This is exactly the kind of action movie marketed to women like me that makes me wish people would stop marketing action movies marketed to women like me. Every girl is some radiculously over-testosteroned whiney action girl. It's degrading.
Escape to the Movies: Sucker Punch
- Thread starter MovieBob
- Start date
Oldboy? The movie that is critically acclaimed and certified fresh on rotten tomatoes? Yea I heard that was good.Verlander said:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/oldboy/#!reviews=top_critics
Just got back from the theater and let me just say... WOW.
Sucker Punch absolutely blew me away. I loved the characters, the action, and of course, the eye candy. What looks on the surface to be B-rated fan-service is actually one of the most imaginative and original movies I've seen in a long time.
Also, I'm glad Bob mentioned the comparisons to Inception. On my way out of the movie, I heard two guys in front of me talking, and one of them said it was "like a Twilight version of Inception". You need to know what this movie is before you go and see it.
Sucker Punch absolutely blew me away. I loved the characters, the action, and of course, the eye candy. What looks on the surface to be B-rated fan-service is actually one of the most imaginative and original movies I've seen in a long time.
Also, I'm glad Bob mentioned the comparisons to Inception. On my way out of the movie, I heard two guys in front of me talking, and one of them said it was "like a Twilight version of Inception". You need to know what this movie is before you go and see it.
This movie was TERRIBLE.
Besides the chromatography there was nothing enjoyable about it. The characters were flat, the story was boring, the acting was laughable, and it seemed like a drunkard assembled it because it was so scattered.
I don't know why people keep saying it's fan service, it was more of a crap on fan service.
Come watch me I have robots, zombies, and scantily clad girls! None of that matters if the movie is junk.
Besides the chromatography there was nothing enjoyable about it. The characters were flat, the story was boring, the acting was laughable, and it seemed like a drunkard assembled it because it was so scattered.
I don't know why people keep saying it's fan service, it was more of a crap on fan service.
Come watch me I have robots, zombies, and scantily clad girls! None of that matters if the movie is junk.
Singular criticism: The CGI in the movie, in spaces, has that shine on it that's just uncanny valley enough to be distracting.
Now, for what I came here for: I disagree with Bob's interpretation of the movie. Needless to say, MASSIVE PLOT SPOILERS WILL PROBABLY FOLLOW THIS. FAIRLY WARNED BE YE.
Also, bear in mind I saw the movie 20 minutes ago, and this hasn't had time to reorganize itself into something coherent. I also haven't read the comments, so it could be that someone has proposed this already.
Okay, hear me out:
The bulk of the movie takes place in the quarter second between spike-eye lobotomy start and spike-eye lobotomy end.
Babydoll is suffering from multiple personalities. Her own quote-unquote "Dominant" personality, and the four others - Amber, Sweet Pea, Rocket, and Blondie.
In my mind, Babydoll's real name is Amber (I didn't catch a name and didn't see one on the 'Female, 20' clipboard), who represents the kind of girl she was before this psychosis started. Amber, you'll notice, is largely the least depicted character in the film, delegated to a sort of passive supporting role. She's also the first thing to go after Rocket dies (explained why further down). The orderly also mentions that after a lobotomy 'she won't even remember her own name', which makes sense with the Amber part of her dying.
Blondie is where she was at immediately before being sent to the asylum, and during her initial first little while (Where she was silent at the start of the film). The scared little girl that becomes instantly willing to do anything when assured that doing so will make everything alright (As evidenced by her last line before she died).
Rocket's where she's at now, confident and assured that so long as their plan is carried out properly, everything is going to be fine for everyone. You'll notice that when this particular part of her dies, despite her best efforts, the rest start to die off too.
Sweet Pea represents an ideal. I guess if you want to get all Freudian, she'd be the superego (I think? I haven't studied psychology in forever). She's the cautious, moral part of Babydoll.
As the lobotomy and the movie progress (as the spike drives further into her brain) bits and pieces of her start to die off. Eventually, at the very end, the final nail in the coffin is Babydoll's 'death' at the hands of the High Roller.
When the doctor says that her eyes were strange, in that she wanted him to do it, it was her realization that by allowing this lobotomy to happen, the most important part of her personality (Sweet Pea) would be allowed to be at peace. She loses her awareness of her surroundings and doesn't have to suffer the torture of the asylum anymore. This is evidenced by Sweet Pea getting on the bus and driving off into the sunset past the sign that says "PARADISE Diner". Paradise for her is an escape from her surroundings, which explains why she wanted the lobotomy.
