Sucker Punch

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Alternative title; Hot Chicks with Katannas and Machineguns Fighting Dragons, Steam Powered Mechs and Giant Samurai Warriors with Miniguns in World War 1 FUCK YEAH!!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrIiYSdEe4E)

Yes, this is a thing that is happening, and it is awesome. This could possibly be my favourite thing ever, or at the very least this year (until something more awesome comes along, but this'll take some beating). It's been described as Alice in Wonderland with machineguns and it certainly looks it, kind've a more action-packed explosion-fest version of Scott Pilgrim.

So, anyone going to see this?

[Jagos]

Man this is a bad Grindhouse movie...

And yet, I still would see it.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

So very tempted to see this so bad. I don't think I'll even care what the plot is, I'd just go for the action badassery.

[Azisien]

It looks terrible. Just so, so so, terribly...AMAZING.

I'm gonna go see it Friday. I'm prepared for it to be awful but I want to give this much nerdy, schoolgirl outfit stuff a try. Also Jamie Chung.

[Aerozord]

wasn't this a comic?

what I gathered the plot is one of those that allows for anything and like any good writer when given ability to add anything, you add every awesome thing you can think of

[Living Bobbeh]

wasn't this a comic?

Nope, this is an original film. A first for Zach Snyder.

I'm looking forward to seeing it, because it looks like it could be either amazing or the worst thing since Resident Evil: Afterlife.

Can we take bets now: More or less successful than Scott Pilgrim?

[Azisien]

I'm all-in on more successful. Not even checking the odds.

[Gregness]

I hope it turns out to be more successful. Not because this looks to be better, but so that more movies like this get made.

[Jagos]

I'm all-in on more successful. Not even checking the odds.

I'll take all bets.

Successful 5 to 1

Not - 2 to 1

Mildly successful 10 - 1

Mildly not - 3 - 2

Flush down the drain, it's so bad 100 - 3

PLACE YER BETS FOLKS PLACE YER BETS!@!!

[rpgdemon]

I really don't like how it seems to be a frame story, set in the person's head.

[Seil]

http://www.theaterhopper.com/wordpress/comics/2011-03-21.jpg

[Tev]

I really don't like how it seems to be a frame story, set in the person's head.Not quite. It's a story about girls who are brought to an institution and then sold into whoredom by the corrupt wardens. They hatch an escape plan and all the really cool crazy shit you see is their imagining a much more interesting reality as they steal shit and break out to freedom.

[Fifthfiend]

This is going to be the best terrible movie this year that doesn't star both Vin Diesel and The Rock.

[Magus]

Not quite. It's a story about girls who are brought to an institution and then sold into whoredom by the corrupt wardens. They hatch an escape plan and all the really cool crazy shit you see is their imagining a much more interesting reality as they steal shit and break out to freedom.

Oh. Well that sounds dumb...

No wonder the trailer refused to actually point out anything about the plot and just gushed about the visual effects. It's because knowing the plot would make me not watch it...in the theater, anyway.

BTW how is being a sex slave and breaking out of a high-security prison not already interesting enough?

Anyway, this looks like the action is pretty cool, that's the only reason I saw, say, Avatar...I'm not really against it, the plot doesn't sound any worse, just the basic concept seems like something I might not like. But the visuals, again, are pretty amazing looking...I'm on the fence.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

How does the trailer not point out anything about the plot exactly? You see that she has been abused/tried to kill someone, got sent to an asylum, decides to escape, then creates a fictional world to represent her efforts to do so.

Seems pretty clear to me.

[Pip Boy]

The movie looks laughably stupid. Like its nothing but a bullshit excuse for a bunch of cool graphics and landscapes and scantily clad girls swinging around katanas and firing guns. I approve.

[rpgdemon]

See, if it weren't the whole, "Inside head" thing, I'd like the idea a lot more. This way though, it gets bogged down by seriousness, and probably will have to make jarring breaks back and forth.

[Magus]

How does the trailer not point out anything about the plot exactly? You see that she has been abused/tried to kill someone, got sent to an asylum, decides to escape, then creates a fictional world to represent her efforts to do so.

Seems pretty clear to me.

I think what I have seen is actually a 30 second TV spot (which, to be fair, way more people would see than an online trailer) and there is absolutely no mention of any plot elements, it is just like "VISUALLY AMAZING SAYS THIS GUY" and shows all the cool fighting/explosions.

And like rpgdemon says I see no need for the "frame" story because they could have just made some other excuse for all the cool stuff and probably made it more fun besides. Unless there is a deep symbolic connection between crashing a zeppelin and like, I dunno, fighting off a rapist, or something. I'm not against some kind of magical journey set in the real world/in somebody's head (take Pan's Labyrinth), but you have to have symbolism that is related to what is going on. If Snyder does this convincingly it would be cool, just the commercial totally avoids pointing out anything about this frame story, which seems to show it is not directly related to any of the imagery except as a colorful distraction.

If there is some symbolism inherent though it would be cool to read about it. I will look at Ebert's review, he usually picks up on that stuff if it is there, and he liked Snyder's last movie (the Watchmen adaptation), so I don't think he'd be biased.

