I'm already giggling picturing the cries of protest that will rise up when I post this review, but the hell with it, I really like Zach Snyder's Sucker Punch. I never deliberately play the contrarian, I just seem to often gravitate towards films that have been maligned by the masses, and I can't really help it. Now, in this film's case, a few of the many and varied negative criticisms are somewhat warranted, yet blown out of proportion when you really take a good look at the story. The film is pure style, and although Zachary might have let his imagination run a little wild and clutter the whole affair with fanboy fantasies and video game visuals, there is a clear and discernible story beneath if one cares to look. Now, the only way that story is entirely comprehended is by watching the extended director's cut, which includes an absolutely crucial, pivotal scene that's should have never, ever ended up on the editing room floor for the theatrical version. Seriously, they we're straight up asking for hostility and confusion by not keeping it in every cut of the film, it's just common sense. Speaking of story, here we go: the film opens in breathless style and classic patented Snyder slo mo, with young Baby Doll (Emily Browning) trying to save her little sister from their tyrannically abusive stepfather. Outsmarted and shipped off to an austere mental institution, her journey is a sad, surreal and somewhat befuddling one, but there's a method to the madness that might not be clear with only one viewing of the film. The asylum she is sent to is plagued by a sinister orderly (Oscar Isaac) who is abusing the girls in his care, and as a result, Baby Doll channels such horrors into a grandiose set of fantasy worlds, the base of which rests on a burlesque style brothel where she and others work for volatile pimp Blue (also Isaac). Joined by Amber (Jamie Chung), Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), Rocket (Jena Malone) and Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), she blocks out the reality of what is happening and replaces the details of an elaborate, systematic escape attempt with impossibly epic, highly stylized adventures, each of a different theme or set in a vaguely familiar period of history. Battling medieval dragons, giant samurai golems with mini-guns, WWI zombie hordes in a gaunt, bombed out European landscape, it's all a detailed rush of sound and fury that hits you like a ton of bricks, and although is far too much for the film to handle and still get its point across, it's completely dazzling stuff, especially on Blu ray. Guided by a mysterious Wise Man (a kickass, rootin tootin Scott Glenn) who shows up in a different get up each time and mentored by brothel Madam of sorts Vera Gorski (Carla Gugino), each setting holds the key to move along a certain cog in their plan, correlating back down the line of delusions straight to the asylum, if a little tenuously. Now it all hinges on the arrival of the High Roller (Jon Hamm), a rich playboy who has come to the brothel to see Baby Doll dance, and probably more. Here's where they messed up royally: The scene I mentioned earlier is a monologue from him that is pretty much one of the most important parts of the film, capping off both realities beautifully, and without it, not only is Hamm relegated to basically a walk on extra, the entire final punch of the climax is rendered lost and neutered, not too mention quite uncomfortable in a sense. Whoever was in charge of that particular piece of the editing should be tarred, feathered and run off the studio lot by teamsters. With the scene left in on the extended version, however, the story is given both point and purpose, feeling like a complete vision with a little weight to go along with it's Hindenburg sized bag of visual tricks. Not Snyder's best for sure, but it's in no way close to the turkey some people will have you believe it is. Whiners. Style over substance? Yes, I'll definitely concede there's an imbalance, but don't try and tell me the whole thing is bereft of substance at all, because that is a lazily researched argument. The soundtrack is a treasure chest, I might add, with beautiful covers of Sweet Dreams and Sing Me To Sleep sung by Browning herself.
805 Reviews
Snyder pushing buttons for polarising results.
hitchcockthelegend7 November 2017
Off the bat I have to say I'm over thirty years older than what some pro critics have claimed is the demographic for this one. Sucker Punch, as reviews etc attest, is not for everyone, it has been called any number of things in derogative fashion, which since I enjoyed the film a lot means I'm a misogynist fetishist gamer, which to the best of my knowledge is not true. Lest I'm in the closet and now in middle age about to unleash traits and feelings previously untapped. Which if the latter is true you would have to say well done Zack Snyder, for that's serious film making...
Sucker Punch is loud, full of visual orgasms, musically adroit, exciting, clever and very sexy. Snyder has made no secret of his fetish leanings when making this piece, but it hardy constitutes a dark seedy mind at work. It can easily be argued that the film is very much pro women, the story itself - in amongst the explosive thunder of the fantastical action - is tender and beautiful, complete with emotional kickers. Perhaps it's in the eye of the beholder? But I see a strong female led action movie, with shifting fantasy realms, and cunningly it calls for deeper ponder come the finale.
Love it or hate it, Snyder has pushed buttons with this exercise. Better that than another cash cow sequel or another remake, re- imaging or rebirth. 7/10
Sucker Punch is loud, full of visual orgasms, musically adroit, exciting, clever and very sexy. Snyder has made no secret of his fetish leanings when making this piece, but it hardy constitutes a dark seedy mind at work. It can easily be argued that the film is very much pro women, the story itself - in amongst the explosive thunder of the fantastical action - is tender and beautiful, complete with emotional kickers. Perhaps it's in the eye of the beholder? But I see a strong female led action movie, with shifting fantasy realms, and cunningly it calls for deeper ponder come the finale.
Love it or hate it, Snyder has pushed buttons with this exercise. Better that than another cash cow sequel or another remake, re- imaging or rebirth. 7/10
Idiosyncratic, atmospheric and engaging fantasy
vandeman-scott5 July 2020
With its rustic-futuristic visuals, synergic use of classic rock music, overt sexuality, and dreamlike action sequences, SUCKER PUNCH feels like a live action homage to 1981's HEAVY METAL with a heaping helping of MATRIX folded in for good measure. Excellent, quirky performances from a bevy of skilled young actresses serve to enhance the idiosyncratic nature of this film.
From its atmospheric use of color to its smallest detail (think a snowflake melting on an eyelash), SUCKER PUNCH is a visual feast. The movie sounds great, too. Contemporary versions of songs like "White Rabbit," "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," and "Love is the Drug," to name a few, harmonize well with both the imagery and the unique, fantasy-within-a-dream storyline.
Like many, I'm scraping the bottom of the Netflix quarantine barrel and wasn't expecting much more from this movie than a forgettable distraction. I couldn't possibly have been more pleasantly surprised. SUCKER PUNCH grabbed me from its third-wall-busting opening shot and held my attention right to the eyebrow-raising ending. I'll be watching again. Soon.
7 stars.
From its atmospheric use of color to its smallest detail (think a snowflake melting on an eyelash), SUCKER PUNCH is a visual feast. The movie sounds great, too. Contemporary versions of songs like "White Rabbit," "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," and "Love is the Drug," to name a few, harmonize well with both the imagery and the unique, fantasy-within-a-dream storyline.
Like many, I'm scraping the bottom of the Netflix quarantine barrel and wasn't expecting much more from this movie than a forgettable distraction. I couldn't possibly have been more pleasantly surprised. SUCKER PUNCH grabbed me from its third-wall-busting opening shot and held my attention right to the eyebrow-raising ending. I'll be watching again. Soon.
7 stars.
A fistful of mediocrity.
johnnymacbest25 March 2011
With 300, Zack Snyder has made it abundantly clear that his movies dazzle they eyes, indeed they do, but his characters never engage the audience in a personal and emotional level. And Sucker Punch is just that. A visually dazzling collage of mental insanity taken to the extreme with a fairly interesting premise that looks promising on the surface, but never truly lets you sink your teeth into the inner workings of the main character.
Emily Browning plays Babydoll, a blond bombshell who is placed in a mental institution by her cold stepfather, and is then seen trying to persuade the orderlies into lobotomizing her to keep her from giving details surrounding a tragedy in her life. However, Babydoll begins to create a dreamworld in which not only to pass the time, but to figure a way out of the asylum.
