Will Eisner's The Spirit first appeared in 1940, clearly drawing inspiration from The Shadow, Dick Tracy and particularly Batman. This film adaptation, made at the end of 2007, is unmistakably Frank Miller’s take on the character, blending Eisner’s hero with elements reminiscent of “Sin City,” a choice that alienated some comic fans. However, it's always true that movie versions of characters originating in comics and other forms of media—like radio or literature—are alternate interpretations. Consider John Milius’ "Conan the Barbarian" starring Schwarzenegger; while drawing from Robert E. Howard’s sword & sorcery hero, it incorporates pieces from various stories but still moves away from REH's original narratives. Or look at “Batman & Robin” and “Batman Begins,” both based on the comic book character, yet strikingly different in tone: one is bright and over-the-top while the other adopts a more serious approach. I mention this to say that I don’t mind it being Frank Miller's version of The Spirit. I have many of his Daredevil and Batman comics, and he’s an accomplished writer, even considered legendary within the comic book world. So, I anticipated a good story with "The Spirit," but it simply isn’t present. What’s worse is that the main character never really comes into focus, so I didn't connect with him (Gabriel Macht) as he confronts The Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson) and his associate (ScarJo), or his relationships with his now-corrupt childhood sweetheart (Eva Mendes), not to mention the Commissioner (Dan Lauria) and his daughter who is also a surgeon (Sarah Paulson), plus the enthusiastic young officer who looks up to him (Stana Katic). People frequently criticize “Batman & Robin” from 1997, but in that film, the characters are well-developed and the story has emotional depth. You feel the affection between Bruce and Alfred and the others at Wayne Manor (Dick Grayson and Barbara Wilson). It’s possible to sympathize with Mr. Freeze's love for his wife and desire to bring her back. Batman is able to see beyond his cold exterior to a warm heart that's open to redemption and making amends. You won't find any of that here. There’s just empty action sequences and encounters, presented with impressive visuals and style, but lacking in feeling. Everything *looks* great, including the hero and the women, but the characters are flat and there's no compelling story. The film has a running time of 1h 43m. GRADE: D+

Source on TMDB