The doctors also mention that during her five days she lit a fire, stabbed an orderly, and helped another inmate escape. While that lends credence to Bob's interpretation, I feel like the deaths would have been mentioned if those had actually happened to real people. I feel like the events the doctors talk about are just manifestations of Babydoll's psychosis. You'll also notice that these events coincide with the events in which the five girls were told to 'work together to survive', in a sense that when all parts of her operated as a cohesive unit she was able to actively effect the real world around her.
Anyway...I'm really tired, and I hope that made sense. That's my take on it.
Now, for what I came here for: I disagree with Bob's interpretation of the movie. Needless to say, MASSIVE PLOT SPOILERS WILL PROBABLY FOLLOW THIS. FAIRLY WARNED BE YE.
Also, bear in mind I saw the movie 20 minutes ago, and this hasn't had time to reorganize itself into something coherent. I also haven't read the comments, so it could be that someone has proposed this already.
Okay, hear me out:
The bulk of the movie takes place in the quarter second between spike-eye lobotomy start and spike-eye lobotomy end.
Babydoll is suffering from multiple personalities. Her own quote-unquote "Dominant" personality, and the four others - Amber, Sweet Pea, Rocket, and Blondie.
In my mind, Babydoll's real name is Amber (I didn't catch a name and didn't see one on the 'Female, 20' clipboard), who represents the kind of girl she was before this psychosis started. Amber, you'll notice, is largely the least depicted character in the film, delegated to a sort of passive supporting role. She's also the first thing to go after Rocket dies (explained why further down). The orderly also mentions that after a lobotomy 'she won't even remember her own name', which makes sense with the Amber part of her dying.
Blondie is where she was at immediately before being sent to the asylum, and during her initial first little while (Where she was silent at the start of the film). The scared little girl that becomes instantly willing to do anything when assured that doing so will make everything alright (As evidenced by her last line before she died).
Rocket's where she's at now, confident and assured that so long as their plan is carried out properly, everything is going to be fine for everyone. You'll notice that when this particular part of her dies, despite her best efforts, the rest start to die off too.
Sweet Pea represents an ideal. I guess if you want to get all Freudian, she'd be the superego (I think? I haven't studied psychology in forever). She's the cautious, moral part of Babydoll.
As the lobotomy and the movie progress (as the spike drives further into her brain) bits and pieces of her start to die off. Eventually, at the very end, the final nail in the coffin is Babydoll's 'death' at the hands of the High Roller.
When the doctor says that her eyes were strange, in that she wanted him to do it, it was her realization that by allowing this lobotomy to happen, the most important part of her personality (Sweet Pea) would be allowed to be at peace. She loses her awareness of her surroundings and doesn't have to suffer the torture of the asylum anymore. This is evidenced by Sweet Pea getting on the bus and driving off into the sunset past the sign that says "PARADISE Diner". Paradise for her is an escape from her surroundings, which explains why she wanted the lobotomy.
The doctors also mention that during her five days she lit a fire, stabbed an orderly, and helped another inmate escape. While that lends credence to Bob's interpretation, I feel like the deaths would have been mentioned if those had actually happened to real people. I feel like the events the doctors talk about are just manifestations of Babydoll's psychosis. You'll also notice that these events coincide with the events in which the five girls were told to 'work together to survive', in a sense that when all parts of her operated as a cohesive unit she was able to actively effect the real world around her.
Anyway...I'm really tired, and I hope that made sense. That's my take on it.
I had this pinned as a 'Must Miss', but upon watching the review I'll give it a second thought.
It's obvious after the recent female gaming Q&A that what males think appeals to and empowers women is not really in line with women's definitions. So I'd have to wonder if this film is really more than perhaps eye candy with a spin.
It's obvious after the recent female gaming Q&A that what males think appeals to and empowers women is not really in line with women's definitions. So I'd have to wonder if this film is really more than perhaps eye candy with a spin.
I saw Sucker Punch this afternoon on Bob's recommendation, and really enjoyed it.
I can totally see what he was saying about the film subverting the male gaze (take that Laura Mulvey!)... It was sort of: Thelma and Louise - meets Alice in Wonderland- meets Brazil - meets steam-powered zombie nazis. All in all a great time at the movies.
Can't wait to see what Snyder does with Superman.
I can totally see what he was saying about the film subverting the male gaze (take that Laura Mulvey!)... It was sort of: Thelma and Louise - meets Alice in Wonderland- meets Brazil - meets steam-powered zombie nazis. All in all a great time at the movies.
Can't wait to see what Snyder does with Superman.
Somebody's been listening to Spill Crew...qbanknight said:
But, from what I've seen and heard about it, I can't say I disagree. It does look an awful lot like pandering that Bob was trying to justify through finding deeper meanings that probably aren't there. Reminds me of a certain scene in South Park:
South Park [http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/267363/no-deeper-meaning]
I was saddened when a few of my friends and I go early to get good seats, and what do we find? We find a theater with six people inside 5 minutes before the movie starts...
Not very well received because people have closed mindedness.
Not very well received because people have closed mindedness.
Honestly, even if this movie was an atrocity plot-wise, it would still be fucking awesome. From what little I've seen of it, it looks like it has all the insane maximalism and why-the-hell not badassery that is just so damn fun to watch, even if it's not all that intelligent. And if, in this case, it is, it's just shot up to the top of my list.
Well, I just got back from seeing it. I didn't love it as much as I hoped to, but I didn't hate it either. I can see why 80% of critics gave it a poor review - the movie runs almost entirely on Video Game Logic?. Being a gamer, I was entirely ok with that. The overall story's not hard to follow - just the action sequences don't run on real world logic. My biggest problem with the movie was probably that it was actually pretty depressing.
I greatly enjoyed all the action scenes, and my only real disappointment was that Sweat Pea never once used her sword. The girls all looked great, and the imagery was fantastic.
Overall, if I had to give the movie a grade, I'd give it a C+.
I greatly enjoyed all the action scenes, and my only real disappointment was that Sweat Pea never once used her sword. The girls all looked great, and the imagery was fantastic.
Overall, if I had to give the movie a grade, I'd give it a C+.
I have to say, after watching it, the vibe I get from Sucker Punch is the same I get from Duke Nukem Forever; by that, I mean that I generally enjoyed the film and had a lot of fun with it, but feel a bit ashamed about liking it simply because of all the immature things it does.
Though, I like movies that deal with the psyche (SW15243 summed up my ideas about it pretty well; those sort of things interest me), so I'm likely bias on liking it for that, but I had fun with the movie despite the pandering.
Personally, I think the majority of criticism about the film comes from the pandering and general pacing/repetitive nature of the film (as mentioned above me, it works kind of like a game). I honestly thought about this film about as much as Inception; it's just the chicks-in-skirts-shooting-dragons put people into that crowd of "Shameless, immature, and down-right insulting" category of feelings when walking away from the film.
Though, I like movies that deal with the psyche (SW15243 summed up my ideas about it pretty well; those sort of things interest me), so I'm likely bias on liking it for that, but I had fun with the movie despite the pandering.
Personally, I think the majority of criticism about the film comes from the pandering and general pacing/repetitive nature of the film (as mentioned above me, it works kind of like a game). I honestly thought about this film about as much as Inception; it's just the chicks-in-skirts-shooting-dragons put people into that crowd of "Shameless, immature, and down-right insulting" category of feelings when walking away from the film.
Finished up at School, caught the last show. Saw your review afterwards. Haven't seen a movie in ages (school gets busy).
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. You can read into it as much or little as you want to. It was depressing, serious, funny, silly, artsy, had pretty girls in tiny-ish outfits and hats that didn't fall off (Rocket), random Polish accent, a fat guy, a samurai with a giant ass machine gun, everything.
One thing I noticed. The part with the jet-pack (that should be non-spoiler enough, but yes, there's a jet-pack in the movie), I felt the shot looking down at and the shot looking up at SweatPea (the older sister) was for the boys in a "it's gonna be a little emotional after this, so here ya go." Which I thought was nice of the Snyder.
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. You can read into it as much or little as you want to. It was depressing, serious, funny, silly, artsy, had pretty girls in tiny-ish outfits and hats that didn't fall off (Rocket), random Polish accent, a fat guy, a samurai with a giant ass machine gun, everything.
One thing I noticed. The part with the jet-pack (that should be non-spoiler enough, but yes, there's a jet-pack in the movie), I felt the shot looking down at and the shot looking up at SweatPea (the older sister) was for the boys in a "it's gonna be a little emotional after this, so here ya go." Which I thought was nice of the Snyder.
Since when critics opinion matter? oh wait...RedEyesBlackGamer said:
OP: I am giving a go at this one, hope its not an orgy of special effects with poor story telling.
First: I agree with MovieBob.
I almost *never* agree with the reviews, I have to say, we just have opposite tastes I guess, but I stand with Bob on this against all the other critics.
I almost *never* agree with the reviews, I have to say, we just have opposite tastes I guess, but I stand with Bob on this against all the other critics.