As if that makes any sense whatsoever, here are the main problems with Sucker Punch that's been plaguing modern cinema; no plot and character development. Barely any of the characters that the protagonist meets are developed. They're just static talking heads spouting out lines that are trying to hammer into the audience that they are more than just cliché's and cardboard cutouts. The acting feels stiff and artificial with no sense of tension or suspense. You never feel that the characters are in real danger of any kind. It just goes thru the motions and despite having a nice premise to go on, the film feels like a half-ass-ed attempt to be something new and fresh.
Sucker Punch has some merits. The special effects and action scenes are impressive. I did get a kick out of some of the battle scenes which are nicely choreographed and executed with lots of explosions. Watching it is sort of like looking at a silent film on steroids but minus the heart and soul of that bygone era.
The incredible aesthetic beauty and action choreography are a lot impressive than Snyder's 300. But the problem with Sucker Punch is that even in a fantasy film, or any action film for that matter, you have to put effort into making the audience care for your characters no matter how good looking the action and special effects are. You simply won't care who lives or dies in this film. At some point, you have to try to make the audience care. This film simply never does.
I think that I got my point across perfectly clear regarding this film. If it entertained you, fine, then it did it's job. The problem is is that there's nothing remotely remarkable about this film aside from the visual aspect of this film. If more time was spent fleshing out the story, characters, with a more coherent script, then this could've been a really good film. But since so much potential was utterly wasted, I have no choice but to give my grade and it's a D.
Emily Browning plays Babydoll, a blond bombshell who is placed in a mental institution by her cold stepfather, and is then seen trying to persuade the orderlies into lobotomizing her to keep her from giving details surrounding a tragedy in her life. However, Babydoll begins to create a dreamworld in which not only to pass the time, but to figure a way out of the asylum.
As if that makes any sense whatsoever, here are the main problems with Sucker Punch that's been plaguing modern cinema; no plot and character development. Barely any of the characters that the protagonist meets are developed. They're just static talking heads spouting out lines that are trying to hammer into the audience that they are more than just cliché's and cardboard cutouts. The acting feels stiff and artificial with no sense of tension or suspense. You never feel that the characters are in real danger of any kind. It just goes thru the motions and despite having a nice premise to go on, the film feels like a half-ass-ed attempt to be something new and fresh.
Sucker Punch has some merits. The special effects and action scenes are impressive. I did get a kick out of some of the battle scenes which are nicely choreographed and executed with lots of explosions. Watching it is sort of like looking at a silent film on steroids but minus the heart and soul of that bygone era.
The incredible aesthetic beauty and action choreography are a lot impressive than Snyder's 300. But the problem with Sucker Punch is that even in a fantasy film, or any action film for that matter, you have to put effort into making the audience care for your characters no matter how good looking the action and special effects are. You simply won't care who lives or dies in this film. At some point, you have to try to make the audience care. This film simply never does.
I think that I got my point across perfectly clear regarding this film. If it entertained you, fine, then it did it's job. The problem is is that there's nothing remotely remarkable about this film aside from the visual aspect of this film. If more time was spent fleshing out the story, characters, with a more coherent script, then this could've been a really good film. But since so much potential was utterly wasted, I have no choice but to give my grade and it's a D.
Not as awful as you have heard but just empty, noisy, pointless, heartless and cynically commercial
bob the moo7 July 2011
Of course I had heard all the negative reviews when I sat to watch this. Of course I had seen the MTV-friendly action trailer. But critics can be biased and marketing can be misleading, so I decided to give this a go. On the face of it this film could have been similar to Pan's Labyrinth in regards the idea of a young girl/woman living through hardship and extending that hardship into a fantasy world of demons and otherworldly creatures. Certainly after watching the first very stylish fifteen minutes this felt like a film that would take this foundation of abuse and deep physiological injury and do something exciting, interesting and clever with it – at least, that's how it felt it could have been.
The problem is that, despite setting up these themes, the film does nothing with them – nothing at all. The dual fantasy sequences do not connect to any of the ideas or possible themes but rather represent an action sequence in the place of a (often mundane) aspect of the girl's plan to escape the burlesque house (which itself is a fantasy version of the mental institution). So for example when Babydoll dances to distract the mayor to allow the others to pickpocket a cigarette lighter , we cut away to a sequence of the girls raiding a castle to kill a dragon and steal the crystals that make it breathe fire. It might as well be a different film in these action sequences, and indeed they are – but the problem is that these sequences seem to be the film that Snyder wanted to make.
In fairness these massively dumb action sequences are full of style and presentation with impressive effects. They work for what they are and, even though the slow-mo, use of music and overall design is derivative, it does still provide plenty of style. But they aren't connected to anything in the film and this means that they have the same effect as they do in the trailer – "oh, that's fancy" but nothing more. There is no heart to them and as such these parts of the film are nothing more than another blockbuster with loads of effects but nothing else.
The lack of anything else is what kills the film because by the halfway point the empty noise becomes nothing more than noise. It is not even that it fails to make something of the ideas, characters and story – it is that it simply has no desire to do anything with them – like it is happy to be nothing. This annoyed me and it gets worse as the ending of the film attempts to suddenly have a darkness, to have a heart – it is too little too late and it doesn't work. In the absence of ideas to interest the viewer, one is left to think about other things. The exploitative fetishism of school-girl outfits, guns, sexuality and violence is one such thing I thought about – particularly since it was in a film whose final lines of dialogue appear to lift up the women characters. The sexual costumes and imagery do nothing of the sort but there is not some underlying misogyny as some have claimed – it is simply another part of Synder making his film as emptily commercial as possible, and sexy young women being sexy sells – just as gun porn and special effects sell. The cast match this as well – occasionally they look like they could have delivered more but ultimately they are little more than sexual effects. Browning, Cornish and Malone have a bit of heart to them but Hudgens and Chung are just flesh (not that I minded too much). This is not a film that cares about its cast – and the audience won't either.
Sucker Punch is not as awful as you have heard – it is too expensive and stylish for that. No, it is just poor because it simply does nothing other than empty, heartless style that is noisy and pointless. The ideas and themes go nowhere and the film has no interest in them or the characters. All that matters is slow-motion, cool music, big action and comic book style – if that is all you want without caring about any of it then this will fill your ears and eyes for a while – but if you want more then best give this a miss.
The problem is that, despite setting up these themes, the film does nothing with them – nothing at all. The dual fantasy sequences do not connect to any of the ideas or possible themes but rather represent an action sequence in the place of a (often mundane) aspect of the girl's plan to escape the burlesque house (which itself is a fantasy version of the mental institution). So for example when Babydoll dances to distract the mayor to allow the others to pickpocket a cigarette lighter , we cut away to a sequence of the girls raiding a castle to kill a dragon and steal the crystals that make it breathe fire. It might as well be a different film in these action sequences, and indeed they are – but the problem is that these sequences seem to be the film that Snyder wanted to make.
In fairness these massively dumb action sequences are full of style and presentation with impressive effects. They work for what they are and, even though the slow-mo, use of music and overall design is derivative, it does still provide plenty of style. But they aren't connected to anything in the film and this means that they have the same effect as they do in the trailer – "oh, that's fancy" but nothing more. There is no heart to them and as such these parts of the film are nothing more than another blockbuster with loads of effects but nothing else.
