Sucker Punch [Blu-ray]

Director Zack Snyder, fresh from movie adaptations of graphic novels 300 and Watchmen, followed it with Sucker Punch. A completely original concept.And one that ended up with somewhat mixed results and a mixed reception.Set in 1960's America, it's the story of a girl called Baby Doll. Falling foul of a wicked stepfather lands her up in an asylum and framed for murder. And a short time later, she's about to be lobotomised.Suddenly things change. And the place is actually a high class bordello. Everyone you saw before is now someone entirely different in this new setting.This, or what we saw earlier, may be reality. Or in Baby Doll's mind.She enlists four other girls in a plan to escape. Which requires them to obtain several objects. And her reality shifts again whilst the attempts to get these objects are going on.But the identify of the fifth and final object remains a mystery. And one that is only hinted at by tantalising clues. Getting hold of it may require a certain something....The production design of this is gorgeous and eye catching throughout. The 1960's setting is perfectly created and all the period details are well done with excellent attention to detail.As a movie though it does take a while to get involving. It seems obvious [or does it?] what is real and what isn't from the off, and the action sequences, whilst visually stunning and very inventive, are somewhat repetitive in nature. Even though they do change style slightly.As the movie goes on you do get used to the characters and do start to feel for them, but there isn't really that great a depth to them.This was edited down from a longer cut, that is available on blu ray, so maybe that one is stronger. And reading other reviews, by those who picked up things I clearly missed, the nature of reality throughout the film may not be as clear cut as it might appear. But then again, maybe that is more apparent in the aforementioned longer cut.It has a point to make about taking control of your life and what to do when it bad situations. And it makes it well enough.Ultimately visually a great success, and a movie with a cast who do give it their all. But one that you will either love or hate.Some flashing images and some violence and strong moments do make the 12 certificate a little inappropriate. This would be more realistic as a 15.The dvd has the following language and subtitle options:Languages: English, Italian.Subtitles: English, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish.The disc begins with a couple of trailers. You can skip these via the next or menu buttons on the dvd remote.The only extras are a two minute long feature about the [very good] soundtrack to the film.And four animated prequels to the action segments. Each runs no more than two and a half minutes, and they can be watched individually or all at once. Each reveals what was going on in the worlds of each action sequence prior to when you first see them in the film.

I’ll start off by saying that most people seemed to absolutely HATE ‘Sucker Punch.’ I didn’t. I guess I’m weird. But I can live with that. Zack Snyder, normally best known for only directing his films, now writes AND directs one, too. Sucker Punch is the result. And, whereas I choose to mainly just enjoy it for its silly action sequences, I can see why the haters had such a field day tearing it to pieces.So... what’s it about? Er, good question. There’s a girl. She’s accused to murdering someone she didn’t and sent to an institution for the mentally insane. Do they still do that? I don’t know. The film’s time period is woefully unspecified. Anyway, once there she teams up with four other hot girls and they fight German steam-powered zombies in First World War trenches, robots protecting a trainload of explosives heading into a futuristic city and Orcs. And I also think I remember giant monster-samurais. And then there’s the bit about the girls working in a brothel. And gangsters. And they kill a mummy dragon’s baby.Do you think I’m making this up? I’m not. Basically, the film does try to cover many levels at once (with limited success). It’s one of those movies which exists on many levels (not all of them real – many interpretational and symbolic). Some say it should have just stuck to one, but it doesn’t, therefore it does tend to confuse and disorient a fair proportion of the viewers.As a story, it’s a bit of a mess. I can see that. I appreciate where the haters are coming from. However, I can’t fault the awesome action sequences. They’re amazingly shot and look like something out of the highest powered computer game ever made.I think if I’d paid full price to watch it at the cinema I may feel a little short-changed. However, I saw it on DVD and I must have been in the mood just to watch hot girls slice apart Nazi samurais in giant mech-armour suits. That’s the kind of level you need to set your brain on to appreciate it.Don’t think about story. Don’t think about character development or deep and meaningful story arcs. Just watch the action scenes and enjoy the dark and brooding soundtrack. If Sucker Punch is an example of Zack Snyder’s writing ability then perhaps he should stick to directing a little longer while he hones his art. However, it’s still a lot of fun. If you’re me.

From the director of 300 and Watchmen comes this adult fantasy fable which is a visual feast for the video game generation. A surprising 12 rating with the very grown-up sexual metaphors supporting the bedrock of our protagonists story,Baby Doll, ( Emily Browning). At first, the story seems a trifle convoluted as Browning immerses herself in a violent, mythological world of female empowerment whilst in her reality, she is apparently gyrating and seducing her male clientele, ( which is never witnessed by the viewing audience). In her fantasy /alter-ego state, the other females of the cast play out their roles which parallel the dilemmas of their reality; crushing, maiming and killing the all male antagonists. This female emancipation plot is cleverly juxtaposed by the help and guidance of a 'David Carradine/Kung Fu- like' father figure played admirably by Scott Glenn. The visually penetrative action and revenge -toting of the young females is fabulous action- although bathed unrelentlessly with its overtly sexual and gender defining message.I think the title, Sucker Punch is also a clever metaphor for the subtext of the plot- a 'blow without warning' can mean many things....However, if you liked Kill Bill this is a nod to that genre, with Lord of the Rings and Soul Caliber thrown into the mix, plus a very enticing soundtrack!

Saw it was a big thing when released and was recommend this but meh give or take