Written by Ed Sum and James Robert Shaw
E: Perhaps it’s wise to see Sin City first before seeing the second film Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. After nine long years, that’s required in order to understand at least two of the tales that make up this sequel. With one story, knowing a bit more than the summary Nancy Callahan (Jessica Alba) or Senator Roark (Powers Boothe) provides can make this particular tale all the more appreciative. Or in this film’s case, see a marked retribution in what Callahan faced from the first film. For some fans of this marked neo noir piece, she’s perhaps one of the best eye candy to grace the screen.
J: There isn’t much to say about this film plot wise, guns blaze, people die and somehow characters cross paths. But if you haven’t read the comic books, the film may leave you in the dark. The film is just one big mess. Storywise it is like Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez threw a bunch of comic strips in the air and whatever order it came down in, that is how the movie was shot.
E: Bear in mind one fact. James has not read the comics and I only read one collected works in graphic novel format. This film could fare better if it had inter-titles to separate the four tales being presented. Two were written for this sequel specifically. They were “The Long Bad Night” and “Nancy’s Last Dance.” From the comics, the other two are “Just Another Saturday Night” and “A Dame to Kill For.” The latter being the central theme to this anthology of tales were the black widow, or rather, the femme fatale everyone has to be careful with is Ava Lord (played by Eva Green). And oh boy, was she smokin’!