Sucker Punch

I have to say, writing a brief synopsis of this film is a chore, but here goes. The movie begins with an innocent-looking girl, who we only know by the name Baby Doll played by Emily Browning, being committed to a mental institution by her stepfather after her mother dies. From there it gets a bit more confusing. Here the film switches to another perception of reality where the girls are imprisoned in a nightclub of sorts and forced to perform and prostitute themselves to the patrons. When Baby Doll is asked to dance, however, she slips into another version of reality, this one only loosely based on actual events occurring around her. While in this fantasy world, she is able to get things accomplished while all the time it appears that she is merely dancing. With the plan she concocts in her dream world, she is able to enlist the help of four other girls. Together, they navigate both the nightclub and fantasy realities to achieve their freedom.

　
The plot sounds confusing at best and stupid at worst, and while it might be both of these things, it is not the plot that makes this film stand out. You know how the preview of a movie is always better than the actual movie? That is because all the money shots are all squashed together into a nice 30 second package that leaves you wanting more. This movie is two hours of money shots back to back to back. The visuals are stunning. Please, if you are going to see this film, see it in the theater, it is worth it. The visual aesthetic we have come to expect of 300 and Watchmen, Zack Snyder, has lent the same unearthly quality to this film. Since he wrote this film, it is tailor made to his personal aesthetic, which has become unmistakable. He makes no pretenses but merely incorporates everything he thinks is cool into one film. If you think the same things are cool as he does, you will love this movie, if you don’t you won’t. Pure and simple. I mean, where else are you going to see five hot chicks in sexy outfits kicking ass against giant samurais, clockwork Nazis, fire breathing dragons, and streamlined robots all in the same movie? 

Zack Snyder creates such a rich and vibrant world, threeof them actually, that if you are a little confused about what is going on, that's OK!  He is not just a director, he is an auteur.  I love that people are responding so well to his cinematic style.  I love how visceral it is.  No one can argue that he pertrays realism, but when making a fantasy, why not make it as fantastic as possible?  It's not just the visuals, but the music selection also contributes to the tone of this film.  I love the reimaginings of classic songs like "White Rabbit"  and "Search and Destroy."  They lend the propper hard core feeling to the dream world, but also set the viewer off balance because they are slightly different from what they are used to hearing.  I also think the choice of the girls was perfect.  They all did a great job doing the whole badass thing in the dream world, but pulled off vulnerable in the nightclub.  I applaud Snyder for this one and can't wait for his next venture.  And he's from Green Bay! 

　
What I think I loved so much is that Snyder wrote these girls as just straight-up warriors, almost the same way he would write men characters, except they are smoking hot. This is something that makes me kind of sad about watching war movies like Band of Brothers. Men have these unbreakable bonds formed in battle situations and have trust in each other’s abilities and loyalty. Women are never portrayed this way. They are always seen as catty or manipulative or self-serving. Although these women are beautiful, they are confident and work as a team.
　
My little piece of feminist indulgence aside, this movie is most definitely NOT for everyone. I reiterate that one should go into this prepared for a visual spectacular set to some fantastic music. Know what kind of viewer you are! If you are more of a fan of the mainstream films that all wrap up nicely at the end with the good guys happy and the bad guys in misery (and don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good formula film as much as the next person) then this is probably not the film for you. This is definitely more conceptual and not at all literal. But for the fan boy film geek this is the movie to see again and again. I know I will!
　
My opinion in a nutshell:

Entertainment: 7- The reason this didn’t score higher is because the target audience is so specific because honestly this film is nothing but entertaining. The people who will like this film are going to LOVE it, but those who don’t are going to hate it. Not only is the flow of the story confusing, anachronisms can be distracting for those not used to it.
　
Award-worthy: 4- except for some visual or technical awards, this one won’t really catch anyone’s attention come award season. Like I said, it is nothing but entertaining.

Some upcoming movies...

Ok, so there are some upcoming movies I am quite excited to see.  this Friday Sucker Punch comes out and I am almost too excited.  I need to dial it back or there will be no way it will be able to live up to my expectations.  I am hoping for a pure block of badassness from the director of 300 and Watchmen.  This one is an original screenplay from Zac Snyder and not an adaptation from a graphic novel so this is entirely from the mind of the director I am most excited about these days, and I can't wait!

