You've got to manage, I won't sympathize anymore.
I went and saw "Sucker Punch" last night with the family.
You know, I initially had quite high hopes for the movie. Zack Snyder (at least in my mind) certainly can deliver the goods in terms of style and entertainment value. Both "300" and "Watchmen" -- the first two films that come to mind when I think of Snyder's work -- were certainly enjoyable.
"300" was very basic in terms of plot; it was a straightforward action piece and it knew it. When it did get psychological, it was in the spirit of the movie itself. The whole thing was played as serious, but quite frankly, I don't think it took itself especially seriously at all. This could be the fallout from the film on the internet talking, where the thing was embraced and spawned numerous jokes. Regardless, I don't feel like it pretended to be something it wasn't.
"Watchmen" has to be one of the most incredible adaptations of one medium to another that I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. It was incredibly faithful to the source material, and simply a beautiful film...the "Hallelujah" scene not withstanding. When it did get psychological, even if you don't agree with what it had to say, it worked within the context of the film seeing as it was ripped directly from it's source material and carefully put on to the screen.
It's then safe to say Snyder is quite good at developing adaptations, as both of those films were based on comics. He also has a talent for style. Both of these films are slick, gorgeous, and well-filmed, which makes for a fantastic watching experience.
The thing is, Snyder wrote the script for "Sucker Punch". Which is where the problems probably start.
I personally don't read reviews of films I'd like to see before I actually see them. I enjoy going in 'clean'. The reviews were not kind to the movie. I see why.
The first sequence involves the murder and implied rape of our heroine, Baby Doll's, sister by their step-father. In a rage, she tries to kill him, fails, and is then committed to a mental institution. In this mental institution is where our five main characters (Baby Doll, Sweet Pea, Rocket, Amber, and Blondie) meet. The whole thing then plays out in a very "Inception" like way with three different structured levels in which the story plays out. We have the institution itself, which is a dingy, dark place. Reality, if you will. The next level down transforms this institution into a cabaret where the girls are dancers who on the order of the owner of said club (who in reality is an orderly at the institution) also work as prostitutes. The third layer is deep in the girls' subconscious, where they are warriors who take on all comers: huge samurai robots, steam-punk Nazis, and straight up robots. They're fierce. They're wonderful. Problem is, outside of this particular world, the whole movie is kind of rape-y. Well, actually, a lot rape-y.
Now, it certainly doesn't condone rape in any way, shape, or form. It's always presented as a horrible, wrong, and unacceptable. However, rape itself becomes a theme. My friend Red put it best when she described it as a rape fantasy. While I think that might be a little too harsh for what's there, it's certainly not too far off the mark at all. Every male character -- seriously, every male character aside from the 'guide' in the third level, but he's another story -- either rapes someone, attempts to rape someone, or implies they would like to rape someone. We even have metaphorical rape, where at the very end in 'reality' Baby Doll is lobotomized by a spike being driven into her brain. Tell me that's not rape imagery and I will call you a liar.
What little strength this film has lies in that third level. Had Snyder worked this as a straightforward sci-fi action flick with strong, kick-ass female warriors, I think I would have actually liked it. The fight sequences are a joy to watch -- over the top, stylish in a very Snyder way (which I do intend as a compliment). I love the characters when they're in this particular mode, and would have loved to have seen a movie where a group of super-soldier warrior women snark, kick ass, and take names. Flesh THAT out. Show me the girls' personalities there. It had so much potential to be like "300", (as I mentioned earlier) a highly straightforward action piece, had Snyder taken the time to build and develop the film THAT way. As is, where it could have been neat, it just plays out like a video game that's nice to look at.
(Interestingly enough, in every location they take on, each building in this third level is the Notre Dame cathedral. Not sure what the implications of that are. The use of Our Lady to try and link what's going on around it to female strength? I don't know.)
Snyder has attempted to create powerful, independent women in his five main characters. In that third level, it's quite possible he is on his way to achieving this and could have made it there with a little more effort. Outside of that, he's got five women who he tries to make strong, but really just subjects to rape, death, and worse. Seriously. What is a try at a feminist statement that runs along the lines of "see how women can be strong and take on both systems and opponents!", any weight that statement holds is negated by his use of violence against them in those first two levels. No amount of awesome in that third level makes up for the fact that male characters essentially destroy each and every one of them in various ways and degrees in 'reality' by the end.