The lack of anything else is what kills the film because by the halfway point the empty noise becomes nothing more than noise. It is not even that it fails to make something of the ideas, characters and story – it is that it simply has no desire to do anything with them – like it is happy to be nothing. This annoyed me and it gets worse as the ending of the film attempts to suddenly have a darkness, to have a heart – it is too little too late and it doesn't work. In the absence of ideas to interest the viewer, one is left to think about other things. The exploitative fetishism of school-girl outfits, guns, sexuality and violence is one such thing I thought about – particularly since it was in a film whose final lines of dialogue appear to lift up the women characters. The sexual costumes and imagery do nothing of the sort but there is not some underlying misogyny as some have claimed – it is simply another part of Synder making his film as emptily commercial as possible, and sexy young women being sexy sells – just as gun porn and special effects sell. The cast match this as well – occasionally they look like they could have delivered more but ultimately they are little more than sexual effects. Browning, Cornish and Malone have a bit of heart to them but Hudgens and Chung are just flesh (not that I minded too much). This is not a film that cares about its cast – and the audience won't either.
Sucker Punch is not as awful as you have heard – it is too expensive and stylish for that. No, it is just poor because it simply does nothing other than empty, heartless style that is noisy and pointless. The ideas and themes go nowhere and the film has no interest in them or the characters. All that matters is slow-motion, cool music, big action and comic book style – if that is all you want without caring about any of it then this will fill your ears and eyes for a while – but if you want more then best give this a miss.
Watch it twice for the heartbreak.
dilloncamp13 April 2021
Really underrated movie. It's not just your typical stylized action flick, it's quite a heartbreaking story in its core.
On a rewatch of this movie I really started to understand what was REALLY going on here. Once you understand what's really going on in the movie it will break your heart.
Great action, great story line, characters you really feel for.
I think this movie is rated so low because the people drawn to it don't think past the surface.
On a rewatch of this movie I really started to understand what was REALLY going on here. Once you understand what's really going on in the movie it will break your heart.
Great action, great story line, characters you really feel for.
I think this movie is rated so low because the people drawn to it don't think past the surface.
What If You Spent $50 Million on a CGI Man Taking a Dump?
Quicksand25 March 2011
It's kind of difficult to comment on the movie, without just writing, "Terrible," and clicking the submit button. To write a good comment, one must write WHY it is terrible... but where to begin? If someone came into your home, and defecated in the middle of your living room, would you need to explain in a calm manner, three reasons why the person was wrong for doing such a deed? No. You'd toss them by their ear out onto the street, left with the unenviable task of having to clean up. Perhaps you'd even call the police.
If, on the other hand, you spent $50 million (or whatever the budget was; it was too high, in any event) to have someone take a CGI dump in your living room... is that any better? There are three actors in this movie: Scott Glenn, Jena Malone, and Carla Gugino. Four, if you count Jon Hamm, but he's not in the movie long enough to matter. There are these three, and everything else is there to talk until it's time for another special effect. Jena Malone isn't even required to do any of these things, but because she has actual experience as an actress, bothered to create a character and reflect an emotional state during the 'story.' Everyone else just showed up, put on the costumes, and talked until the director said 'cut.' Vanessa Hudgens should have been a clue.
Even if the story is awful, unmemorable, or predictable (Suckerpunch is all three), other Hollywood movies may rely on memorable action sequences or visuals. In a movie roughly 100 minutes long, these action sequences take up roughly five minutes of screen time. Then Snyder detonates an explosive in New York. Again.
It's not so much that Zack Snyder hates audiences, it's just that he's incredibly naive, like a 12-year-old suddenly given the keys to his dads liquor cabinet. He wants you to like a character, he makes them female and puts them in a low-cut top. He wants you to hate a character, he makes that character a rapist or molester of children. He does this again and again; these appear in every movie he's ever made, save for his first (and best) film, "Dawn of the Dead," which was written by someone else entirely. Someone who understands subtlety and character development. Realize, too, that I'm saying this about a movie where a smarmy rich dude accidentally chainsaws his most recent sexual partner.
Whatever fancy visuals made it to the trailer, the movie is this: Zack Snyder wrote a script with his camera-man, and it is neither funny nor exciting. It's a 100-minute demo reel, and considering this is his fifth movie, he really should have actually created something with weight, by this point.
I'm not going to call the police, but I am going to be mad for a week, because even though I've cleaned my floor, the smell lingers on. 3/10.
If, on the other hand, you spent $50 million (or whatever the budget was; it was too high, in any event) to have someone take a CGI dump in your living room... is that any better? There are three actors in this movie: Scott Glenn, Jena Malone, and Carla Gugino. Four, if you count Jon Hamm, but he's not in the movie long enough to matter. There are these three, and everything else is there to talk until it's time for another special effect. Jena Malone isn't even required to do any of these things, but because she has actual experience as an actress, bothered to create a character and reflect an emotional state during the 'story.' Everyone else just showed up, put on the costumes, and talked until the director said 'cut.' Vanessa Hudgens should have been a clue.
Even if the story is awful, unmemorable, or predictable (Suckerpunch is all three), other Hollywood movies may rely on memorable action sequences or visuals. In a movie roughly 100 minutes long, these action sequences take up roughly five minutes of screen time. Then Snyder detonates an explosive in New York. Again.
It's not so much that Zack Snyder hates audiences, it's just that he's incredibly naive, like a 12-year-old suddenly given the keys to his dads liquor cabinet. He wants you to like a character, he makes them female and puts them in a low-cut top. He wants you to hate a character, he makes that character a rapist or molester of children. He does this again and again; these appear in every movie he's ever made, save for his first (and best) film, "Dawn of the Dead," which was written by someone else entirely. Someone who understands subtlety and character development. Realize, too, that I'm saying this about a movie where a smarmy rich dude accidentally chainsaws his most recent sexual partner.
Whatever fancy visuals made it to the trailer, the movie is this: Zack Snyder wrote a script with his camera-man, and it is neither funny nor exciting. It's a 100-minute demo reel, and considering this is his fifth movie, he really should have actually created something with weight, by this point.
I'm not going to call the police, but I am going to be mad for a week, because even though I've cleaned my floor, the smell lingers on. 3/10.
Some good, some bad...
TheLittleSongbird27 August 2011
I do agree Sucker Punch is a love it, hate it type of film. Some people loved it, some despised me. As for me, I neither loved it or hated it. I have mixed feelings on Sucker Punch. I noticed some good things, but some areas of improvement too. It is not among my favourites of the year, but I think there are much worse movies released this year.
PROS: Sucker Punch's visuals are spectacular, the case with all of Zack Snyder's movies. The cinematography and editing are excellent, and the costumes, settings and effects likewise.
There is also an atmospheric soundtrack, stylish direction from Snyder and good performances from Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jenna Melone Vanessa Hudgens and Oscar Isaac.
Plus I loved Sucker Punch's idea. It was original and very interesting.
CONS: Despite this great idea, Sucker Punch doesn't quite live up to it in the execution of the storytelling. The story had this great concept and started off wonderfully, but as the film progresses it does get increasingly bewildering and convoluted.
Pacing is also uneven. The film could have been longer, so the film could have had more time to explain itself further, and some of the middle feels a little pedantic.
The script does have some stilted moments as well, and the characters while intriguing and decently acted could have done with more development.
In conclusion, Sucker Punch has its good points, but some assets could have been better. 6/10 Bethany Cox
PROS: Sucker Punch's visuals are spectacular, the case with all of Zack Snyder's movies. The cinematography and editing are excellent, and the costumes, settings and effects likewise.
There is also an atmospheric soundtrack, stylish direction from Snyder and good performances from Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jenna Melone Vanessa Hudgens and Oscar Isaac.
Plus I loved Sucker Punch's idea. It was original and very interesting.
CONS: Despite this great idea, Sucker Punch doesn't quite live up to it in the execution of the storytelling. The story had this great concept and started off wonderfully, but as the film progresses it does get increasingly bewildering and convoluted.
Pacing is also uneven. The film could have been longer, so the film could have had more time to explain itself further, and some of the middle feels a little pedantic.
