Before watching The Spirit, my first suggestion is that you pick up some of the original Will Eisner comics. They are short, fun reads.
There's a reason the comic book world's version of an Academy Award is called an Eisner. And Frank Miller is his biggest fan/stalker. Or was till Mr. Eisner passed away.
There's a book out there called "Eisner/Miller" in which the latter spends some time with Eisner "Tuesdays with Morrie"-style. I have never read it myself but have heard from several three-color-militants that it's amazing.
Eisner grabbed this freedom and utilized it and knew he could write and draw anything at all that popped out of his head. He could scribble down the craziest stuff and publish it and THEN see if it works.
I really enjoyed the characters and the story. While I've read some of the comic, I ain't read enough to tell you how much of the canon has been tweaked. Maybe I'm dissecting the process too much but this movie is just fun. Pulpy, noiry, cartoony fun.
We all know how Sam Jackson likes to go crazy in a role on occasion. He also is a man known to love his camp. Samuel L. plays our super villain, The Octopus, and he's absolutely nuts. It's awesome. Beyond awesome.
Miller apparently believes that simple old "suspension of disbelief" is for amateurs. He destroys the boundaries of whatever we thought we could take and when we all find ourselves on the other side the rules of our perception have been redefined.
It's really gutsy, I think, and from what I've read it didn't work for many. I dig it, though. It's like riding a rollercoaster backwards after mixing behavioral meds and Jägerbombs ... not that I've ever done that.
Amazon . It is available for pre-order at AmazonUK for a May 25th release. Visit the DVD database for more information. 
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