EDIT: Like for the kind of thing I am talking about, say the person imprisoned is actually kind of kooky and is also a fan of manga or anime or video games or whatever, then it would totally work. If that is the set up then I am not against it.

[Fifthfiend]

Yeah I mean it would definitely be a much better terrible movie if these girls just like, went to an insane asylum that ACTUALLY TRANSFORMED INTO a war zone filled with nazis and werewolves.

edit: I feel like this is one of my posts that reads as if I am being sarcastic or something so I am going to clarify that I am not, at all.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Well, no one can ever accuse 30 second tv ads of doing justice to anything they advertise really. I remeber seeing the ads for Inception, which was even less informative but people still found out about that and went to see it.

To be honest though, I don't think this movie is supposed to put too much emphasis on the plot anyway. It's just a turn off you brain and enjoy the show action film, which I'm all for.

[Krylo]

I think the frame has to do with the fact that they are drugged to shit in the insane asylum and thus are actually hallucinating a good amount of this stuff. So while in the real world they are punching Doctor McAsshole and his two orderlies in the face, in their mind's eye they are fighting off a giant dragon and it's two giant robot bodyguards, whom have gatling gun nipples.

But I haven't really followed it so I might be a little off.

[rpgdemon]

Not from the theatrical trailer linked in the original post. It looks a lot more dark/serious in the beginning, and that tone really killed the rest of it for me. Moreso, given even more context to it.

Edit: In response to not-Krylo.

[Magus]

Yeah I mean it would definitely be a much better terrible movie if these girls just like, went to an insane asylum that ACTUALLY TRANSFORMED INTO a war zone filled with nazis and werewolves.

edit: I feel like this is one of my posts that reads as if I am being sarcastic or something so I am going to clarify that I am not, at all.

To continue in this bent, somebody mentioned that it was a lot like Scott Pilgrim, and I thought Scott Pilgrim's sheer genius is the set-up that it is a real-world comedy but then you find out the world they are in actually operates under the rules of a manga universe where regular people suddenly start getting into battles with kung fu and magic powers. This film supposedly doesn't do that but it would be better if it did.

I am glad to hear there is a reason for the hallucination better than "they thought it was boring so they imagined it as greater", though, the drugs are a decent enough element to introduce the visuals. Still think it would be better if the character was a fan of steampunk or something to make the hallucinations more symbolic. Or that they were more related to the actual situation.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Well I think there are supposed to be like 5 major areas where they go after each of those items, 1 for each character, so yeah it would appear to be at least somewhat linked, if not to their interests then at least to their extremely fucked up psyches'. Don't quote me on that one though.

[rpgdemon]

To continue in this bent, somebody mentioned that it was a lot like Scott Pilgrim, and I thought Scott Pilgrim's sheer genius is the set-up that it is a real-world comedy but then you find out the world they are in actually operates under the rules of a manga universe where regular people suddenly start getting into battles with kung fu and magic powers. This film supposedly doesn't do that but it would be better if it did.

I am glad to hear there is a reason for the hallucination better than "they thought it was boring so they imagined it as greater", though, the drugs are a decent enough element to introduce the visuals. Still think it would be better if the character was a fan of steampunk or something to make the hallucinations more symbolic. Or that they were more related to the actual situation.

That's why I'm so disappointed. Someone compared it to Scott Pilgrim, but it's nothing like it.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Not quite. It's a story about girls who are brought to an institution and then sold into whoredom by the corrupt wardens. They hatch an escape plan and all the really cool crazy shit you see is their imagining a much more interesting reality as they steal shit and break out to freedom.

Well... god damn it!

Whelp that's one more reason why I don't go to the theaters much anymore.


That, really just killed the movie for me.

[Overcast]

There is really no reason not to watch this movie. If it is good plotwise then we get to say yay plot, if plot is backseat to action we get to say yay action, and if it sucks all the way through then we all get to come back here and bitch about how much it sucks.

And we'll all be even closer as a family.

[Jagos]

This is going to be the best terrible movie this year that doesn't star both Vin Diesel ---


F5, coming soon.

[Fifthfiend]

I don't know why you cut off the part of my quotation that includes The Rock as that implies that F5 does not ALSO STAR THE ROCK

WITH VIN DIESEL

in THE SAME SHITTY MOVIE

in the halls of shitty-movie honor, this one shall stand as a god

[Krylo]

I... I kinda like Dwayne Johnson.

[Overcast]

You aren't alone. He pulls off the humorous action star rather well.

[Fifthfiend]

I... I kinda like Dwayne Johnson.

I don't know what about my comment could lead you to conclude that I don't think The Rock is totally fantastic.

You aren't alone. He pulls off the humorous action star rather well.

I kind of think of The Rock as like... the anti-Vin Diesel, in that every Vin Diesel role is about totally selling you on how Vin Diesel is totally a totally total badass, whereas The Rock realizes that he never, ever has to spend any time at all selling you on him being him a badass, because like, he shows up on screen, and you're like, yup, nobody is going to argue at all that dude is a badass. So he can just go ahead and be as goofy as he likes.