On April 8th, Hanna comes out and here again we have a girl straight up kicking ass!  This one I am less excited about the visuals as in the case of Sucker Punch but more excited at the prospect of the mystery involved in this one.  It almost feels like The Bourne Identity but the main character is a 13-year-old girl!  Also the cast could not be more exciting for me.  Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, and Saoirse Ronan( who you might remember from The Lovely Bones and her Oscar-nominated performance in Atonement)

Also on that day Arthur comes out.  I hate to admit it, but this one looks quite funny.  It is a remake of an 80s comedy of the same name.  I actually didn't care for the original and I certainly don't care for Russel Brand, he creeps me out, but the two dislikes must cancel each other out because I am actually looking forward to this one! 


I will keep you updated on anything else that floats into my interest, but these are the three I am most excited about at the moment so keep an eye out for the forthcoming reviews!!!

Paul

This film is about two British men, Clive and Graeme, who are best friends played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Sound familiar? It should! These are the two men who brought us Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. In this scenario they have come to America to attend comic-con and then, in a rented RV, travel to all the geekiest hotspots from the infamous black mailbox to Area 51. Not long into their journey, however, they meet a small green man named Paul from space and agree to help him get back home. Meanwhile, they are pursued by several agents, two homophobic rednecks, and an angry bible-thumping father. Needless to say, hilarity ensues! Will they get Paul to his rendezvous point before their pursuers catch them?
　
Let me just say “Bravo!” I am still clapping! I love the films from this duo and can’t wait for the next one. The more you love sci-fi films, novels, or comic books, the more you will love this film. It is jam-packed with clever references from all your favorite sci-fi movies from Star Wars to E.T. Even if you don’t know much about the sci-fi world, there is still lots to enjoy. I love these films because just watching them makes you feel like part of one big inside joke. Be forewarned, however, there is a LOT more profanity in this film than the other two and is rated R for a reason! If that doesn’t bother you, then grab your popcorn, sit back and prepare to be delighted!
　
My Opinion in a Nutshell:

Entertainment: 8- Although this film is hysterical, there is a bit of a target audience here and if you don’t fit into it, you might feel a bit left out of the full effect, but there are still plenty of laughs for you!

Award-worthy: 3- There is a good reason we don’t see many comedies at the Oscars.

The Adjustment Bureau

This film is about a promising young senator named David Norris who is played by Matt Damon. At the start of the film, he loses an election. After meeting a tenacious girl, he delivers an inspiring speech and reenters the world of politics. Meanwhile there are men watching Norris and discussing his actions. It is revealed that the men are guiding Norris, among others, to specific outcomes. When one small thing goes awry, the whole plan begins to fall apart and the watchers must reveal themselves to Norris as the Adjustment Bureau. Norris must fight for his own decisions and write his life the way he wants to despite the best efforts of the Adjustment Bureau to stop him and get him back on their track. Will he succeed in living his own life or will the Bureau convince him of the importance of their plan?

I actually found this film quite enjoyable. I thought the characters were compelling and the story was engrossing. I even found the love story more believable than usual. I actually like the love interest played by Emily Blunt. The dilemma is there. Does Norris follow his heart and be with the woman that every part of himself is telling him is the one for him, or does he let her go so that they can each fulfill their greater destinies apart from one another?

There were some things I was not thrilled about, however. I do wish they had gone back for another draft on the dialogue. I found the dialogue of the Bureau to be too contrived. They used it to explain too much to the audience and it just came across as forced. Also I feel, directing wise, they missed opportunities for action. The climactic chase scene is hugely anti-climactic.

My Opinion in a Nutshell:

Entertainment: 6- This was a very fun movie, just don’t try to over think it and you will enjoy yourself.

Award-worthy: 3- Nothing in this film stands out or takes your breath away in the manner that makes you want to root for it come award season.

Red Riding Hood

This film is a fun adaptation from the old fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. In this version, however, the wolf is in fact a werewolf. Intriguing right? Valerie, played by Amanda Seyfried of Mamma Mia, is red riding hood, but she is not little in this version. She is a young woman who is in love with one man, Peter played by the smoldering Shiloh Fernandez, but engaged to be married to another, Henry played by the elegant Max Irons. When Valerie’s village becomes plagued by the wolf, the villagers begin looking for ways to rid themselves of it. While some decide the best course is to hunt it and kill it themselves, others call upon the help of renowned werewolf hunter Solomon, Gary Oldman. Everything quickly descends into chaos as all fail to kill the wolf and Valerie realizes that she has a connection to the wolf. Can she discover who it is in time to save her family and friends?

I thought this movie was really fun. My expectations were low, however because of Catherine Hardwicke at the helm. You may remember her as the director of the first Twilight film who was not invited to direct the following installments. I take similar issue with this film as I did the Twilight film. As a director she relies heavily on cliché and tired old scenes that makes today’s discerning viewer roll their eyes. I found myself snickering at certain scenes that were meant to be poignant or meaningful but I just found them stupid.