The script does have some stilted moments as well, and the characters while intriguing and decently acted could have done with more development.
In conclusion, Sucker Punch has its good points, but some assets could have been better. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Unique
Calicodreamin2 July 2020
An interesting way to tell a story, that's for sure. I wasn't always sure what was going on... but it works itself out in the end. Not very much dialogue, but it's not really needed. The cinematography is what steals the show, a visually stunning movie. Lovely dark vibes and kickass ladies.
Wildly Misunderstood and Underrated
chas4373 January 2022
I've loved this film since its first run in theaters. Largely panned by critics and somewhat of a box office bomb, this film has been misunderstood from day one.
At face value, its t*ts and *ss and violence. I suppose the majority of viewers either loved it or despised it at that level. No doubt, knee jerk feminists were loud and strident haters. Seeing it as exploitation. I believe there is more nuance to 'Sucker Punch'.
It's more of a comment on how girls and young women are manipulated sexually and emotionally. You have to look a bit deeper past the in-your-face sex and violence. Most viewers won't invest themselves enough to see past this which is a bit sad.
Aussie actresses' Emma Browning and Abbie Cornish are exceptional as is Jena Malone. The rest of the cast is adequate.
The dream sequences are sublime, and the soundtrack is simply outstanding. These are some of the greatest songs sever recorded. I would rate this as one of the best soundtracks of the last 20 years.
At face value, its t*ts and *ss and violence. I suppose the majority of viewers either loved it or despised it at that level. No doubt, knee jerk feminists were loud and strident haters. Seeing it as exploitation. I believe there is more nuance to 'Sucker Punch'.
It's more of a comment on how girls and young women are manipulated sexually and emotionally. You have to look a bit deeper past the in-your-face sex and violence. Most viewers won't invest themselves enough to see past this which is a bit sad.
Aussie actresses' Emma Browning and Abbie Cornish are exceptional as is Jena Malone. The rest of the cast is adequate.
The dream sequences are sublime, and the soundtrack is simply outstanding. These are some of the greatest songs sever recorded. I would rate this as one of the best soundtracks of the last 20 years.
Another Trip To Willoughby
bkoganbing2 April 2011
Watching Sucker Punch put me in mind of a great old Twilight Zone episode A Stop At Willoughby. Young Emily Browning has been committed to an asylum where apparently all the patients are young and nubile women who are played by Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, and Jane Chang. There seems to be a good reason for that as these women have to dance alluring dances and perform other services for high rolling customers. A way for the asylum to make some money.
Like James Daly in the Twilight Zone episode who was a modern businessman under great job pressure looking for an escape, these women want to escape as well. He found an exit in an unscheduled stop in a town called Willoughby which looks like a set from The Music Man. The girls also want an escape into life beyond the walls of this place they're trapped in.
More I can't say lest I divulge the secret of the plot. But Browning and Daly both want out of the life they're trapped in and each finds a similar solution. Scott Glenn has a mysterious and unique role similar to the train conductor in the Twilight Zone episode.
Sucker Punch because a lot of it takes place in the imagination has a great show of special effects virtuosity. If you're not terribly concerned about story and plot as I am, this is the film for you. The girls are lovely to look at also and they have great fighting skills or their stunt doubles do.
Like James Daly in the Twilight Zone episode who was a modern businessman under great job pressure looking for an escape, these women want to escape as well. He found an exit in an unscheduled stop in a town called Willoughby which looks like a set from The Music Man. The girls also want an escape into life beyond the walls of this place they're trapped in.
More I can't say lest I divulge the secret of the plot. But Browning and Daly both want out of the life they're trapped in and each finds a similar solution. Scott Glenn has a mysterious and unique role similar to the train conductor in the Twilight Zone episode.
Sucker Punch because a lot of it takes place in the imagination has a great show of special effects virtuosity. If you're not terribly concerned about story and plot as I am, this is the film for you. The girls are lovely to look at also and they have great fighting skills or their stunt doubles do.
Sucker Punch — Be amazed, be struck by lightning, see this fantastical sci-fi
AvidClimber29 March 2013
Sucker Punch is totally out there, and probably the only way to combine so many different things in a single story.
The story telling is incomplete, in itself, but not the story. Most of it is told metaphorically. You get to imagine the rest. An easy thing to do is to dismiss the movie because of the beautiful women, or the intense and fantastical action. That is a grand mistake. The story is poignant and very sad, yet wrapped in a beautiful cinematographic cocoon. It's breathtaking. I kept wondering when the hammer blow of bad poorly constructed elements would descend upon me and disappointment, break my heart. It never did.
The dialogs might look simple, and the story line really quick, but their complementing information is in the magic of the metaphors. It's an incredible ride led by the excellent acting of those gorgeous creatures and genius directorial mind, as well as the superb editing and CGI.
Ride the wave, shed a tear, see it.
The story telling is incomplete, in itself, but not the story. Most of it is told metaphorically. You get to imagine the rest. An easy thing to do is to dismiss the movie because of the beautiful women, or the intense and fantastical action. That is a grand mistake. The story is poignant and very sad, yet wrapped in a beautiful cinematographic cocoon. It's breathtaking. I kept wondering when the hammer blow of bad poorly constructed elements would descend upon me and disappointment, break my heart. It never did.
The dialogs might look simple, and the story line really quick, but their complementing information is in the magic of the metaphors. It's an incredible ride led by the excellent acting of those gorgeous creatures and genius directorial mind, as well as the superb editing and CGI.
Ride the wave, shed a tear, see it.
Nowhere NEAR as bad as reviews claimed.
tpaladino24 April 2012
I avoided this film like the plague when it was in theaters, having heard nothing but the worst reviews imaginable. Hardly anyone had anything nice to say about it, and usually that is a pretty good indicator a film is bad. I mean, one or two bad reviews can usually be brushed off. Even a 50/50 split amongst critics can sometimes indicate a good, but misunderstood film. But when a movie is universally panned, it's a safe bet that you're not missing anything by skipping it.
Wow, were they wrong here. I decided to catch Sucker Punch on HBO now that it's available, and I'm very glad I did. It's definitely not a perfect movie, but it's also nowhere near as bad as we've all been led to believe.
It's got a few moments that don't really work, and I could have done entirely without the narration at the end, but other than that, it's a terrific, beautifully stylized action fantasy, filled with imaginative villains, lush graphics, pretty girls and a uniquely offbeat storyline.
I simply don't understand where all the hate came from here. Yeah, it generally portrays a male adolescent fantasy of hot girls in skimpy outfits. Big freaking deal. There are far more exploitative films out there, few of which inspired the level of vitriol hurled at Sucker Punch. It's a cool fantasy film, with heavy elements of B-movie and classic pulp noir skillfully added for good measure.
How this film can be hated but something like Grindhouse critically beloved is beyond my comprehension. Yes, Grindhouse is better. But not so much better to justify the massive disparity (83% to 23% on Rotten Tomatoes).
And I'm not even a big Zach Snyder fan to begin with. I thought Watchmen was awful, and didn't think very much of 300 either. But I have to give him credit on this one; he was truly robbed this time around.
Wow, were they wrong here. I decided to catch Sucker Punch on HBO now that it's available, and I'm very glad I did. It's definitely not a perfect movie, but it's also nowhere near as bad as we've all been led to believe.
It's got a few moments that don't really work, and I could have done entirely without the narration at the end, but other than that, it's a terrific, beautifully stylized action fantasy, filled with imaginative villains, lush graphics, pretty girls and a uniquely offbeat storyline.
I simply don't understand where all the hate came from here. Yeah, it generally portrays a male adolescent fantasy of hot girls in skimpy outfits. Big freaking deal. There are far more exploitative films out there, few of which inspired the level of vitriol hurled at Sucker Punch. It's a cool fantasy film, with heavy elements of B-movie and classic pulp noir skillfully added for good measure.
