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.