Movie Review: Sucker Punch
Sucker Punch is mostly spectacle with very little story. The characters are, at the same time, one-dimensional and colorful. The plot is edgy and textured, while simultaneously non-sensical. The one consistency: it's just plain fun to look at.
First off, I want to begin by saying that some of you will love this movie and some of you will hate it. Director Zack Snyder isn't known for classical, serious film-making. Instead, he is know for making rich and vibrant worlds full of blood, action, and dirty eroticism. You've seen this before in 300 and you see it here again. If you liked 300, you will probably like Sucker Punch. If not, well, you can guess.
The movie is successful in several areas. First, the action sequences are breathtaking. Snyder really went all out in trying to create fantasy worlds where action and violence occurs at a level impossible in the real world. These fantasies worlds are quite fascinating; zombie nazis, dragons, and awesome battle scenes pepper these worlds.
The film also succeeds in creating a very textured environment, setting the dark, surrealist tone. The sepia tones in one universe contrast with the vibrant colors of another universe. In the most violent fantasies, red and black dominate the screen. All the while using an innovative soundtrack.
One aspect that won't be talked about with Sucker Punch that needs to be is the soundtrack. Mostly a series of covers, the songs provide new takes on already existing classics such as The Pixies' "Where is My Mind?" and a mash-up of Queen's "We Will Rock You" with a pounding hip-hop beat. Interestingly, the star of the film, Emily Browning, sings some of the songs. Although she is by no means a professional singer, she holds her own and adds a touch of something special to the soundtrack.
Critics have generally derided this film, and I will as well, for one major reason: the plot simply makes no sense. Snyder has created a three layered universe where the story lines are intended to correlate. However, it seems as though Snyder gets lost in his fantasy worlds and failed to make the different layers match up. This leaves the audience pondering just what exactly happened and why.
All-in-all, this is more or less a "love it or hate it" type of film. I loved it for the beautiful atmosphere and incredible action sequences. Nevertheless, I confess that the plot leaves much to be desired. So, I have to dock a few points.
Rating: 7.5/10
