March 25, 2011 Sucker Punch
Studio: Warner Bros. Rating: PG-13 for thematic material involving sexuality, violence and combat sequences, and for language.
Director Zack Snyder, the man who gave us "300" and "Watchmen"...unleashes another visual explosion with "Sucker Punch."
Emily Browning plays Baby Doll. She suffers a family tragedy...and is put into an insane asylum by her evil stepfather. Conjuring up an alternate reality to deal with her situation, Baby Doll formulates a plan to escape. But she needs five certain items. That's when she dives into her fantasy world. Enlisting her fellow inmates...the first mission is to find a map.
As the story moves along the fantasy sequences become grander. Fire is the next item that must be secured...so obviously that means our heroes have to take on a dragon.
And so on. And so on.
"Sucker Punch" is a visual feast. The special effects are amazing and the fight sequences are breathtaking. The soundtrack is incredible...the music pulls you into the picture and surrounds you...setting the perfect tone.
But the story is...huh?
Switching back and forth between drab reality and fantasy scenes bursting with color gets to be a little confusing. Now..who is exactly supposed to be doing what to whom? And...why are they doing that? Good luck figuring everything out.
"Sucker Punch's" main problem is a coherent and tight plot. It doesn't have one. The story gets sacrificed for all of the bells and whistles. I'm not saying they aren't impressive bells and whistles...but this movie is a whole lot of flash and not a lot of substance. And I think that keeps it from being as successful as it could have been.
On my rating scale, "Sucker Punch" earns a SINGLE.
It really needs a stronger narrative. Please Zack, give me something...anything...to latch onto! But it just isn't here.
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March 25, 2011
