As if Hollywood hasn’t made enough movies based on comic books lately, Robert Rodriguez’s film adaptation of Frank Miller’s “Sin City” appears to be yet another assembly-line production, lacking any appeal for movie-goers with no previous knowledge of the comic.

But if you’re not already a fan of Miller’s graphic novels, perhaps the big-name cast will be enough to catch your eye. Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Brittany Murphy, Elijah Wood and Josh Hartnett color the screen – in black and white.

This unorthodox cinematography helps “Sin City” stay true to the original comic book, in which sparse displays of color highlight specific character features. The technique also allows Rodriguez’s flick to transcend the limits of effects-driven (and content-starved) comic-book films like “Fantastic Four” and “X-Men 2: X-Men United.”

But the DVD’s special features are far less impressive: The disc has only one measly behind-the-scenes feature. If you’re an extras buff, however, Rodriguez has promised that a forthcoming edition will include many more exclusive features.

But squeamish cinephiles beware: the no-holds-barred violence can be a bit intense and disturbing.

– Jasett Chatham