Review - Sucker Punch

Sucker Punch (2011), PG-13, 109 minutes - Much like Battle: Los Angeles, my opinion of Sucker Punch has shifted a bit after having a little time to reflect on it. Originally, I was quite disappointed in Zack Snyder's latest directorial effort. Now I think I'm only sort of disappointed.

After 300 and Watchmen, Sucker Punch is definitely a letdown story wise. That may be because this wasn't just directed by Zack Snyder, but written by him as well whereas his previous films have been adaptations of other writer's works (and highly regarded writers at that). Visually, it more than holds it's own. It looks and feels like a Zack Snyder film and that's the best thing that it has going for it.

The majority of the story takes place in the mind of a single character and doesn't quite tie together when it is all said and done. Baby Doll (Emily Browning) is admitted to an insane asylum after she attacks her stepfather in the aftermath of her mother's death. Once in the asylum, events play out in Baby Doll's mind as she fantasizes in order to cope with further indignities that she experiences at the hands of the asylum's staff. Other girls in the asylum - Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), Rocket (Jena Malone), Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens) and Amber (Jamie Chung) - help play out different scenarios in Baby Doll's fantasies, which play out her efforts to escape. Carla Gugino, Scott Glenn, and Jon Hamm add some familiar faces to the sci-fi/action/fantasy mash up.

Sucker Punch succeeds in being another digitally mastered piece of artwork from Snyder as well as being a fan boy's dream brought to the big screen. Unfortunately the story tries to be a little bit Shutter Island and a little bit Inception and just doesn't live up to those lofty aspirations. I would relegate Sucker Punch to a potential rental for those who have not yet seen it. I don't believe that it is as bad as many of the reviews that I have read make it out to be, but it probably isn't worth a $10 movie ticket either.











*****SPOILERS*****

- I can piece together most of the storyline so that it makes some semblance of sense, but there's one big thing that stands out in my mind. Everything takes place in Baby Doll's head. Everyone that appears in her fantasies are people that she comes in contact with during her time in the asylum with the exception of the Wise Man (Scott Glenn's character). He's not only the guy that provides Baby Doll and the other girls their various missions to collect the map, fire, and knife, but also the bus driver who helps Sweet Pea at the very end of the movie. So if he hasn't come in contact with Baby Doll at any point, then how does he manifest in her fantasies?

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