How this film can be hated but something like Grindhouse critically beloved is beyond my comprehension. Yes, Grindhouse is better. But not so much better to justify the massive disparity (83% to 23% on Rotten Tomatoes).
And I'm not even a big Zach Snyder fan to begin with. I thought Watchmen was awful, and didn't think very much of 300 either. But I have to give him credit on this one; he was truly robbed this time around.
Pulp Objectification
alexart-12 April 2011
In a day when Hollywood craves good original screenplays, Sucker Punch proves that some filmmakers should stick to adapting great source material. An exuberantly bad pastiche of genres, Sucker Punch is the anti-Quentin Tarantino film. Zack Snyder's story is mashup of several different genres, none of which prove successful in the long run. The number of believable lines in Snyder's screenplay can be counted on two hands, thus providing very little material for the potentially good cast of women to work with. Snyder clearly doesn't know how to construct a visually disinteresting shot, but it all doesn't matter because the film trips over its own feet constantly.
Sucker Punch is told from the point-of-view of Babydoll (Emily Browning), a young girl who is sent to an asylum by her father after she accidentally kills her sister in the bravado opening sequence. It isn't too long before Babydoll realizes that she is scheduled for a lobotomy. Her vivid fantasies cause her to realize escaping is her only way to survive. Babydoll enlists the help of the girls in her ward to help guide her through her intense journey out of the asylum. The supporting cast includes Abbie Cornish, Carla Gugino, Vanessa Hudgens, Jena Malone, Jamie Chung, and Scott Glenn. Look for a brief performance from Jon Hamm at the very end.
What's good about this film is, indeed, pretty good, however there are very few things I can say in this area, unfortunately. Zack Snyder is a visual extraordinaire. His slow motion shots of flying weaponry and spinning girls are a wonder to watch. Larry Fong, the cinematographer for 300 and Watchmen, does wonders with the supersaturated blacks and oranges that create a moody contrast between fantasy and reality.
The story is bizarrely fragment and surprisingly boring. Four 20-minute action sequences punctuate the storyline involving the asylum, which is unfortunate because that was the only one I was actually interested in. The beginning and end are worth seeing for their emotional intensity and surprising depth, however the war/samurai/dystopian/medieval fantasies are flat and plain, despite the action displayed on screen, which should be rich but isn't at all. Very often, the story sucker punches itself and doesn't every get back up.
Sucker Punch is meant to be an action movie and yet its action sequences are the least interesting parts. Each one attempts to allude to a previous great film in its respective category, but each one is unsuccessful. Furthermore, the choreography of each fight is exactly what one might expect; there isn't a single thing that excites or creates any sort of reaction.
Zack Snyder has clearly stated that Sucker Punch was supposed to be 18 minutes longer with an alternate ending. The question is, do I care? The answer is yes, oddly enough. Sucker Punch has the strange potential to be a classic. After all, how many films received negative reviews upon their initial release and ended up in cult fandom?
One other shortcoming of this film that should absolutely be noted is the treatment of women. Although Sucker Punch wants to be a feminist movie, it actually turns out to be demeaning more than anything. Scantily clad women are sexualized throughout the entire film, and it is our job to be thrilled by the imminent danger of rape and abuse that so often happens in the asylum. It's scary to think that somebody let this kind of plot happen in this day and age.
Sucker Punch truly hit me hard, but not in a good way. The objectified, stiletto-wearing protagonists stumble through the entire middle third, making the good beginning and ending moot. The cast is oddly bland, but Snyder makes up for it with his impressive visuals. Overall, Sucker Punch is an experience people shouldn't enjoy. It's a post-post-modern mess that will be remembered as a geekgasm, for now at least.
Sucker Punch is told from the point-of-view of Babydoll (Emily Browning), a young girl who is sent to an asylum by her father after she accidentally kills her sister in the bravado opening sequence. It isn't too long before Babydoll realizes that she is scheduled for a lobotomy. Her vivid fantasies cause her to realize escaping is her only way to survive. Babydoll enlists the help of the girls in her ward to help guide her through her intense journey out of the asylum. The supporting cast includes Abbie Cornish, Carla Gugino, Vanessa Hudgens, Jena Malone, Jamie Chung, and Scott Glenn. Look for a brief performance from Jon Hamm at the very end.
What's good about this film is, indeed, pretty good, however there are very few things I can say in this area, unfortunately. Zack Snyder is a visual extraordinaire. His slow motion shots of flying weaponry and spinning girls are a wonder to watch. Larry Fong, the cinematographer for 300 and Watchmen, does wonders with the supersaturated blacks and oranges that create a moody contrast between fantasy and reality.
The story is bizarrely fragment and surprisingly boring. Four 20-minute action sequences punctuate the storyline involving the asylum, which is unfortunate because that was the only one I was actually interested in. The beginning and end are worth seeing for their emotional intensity and surprising depth, however the war/samurai/dystopian/medieval fantasies are flat and plain, despite the action displayed on screen, which should be rich but isn't at all. Very often, the story sucker punches itself and doesn't every get back up.
Sucker Punch is meant to be an action movie and yet its action sequences are the least interesting parts. Each one attempts to allude to a previous great film in its respective category, but each one is unsuccessful. Furthermore, the choreography of each fight is exactly what one might expect; there isn't a single thing that excites or creates any sort of reaction.
Zack Snyder has clearly stated that Sucker Punch was supposed to be 18 minutes longer with an alternate ending. The question is, do I care? The answer is yes, oddly enough. Sucker Punch has the strange potential to be a classic. After all, how many films received negative reviews upon their initial release and ended up in cult fandom?
One other shortcoming of this film that should absolutely be noted is the treatment of women. Although Sucker Punch wants to be a feminist movie, it actually turns out to be demeaning more than anything. Scantily clad women are sexualized throughout the entire film, and it is our job to be thrilled by the imminent danger of rape and abuse that so often happens in the asylum. It's scary to think that somebody let this kind of plot happen in this day and age.
Sucker Punch truly hit me hard, but not in a good way. The objectified, stiletto-wearing protagonists stumble through the entire middle third, making the good beginning and ending moot. The cast is oddly bland, but Snyder makes up for it with his impressive visuals. Overall, Sucker Punch is an experience people shouldn't enjoy. It's a post-post-modern mess that will be remembered as a geekgasm, for now at least.
Unique Film You Must Have A Taste For
Foutainoflife3 September 2018
So, I'm not the biggest fan of this movie because of the, for the lack of a better term, steam punkish feel and the Bjork music. However, the story is pretty interesting, the acting was decent and the sets had a dark, almost gothic feel. It is a different movie, for sure. You will more than likely love it or flat out hate it. If you're searching for something different check it out. You won't be disappointed.
Stupid Pinch
TourettesPersonal26 March 2011
"Sucker Punch" is basically disappointing but also obviously gonna fail because it was directed by Zack "The Slow-Mo" Snyder. Well Snyder is only good at visuals. This movie is not an adaptation. He created the story to make his visual talent more useful. The story can be interesting but this fantasy/video gamey world was pointless although it was the whole point of the movie, the reason why we are attracted to this. His directing is still slow and messed up. The action is slow. Everything is slow. It's just sad.
The first act was like a playlist of music videos. It's a good way to start the film. The second act started to become pointless until the end. They're coming to this imaginary world without any sense or any connection to the reality until the last visit. Like I say this movie's existence is for the visuals but it's clunky to the story.
If there is something that I liked in this movie then it's Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, and Oscar Isaac. They are the only ones who had a decent performance. Carla Gugino was also good. The other cast, Emily Browning is like Bella Swan holding guns and swords. Vanessa Hudgens doesn't have the guts to be tough. Scott Glenn needed more scenes.
