Sucker Punch
Despite visually-striking action sequences,Sucker Punchis a soulless film - and an excuse for Snyder to showcase a series of vivid fantasy worlds.
For many moviegoer , Zack Snyder seemingly exploded onto the scene with his visually striking adaptation of Frank Miller’s300 – with Snyder both penning the screenplay and conduct the film . The combining of Miller ’s imagination and what we now bed as Snyder ’s trademark slow - movement / action stage dancing , resulted in an exciting and brutal celluloid that pave the way for the director to take on other high - visibility existing property , includingWatchmenand the upcomingSuperman : Man of Steel .
Sucker Punch , however , is entirely Snyder ’s invention – earning the conductor his first original story credit . With Superman reboot fervor ( and dread ) at an all time high , not to mention the response to Snyder ’s midway - of - the - roadLegend of the Guardians : The Owls of Ga’Hoole , many moving-picture show rooter are looking toSucker Punchas a barometer for whether or not Snyder is still on his plot – and subsequently , whether he ’s going to deliver a respectableMan of Steelfilm .
Does Snyder ’s in style crusade offer an edge - of - your - fundament visual spectacle with an engaging storey ? Or is the photographic film just a scattered mish - mash of phantasy set pieces retro - fitted with a convolute story ?
translate on …
unluckily , despite a few visually - striking military action sequences , Sucker Punchis a soulless moving-picture show which comes across as little more than an self-justification for Snyder to showcase a series of vivid fantasy populace in rapid succession .
If you ’re unfamiliar with the basicSucker Punchpremise , here ’s the prescribed outline :
“ Sucker Punch ” is an epic natural action fantasy that take us into the vivid imagination of a youthful young woman whose dream mankind provides the ultimate escape from her dismal reality . Unrestrained by the boundaries of fourth dimension and place , she is destitute to go where her mind takes her , and her unbelievable adventures confuse the lines between what ’s real and what is imaginary .
Despite the filmmaker ’s endeavor at an overarching story of self - empowerment - as well as imaginative pipe dream - worlds -Sucker Punchis one of the most formulaic film to reach the screen in late memory . The basic structure is spelled out in the most recent drone : In edict to be free of her captors , Babydoll ( Emily Browning ) must regain five ( symbolic ) item – the legal age of which are bond to one of the film ’s fantasy set - objet d’art . Similarly , the assumption / vehicle through which Babydoll repeatedly participate the dream world is n’t nearly as artistic as Snyder must have thought – and , with each successiveperformance , becomes increasingly awkward .
The film ’s trust on dissociation from reality – while fertile ground for over - the - top action scenes – strips most of theSucker Punchcharacters from having anything but cliché and one - dimensional personalities . Two flying lines in the film ’s synopsis layout about as much as the consultation will get , in terms of character , from the film ’s warriors :
This is your brain after viewing ‘Sucker Punch’.
She has been locked away against her will , but Babydoll has not lost her will to pull through . Determined to press for her freedom , she barrack four other young girls - the outspoken Rocket ( Jena Malone ) , the street - smart Blondie ( Vanessa Hudgens ) , the fiercely loyal Amber ( Jamie Chung ) and the reluctant Sweet Pea ( Abbie Cornish ) - to ring together and seek to bunk their terrible destiny at the hand of their captor , Blue ( Oscar Isaac ) , Madam Gorski ( Carla Gugino ) and the High Roller ( Jon Hamm ) .
All of the operation are extremely one - note – with only Oscar Isaac ( Robin Hood ) , as the film ’s main antagonist , successfully take anything more than control surface - level emotion to the product . In the end , the film seems to spoil the most introductory storytelling principle – show , do n’t tell . Throughout the movie , the audience is told , through dialog , that each subsequent triumph results in some significant wallop on each theatrical role ’s sense of self - deserving – but the story never takes advantage of the prognosticate momentum . As a result , even in the closing moment ofSucker Punch , it ’s unclear whether anyone has in reality been indue – in venom of voice - over narration that preaches otherwise .
Similarly , when the fantasy elements of the moving-picture show are later conciliate against the real - macrocosm events ( which is an on - the - nose exposition dump ) , it ’s voiceless to feel as though Babydoll ’s imagery did n’t just protect her from the revulsion of the palisade surroundings – they also protect Snyder from having to truly grapple with the emotion and implication of the more important literal - world story as well as the subsequent radioactive dust . If Snyder had pass as much time developing a satisfying story arc for the veridical - world events as he did imagining backstories for the fantasy worlds , Sucker Punchmight have actually succeeded in providing a competent narration journey .
It should n’t amount as a surprisal then , in a film where visuals take precedent over lineament development and engaging story progression , that theSucker Punchaction picture are fast - paced , exciting , and epic in ordered series . However , the film ’s five - item rule wears on the proceeding , making it intemperate to apprize each sequent entry – especially considering the first two sequences are far superscript to the latter ones . The final band - piece of music is specially lackluster – since it ’s much more confined than the anterior entries ( not to mention it comes across as a mash - up betweenThe Matrix Reloadedand Dru Hill ’s euphony video for “ You are Everything [ Remix ] ” ) .
Given the film ’s reliance on medicine ( both in term of news report and execution ) , it ’s a relief that theSucker Punchsoundtrack is one of the good vista of the product – especially considering the recordings feature vocals from star Emily Browning . Each action at law set - piece is entrap within a single song – modernise covers range from Bjork to The Beatles – and while the on - screen execution can be steadfast , there ’s no doubt that the music is successful in pumping more epinephrin into the already acute action set - piece . The opening prologue , set to a remix of Eurythmics ’ “ Sweet Dreams ( Are Made Of This ) ” is peculiarly persuasive . In general , the inclusion of Browning ’s vocals in a number of the songs sum up an additional , and specially challenging , level to the fantasy versus reality battle in the film . If only the quietus of filmmaking choices inSucker Punchwere as playful and interesting …
In an increasingly tech - savvy world , it ’s voiceless to ignore the touch sensation that a feature picture may not have been the best mass medium for theSucker Punchconcept . Had Snyder presented a less - expensive translation of the story in the form of a high - profile scant - film / web - serial issue , the overarching narration might be easier to appreciate – and would have allowed the director to add more room for character growth as well as the phantasy worlds he drop so much time developing . As it is , the flick is at odds with itself – with each fantasy setting competing against the others while , altogether , overshadowing the bigger themes and story beats .
There ’s no doubt that a lot of consultation member will walk out ofSucker Punchin reverence of the fight scenes and , as a outcome , might relish the film . That pronounce , give the movie ’s emphasis on ego - authorization ( as present through dialogue and voice - over ) , it ’s obvious that Snyder was aiming for more than just an action - packed popcorn flick – making it hard to neglect that , much like Babydoll , the filmmaker may have temporarily lost his foothold in reality .
If you ’re still on the fencing aboutSucker Punch , check out the trailer below :
Still have questions about the moving picture or just want to babble out about it without worrying about spoiling it for others ? Please head on over to ourSucker PunchSpoilers Discussionfor our full analysis of the ending and other story detail .
This is your brain after viewing ‘Sucker Punch’.
If you want to get wind the gentlewoman of the picture show talk about their love of gunpowder and swordplay , channelize over to ourSucker Punchcast consultation .
Zack Snyder ’s Sucker Punch follows Babydoll ( Emily Browning ) , a young woman who searches for the token that allow her to escape the psychiatric innovation she was sent to against her will . The highly stylized 2011 action picture blurs the line between fantasy and reality as a high-pitched - octane reading of Alice In Wonderland .
