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Sucker Punch

Mar 25, 2011#1

linglingface

I'm not putting any spoilers in *this* post, but you can bet that there will be spoilers in later posts.

I hate writing reviews because I'm pretty scatter-brained, but here are my thoughts!

The reviews for Sucker Punch are all over the place. Half the reviews I read rate it 1-2 stars, the other half 4-5 stars.
Watched it last night and I'd rate it 4/5 stars. I felt the story was pretty original and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's basically a jailbreak story with pretty girls and a lot of action. The music in the movie plays a big part in how the story is told and it reminded me a lot of the movie Chicago, minus the singing and dancing. The girls have a job to do, and those jobs are played out in Babydoll's head!
The action scenes play out like they're straight out of a video game. Loooved it! The girls are all badasses and I'm happy I made Amber's costume.

She's the pilot, so of course she gets the heavy machinery, woo-hoo!

If you're someone who cares a lot about acting, then you probably won't love the movie. The acting was nothing special, but that's not important to me. Also, there's a few corny lines, but again, I couldn't care less. I felt the story was told well and I wasn't bored while watching the movie. It was a heavier story than I was expecting, but as they said in the previews, "You will be unprepared."

Mar 25, 2011#2

The Lovely Boehner

Added at: 07:18

Lou Lumenick said:
"Sucker Punch" is what happens when a studio gives carte blanche to a filmmaker who has absolutely nothing original or even coherent to say.

Beth Accomando said:
It's so bad that the Director's Guild should revoke Snyder's membership and he should never be allowed to direct again.

Laremy Legel said:
My personal rule of film enjoyment goes a little like this: you can be miserable or pointless, but you can't be both. Sucker Punch works hard to be both.

Lisa Schwarzbaum said:
Wild, loud, fetishistically stylized, and...numbingly dull.

Julian Roman said:
Zach Snyder has attended the Michael Bay school of filmmaking and graduated the top of the class.

Nick Pinkerton said:
(The) mash-up set pieces blend into so-awesome-they're-awful slo-mo monotony, and the awful sisterhood stuff in between makes you anticipate the action as though waiting for the bus.

Leslie Stonebraker said:
Like his porcelain heroine, anyone who willingly spends $13 for a ticket to this smut is willfully lobotomizing themselves.

Roger Moore said:
An unerotic unthrilling erotic thriller in the video game mold, "Sucker Punch" is "Last Airbender" with bustiers.

This is just from Rotten Tomatoes, I've read some other hilarious scathing reviews.

Mar 25, 2011#3

figmentPez

The Lovely Boehner said:
This is just from Rotten Tomatoes, I've read some other hilarious scathing reviews.

Not that I want to bash the movie, but I thought this tweet about it captured what the trailer made me think:

"Should I go see SUCKER PUNCH or jerk off to Sailor Moon while reading Mein Kampf and save $15?"
- Patton Oswalt

Mar 25, 2011#4

Jay

Critics can suck my d-

Mar 25, 2011#5

linglingface

Yeah some of the reviews are pretty hilarious, I admit I liked reading some of them! I still loved it, though. I'm not picky when it comes to movies. I kind of hate when people nit pick everything and can't just enjoy something for what it is. It's mostly annoying when a new game comes out and everyone has to rant about how it isn't as good as X game or the one before it, etc etc...
Anyway, I doubt any on the actors will get nominated for anything, but that's not what makes a fun movie. It kept my attention, I will be watching again, and I will buy the rated R directors cut DVD. I also enjoyed 300 and Watchmen a lot and can't wait to see what Snyder does with Superman!

Mar 25, 2011#6

DarkAudit

Overheard on Twitter:

After Sucker Punch, I'm convinced Snyder is going to cast Miley Cyrus as Lois Lane, bedazzle her nethers and tell her to pout for 2 hours.

Mar 25, 2011#7

sixpackshaker

The Lovely Boehner said:
This is just from Rotten Tomatoes, I've read some other hilarious scathing reviews.

I can't stand shitty reviewers like that. But that type of review will get clicks on their website, but attack a person's career with out second thought. In the end they just end up hurting the medium that they are supposed to love.

Mar 25, 2011#8

linglingface

So far my friends who have seen it have also really enjoyed it. Always interesting to see what "real people" think vs the critics.

Mar 25, 2011#9

Disconnected

ooo shiny

Mar 26, 2011#10

Overflight

http://io9.com/#!5785833/sucker-pun...become-commentary-on-the-death-of-moviemaking

...what really saddens me is that article describes EXACTLY what I predicted this movie to be, right down to the ending. Ugh.

Mar 26, 2011#11

Hailey Knight

Reading comments for that article.

Anyone who thinks this movie is female empowerment is a complete idiot and ignorant sexist. The Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland was more female empowerment than this, and that entirely failed to achieve what it set out (which I'm sure was lobbed in by Disney). This thinks it's doing one thing and goes entirely in the other direction.

