I never read the comic books (excuse me, graphic novels), but watching this movie is like seeing a living nbreathing 3-D black and white noir comic book. A grey-scale of violence, interspersed with white for blood and occassional splashes of red, the whites looking like out of focus headlights coming in at the screen, this one is definitely a hard R rating and not for the squeamish.

Four overlapping stories taking place in Basin City in much the same narrative style as for Pulp Fiction, with the wrap-around story going to Bruce Willis as he tries to save the life of a young girl. One character called Marv has a jawline straight out of the scrapbook of a sketch artist but done in a way that just misses being too hokey; it works. Each of the stories is hard-bitten, extremely bloody, and really graphic. Basically, if you liked Pulp Fiction you'll like this; if you didn't care for Pulp Fiction then stay away from this film.

If graphic comic style is your thing, then this is one come to life in both style, look, and action. Go see it but be prepared to whince at least once or twice. You have been warned.