SIN CITY: Talk about the perfect vehicle for a dialogue on morality.
The problem I have with you Moral America, is quite simple, really: John Hartigan never once took advantage of the opportunity presented him by the starry-eyed young stripper whom he'd saved from the clutches of the nefarious pedophile, now did he? Hmmmmm....I wonder if this means Frank Miller quite literally pulled a subtle fast one on you, by making you jump to the conclusions you so obviously entertained, hmmmm-? In other words, 'twas YOU, Moral America, whose
minds came up with the idea that it's "wrong" for a mid-60's man to, *koff*, what -, exactly-? "Have Sex" with a 19-yr old stripper who just so happens to be the same girl he saved from a child molester when she was 11-? I'm sorry to have to say it, but it was
your mind who came up with that, NOT John Hartigan's-! Sure, the
girl as a 19-yr old came right out and asked for sex, but it pains me to have to point out to you (I'm still speaking to Moral America here) that
the character Bruce Willis portrayed NOT ONLY quite literally refused that offer from the sexually-immature longing of the girl he saved,
but he went so far as to make the ultimate sacrifice for her, because he too had fallen in love with her, and you know what they say -- if you love something, set it free -- which is precisely what John Hartigan DID, and he payed the ultimate sacrifice in order to assure she did get to go free. Seems as if you missed the entire true point of that story, huh Moral America?
If THAT isn't an immaculate morality fable empowering true morals and the potential goodness that lies in the wellspring of the human heart, then I don't know what is.
What I DO KNOW, is that "Moral America"
just doesn't Get It; but that's okay, of course. Because this movie is, in the immortal words of Eddie Vedder,
Not For You.
But I am not going to let you get away that easily. First off, I have no problem with anyone disliking this movie for *valid* reasons, such as: watching violence or nudity. But I must point out another thing, which is some have even gone so far as to mention the "language" in the film as being listed under the banner of "offenses" (I think even Weeping did). But the funny thing about it is, even I answered with a "yeah" when asked by a co-worker if it was full of foul language, such as the over-usage of the "F-word", which he personally found distasteful in movies. After watching it a second time -- I can't recall the "F-word"
ever being used even once-! Now maybe I missed it; maybe I've become "desensitized" to its use, and would miss it even if over-used; however, I just can't recall the F-word being used in this movie. I found there to be an alarming LACK of profanity in SIN CITY, as a matter of fact. When I see it for my 3RD TIME, I am going to carefully listen for every single use of profanity; I would become especially pleased if not somewhat surprised to find that, indeed, there may NOT BE any profanity in SIN CITY! In any case, I think it's safe to say at this stage, that the profanity in SIN CITY -- if it exists at all -- is certainly not up to par with many other movies who might abuse the F-word and every other profanity in the book, for that matter. It is very minimal, to say the least (if present at all). Which makes me realize that the way this movie
earned it's
R-rating, was done quite intelligently. Violence and Nudity (there was hardly any sex in the movie at all, actually: another lame accusation by the increasingly retarded observations of Moral America). The only sexual intercourse depicted in the film was a brief, few-seconds-only shot of Marv and Goldie in their hotel room; and this was, albeit her being "on top", semi-covered in the red bedspread, and not quite graphic in the least, actually. I.E, we've all seen *far more explicit sexuality* in the movies than SIN CITY actually offered up, and that's a fact.
So, it is becoming quite apparant to me, that Rodriguez & Company have managed to put together a rather astute Morality Tale in bringing the SIN CITY comic book to blazing life for the Silver Screen.
And Moral America will be hard-pressed for their Case Against Sin City to have a leg to stand on.
I must say that I firmly stand by my observation that this movie is, ultimately, precisely the opposite of the "moral vacuum" which those outraged about it seem to think it represents. Which only goes to show who it is with the most common sense. And if you can't figure that out -- I guess that becomes your problem, huh.
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SIN CITY is, ultimately, a Morality Tale with true Love and Goodness nestled deep in the center of its heart. By utilizing extreme situations and the stereotypes of the comic medium it brings to another glorious dimension on film, SIN CITY is poised to achieve what it's detractors could never manage, not in two thousand years of stifling control and oppression: the delivery of a simple message of truth, justice, love and brotherly compassion and ultimate sacrifice against a backdrop of a world that has itself evolved to the point of becoming the Ultimate Villain surrounding and harboring us all: which is the personification of the principle that "Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely".
As such, it is not only a brave and uncompromising film -- it is a true work of art with an ultimate message of true goodness and morality at its heart. Take that, Moral America.