Zack Snyder is turning into Frank Miller. I hope the Nolans keep him on a tight leash for Superman.

And stop with the fucking slow-mo!

It amazes me that this movie even fails in the fun department because of how unapologetically and irredeemably nasty it is. 300 was at least amusing in its wrongness and crappy parts.

Mar 26, 2011#12

The Lovely Boehner

That io9 review is pretty awesome.

Mar 26, 2011#13

Espy

escushion said:
Anyone who thinks this movie is female empowerment is a complete idiot and ignorant sexist. The Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland was more female empowerment than this, and that entirely failed to achieve what it set out (which I'm sure was lobbed in by Disney). This thinks it's doing one thing and goes entirely in the other direction.

Yeah I'm kind of confused about this. I keep reading how it's all about "female empowerment" yet everything else I read, sometimes in the same sentence is about how the movie is basically school-girl fetish jerk off material. So I'm left wondering, when did putting women in a movie that seems specially designed to sexually objectify them for the intended audience become empowering?

Keep in mind I'm only commenting based on what I have read, I haven't seen the movie and I'm not judging anyone here for having seen it and liked/disliked it.

Mar 26, 2011#14

makare

I admit I have neither seen this movie or read reviews. Actually I don't even care about the movie (that is all disclaimer). I just have a general question I guess. Is it impossible for a woman to be both empowered and sexy at the same time?

Mar 26, 2011#15

Espy

makare said:
I admit I have neither seen this movie or read reviews. Actually I don't even care about the movie (that is all disclaimer). I just have a general question I guess. Is it impossible for a woman to be both empowered and sexy at the same time?

Of course not.

Here's a question more movie related though: Is it possible for a male director to maybe confuse sexual objectification with female empowerment?

Mar 26, 2011#16

Null

Hard to say. Just sticking with the superhero genre, you've got Wonder Woman, Power Girl, and She Hulk, all of whom are considered in-universe to be very powerful and all of whom are also, in-universe, considered extremely attractive. So that would indicate some examples can be both.

In terms of empowered, I don't just mean physical strength (though they have that in spades as well) - all of them are top tier heroes that are taken seriously by their peers. She Hulk was an important part of the Avengers (or was she a member of the Fantastic Four as well?), Wonder Woman and Power Girl are more or less on par with Superman and Batman (seniority aside). So they have power and prestige in their community (that of superheroes).

Mar 26, 2011#17

makare

It seems to me that it is very unfair to gauge a woman's level of empowerment by how men react to her. There will always be men who sexually objectify the woman whether she is in skin tight leather, a business suit or a muu muu and hair curlers. That's just the nature of the world. If a woman has to stop and think "well I am feeling very strong about who I am today but I chose to wear a shorter skirt than usual and Bill in the cubicle across from me has been staring at me slack jawed and drooling for the last fifteen minutes. So I guess since he is objectifying me I must just be an object."

How the heck are women supposed to get a sense of self period if their self is only in relation to how people see them?

Also is powerful the same as empowered?

Mar 26, 2011#18

Gusto

Feminist debate AND a shitty movie!?

This thread needs more Charlie.

Mar 26, 2011#19

Hailey Knight

I think you're really missing the point, makare. When I'm not on the phone I'll try to explain, but I think you should consider if you're looking for an answer to your question or looking for something to argue about, because your last post suggests the latter.

Mar 26, 2011#20

makare

I know the answer to the question. I'm trying to find out if other people do. If that is trying to find something to argue about then yeah I guess so. Either that or I'll just roll my eyes about it and move on, as usual.

Mar 26, 2011#21

The Lovely Boehner

I'm pretty sure Zach Snyder often confuses his left hand with his right, so I don't have much faith in him knowing the difference between sexual objectification and female empowerment.

Mar 26, 2011#22

Krisken

We should just compromise with sexual empowerment.

Mar 26, 2011#23

figmentPez

makare said:
Is it impossible for a woman to be both empowered and sexy at the same time?

No it's not impossible, it just isn't achieved by fetishizing one's-self. This movie seems to apply the logic that if the characters act poweful while they're dressed as sexualized versions of lusted-after female archetypes, that they somehow take control of that lust. Bullshit. All they've done is create a new sub-genre of the fetish.

Women don't have to dress like tramps in order to be sexy. Being attractive and desirable is not about advertising "I'm dressed to show off my sex appeal" (which is not to be confused with dressing to show off style or beauty). If the reason a woman is recognized as a sex symbol is because she is dressed as an exaggerated version of the stereotype, then she's not really established herself as sexy, she's just just another image of sexuality.

