By Kate Rodger
Welcome to the dark, action-packed world of Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch.
After the likes of 300 and Watchmen this is Snyder's first film based on his own material, and his first dominated by women.
In the Sucker Punch realm, the heroines are young, troubled women, women who are led to escape their incarceration in a mental hospital.. if only through fantasy.
Zack Snyder's famed visual aesthetics are more evident here than in any of his previous outings, the fantasy element of his Sucker Punch story giving him full creative license to let loose."
And let loose he does. The worlds his heroines escape to are populated by fire-breathing dragons, wartime zombies, giant Samurai and leading them into battle, is Australian actress Emily Browning as Babydoll... locked up by her stepfather after the death of her mother and sister. She unites her fellow inmates, using their collective strength to make their world a better place.
There are plenty of interesting comparisons to make with Sucker Punch and Snyder's other work. 300 and Watchmen's super-stylised violence was super-R Rated, whereas here, it’s hugely toned down no doubt for wider audience appeal. This may alienate the hardcore fans, and judging by its opening weekend in the US, hasn't been enough to get others through the door.
And for me, after the engrossing story and characterisations of Watchmen, the Sucker Punch narrative is a massive disappointment.
It's the visuals here which are the film's strong suit. The story is lean, serving only as a simple canvas for Snyder's paintbox. I'm a fan, and soaked up the look, while left wanting for a cohesive story to sink my teeth into.
Three stars.
Sucker Punch
:: Director: Zack Snyder
:: Starring: Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, Jena Malone, Abbie Cornish
:: Running Time: 114 mins
:: Rating: M - contains violence
:: Release Date: April 7, 2011
:: Trailer: Watch here
