HAD I known this film was based around a freaky graphic novel series by Frank Miller, I probably would've given it a wide berth.

However, this reviewer is glad to have given it a chance as it's actually a series of interesting, intertwined yarns with fantastic special effects.

Bruce Willis plays Hartigan, a decent cop who saves the life of a young girl, Nancy (Jessica Alba), who is kidnapped by a bunch of baddies, but he then gets incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit. Years later, some of the baddies decide to track down Nancy to seek their revenge and Hartigan finds himself drawn into Nancy's world - a sleazy one of perverts and prostitution.

There are lots of other great little stories which make-up Sin City, including the truly ugly Marv (Mickey Rourke), a street fighter who goes on a rampage after his true love is killed.

One thing which comes across through the imagery and script is that most people in Sin City are as corrupt and lacking in morals as the streets are deadly.

There are some excellent performances, particularly Rourke, who is spellbinding as Marv.

A disappointment was the DVD extras. There's only one short behind-the-scenes documentary which shares no interesting facts about the film.

HC