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Some movies are like beautiful people. You love to sit and look at them but too often they open their mouths and ruin it all. That is the issue with the new Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) directed film Sucker Punch. It includes some of the most amazing combinations of imagery and music, but as soon as the dialogue starts you realize that this film is all fluff and no foundation. 

The plot is supposed to be about a young woman who is locked away in an asylum by her stepfather. While there she creates a dream world where she fights dragons and Nazi Zombies as a way of coping with her harsh reality. She soon joins up with other inmates to plot an escape. I say “supposed to be” because this is very thin and often the point is lost within the barrage of cheesy dialogue and over the top dramatics. 

Then again no one goes to the circus to hear what the ring announcer has to say. You are there for the spectacle. And that is the only reason to see Sucker Punch. The graphics and colors are almost indescribable. At times I had recollections of watching The Wall or a grander version of Sin City. Add to these images eerie, heart pounding songs by Emily Browning, Bjork and Emilliana Torrini (all on a soundtrack I plan on buying soon)and you end up with segments that are a must see for the big screen. 
The cast is decent so I do not blame them for the eye rolling verbal exchanges. Abbie Cornish I have loved since Bright Star. You can’t go wrong with a wise guru being played by Scott Glenn either. The main character is played by Emily Browning and she does great in the action sequences. But let’s be honest. When you have character names like Baby Doll, Sweet Pea, Rocket, Blondie and Amber you can’t expect much. Even for a film shown on the big screen and not sold out of the trunk of a car.  

Sucker Punch is rated PG-13 for thematic material involving sexuality, violence and combat sequences, and for language. This is a very dark and violent film with very little plot substance. Personally I thought the imagery and soundtrack combined better than any I have seen, but your 13 and 14 year old probably will not be able to separate that from the barrage of images on the screen. Yes it looks amazing but the story line is laughable. I give it 3.5 out of 5 bi-planes. Only for the world that Snyder creates. This is a niche market film. Gamers and fans of films like Sin City and The Wall can appreciate it for its artistic value but the rest of the world will walk out confused and highly agitated. So says Matt Mungle

Matt Mungle
 
Review copyright 2011 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission.