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Sin City

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    This extremely violent movie is NOT for kids.

Why We Rated This not for kids

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Diverse characters; women are strong and capable but also mostly hookers and/or nude.
  • Violence:

    Extreme, intense, constant, and graphic violence, torture, suicide, dismemberment, references to cannibalism, child molestation, and rape.
  • Sex:

    Nudity and sexual references including reference to child rape, non-explicit sexual situations, prostitutes.
  • Language:

    Very strong language.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Drinking, smoking.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Sin City was written by Nell Minow

Parents need to know that this is an extremely violent movie with constant, intense, and exceptionally graphic battles and all-out butchery and slaughter. Body parts are sliced off (and eaten -- off-camera). People are wounded and killed just about every possible way, including electrocuted, stabbed, impaled, shot, dumped into a tar pit, and sliced up. There are severed heads and other body parts. There are references to child rape and cannibalism. The film also includes nudity, strippers, prostitutes, sexual references, and non-explicit sexual situations. Characters drink and smoke and abuse prescription drugs. They also lie, cheat, steal, extort, and violate as many laws (and commandments) as can be packed into one movie.

Families Can Talk About

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  • Families can talk about the enduring appeal of such dark stories and characters and the way that co-directors Miller and Rodriguez use the settings and the camera to create mood and character.
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More on Sin City

What’s the Story?

Two of today's greatest stylists join forces in an audacious synthesis of graphic novel and movie set in a world where the villains are unspeakably evil, the heroes are compromised and overmatched, and the city is filled with corruption but the country is even worse. SIN CITY's three stories about heroes battling overwhelming odds circle around each other, amplify each other, and ultimately intersect. Marv (Mickey Rourke) is a gigantic brute of a man who likes to fight. He has had one perfect night of love with a golden-haired prostitute who she said she wanted him. But the next morning, he wakes up to find her murdered. The world always seems incomprehensible and dreamlike to Marv, especially when he thinks he sees his Goldie again. But she says she is her twin sister. Marv knows -- he thinks he knows -- that justice requires him to kill the people who murdered his angel, no matter what the cost. John (Bruce Willis) is a cop about to retire. But he cannot go until he finds a way to rescue a little girl named Nancy from a man who molests and kills children but is protected by the forces that control Sin City. And Dwight (Clive Owen) is a man who has angered his girlfriend's predatory and abusive ex-boyfriend (Benicio Del Toro). Their dispute will shred the fragile compromise between the corrupt cops and the gang bosses that allows the prostitutes to control their own section of Sin City.

Is It Any Good?

Robert Rodriguez and co-director Frank Miller (the writer/artist of the Sin City graphic novels) create a faithful, shot-for-shot rendition of each stunning panel. Hard, resolute voice-overs accompany stark, inky images. There are brief flashes and flutters of color -- red for brake-lights, a heart-shaped bed, a lightning-streaked sky, a sleek getaway car, and for blood. Yellow for the golden curls of a dead hooker and the jaundiced skin of a cowardly villain whose toxic perversions have turned him the color of bile. This is a masterpiece of technique, bravura film-making with sure and complete mastery of tone, setting, and mood. A lesser cast would be lost, even invisible, but Rourke, Willis, and especially Owen are every bit as arresting as the images around them. Most of the female characters are more props than characters, but Rosario Dawson and Jessica Alba make strong impressions.

The film is overwhelming at times, intentionally keeping viewers off-kilter by combining grand heroics, stunning beauty, hideous grotesquery, outrageous butchery, toughness and innocence, tragedy and comedy. This is a movie where a man's hand is sliced off and then he slips on it like a banana peel. It exists precisely on the edge between exploitation and artistic statement, ultimately saving itself from toppling over with the sincerity of its tone, the beauty of its images, and the honor of its heroes.