The other thing that I liked in this film is the visual effects of course. But this eye-candy merit was slapped by Snyder's directing style called Slow-Mo. His slow-mos are just senseless and boring. Ninjas, zombie Nazis, dragons, robots, and hot chicks in one movie can be fun but their mixture in this film is just nonsense. The movie is nonsense. It's not imaginative. It's just a mess.
"Sucker Punch" is like "Scott Pilgrim The Movie" in a bad way. At least the absurdity of "Scott Pilgrim" had a lot of sense, but this in a realistic serious world meets preposterous is strangely mismatched. I think a video game fan and a kid will enjoy this (or not). Overall "Sucker Punch" is a turtley fantasy mess. They say it's "Alice in Wonderland with machine guns". Well "Alice in Wonderland" is smarter than this. You want hot chicks? Guess what. Abbie Cornish is HOTT!
The first act was like a playlist of music videos. It's a good way to start the film. The second act started to become pointless until the end. They're coming to this imaginary world without any sense or any connection to the reality until the last visit. Like I say this movie's existence is for the visuals but it's clunky to the story.
If there is something that I liked in this movie then it's Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, and Oscar Isaac. They are the only ones who had a decent performance. Carla Gugino was also good. The other cast, Emily Browning is like Bella Swan holding guns and swords. Vanessa Hudgens doesn't have the guts to be tough. Scott Glenn needed more scenes.
The other thing that I liked in this film is the visual effects of course. But this eye-candy merit was slapped by Snyder's directing style called Slow-Mo. His slow-mos are just senseless and boring. Ninjas, zombie Nazis, dragons, robots, and hot chicks in one movie can be fun but their mixture in this film is just nonsense. The movie is nonsense. It's not imaginative. It's just a mess.
"Sucker Punch" is like "Scott Pilgrim The Movie" in a bad way. At least the absurdity of "Scott Pilgrim" had a lot of sense, but this in a realistic serious world meets preposterous is strangely mismatched. I think a video game fan and a kid will enjoy this (or not). Overall "Sucker Punch" is a turtley fantasy mess. They say it's "Alice in Wonderland with machine guns". Well "Alice in Wonderland" is smarter than this. You want hot chicks? Guess what. Abbie Cornish is HOTT!
Worth Revisiting!
Miroslav-272 October 2021
I just rewatched this movie and wow am I glad I did! Talk about underrated! Sure, the entire movie is a bit over the top, but Zack Snyder deserves more credit than he was given when this movie originally came out 10 years ago.
At first glance, most viewers would believe this is simply hot girls doing action scenes, but that would be selling them short. There is some impressive work being done here by the entire cast. The fight sequences are elite and the cinematic elements of the film are actually quite spectacular. Some top-notch camerawork, cinematography, and visual effects take you on a grand adventure. Watching the 5 main women in combat was some of the best entertainment I've seen on screen in a while.
What makes Sucker Punch so impressive, but ironically also holds it back, is that it's trapped between reality and fantasy. The movie presents an obvious question of what is real and what isn't, but when it came to figuring out that answer, I found that I didn't actually care in the end.
At first glance, most viewers would believe this is simply hot girls doing action scenes, but that would be selling them short. There is some impressive work being done here by the entire cast. The fight sequences are elite and the cinematic elements of the film are actually quite spectacular. Some top-notch camerawork, cinematography, and visual effects take you on a grand adventure. Watching the 5 main women in combat was some of the best entertainment I've seen on screen in a while.
What makes Sucker Punch so impressive, but ironically also holds it back, is that it's trapped between reality and fantasy. The movie presents an obvious question of what is real and what isn't, but when it came to figuring out that answer, I found that I didn't actually care in the end.
A love it or hate it type of film.
Loving_Silence17 March 2011
I personally enjoyed the film and I am a fan of Zack Snyder's previous films (Watchmen,300,and Dawn of the Dead). The visuals were pretty much stunning with very few exceptions, but they are easily forgiven and not distracting at all. The acting wasn't anything "Oscar" worthy, but then again it shouldn't be. The performances were very good for an action film and I like it that way. This films definitely attracts the teenage male demographics, who like action packed films filled with hot women. This film, however is not for everyone. Some people might not like CGI, some women might be offended that this film is very shallow, violent, and very degrading towards women.This is definitely the type of movie you'll either love or hate.
My only problem with the movie is that the story doesn't seem fully realized If you want to keep me interested you will need a lot more than 20 minutes of fantasy CGI sequences sprinkled throughout a 120 minute trek However go in this movie expecting to have a lot of fun! Overall the movie has stunning visuals, great action scenes, and worthwhile acting. I definitely recommend this movie to people looking to have a good time.
My only problem with the movie is that the story doesn't seem fully realized If you want to keep me interested you will need a lot more than 20 minutes of fantasy CGI sequences sprinkled throughout a 120 minute trek However go in this movie expecting to have a lot of fun! Overall the movie has stunning visuals, great action scenes, and worthwhile acting. I definitely recommend this movie to people looking to have a good time.
Viewer: Sucker Punch to the Face
jonnyhavey27 March 2011
Director Zack Snyder's ("300," "Watchmen") latest film, "Sucker Punch" can be described by one word: bummer. Snyder is known for making films with very detailed, enthralling visual splendor. However, he proves that visuals are not enough to successfully create a good film. Starting with a brief back-story of a girl known as Babydoll (Emily Browning, "The Uninvited") and ending with an attempted metaphorical message, the plot is lost in the midst of action. Babydoll's story takes place in 1955 with the death of her mother leading to the attempted rape of Babydoll and her sister by their Stepfather (Gerard Plunkett, "2012"). In order to stop her father from succeeding she tries to shoot him, but accidentally misses shooting her sister instead. She immediately drops the gun and begins running, however, she cannot escape the clutches of her Stepfather. After the police come she is taken to an insane asylum for girls known as the Lennox House. Her Stepfather pays off one of the orderlies named Blue Jones (Oscar Isaac, "Robin Hood") to forge the signature of Madam Gorski (Carla Gugino, "Watchmen") to have her lobotomized by the Doctor (Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"). While in the mental institution, Babydoll meets fellow inmates Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish, "Limitless"), Rocket (Jena Malone, "The Messenger") Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens, "High School Musical"), and Amber (Jamie Chung, "Grown Ups"). Immediately following, Snyder takes the audience deep within Babydoll's mind creating an "Inception-like" mental design of three layers. In the second layer Babydoll transforms the mental institution into a cathouse where her and her companions are just a group of entrapped prostitutes. In this mental state Babydoll is taught to dance by Madam Gorski, taking her one level further for the duration of her dance. In the deepest level she is given a mission by a Wise Man (Scott Glenn, "Secretariat") leading her to escape the mental hospital. Together Babydoll and her fellow inmates complete a set of five tasks in hopes of escaping before Babydoll is given to the High Roller (Also Jon Hamm) in the brothel synonymous with her lobotomy in reality.
It goes without saying the only reason anyone should see this film is to see Snyder's renowned graphic grandeur. Snyder mixes of light and dark with vibrant colors to distinguish the inner most layer of Babydoll's mind from the blandness of the rest of the film. Here Snyder creates entertaining action sequences in the backdrop of his graphic effects and has a little help from Jena Malone and Scott Glenn's performances.
