सकर पन्च

Really underrated movie. It's not just your typical stylized action flick, it's quite a heartbreaking story in its core.

On a rewatch of this movie I really started to understand what was REALLY going on here. Once you understand what's really going on in the movie it will break your heart.

Great action, great story line, characters you really feel for.

I think this movie is rated so low because the people drawn to it don't think past the surface.

I'm already giggling picturing the cries of protest that will rise up when I post this review, but the hell with it, I really like Zach Snyder's Sucker Punch. I never deliberately play the contrarian, I just seem to often gravitate towards films that have been maligned by the masses, and I can't really help it. Now, in this film's case, a few of the many and varied negative criticisms are somewhat warranted, yet blown out of proportion when you really take a good look at the story. The film is pure style, and although Zachary might have let his imagination run a little wild and clutter the whole affair with fanboy fantasies and video game visuals, there is a clear and discernible story beneath if one cares to look. Now, the only way that story is entirely comprehended is by watching the extended director's cut, which includes an absolutely crucial, pivotal scene that's should have never, ever ended up on the editing room floor for the theatrical version. Seriously, they we're straight up asking for hostility and confusion by not keeping it in every cut of the film, it's just common sense. Speaking of story, here we go: the film opens in breathless style and classic patented Snyder slo mo, with young Baby Doll (Emily Browning) trying to save her little sister from their tyrannically abusive stepfather. Outsmarted and shipped off to an austere mental institution, her journey is a sad, surreal and somewhat befuddling one, but there's a method to the madness that might not be clear with only one viewing of the film. The asylum she is sent to is plagued by a sinister orderly (Oscar Isaac) who is abusing the girls in his care, and as a result, Baby Doll channels such horrors into a grandiose set of fantasy worlds, the base of which rests on a burlesque style brothel where she and others work for volatile pimp Blue (also Isaac). Joined by Amber (Jamie Chung), Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), Rocket (Jena Malone) and Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), she blocks out the reality of what is happening and replaces the details of an elaborate, systematic escape attempt with impossibly epic, highly stylized adventures, each of a different theme or set in a vaguely familiar period of history. Battling medieval dragons, giant samurai golems with mini-guns, WWI zombie hordes in a gaunt, bombed out European landscape, it's all a detailed rush of sound and fury that hits you like a ton of bricks, and although is far too much for the film to handle and still get its point across, it's completely dazzling stuff, especially on Blu ray. Guided by a mysterious Wise Man (a kickass, rootin tootin Scott Glenn) who shows up in a different get up each time and mentored by brothel Madam of sorts Vera Gorski (Carla Gugino), each setting holds the key to move along a certain cog in their plan, correlating back down the line of delusions straight to the asylum, if a little tenuously. Now it all hinges on the arrival of the High Roller (Jon Hamm), a rich playboy who has come to the brothel to see Baby Doll dance, and probably more. Here's where they messed up royally: The scene I mentioned earlier is a monologue from him that is pretty much one of the most important parts of the film, capping off both realities beautifully, and without it, not only is Hamm relegated to basically a walk on extra, the entire final punch of the climax is rendered lost and neutered, not too mention quite uncomfortable in a sense. Whoever was in charge of that particular piece of the editing should be tarred, feathered and run off the studio lot by teamsters. With the scene left in on the extended version, however, the story is given both point and purpose, feeling like a complete vision with a little weight to go along with it's Hindenburg sized bag of visual tricks. Not Snyder's best for sure, but it's in no way close to the turkey some people will have you believe it is. Whiners. Style over substance? Yes, I'll definitely concede there's an imbalance, but don't try and tell me the whole thing is bereft of substance at all, because that is a lazily researched argument. The soundtrack is a treasure chest, I might add, with beautiful covers of Sweet Dreams and Sing Me To Sleep sung by Browning herself.

With its rustic-futuristic visuals, synergistic use of classic rock music, overt sexuality, and dreamlike action sequences, SUCKER PUNCH feels like a live action homage to 1981's HEAVY METAL with a heaping helping of MATRIX folded in for good measure. Excellent, quirky performances from a bevy of skilled young actresses serve to enhance the idiosyncratic nature of this film.

