A little behind on posts but this is a warning to friends. Normally I am really supportive of CG films. The following is my review of the movie "Sucker Punch."
I expected this was going to be a CG romp with minimal plot and lots of eye-candy. And the film was disappointing. The fact that you're supposed to believe the 5 foot nothing blonde is age 20 is laughable . Another case of Asian cinema saying if it looks 12 and says its 30 it's doable. The CG is alright if you never watch Lord of the Rings, Reign of Fire, I Robot, or played any game where you are shooting undead Nazi's (not particularly in that order). And with none of the thrills. Cg villains all have glass jaws and Nazi's always beg for maps before shooting.
The soundtrack was uninspired, it had Bjork that was so 1995. And Lame Before year end. The cover of Sweet Dreams was unimagined and used in a attempted pedo rape scene (This movie is sure to win the Pedobear seal of approval). The plot (as many will say) is one that M. Night Shyamalan will love and audiences will cringe. If James Cameron's "Avatar" is "Dances with Smurfs" , "Sucker Punch" is a retelling of "Girl Interrupted" with Cg versions of 1981's "Heavy Metal" without the benefit of a villain like the Locknar to hold the story together. The costumes while good are never used on anyone doing more than standing still or spinning on cables in front of a green screen. Yet, even the dramatic posturing falls short of tintillating. Action sequences fall short of truly stunning visuals, rent "Blood" the anime and you will get a better effect with the benefit of a real plot. The movie was unimaginative at best and soul crushingly tame giving the nature of its subject matter. Plot or pushed boundaries could have been pressed to give it a stronger impact on audiences. Which would have made it memorable.
My self and 8 friends saw this movie together (one was reluctant and kidnapped). 9 of 9 hated it.
Rating: 4.5 out of 10
NON PG Comments to follow. You Have been warned.
If you were once a 12 year old girl with father figure issues this movie might be empowering. If you are a guy who wants to watch it for the glammed up lil'dolls your going to be more impressed with the "Hustler Presents: This is Not Sucker Punch XXX" movie that is sure to follow.
Errata:
Ok so a few of my friends are commenting (in person) about my harsh review of Sucker Punch.
First of all I love Zack Snyder. I like Dawn of the Dead, 300, and Watchmen. Each had charm and are great flicks. 300 gave the world stunning visuals as did Watchmen. Watchmen even refused to sensor characters anatomy when I really thought that Snyder was going to. And I get that Watchmen is criticized for its lack of commercial value because it was an "R rating" and thus Sucker Punch needed broader appeal and went for a PG-13 rating. But this was a disastrous mistake in a director who has had no problem expressing sexuality or violence in films past.
Emily Browning agrees read her comments about cut scenes that would have enticed audiences here. http://www.nextmovie.com/blog/emily-browning-sucker-punch-sex-scene/
As Browning implies these scenes carried a dynamic role of the character, empowerment over sexuality and men. The strength of her character to overcome captors. Empowerment the XY portion of the audience was looking for in the flick and what the XX members would like in general.
My point is Zack Snyder should not have folded to his producer, studio, the MPAA or whomever else made him tame this movie.
But back to my point, my rating system for films.
So this is and always will be my break down of films: 2 points for plot. 2 points for audio. 2 points for Visuals, 2 points for costumes and 2 points for acting. And in the case of Sucker punch that break down went as follows:
Plot : 0 it was unoriginal and uninspiring
Audio: 0 rehashed sound effects and lackluster covers and 90's trend music.
Visuals: 1 point nothing new, nothing captivating, but entertaining to watch
Costuming: 2 great costumes with original pieces and nods to anime/dystopian elements.
Acting: 1.5 the acting in this movie was divided by the simple character trait of age. Carla Gugino and Scott Gleen carried every scene they had with the grace and style they have offered many other films. Other cast members over 30 played rolls believably. But the younger talent in this movie proves stereotypes that Hollywood will glam-up a doll and feed it lines but it will never make actresses again. With Exception to Emily Browning and Jena Malone which each had broad appeal and carried their scenes together nicely.