"Sucker Punch" is synonymous with a rolling ball of flaws attributed to a variety of different shortcomings. The film starts with very weird character development as Babydoll acts as nothing more than a mime until she finally speaks 30 minutes into the film. The viewer is also hit immediately with an over the top soundtrack playing a different song every five minutes undermining the integrity of each scene. The casting for the film is almost as random as the soundtrack with a wide range of B-list actresses coming from a variety of different backgrounds. Exhibit A: Vanessa Hudgens. What were you thinking Snyder? "High School Musical" to "Sucker Punch"? Need I say more? While, along with the fact that Emily Browning and Jamie Chung may as well be labeled as unknowns, Oscar Isaac and Carla Gugino are out of place in this film. Also, it really is sad that the best actor in the film, Jon Hamm, is only in the film for a minute or two. This combined with a very poorly written script massacred the film creating horrid situational clichés and predictable outcomes.
One-dimensional characters and an ending reaching for metaphorical meaning vastly overshadow Snyder's special effects. Therefore the only special thing about Snyder's latest film is the fact that the viewer gets "Sucker Punched" in the face as the film goes down as one of the greatest letdowns of 2011.
It goes without saying the only reason anyone should see this film is to see Snyder's renowned graphic grandeur. Snyder mixes of light and dark with vibrant colors to distinguish the inner most layer of Babydoll's mind from the blandness of the rest of the film. Here Snyder creates entertaining action sequences in the backdrop of his graphic effects and has a little help from Jena Malone and Scott Glenn's performances.
"Sucker Punch" is synonymous with a rolling ball of flaws attributed to a variety of different shortcomings. The film starts with very weird character development as Babydoll acts as nothing more than a mime until she finally speaks 30 minutes into the film. The viewer is also hit immediately with an over the top soundtrack playing a different song every five minutes undermining the integrity of each scene. The casting for the film is almost as random as the soundtrack with a wide range of B-list actresses coming from a variety of different backgrounds. Exhibit A: Vanessa Hudgens. What were you thinking Snyder? "High School Musical" to "Sucker Punch"? Need I say more? While, along with the fact that Emily Browning and Jamie Chung may as well be labeled as unknowns, Oscar Isaac and Carla Gugino are out of place in this film. Also, it really is sad that the best actor in the film, Jon Hamm, is only in the film for a minute or two. This combined with a very poorly written script massacred the film creating horrid situational clichés and predictable outcomes.
One-dimensional characters and an ending reaching for metaphorical meaning vastly overshadow Snyder's special effects. Therefore the only special thing about Snyder's latest film is the fact that the viewer gets "Sucker Punched" in the face as the film goes down as one of the greatest letdowns of 2011.
Why Sucker Punch Works and why it will rock DVD sales
GeneR7771 April 2011
I originally wrote a review the day after I saw Sucker Punch. I panned it. To me my initial feelings were rather lukewarm at best.
But then I gave it some time.
And as I went through my days afterward my mind would wander back to the story and think about the visual food for thought.
Yeah, the girls are hot. Yeah, the action is over the top, but if you look at the emotional landscape that is being explored in a more literal fashion via the action then yeah, this is a pretty cool idea.
Sometimes films come along that are a "sucker punch" in terms of originality. The general public usually reacts negatively to it which leads to poor box office results. But later on the audience has had a chance to digest what was given and revisits the film and breaths new life into it.
My prediction is that such a situation will happen with Sucker Punch. It'll probably not recoup its initial budget at the box office. People will flood the IMDb forum with reasons why it did not work. We will probably see about a few dozen threads at least where people will vent their reasons why they hate the film and why you too should not see it.
But given some time it will recoup via video sales and other distribution deals.
Why?
Because it's still a solid story. The style of the movie is an Otaku's wet dream, but overall result is still the same: it does surprise and give ample food for thought.
Think of it as stylized parable about repression, personal will and sacrifice. Because sooner or later after all the negative backlash and reviews blow by those emotional messages will be all that will be left.
And people will remember it for that reason.
But then I gave it some time.
And as I went through my days afterward my mind would wander back to the story and think about the visual food for thought.
Yeah, the girls are hot. Yeah, the action is over the top, but if you look at the emotional landscape that is being explored in a more literal fashion via the action then yeah, this is a pretty cool idea.
Sometimes films come along that are a "sucker punch" in terms of originality. The general public usually reacts negatively to it which leads to poor box office results. But later on the audience has had a chance to digest what was given and revisits the film and breaths new life into it.
My prediction is that such a situation will happen with Sucker Punch. It'll probably not recoup its initial budget at the box office. People will flood the IMDb forum with reasons why it did not work. We will probably see about a few dozen threads at least where people will vent their reasons why they hate the film and why you too should not see it.
But given some time it will recoup via video sales and other distribution deals.
Why?
Because it's still a solid story. The style of the movie is an Otaku's wet dream, but overall result is still the same: it does surprise and give ample food for thought.
Think of it as stylized parable about repression, personal will and sacrifice. Because sooner or later after all the negative backlash and reviews blow by those emotional messages will be all that will be left.
And people will remember it for that reason.
Pretty good actually even if "too much"
satin-482504 December 2021
Interesting Concept. Uninteresting Execution.
CinemaClown8 July 2021
How Sucker Punch manages to be such a dull, tedious & unstimulating adventure despite its wacky premise is beyond me! The film takes an interesting approach to explore its seemingly ambitious ideas and is also brimming with style & eye-candy visuals yet its plot & characters are so poorly carved & lacking in everything that the story never for once manages to create any sort of intrigue whatsoever.
Co-written & directed by Zack Snyder (300 & Watchmen), the story opens with an instantly captivating prologue that expertly illustrates Snyder's visual splendour & stylistic flourishes. However, once our young protagonist retreats to an alternative reality, things start heading downhill thereafter. Even the fantasy within the fantasy realm fails to reignite any interest in the outcome, for the characters are never compelling to begin with.
The story offers nothing for the viewers to latch on to. Events unfold with such blandness that sitting through them becomes a chore after a while. Its over-the-top action has a video-game quality to it but no sense of threat or danger to make the segment even remotely entertaining. Performances are serviceable at best, with only Oscar Isaac leaving some kind of impression. The musical choices are rather obvious, and the film's CGI has dated severely over the years.
Overall, Sucker Punch probably knows what it wants to say but is completely clueless about how to say it. A dry, lacklustre & convoluted mess that attempts to steer itself past the finish line solely on visual thrills, this action fantasy is marred by insipid writing & shoddy direction, and remains an emotionally distant fare for the most part. While there is an arresting appeal to its imagery, much of it is still hollow from within. In short, an utterly mediocre & uninspiring genre offering.
Co-written & directed by Zack Snyder (300 & Watchmen), the story opens with an instantly captivating prologue that expertly illustrates Snyder's visual splendour & stylistic flourishes. However, once our young protagonist retreats to an alternative reality, things start heading downhill thereafter. Even the fantasy within the fantasy realm fails to reignite any interest in the outcome, for the characters are never compelling to begin with.
The story offers nothing for the viewers to latch on to. Events unfold with such blandness that sitting through them becomes a chore after a while. Its over-the-top action has a video-game quality to it but no sense of threat or danger to make the segment even remotely entertaining. Performances are serviceable at best, with only Oscar Isaac leaving some kind of impression. The musical choices are rather obvious, and the film's CGI has dated severely over the years.
Overall, Sucker Punch probably knows what it wants to say but is completely clueless about how to say it. A dry, lacklustre & convoluted mess that attempts to steer itself past the finish line solely on visual thrills, this action fantasy is marred by insipid writing & shoddy direction, and remains an emotionally distant fare for the most part. While there is an arresting appeal to its imagery, much of it is still hollow from within. In short, an utterly mediocre & uninspiring genre offering.
Beauty and Style
wolffmarcel-516162 June 2023
Sucker Punch isnt a new high in case of Story telling, altho it manages to keep the somewhat plot interesting enough.
A handful very beautiful Girls try to escape some kind of asylum, which is also a brothel in which the Girls have to "perform".