Mar 26, 2011#24

The Lovely Boehner

According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, Sucker Punch barely grossed more than Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 on Friday. Probably on track for a ~$20m opening

Mar 26, 2011#25

Espy

The Lovely Boehner said:
According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, Sucker Punch barely grossed more than Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 on Friday. Probably on track for a ~$20m opening

WOW. Thats not good. Maybe this will get him off Superman.

Mar 26, 2011#26

Hailey Knight

makare said:
I know the answer to the question. I'm trying to find out if other people do. If that is trying to find something to argue about then yeah I guess so. Either that or I'll just roll my eyes about it and move on, as usual.

I don't think there's a point to that. To the people aware of it, it sounds like you're talking to them like idiots, so they won't take it seriously. To the people who don't, they see it as a way to get after you, so they won't take it seriously. It's lose-lose.

Mar 26, 2011#27

linglingface

A friend and I have been discussing the fantasy within a fantasy and the existence of Rocket, Amber and Blondie.
I like that it was a bit like Inception.

Mar 26, 2011#28

Hailey Knight

heatherling said:
I like that it was a bit like Inception.

My head hurts.

Mar 26, 2011#29

The Lovely Boehner

heatherling said:
A friend and I have been discussing the fantasy within a fantasy and the existence of Rocket, Amber and Blondie.
I like that it was a bit like Inception.

lol

Mar 26, 2011#30

linglingface

"lol" because I enjoyed the movie?

Mar 26, 2011#31

makare

heatherling, it's great you enjoyed the movie. I am positive I will enjoy it too. Until I see it and we can squee together it's probably best just let these guys go.

Mar 26, 2011#32

The Lovely Boehner

No, just the comparison to Inception

Mar 26, 2011#33

linglingface

I have no problem with people not liking the movie, I just dislike when people are so critical about movies/games/shows/etc that they have not yet watched/played themselves.
I know someone who watched the other night and thought it was visually stunning but she could see it playing in a nightclub with the sound off. someone had said "Go watch Sucker Punch NOW!" and she replied with "Not worth your money because..." She's dabbled in film-making herself, so of course she's going to be a bit more critical about it, and that's fine. Everyone's entitled to their opinion so long as it's valid and not just based off of what others have said. I'm not going to tell people that Airbender and Dragonball were the worst movies ever when I haven't even watched them myself, even though everyone has said they were the worst movies ever.
The reviews I've read, both good and bad, have made good points, but as your everyday movie watcher, I thought it was a terrific film. I just think it's really silly to tear every little thing apart to the point that you can't just enjoy something. "ZOMG new [Insert series here] game! ...OMG not as good as the last! [Insert game here] did it better! [Company] hasn't made a good game since [insert year here]!" I'd rather just enjoy things as they come and not be so critical.

Ho hum. It's fine if you don't like the movie, but no point in "LOL-ing" at someone who thoroughly enjoyed it.
Added at: 20:20
Well, I just said it was a little like Inception. That was a dream within a dream within a dream... Sucker Punch is a fantasy within a fantasy. So... not like Inception at all? Hmm.

Mar 26, 2011#34

Hailey Knight

heatherling said:
it was a terrific film.

lol

I didn't actually laugh, out loud or otherwise; I just wanted to fit in. :/

Mar 27, 2011#35

bhamv3

Don't worry about Boner, he's just like that. Don't take it too personally. He just tends to be quite open and honest with his scorn whenever he disagrees with someone.

Mar 27, 2011#36

Frankie Williamson

Well, now I've seen it and it's an indescribably boring piece of shit.

This is my opinion.

Zack Snyder is going to make Superman 4 look brilliant when he's done with his future piece of shit version.

Mar 27, 2011#37

Covar

I look forward to watching him turn Lois Lane into a whore

Mar 27, 2011#38

Hailey Knight

Covar said:
I look forward to watching him turn Lois Lane into a whore

Then he really will be Frank Miller.

Anyway, after some PMs, I realize I never got around to explaining "it" for makare, and I neglected to identity what "it" was, because pronouns are my anti-drug.

SO I am going to explain what the deal is with Sucker Punch vs women; I am going to dish out some wisdom, so keep your heads down.

makare said:
Is it impossible for a woman to be both empowered and sexy at the same time?

Espy said:
Of course not.

There, done. Phew, that took it out of me.

Sexuality is irrelevant to women's empowerment. If a person has power, confidence, freedom, choice, etc. all those good things, it does not matter how they're dressed. If anything, it's empowering not to give a shit what others think of your clothes, tastes, hairstyle, movie preferences, regardless of how much they bitch about it. This applies to EVERYONE, not just one gender. Maybe one person may derive their empowerment through sexuality. Or through what movies they like. Or whatever. It is irrelevant--clothes do not make the man or woman.

