Gamertell

Earlier today I attended an advance screening of the upcoming movie based on the comic books The Spirit by Will Eisner.

Lionsgate’s film, to be released on Christmas (December 25, 2008), was written and directed by another graphic novelist, Frank Miller, who is extremely familiar with graphic-novel-to-film adaptations (see 300, Sin City and Elektra).

While the legal document I signed states that I cannot review the film yet (expect to read that soon), here’s what I can tell you about the flick without any spoilers:

• The cut I saw (again, a preview screening) was just shy of two hours, with the credits.
• Samuel L. Jackson as the main villain, The Octopus, does not have eight arms. Yes, he does offer up at least one dramatically irritated yell.
• The Spirit (Gabriel Macht) does plenty of skyscraper surfing but most of the cuts you’ve seen are from the beginning of the film. His tie is always red.
• Frank Miller makes a cameo.
• The film is not all black-and-white. You will see some flesh tones and colors other than red.
• Copiers are fun.
• Silken Floss (Scarlett Johansson) is “the prettiest girl.”
• You’ll see a lot of pussy in the film (as in the cat, potty brain) and only one naked lady.
• You will see a lot of actor Louis Lombardi.
• Someone does know the Spirit’s true identity.
• There is definite sexual tension.
• I didn’t see him roll up his sleeves once.
• Watch the credits and you will see some Frank Miller art.

The Spirit is a masked super hero style crime fighter who was previously a police detective named Denny Colt. Due to strange circumstances, Colt/Spirit cannot be killed. The character was created by Will Eisner in late 1939 and ran in one form or another until 1952 with resurrections pretty much every decade since.

Site [The Spirit]