Its not easy to explain whats going on since the small plots are mixed all the time.
But overall its like a standart Video Game. The Girls have several Goals to archive to get certain items they need for the escape. And every "mission" is told in a complete new setting on its own. Those sequences are maybe around 10 Minutes long each.
And here is where the strength of sucker punch is.
The Action is solid, the effects are great and the pacing fits.
This Movie is the definition of Popcorn Cinema. Good Popcorn Cinema.
Normaly i enjoy intelligent Movies more, but this one is just 1,5h of lay down and relax after a hard days work.
A handful very beautiful Girls try to escape some kind of asylum, which is also a brothel in which the Girls have to "perform".
Its not easy to explain whats going on since the small plots are mixed all the time.
But overall its like a standart Video Game. The Girls have several Goals to archive to get certain items they need for the escape. And every "mission" is told in a complete new setting on its own. Those sequences are maybe around 10 Minutes long each.
And here is where the strength of sucker punch is.
The Action is solid, the effects are great and the pacing fits.
This Movie is the definition of Popcorn Cinema. Good Popcorn Cinema.
Normaly i enjoy intelligent Movies more, but this one is just 1,5h of lay down and relax after a hard days work.
Had low expectations which this "movie" exceeded
editing_budgie31 May 2017
This was a steaming turd which oozed paedo-nonsense from the screen.
No matter how low my expectations are for a Zack Snyder eye-bortion, he finds a way to exceed them. The heartless misogyny, the creepy paedophilia, the terrible use of slow mo and the 'breathy ingenue sings a song really slow" (which was cool for about 10 minutes a decade ago) all add up to a symphony of sophomoric sewage.
I bet even the craft services were terrible.
Honestly, he must have dirt on any exec that greenlights his crap.
No matter how low my expectations are for a Zack Snyder eye-bortion, he finds a way to exceed them. The heartless misogyny, the creepy paedophilia, the terrible use of slow mo and the 'breathy ingenue sings a song really slow" (which was cool for about 10 minutes a decade ago) all add up to a symphony of sophomoric sewage.
I bet even the craft services were terrible.
Honestly, he must have dirt on any exec that greenlights his crap.
A video game without the controller.
Jonathon_Natsis9 April 2011
Visual artist and director Zack Snyder brings us the latest in his unique filmography of stylized violence following on from recent works such as 300 and Watchmen. If you believe all the negative hype utterly rubbishing this movie, you might just (as is the case with most movies with preconceived low expectations) be pleasantly surprised. Because while Sucker Punch is no masterpiece, it performs admirably in the action department, coupled with a frenetic pace; all but overwhelming its weaker attributes.
Young adult Babydoll (Emily Browning) has lived a life of abuse under her stepfather, until she finally cracks in an unsuccessful attempt at murder. The authorities lock her away in a mental asylum for her crime, but she soon learns it merely acts as a front for a burlesque theatre run by the power-hungry Blue (Oscar Isaac). Determined to escape the facility, she enlists the help of several other detainees when it becomes apparent that her dance leaves all the orderlies in a state of trance, while transporting the inmates to a fantasy world where they must face monsters conjured up by their own mind, and where their actions in this parallel universe mimic ramifications in the real world.
Okay, at the risk of pointing out the obvious, the plot is bizarre to say the least, but don't be turned off by its outward nature. The director makes it very clear that this film takes place not in our world, but in the Snyder-verse, which abides by different laws and powers to ours. Hence, it becomes contextually easy to suspend disbelief throughout. In fact, while the whole notion behind entering different worlds through the mind has been touched on by a whole host of earlier films, the idea that both fantasy and reality are eerily related, as in Sucker Punch, offers some food for thought, even if it isn't delved into as much as you might hope.
The few scenes that occur in the real world that involve the girls planning their next move only serve as some sort of plausible link between one exuberant action scene and the next. They almost feel like cutscenes to a video game before the actual level starts, and the fact that they must collect 'five items' to complete their plan of escape does little to dispel that illusion. And make no mistake, each new mission, although entertaining and visually spellbinding, is a conglomerate of fan-serving stylized madness including, but not limited to, robot samurai and zombie Nazis. So beware if you don't consider yourself an over-the-top action kind of guy.
A film that opens with such a compelling scene (and an excellent example of how to tell a story just through pictures alone) disappointingly falls into a fairly formulaic series of events from that point on. A dull script and occasionally wooden acting don't help either, and although I admit that the ending could have been a lot worse, it is a case of the filmmaker trying to do too much with his subject matter. Questionable character motives, as well as the casting of Jon Hamm as two polarising characters casts doubt on the authenticity of the story; an unnecessary add-on that fails to remain in line with the rest of the film's tone.
However, as mentioned, the positives of Sucker Punch do a decent job of outweighing the negatives. The voice-over narration is used sparingly but effectively for the most part, and the soundtrack may just be the film's biggest highlight in any way that doesn't pertain to magic dragons and flying robots. It's a unique piece likely to differ from person to person more so than most other films would, but I felt it was by no means a bad effort.
*There's nothing I love more than a bit of feedback, good or bad. So drop me a line on jnatsis@iprimus.com.au and let me know what you thought of my review.*
Young adult Babydoll (Emily Browning) has lived a life of abuse under her stepfather, until she finally cracks in an unsuccessful attempt at murder. The authorities lock her away in a mental asylum for her crime, but she soon learns it merely acts as a front for a burlesque theatre run by the power-hungry Blue (Oscar Isaac). Determined to escape the facility, she enlists the help of several other detainees when it becomes apparent that her dance leaves all the orderlies in a state of trance, while transporting the inmates to a fantasy world where they must face monsters conjured up by their own mind, and where their actions in this parallel universe mimic ramifications in the real world.
Okay, at the risk of pointing out the obvious, the plot is bizarre to say the least, but don't be turned off by its outward nature. The director makes it very clear that this film takes place not in our world, but in the Snyder-verse, which abides by different laws and powers to ours. Hence, it becomes contextually easy to suspend disbelief throughout. In fact, while the whole notion behind entering different worlds through the mind has been touched on by a whole host of earlier films, the idea that both fantasy and reality are eerily related, as in Sucker Punch, offers some food for thought, even if it isn't delved into as much as you might hope.
The few scenes that occur in the real world that involve the girls planning their next move only serve as some sort of plausible link between one exuberant action scene and the next. They almost feel like cutscenes to a video game before the actual level starts, and the fact that they must collect 'five items' to complete their plan of escape does little to dispel that illusion. And make no mistake, each new mission, although entertaining and visually spellbinding, is a conglomerate of fan-serving stylized madness including, but not limited to, robot samurai and zombie Nazis. So beware if you don't consider yourself an over-the-top action kind of guy.
A film that opens with such a compelling scene (and an excellent example of how to tell a story just through pictures alone) disappointingly falls into a fairly formulaic series of events from that point on. A dull script and occasionally wooden acting don't help either, and although I admit that the ending could have been a lot worse, it is a case of the filmmaker trying to do too much with his subject matter. Questionable character motives, as well as the casting of Jon Hamm as two polarising characters casts doubt on the authenticity of the story; an unnecessary add-on that fails to remain in line with the rest of the film's tone.
However, as mentioned, the positives of Sucker Punch do a decent job of outweighing the negatives. The voice-over narration is used sparingly but effectively for the most part, and the soundtrack may just be the film's biggest highlight in any way that doesn't pertain to magic dragons and flying robots. It's a unique piece likely to differ from person to person more so than most other films would, but I felt it was by no means a bad effort.
*There's nothing I love more than a bit of feedback, good or bad. So drop me a line on jnatsis@iprimus.com.au and let me know what you thought of my review.*
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