Review of Sucker Punch (2011) by Keegan D — 29 Sep 2014

Rumor has it that the extended version fills in some holes of the story or at least adds more details. That said, you're either going to decide this is a picture that wanted a bunch of attractive women in sexy clothing running around with Katanas, guns and other such things that go bang or you're going to see that this over the top action picture is trying to say something more of the human experience even if it isn't always elegantly presented. And it really is an over the top action picture in the spirit of a video game or high octane action comic book/graphic novel. The special effects are colorful and brilliant even if they don't always tie in to the story and viewers not familiar with comic books or video games will be put off and/or confused by the sudden shifts into the fantasies of a young girl who is going to be lobotomized in five days (it actually is a fantasy within a fantasy at times).

In fact, probably less than 20 minutes are real time and most of the tale takes place in the dreams/perceptions of the main character who is trying to escape with her fellow inmates. The over the top action girls were clearly trained so they don't look dorky and the acting is above average or better mostly though some of the themes are too much on the noise at times (you're your only limitation so "fight!"). By the way, don't expect a happy ending here. It's bittersweet at best. Most of the fantasies tie in to the real story five elements for the planned escape but they show it sometimes in a confusing or off manner so people not watching intently will miss it. Extreme feminists are claiming this picture exploits women as sexual objects and nothing more but they're dead wrong. Critics have mostly been negative towards the film and the North American Box Office total has been disappointing but it has done all right overseas and I'm sure the DVD market will help it along.

STORY/PLOTTING: B minus to B; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B; SPECIAL EFFECTS: B plus to A minus; THEME DELIVERY: B minus to B; OVERALL GRADE: B; WHEN WATCHED: early September 2011.

MEMORABLE DIALOGUE: "Who honors those we love with the very life we live? Who sends monsters to kill us, and at the same time sings that we'll never die? Who teaches us what's real, and how to laugh at lies? Who decides why we live, and what we'll die to defend? Who chains us, and who holds the key to set us free? It's you. You have all the weapons you need. Now fight!".