Film Review: SUCKER PUNCH (2011)

Director: Zack Snyder
Writers: Zack Snyder (story/screenplay), Steve Shibuya (screenplay)
Running Time: 110 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
UK Release Date: 1^st April 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 15^th April 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Although I may not be the target audience for this film, I decided to give it a viewing because of the very mixed press it got at the time of release. I must say I did find it interesting, but ultimately it left me with far more questions than answers. I’m usually pretty good at following the most complicated of plots, but this one was all over the place and, what makes matters worse, never really resolved itself by the end. But more of my thoughts after this very brief summary… That’s if I can think of a way of putting it that makes any sense.

Having lost her mother and having been framed for the murder of her kid sister, Babydoll is put into a mental asylum by her evil stepfather. Here she finds her only escape is into a fantasy that she invents. In this fantasy all the inmates (all girls by the way) work in an upmarket bordello (whore house to those that aren’t familiar with the term). The girls are to put on shows for clients in a little theatre and they are supervised in this by Vera. The other girls are; Sweet Pea, Rocket, Blondie and Amber, and they all have their own reasons for wanting to leave (apart from the obvious – of course). In one of her flights of fancy, Babydoll is told by Wise Man that the High Roller is coming for her in five days and she must find five items in order to escape. These are; a map, fire, a knife, a key and a fifth object that he cannot (or will not) tell her. And so the girls begin their quest to retrieve these objects and each time one is being retrieved, Babydoll dances and another fantasy is played out. Will they get all the objects in time for Babydoll to make her escape? Well, I guess that would be a bit of a spoiler and so I’ll leave it there before the Spoiler Police catch on to my rouse.

There is some really spectacular CGI in this film and the fighting sequences are all very well done. It’s a shame the narrative couldn’t live up to the visuals though. As far as performances go, well everyone did a pretty good job without anyone really standing out. So honourable mentions must go to; Emily Browning as Babydoll, Abbie Cornish as Sweet Pea, Jena Malone as Rocket, Vanessa Hudgens as Blondie, Jamie Chung as Amber, Carla Gugino as Dr. Vera Gorski, Oscar Isaac as Blue Jones, Jon Hamm as High Roller/Doctor and Scott Glenn as Wise Man.

I finished watching this film with the feeling that I had just watched a bunch of music video’s patched together with a very flimsy storyline. Admittedly, they were very spectacular music videos with some spectacular effects, but I didn’t feel it made for a film. There was no way I could form any connection to any of the characters because there was no time. The action comes thick and fast and, although there’s a lot of talking in between, little of it serves to explain what’s happening or even why. Over all, great to look at, but with little substance… I guess those that get their kicks from watching scantily clad young women with big guns will like it, but it really didn’t do a great deal for me I’m afraid.

My Score: 5.7/10

IMDb Score: 6.1/10 (based on 99,643 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0978764/

MetaScore: 33/100: (Based on 29 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 23/100 (based on 196 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 47/100 (based on 83,935 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sucker-punch-2010/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Sweet Pea: There are armed guards everywhere! And if Blue finds out, we're dead!
Rocket: We're already dead.

Wiseman: Don't ever write a check with your mouth you can't cash with your ass. Oh, and one more thing... don't wake the mother.

Dr. Vera Gorski: I want you to dance.
[Bjork's "Army of Me" playing over speakers]
Dr. Vera Gorski: ...
[Music stops]
Dr. Vera Gorski: If you do not dance you have no purpose. And we don't keep things here that have no purpose. You see, your fight for survival starts right now. You don't want to be judged? You won't be. You don't think you're strong enough? You are. You're afraid. Don't be. You have all the weapons you need. Now fight.

Sweet Pea: And finally. This question. The mystery of whose story it will be, of who draws the curtain. Who is it that chooses our steps in a dance? Who drives us mad, flashes us with whips, crowns us with victory when we survive the impossible? Who is it that tells all these things?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://suckerpunchmovie.warnerbros.com/dvd/
Trailer:

Film Review: LIMITLESS (2011)

Director: Neil Burger
Writers: Leslie Dixon (screenplay), Alan Glynn (novel)
Running time: 105 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Thriller/Sci-Fi/Mystery
UK Release date: 23^rd March 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 15^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

When I read about the concept behind this film I must say I was quite intrigued; a pill that could allow access to the parts of the brain we don’t use? Who could resist? Well it didn’t play at my local cinema and so after quite a long wait it finally appeared in the TV listings this week. It had received a bit of a mixed response from the critics but I thought I’d take the plunge anyway. I’ll give you my thoughts after this brief summary.

Eddie Morra is a struggling writer; he has a contract to write a book but is struggling to find inspiration and motivation. By chance he meets his ex-wife’s brother, Vernon, a former drug dealer; he gives him a pill that changes his life. It’s called NZT and it enables him to think faster than ever; he finishes his book in double quick time. When the effects wear off he decides he has to get more. He goes to see Vernon who he finds dead. Searching his apartment he discovers his stash and steals it. Now he can take it every day he soon realises that writing isn’t for him; stocks and shares are the future. Having had some meteoric success in the stock market, he is now in the spotlight of the big boys. Enter Carl Van Loon, a very successful businessman who takes Eddie under his wing. As a side note, Eddie at this point also gets his girlfriend, Lindy, back. About to broker a major deal; Eddie discovers a disturbing side-effect of the drug… I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Illegal Drugs Division) will have me banged up for possession.

A very well made film with some neat CGI and camera work which is used to try and illustrate the effect of the drug on Eddie. I also liked the narration; it gave an insight into his thought processes as events unfolded around him. Decent performances all round; Bradley Cooper did a good job as Eddie Morra, Robert De Niro was great (as ever), although never really stretched as Carl Van Loon and Abbie Cornish was decent, if underused, as Lindy. Andrew Howard did a good job as the Russian moneylender Gennady and there was a nice little part for Anna Friel as Eddie’s ex-wife Melissa.

Quite a slick production with some nice touches; not all of them worked, but it’s still a perfectly watchable Sci-Fi/Thriller. As I’ve already said, I did enjoy some of the camera trickery used to illustrate the effect of the drug, in particular the tunnel-like pan straight into the screen, which worked particularly well. There were a few aspects of the plot that didn’t quite work for me, but over all it’s still pretty enjoyable… Recommended.

My score: 7.4/10.

IMDb Score: 7.3/10 (based on 103,342 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1219289/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 69/100 (based on 180 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 73/100 (based on 84,511 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/limitless/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Eddie Morra: Obviously I miscalculated a few things.
Man: [banging door] Eddie! I know you're in there.
Eddie Morra: Why is it that the moment your life exceeds your wildest dreams, the knife appears at your back? Well, I'll tell you one thing... I will never let them touch me.

Eddie Morra: You see that guy? That was me not so long ago. What kind of guy without a drug or alcohol problem looks this way? Only a writer.

Vernon: You know how they say we can only access 20% of our brain?
[Vernon points out the NZT pill on the table]
Vernon: This lets you access all of it.

Carl Van Loon: So, Eddie Morra... And you do know you're a freak? What's your secret?
Eddie Morra: Medication.

Eddie Morra: [parting ways with Carl] You should really be glad about this, because you know, me working for you, you'd end up being my bitch.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.iamrogue.com/limitless/fullsite/index.html
Trailer: