Style is the forefront of a Robert Rodriguez film, and in that, “Sin City” does not let us down.

Based on graphic novels by Frank Miller, the film is a homage to film noir, comic books and pop culture.

The film opens with a woman standing on a balcony. Her body is black and white while her dress and make-up are in color.

While this has been done before, 1998’s “Pleasantville” serving as a perfect example, Rodriguez adds a unique flair with canted camera angles keeping with the noir comic theme.

In “Sin City,” the streets are always rain swept, everyone drives convertibles, and speaking with a cigarette in your mouth is an acceptable form of communication.

The color scheme is red for blood, green for eyes and a villain named Yellow Bastard who represents the devil.

Rodriguez, most famous for movies such as “Spy Kids” and “El Mariachi,” teamed with Miller to make the comic book world come to life.

Quentin Tarantino was brought on board as assistant director for the paltry sum of $1, of which I think he only earned 50 cents.

That’s right, as big a fan as I am of Tarantino’s, I believe his only contribution was to add gore to a couple scenes, such as blood gushing out when a hand is severed and a few martial art scenes as when Devon Aoki throws a metal disc at someone’s head.

Most pop culture enthusiasts will know this metal disc from 1970s Shaw Bros. martial arts films such as “Master of the Flying Guillotine.”

While I will go see anything that has Tarantino’s name attached to it, I still have to wonder whether Rodriguez or Miller needed assistance with these scenes or if it was just a ploy to get, as they say, “butts in the seats.”

All things being equal, “Sin City” is visually stunning, and the stories are at times riveting. What I like most is the fact that this movie is different.

In a time where most films tend to look alike in order to make a consistent amount of money, it is refreshing to see filmmakers take risks and producers who will allow them to do so.