Movie Details

Studio: Dimension, Directors: Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino
Run time: 126 minutes
Theatrical release: 3/31/2005, DVD release: 8/16/2005
MPAA Rating: R for sustained strong stylized violence, nudity and sexual content including dialogue

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models

    Great for the fans of the comic. Obviosly overated but done well. Black and white suited the stories, and the narration was entertaining.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    i really don't know... if it's good for tweens

    i can't really seem to fins any thing good or bad about this movie but i know i love it, really it all depends on the person. no i wouldn't let my kids whatch this lit they are about 12 but i find it to be grate. i'dd have to go with the other guy SuperParent it'd a cool comic book movie

  3. I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    RR Rules!

    we love this film, it is very stylized so the violence is very graphic and gory, there are a few boobs and a girl dancing, but this film is great if you are a comic book fan!

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Extremely Violent, Extremely Dark, Extremely Excellent

    This is a fantastic, visually-stunning masterpiece. I highly reccommend it. Parents: Although a lot of the violence is obviously fake, a lot of it isn't: heads are cut off, bodies are chewed upon, the main villains are cannibals and child molestors. More dismemberments than Saving Private Ryan. A man's genitals are blown off and at tyhe end of the film, after they've grown back, they're hideouslty ripped off. Beatings (to death), shootings,stabbings, drowings, and dumping in tar pits. but despite all of the gratuituous, over-the-top graphic and pitch-black dark tone and scenes, this is a beautiful film. It is a masterpiece, simply and mildly put. The acting is brilliant, the dialogue is stylish and entertaining, the background is indescribable, and the action is just pure awesome. I give the highest reccommendation that I can.

  5. I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    I saw the film when I was 13, then again everybody's different. It is very violent and has plenty of sexual content. I guess most 13 year olds would understand the material featured, though it is a bit disturbing.

  6. I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message

    e.g. You should think twice before going with a tween!

    It's beautifully shot and very stylish but its also incredibly violent and over the top. Violence: Extreme raw brutal over the top Sexual Content: Very mild Language: A few s-words. Overall its an excellent film and should be ok for 15+.

  7. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title off for age 15 and give it 4.0

    This Will Appeal to Teens

    I think this is a film mid-teens should watch to get a feel for some flicks.

  8. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Iowa
    I rate this title pause for age 16 and give it 4.0

  9. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Indiana
    I rate this title pause for age 15 and give it 4.0

  10. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title pause for age 14 and give it 5.0

  11. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title pause for age 15 and give it 4.0

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

  13. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Delaware
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 3.0

  14. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 4.0

    not for me

    i saw it liked it but to much action for me i think for teens 16+ would be okay

  15. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    I loved this film, a great masterpiece. I have the unrated, directors cut, 2 disc DVD set preordered & I cannot wait for the sequel in summer 2006!!!

  16. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    Great movie... for adults

    Incredible images and great movie. Excellent movie to educate older teens about stylized movie making. Way too harsh for young teens.

  17. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 3.0

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 4.0

    its a good movie

    Ive read the comics and i think that the movie was made very well...the way they filmed it was great in that black and white with a hint of color. cool movie i say... not for younger kids.

  19. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 3.0

    Should really be rated "off"

    I think that CSM is becoming numb to the violence in today's media. I cannot imagine any recommendation other than "off" for _Sin City_. Is there anything of value (morally, ethically, spiritually, educationally) in this movie? Can anyone think of anything vile, debasing, or inhuman that is missing from _Sin City_? I couldn't.

  20. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 5.0

    Fantastic! Most entertaining movie I've seen in a while!

    This movie is NOT for kids by any means. If you are thinking about taking your children to see this, you may as well take them to see "Amittyville Horror" as that graphic film is probably less violent than "Sin City." This is the latest film from Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, From Dusk 'Til Dawn) and this is definitly a crowning achievement for him. All the parts are played well, and the action is carried out perfectly. This has to be at least as violent, and much more disturbing than the "Kill Bill" series. Adults (especially males ages 17-35) will appreciate this action packed movie most. *****/5

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