From its atmospheric use of color to its smallest detail (think a snowflake melting on an eyelash), SUCKER PUNCH is a visual feast. The movie sounds great, too. Contemporary versions of songs like "White Rabbit," "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," and "Love is the Drug," to name a few, harmonize well with both the imagery and the unique, fantasy-within-a-dream storyline.

Like many, I'm scraping the bottom of the Netflix quarantine barrel and wasn't expecting much more from this movie than a forgettable distraction. I couldn't possibly have been more pleasantly surprised. SUCKER PUNCH grabbed me from its fourth-wall-busting opening shot and held my attention right to the eyebrow-raising ending. I'll be watching again. Soon.

Although she has been admitted to a mental institution against her will, Babydoll (Emily Browning) has not lost her will to live, so she has decided to fight for her freedom, despite she will undergo a lobotomy in five days' time. The young girl institutionalized by her abusive stepfather (Gerad Plunkett) retreats to an alternative reality as a coping strategy and for this she encourages other four rebellious 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 band together and try to escape their terrible fate at the hands of their captors, Blue (Oscar Isaac), Madam Gorski (Carla Gugino), and the High Roller (Jon Hamm). All of them join forces in order to sacrifice themselves to stay alive. But with the help of a Wise Man (Scott Glenn), their unbelievable journey--if they succeed--will set them free. A mind bending vision of reality from the director of Watchmen & 300 !. Feed Your Head !. You Will Be Unprepared !.

Zack Snyder co-writes and directs this action fantasy epic, every bit as aesthetically daring as his blockbusters ¨300¨ , ¨Watchmen¨ or ¨Justice League¨. An action-fantasy set in the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality, including dynamic visually striking opening scenes and credit sequences .Within a video game structure, Snyder immerses the viewer in the vivid imagination of a girl whose dream world is brought to life by spectacular World War I battles against unstoppable dragons and invincible armies, as well as heavily stylized yet brutal fight scenes . Her dream world is the only escape from her dark, sad and dangerous reality. Unrestricted by the boundaries of time and place, our heroine is free to go wherever her mind takes her, and her incredible exploits and breathtaking adventures blur the lines between reality and imagination. In her overwhelming brawls and adventurous confrontations she is accompanied by her brave friends and throughout they will have to face immeasurable enemies, all set in a strange world effectively brought to light by the CGI special effects of the latest generation.

The film stars a group of young actresses in their twenties, all of whom will develop illustrious and unequal film careers. They are the following: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung; being accompanied by a grup of experienced and veteran actors, such as: Oscar Isaac, Carla Gugino, Scott Glenn Jon Hamm, Gerard Plunkett, among others.

The motion picture was professionaly but unevenly directed by Zack Snyder. He is an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter, best known for action and science fiction films. Snyder is the co-founder of Cruel and Unusual Films, a production company he established in 2004, alongside his wife Deborah Snyder and producing partner Wesley Coller. His films often have ordinary trademarks: female characters who suffer at the hands of male authority figures; references to classic works of art; many of his movies have a rotating shot where the camera shows a character surveying their surroundings; often uses religious symbolism; his pictures often have stunning visual effects with frequent use of slow motion; often works with cinematographer Larry Fong that provides use of slightly darker, toned down colors; his heroes often have statuesque physiques, inspired by his love of Frank Frazetta and the golden age of bodybuilders and powerful female characters who the male heroes are in awe of. Snyder made his feature film debut with the 2004 remake ¨Dawn of the Dead¨ and has continued to be known for his comic book movies and superhero films, including ¨300¨ (2007), ¨Watchmen¨ (2009), ¨Legend of the Guardians¨(2010), ¨Man of Steel¨ (2013) and its sequel, ¨Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice¨ (2016), ¨Zack Snyder's Justice League¨ (2017), ¨Army of the Dead¨ (2021), among others. Rating: 5.5/10.

Seriously, the MPAA overstepping constantly, but to cut an entire 7 minute scene that contextualizes the entire film and drives home the really heartbreaking reality and them that this movie portrays is an egregious oversight. This is absolutely an underrated movie and what Snyder accomplished is brilliant. Reverting the male gaze back on the viewer and forcing the audience to participate in the trauma of these young girls is so well done, while also incorporating vibrant sequences of action that encompass the emotions they're feeling.

The music is awesome, the dialogue is well thought out, it suffers from some over editing, but nothing too distracting. It's a well made movie that deserves to be rewatched and viewed through the proper lens.