That being said, the music choices were very intriguing. The music pulled the anachronistic elements together and made them seem less out of place and more cool. Also the visual element to this film was quite good. These were the two elements that drew me in on the first preview. While these elements make for an attention-grabbing and exciting preview, they don’t hold a film together very well. The dialogue cliché and borderline laughable, the story is quite formula in general, and all the characters are flat. But hey, this isn’t supposed to be Ben-Hur! This is made to be a fun way to pass a couple of hours. And it does that quite well. Am I going to buy it? No. Am I glad I went to see it? Yeah, it was fun. My personal experience was a bit ruined since the theater I was at kept cutting the sound out, but that almost made it more fun.

My opinion in a nutshell:

Entertainment- 7- The people are pleasant to look at, the costumes, sets and music are all appealing, and the violence and sexy bits are all adequately vibrant without being graphic. Just don’t expect too much and you will enjoy your two hours quite nicely.

Award-worthy- 2- This movie was made for fun. Not quality. Let’s just leave it at that, shall we?

District 9



This is a Sci Fi film that takes place in Johannesburg South Africa. In this version of reality, a flying saucer appears directly over Johannesburg South Africa and when nothing happens for weeks, the South Africans break in and find the bipedal bug-like aliens are starving and dying. Fast-forward about ten years and we see the aliens segregated in a slum known as district 9. The main character Is Wikus van der Merwe, played by Sharlto Copley ion his film debut. Wikus is a middle-management government official that a documentary crew is following as the government prepares to relocate the aliens to a new facility. During the course of his excursions into District 9, Wikus comes into contact with a mysterious alien substance and his life rapidly begins to change forever.

I was so happy to see this film on the list of nominees. There was, of course no real chance of it winning, but if Avatar was going to be nominated, this film should definitely be included. This film is what Sci Fi is really about. While Avatar was a stylized, high-handed, overblown, unsubtle commentary on a subject no one is unaware of that follows every plot formula, flat character and obvious camera work in the book, District 9 is a fresh, raw, unapologetic look at an issue that nearly all societies in today’s world faces in an unexpected way that utilizes believable characters, experimental film techniques and collaborative efforts from bright young artists from all disciplines.

This film is a commentary on the racism and apartheid seen throughout history and which can still be found world-wide. What makes this such an effective analogy is the fact that it is still believable. This film takes place today and so it can comment on current issues plausibly whereas when a Sci-Fi film takes place in the future like Avatar does, it should either show an optimistic view of the heights man can achieve when they work together, like Star Trek, or should show the horrific depths that will result from not resolving the issues of today by exaggerating them, like A Clockwork Orange. It is very believable to me that if helpless aliens arrived on Earth today it would not be over New York, D.C. or even London and that they would be immediately segregated, heavily regulated and tested by the government who uses fear and ignorance, albeit based slightly on fact, to keep the aliens hated by the general populace.

The beginning of the film was done in documentary style which is something a lot of filmmakers are playing with these days. It lends a sense of immediacy as well as takes the pressure off for bringing big dramatic scope in the cinematography. It also allows for a convenient explanation of the history involved while simultaneously affording opportunity for characterization. This film was also all adlibbed as far as dialogue and character reactions. This also made the film seem more real and immediate.

The most impressive thing about this film to me was the incredible character of Wikus and Copley’s portrayal of him. When I say “incredible” I don’t mean that Wikus is a hero in shining armor that saves everyone, instead, he is a flawed, sometimes pitiable character who reacts to his extraordinary circumstances in very ordinary ways that are sometimes much less than admirable. Because of his relatability, the viewer roots for Wikus even when his actions are disappointing. This movie put Sharlto Copley on my radar and you should watch out for him too. His next film was The A-Team where he stole the show. Keep your eyes peeled because I know we haven’t heard the last from this silly, but brilliant South African actor!

My opinion in a nutshell:

Entertainment- 6- If you love the non-sop action and bad-ass characters and yippy-kay-yay lines, you might be a bit disappointed in this film. It does take a while to get going since the beginning is a bit information-heavy. But if you like a thought-provoking look at a possibility presented in a different way, then this is the film for you! Also you may need to pay extra attention since everyone speaks with a South African accent.

Award-Worthy- 8- While this movie is impressive in many ways from the concept itself to the performances, it is a bit rough around the edges. This is writer-director Neill Blomkamp’s first feature-length film and while many of these ill-fitting edges are what makes this film so endearing, it also leaves room for Blomkamp’s improvement and I can’t wait to see what comes next!!