Sucker Punch

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.

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

Although she has been admitted to a mental institution against her will, Babydoll (Emily Browning) has not lost her will to live, so she has decided to fight for her freedom, despite she will undergo a lobotomy in five days' time. The young girl institutionalized by her abusive stepfather (Gerad Plunkett) retreats to an alternative reality as a coping strategy and for this she encourages other four rebellious girls: the outspoken Rocket (Jena Malone), the street-smart Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), the fiercely-loyal Amber (Jamie Chung), and the reluctant Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish)--to band together and try to escape their terrible fate at the hands of their captors, Blue (Oscar Isaac), Madam Gorski (Carla Gugino), and the High Roller (Jon Hamm). All of them join forces in order to sacrifice themselves to stay alive. But with the help of a Wise Man (Scott Glenn), their unbelievable journey--if they succeed--will set them free. A mind bending vision of reality from the director of Watchmen & 300 !. Feed Your Head !. You Will Be Unprepared !.

Zack Snyder co-writes and directs this action fantasy epic, every bit as aesthetically daring as his blockbusters ¨300¨ , ¨Watchmen¨ or ¨Justice League¨. An action-fantasy set in the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality, including dynamic visually striking opening scenes and credit sequences .Within a video game structure, Snyder immerses the viewer in the vivid imagination of a girl whose dream world is brought to life by spectacular World War I battles against unstoppable dragons and invincible armies, as well as heavily stylized yet brutal fight scenes . Her dream world is the only escape from her dark, sad and dangerous reality. Unrestricted by the boundaries of time and place, our heroine is free to go wherever her mind takes her, and her incredible exploits and breathtaking adventures blur the lines between reality and imagination. In her overwhelming brawls and adventurous confrontations she is accompanied by her brave friends and throughout they will have to face immeasurable enemies, all set in a strange world effectively brought to light by the CGI special effects of the latest generation.

The film stars a group of young actresses in their twenties, all of whom will develop illustrious and unequal film careers. They are the following: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung; being accompanied by a grup of experienced and veteran actors, such as: Oscar Isaac, Carla Gugino, Scott Glenn Jon Hamm, Gerard Plunkett, among others.

The motion picture was professionaly but unevenly directed by Zack Snyder. He is an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter, best known for action and science fiction films. Snyder is the co-founder of Cruel and Unusual Films, a production company he established in 2004, alongside his wife Deborah Snyder and producing partner Wesley Coller. His films often have ordinary trademarks: female characters who suffer at the hands of male authority figures; references to classic works of art; many of his movies have a rotating shot where the camera shows a character surveying their surroundings; often uses religious symbolism; his pictures often have stunning visual effects with frequent use of slow motion; often works with cinematographer Larry Fong that provides use of slightly darker, toned down colors; his heroes often have statuesque physiques, inspired by his love of Frank Frazetta and the golden age of bodybuilders and powerful female characters who the male heroes are in awe of. Snyder made his feature film debut with the 2004 remake ¨Dawn of the Dead¨ and has continued to be known for his comic book movies and superhero films, including ¨300¨ (2007), ¨Watchmen¨ (2009), ¨Legend of the Guardians¨(2010), ¨Man of Steel¨ (2013) and its sequel, ¨Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice¨ (2016), ¨Zack Snyder's Justice League¨ (2017), ¨Army of the Dead¨ (2021), among others. Rating: 5.5/10.

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.

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.