i've ever seen! seriously!

[gregarganda]

The only help I can be of you is to turn your attention towards very high-rated movies like "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Wrestler, Gran Torino & Doubt." Don't worry, after a few weeks and/or viewing some of these movies you will forget about this movie.

[chronogrim]

i'm gonna go see it myself.ha ha ha ha ha.

that made me laugh so hard......that's not a good thing.

[gregarganda]

The rating of this movie has actually gone down from 5.9/10 to 5.5/10 on IMDB since I posted this review three days ago. Luckily you will be helping your local theater get some money from watching this. If you are a glutton for punishment you'll love it, because it is so bad. Thanks for the comment and good luck!

[iamme1600]

seriously I saw this movie and it was horrible plus....

*Spoiler*

What the fuck was the part about with Sam L. Jackson when he was pretending to be HITLER! god can someone explain?

[gregarganda]

According to "cult" fan-boys this movie has something going for it, I highly disagree that there is anything actually here but awful acting. I did a little background check on the character he played "General Octopus," apparently his character was a "master of disguise." Never giving his true identity except for the signature gloves he always wears.

[axhfan]

No joke. That movie blew.

Sammy J keeps disapointing me. Though I thought he was the only watchable character in the film.

[gregarganda]

I couldn't imagine what flies around in his head when he's picking parts like this and Soul Men & Lakeview Terrace. Take me back to the days of Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Goodfellas & True Romance. No more bullshit! He's got amazing ability and he has the power to use it in good movies, where's the fire he's been hiding in these recent movies? Thanks a ton for the comment, you're dead right.

[mikeportnoyfan]

the movie was pretty funny. Alot of parts didn't make any sense but i enjoyed it.

[gregarganda]

I envy your reaction to watching this movie because I wanted to napalm my face after seeing it. Moments of uneasy laughter only heightened my anger towards it because it didn't define it's self as either serious or comedic. If you can find comedy in a terrible movie then hang on to it for dear life because it will be the only thing that can keep you from wanting to find the director and punch him into giving you your money back. I wish I had asked for a refund.

[ImOnGaia]

This one is for muffin!!! poor kitty

[gregarganda]

Too bad the story wasn't about muffin, a movie from a cat's perspective could have gone a lot farther into making me think than this awful movie. I care for that little cat more than all those characters combined.

[nelllville]

What Was Your First Impression When You Came Out From The Theatre? Lol

[gregarganda]

I was so disillusioned by what I saw, my first impression was hand-in-hand with my state of mind, I felt like I was lost in a forest. When I woke up from a bad sleep with a solid opinion, this is a movie that planted a seed of hate into me that bloomed that grew roots overnight. My first impression was "What the fuck?" You know those movies you have to sleep on to fully appreciate the next day? Well this is one, except you don't appreciate it you just gain a higher sense of hatred for it. thanks

[ThermostatAgreeable]

So I should only see this movie if I'm pretending to be a gorilla ??

[gregarganda]

I recommend "King Kong," but that's just me. You could gain something from watching "Instinct" with Anthony Hopkins, but in terms of watching "The Spirit" while pretending to be a gorilla, you might get the rage from "28 Days Later." Thanks for the comment.

[mszunefan]

Dude it might have helped if you saw this movie when you weren't high and drunk. You went in thinking this was Sin City and its not, it was more closely related to Dick Tracy

[gregarganda]

Don't need to be high or drunk to see any movie, though I suppose some people like to ruin their movies by deadening their brains while trying to soak in a movie that could have potential to be something very memorable. Though I might fucking recommend it if you have to see this movie with a loved one, this movie is terrible and it's rating has only gone down since I reviewed it and that's pretty bad since it had an F+ for a rating. It did resemble Dick Tracy strongly, but without any heart.

[ozzrocks88]

Great review im fuckin mad too I wanted to see it hella bad but now i no not to waist my time again great review

[gregarganda]

I read your comment wrong the first time, you actually did see it and I am truly sorry it did not live up to the expectations that Frank Miller normally lives up to in the making of his films. I think anyone who has seen the Spirit, whether they like it or not was disappointed greatly because the trailer is misleading to the point of out-right lying to the audience, it looks like a serious movie! What do we get aside from awful catch-phrases and manikin-like characters. Thank you very much.

[FilmmakerIQReviews]

They had an interesting techno Euro Pop version of "Falling in Love Again" if you're into jazz.

I totally dug this movie and yet I agree with everything you said - it's crap - but it's campy crap - and fun!

[gregarganda]

I'm into everything that makes my heart sing, now for the review. To say that I wasn't open-minded when going into the movie theater would be an understatement, I went into that theater expecting something with the same serious overtones as Sin City and that side-swiped me by surprise but not in the way I could enjoy it. I couldn't get off the premise of how good the character the spirit could be if depicted in a serious form much like the new batman movies. I fully respect your comment.

[kidkash612]

movies need soul just like jazz

[gregarganda]

The only music to be found in this movie is the blues playing in the minds of everyone that had to see that movie. This movie is like Ray Charles without a piano.

[kanookle]

It just looked like a carbon copy of Sin City. Like just a mediocre fill before SC2.

[gregarganda]

Sort of a "Pathfinder" complex to this movie, captivating visuals(why did it look the same as Sin City anyways?) without the side-dish of a good script. There is no waiter to be found for desert either.