The music is great though. I bought the soundtrack and enjoy every song on it. I guess that's something?
You know, I initially had quite high hopes for the movie. Zack Snyder (at least in my mind) certainly can deliver the goods in terms of style and entertainment value. Both "300" and "Watchmen" -- the first two films that come to mind when I think of Snyder's work -- were certainly enjoyable.
"300" was very basic in terms of plot; it was a straightforward action piece and it knew it. When it did get psychological, it was in the spirit of the movie itself. The whole thing was played as serious, but quite frankly, I don't think it took itself especially seriously at all. This could be the fallout from the film on the internet talking, where the thing was embraced and spawned numerous jokes. Regardless, I don't feel like it pretended to be something it wasn't.
"Watchmen" has to be one of the most incredible adaptations of one medium to another that I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. It was incredibly faithful to the source material, and simply a beautiful film...the "Hallelujah" scene not withstanding. When it did get psychological, even if you don't agree with what it had to say, it worked within the context of the film seeing as it was ripped directly from it's source material and carefully put on to the screen.
It's then safe to say Snyder is quite good at developing adaptations, as both of those films were based on comics. He also has a talent for style. Both of these films are slick, gorgeous, and well-filmed, which makes for a fantastic watching experience.
The thing is, Snyder wrote the script for "Sucker Punch". Which is where the problems probably start.
I personally don't read reviews of films I'd like to see before I actually see them. I enjoy going in 'clean'. The reviews were not kind to the movie. I see why.
The first sequence involves the murder and implied rape of our heroine, Baby Doll's, sister by their step-father. In a rage, she tries to kill him, fails, and is then committed to a mental institution. In this mental institution is where our five main characters (Baby Doll, Sweet Pea, Rocket, Amber, and Blondie) meet. The whole thing then plays out in a very "Inception" like way with three different structured levels in which the story plays out. We have the institution itself, which is a dingy, dark place. Reality, if you will. The next level down transforms this institution into a cabaret where the girls are dancers who on the order of the owner of said club (who in reality is an orderly at the institution) also work as prostitutes. The third layer is deep in the girls' subconscious, where they are warriors who take on all comers: huge samurai robots, steam-punk Nazis, and straight up robots. They're fierce. They're wonderful. Problem is, outside of this particular world, the whole movie is kind of rape-y. Well, actually, a lot rape-y.
Now, it certainly doesn't condone rape in any way, shape, or form. It's always presented as a horrible, wrong, and unacceptable. However, rape itself becomes a theme. My friend Red put it best when she described it as a rape fantasy. While I think that might be a little too harsh for what's there, it's certainly not too far off the mark at all. Every male character -- seriously, every male character aside from the 'guide' in the third level, but he's another story -- either rapes someone, attempts to rape someone, or implies they would like to rape someone. We even have metaphorical rape, where at the very end in 'reality' Baby Doll is lobotomized by a spike being driven into her brain. Tell me that's not rape imagery and I will call you a liar.
What little strength this film has lies in that third level. Had Snyder worked this as a straightforward sci-fi action flick with strong, kick-ass female warriors, I think I would have actually liked it. The fight sequences are a joy to watch -- over the top, stylish in a very Snyder way (which I do intend as a compliment). I love the characters when they're in this particular mode, and would have loved to have seen a movie where a group of super-soldier warrior women snark, kick ass, and take names. Flesh THAT out. Show me the girls' personalities there. It had so much potential to be like "300", (as I mentioned earlier) a highly straightforward action piece, had Snyder taken the time to build and develop the film THAT way. As is, where it could have been neat, it just plays out like a video game that's nice to look at.
(Interestingly enough, in every location they take on, each building in this third level is the Notre Dame cathedral. Not sure what the implications of that are. The use of Our Lady to try and link what's going on around it to female strength? I don't know.)
Snyder has attempted to create powerful, independent women in his five main characters. In that third level, it's quite possible he is on his way to achieving this and could have made it there with a little more effort. Outside of that, he's got five women who he tries to make strong, but really just subjects to rape, death, and worse. Seriously. What is a try at a feminist statement that runs along the lines of "see how women can be strong and take on both systems and opponents!", any weight that statement holds is negated by his use of violence against them in those first two levels. No amount of awesome in that third level makes up for the fact that male characters essentially destroy each and every one of them in various ways and degrees in 'reality' by the end.
The music is great though. I bought the soundtrack and enjoy every song on it. I guess that's something?