[Fifthfiend]

The Rock realizes that he never, ever has to spend any time at all selling you on him being him a badass, because like, he shows up on screen, and you're like, yup, nobody is going to argue at all that dude is a badass. So he can just go ahead and be as goofy as he likes.

Basically what I am saying here is that The Rock...

...knows his role

[The Sevenshot Kid]

Basically what I am saying here is that The Rock...

...knows his role

I'm totally gonna second that. I have never seen a movie of his that I didn't like. That includes the "Game Plan."

Especially the "Game Plan."

[Fifthfiend]

I think the best thing you could ever do with the Rock is have him appear as a guest star on that new My Little Ponies cartoon.

[Aerozord]

They hatch an escape plan and all the really cool crazy shit you see is their imagining a much more interesting reality as they steal shit and break out to freedom.

ITS RUGRATS

[Tev]

This is going to be the best terrible movie this year that doesn't star both Vin Diesel and The Rock.
Where do you rank Cowboys and Aliens?

[Jagos]

I don't know why you cut off the part of my quotation that includes The Rock as that implies that F5 does not ALSO STAR THE ROCK

WITH VIN DIESEL

in THE SAME SHITTY MOVIE

in the halls of shitty-movie honor, this one shall stand as a god

... Wait... He's in it too?

*did not connect the dots...

I'm totally gonna second that. I have never seen a movie of his that I didn't like. That includes the "Game Plan."

Especially the "Game Plan."

Doom and Tooth Fairy...

[Marc v4.0]

... Wait... He's in it too?

*did not connect the dots...



Doom and Tooth Fairy...

Oddly enough, I like Doom because The Rock makes a damn good psychopath, and because they trained with actual military trainers so they would look at least semi-cohesive and it worked.

Like, if Doom had been a movie that wasn't called "Doom" and billed as the movie version of "Doom" it would have been alright. For a Doom movie, though, it was pretty lame.

[Yrcrazypa]

ITS RUGRATS

I didn't think it could be done, but I think you just ruined this movie for me. Thanks for that, by the way.

[Aerozord]

I didn't think it could be done, but I think you just ruined this movie for me. Thanks for that, by the way.

also that the main character is a blond girl in pigtails with anger management issues

I'll give you a moment

[Kyanbu The Legend]

also that the main character is a blond girl in pigtails with anger management issues

I'll give you a moment

That actually isn't so bad.

[Seil]

http://openbooksociety.com/wp-content/uploads/HLIC/ca36212acef71bcd95f236bfd8ae9eae.jpg

Also, Dwayne Johnson... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSS8eOPn5Gw)

[Overcast]

I loved him as the big gay samoan in Be Cool. Also loved Cats Don't Dance. So I hope you mean something positive. xB

[Bells]

Soooooooooo... just out of curiosity, how you guys relate your own experience to this review?

http://io9.com/#!5785590/sucker-punch-goes-beyond-awful-to-become-commentary-on-the-death-of-moviemaking

[P-Sleazy]

I disagree with that review.

That is all.

Yes, I know this is unsubstantiated. Substantiation will come later.

[synkr0nized]

Soooooooooo... just out of curiosity, how you guys relate your own experience to this review?

http://io9.com/#!5785590/sucker-punch-goes-beyond-awful-to-become-commentary-on-the-death-of-moviemaking

I suspect the majority of people seeing the movie will agree with this.
I set the bar low for what I required of the movie, and it delivered to my expectations 120% (it was 20% cooler!). I will likely purchase this movie.

[P-Sleazy]

I suspect the majority of people seeing the movie will agree with this.
I set the bar low for what I required of the movie, and it delivered to my expectations 120% (it was 20% cooler!). I will likely purchase this movie.

Thats the exact mindset me and a half of my friends went in there with. We came out thoroughly pleased.

The other half that didn't come in with that expectation, thoroughly dissappointed and even hated the movie.

[Drownball-Champ]

I went in expecting it to be great. I came out thinking it was decent. The action and soundtrack were awesome, the story was kind of meh.

[Bard The 5th LW]

I overall liked the movie. The soundtrack in particular was awesome. Plot felt too bizarre at times, but the ending was neat.

[Azisien]

I think there was a rather specific, superficial reason I liked Sucker Punch.

And I know what that reason is, and so does Zack Synder. And I think he and I both know he could have done a better job at fulfilling that reason. But he didn't, so the movie loses some points in that respect.

However, I think anybody else analyzing this movie deeper than you should a Transformers film (hint: you shouldn't) has already missed the mark entirely.

[Bells]

I think there was a rather specific, superficial reason I liked Sucker Punch.

And I know what that reason is, and so does Zack Synder. And I think he and I both know he could have done a better job at fulfilling that reason. But he didn't, so the movie loses some points in that respect.

However, I think anybody else analyzing this movie deeper than you should a Transformers film (hint: you shouldn't) has already missed the mark entirely.

And so i give you Movie Bob (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/escape-to-the-movies/2962-Sucker-Punch)

[Azisien]

I think Movie Bob and I pretty much see eye to eye on Mr. Synder.

Except Legend of the Guardians. That movie was pretty bleh.

[Jagos]

Alrighty... Finish homework tomorrow. See Sucker Punch. That is all.