And having imagined women shooting the shit out of imaginary monsters, or servicing imaginary clients, is irrelevant when the real woman imagining it all gets lobotomized. She is not empowered by having her life ruined so she may live in fantasies. That's like saying an abused child is empowered because s/he has an imagination and can have dreams at night. It's stupid, the movie is offensive, and Zack Snyder is a piece of shit trying to say that's a positive outcome for the main character.

Mar 27, 2011#39

The Lovely Boehner

Sucker Punch: "Hey rape victims, it's okay if you go to your happy place"

Mar 27, 2011#40

The Lovely Boehner

Sucker Punch grossed less this weekend than Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2.

Mar 27, 2011#41

linglingface

**Spoilers**

So my friend and I have been talking a bit about Rocket, Amber and Blondie. I'm interested in what other people think...

Did they *really* die? We think Babydoll only saw them at the table when she got to the asylum before planting them into her brothel fantasy. They died in her fantasy, but did they die in real life?
Sweet Pea escaped in real life, but not in either fantasy. Also, after her lobotomy, V Gorski mentions that Babydoll stabbed an orderly, set fire to a room and helped a girl escape, without any mention of the deaths of the other girls. I realize she's not going to mention every little thing that Babydoll's done, but being responsible for 3 deaths seems like something worth mentioning.
Sucky movie or not, I don't care. Just interested in hearing other opinions on this.

Mar 27, 2011#42

General Specific

Ok, so I just saw it today and I really liked it. I don't really feel I need to go into whether or not it was misogynistic because I don't think it was set out to make any kind of point like that. It was just supposed to be 2 hours of entertainment and it handily accomplished that.

Heatherling, to answer your question, I think they did die in real life. The knife was missing from the chef's belt; they had the map, lighter, and key when escaping; and the gun was shown in the Blue's desk at the start. So, I think it did happen like that, just not all glitzed up, of course. What happened in the brothel fantasy was just a facade over the real world. The two worlds did interact. It was the battle scenes that were not really connected to reality. Also, Babydoll didn't cause the deaths of the 3 girls, that was the cook & Blue's doing. Which would be why Gorski didn't mention them.

Anyway, that is all, we now return you to your regularly scheduled pissing match over who has the better taste in movies.

Mar 27, 2011#43

linglingface

Hmm that's true. I wish there would have been at least one more dream sequence! Hopefully there will be a lot more on the DVD!

A friend linked this today:
http://www.reelzchannel.com/movie-n...-mpaa-over-sucker-punch-love-scene-censoring/
I don't think that scene is really necessary, honestly.

Mar 27, 2011#44

Espy

Isn't she like... 30 years younger than John Hamm in the movie? It sounds like it would be really creepy.

Mar 27, 2011#45

linglingface

Yeah... I'm actually glad it wasn't in the film. I do, however, want to see the dances that were omitted. Each girl, except Babydoll, had their own dance that defined their character I guess... Vanessa Hudgens had to learn bellydancing and I guess Rocket's dance included a giant syringe with her in a nurses outfit.

Mar 27, 2011#46

The Lovely Boehner

I don't really feel I need to go into whether or not it was misogynistic because I don't think it was set out to make any kind of point like that. It was just supposed to be 2 hours of entertainment and it handily accomplished that.

A movie can very easily be misogynistic without maliciously intending to do such.

Mar 27, 2011#47

Chibibar

My wife and I saw this movie and we like it.
There are two folds on this movie (at least what I got from it) I will probably put in a lot of spoiler tags in case people haven't seen it yet.
So, does the movie promote women empowerment? I believe it does in a way if see PAST the "fetish" theme.
What does the movie hope to accomplish? Well, in reality it is trying to make money. What makes money? scantly clad women with cool action scenes and rated PG 13. PG 13 is a sweet spot to actually make money since rated R is harder and G you have too many restriction.

Now for my poor English review

Note: I may edit this now and then BUT I will put in Edit: instead of removing words.
Another Note: I may jump around a bit since it has been 1 day since I watched it. I will try to convey what I have in my head properly and hopefully it will make sense to you.

How in the heck does Chibibar know anything about women empowerment. Well, in reality I don't since I am male, but being a supporter of women's right and equality, I think I may have a small glimpse of it.
So what do we got?
First the basic premise of the movie is this. Everyone has a Guardian angel. This angel might be a neighbor, friend, strangers, or just a voice inside your head. The guardian angel will help you in a time of need.
Meaning? It means then when you are down in the dumps, a situation, a person, or a vision might come to you to help you guide you to a better situation. This movie? it is about Babydoll being Sweetpea's guardian angel.

Second, the movie is trying to make a really boring escape from a mental institution a bit more interesting. I mean sure you can have a person who is "crazy" (babydoll) and trying to seduce each target to get what she needs to escape, but that is kinda boring. So they change "seduce" into a "dance" now that is what I got from it. What kind of dance? that is up to your imagination. The action scene is just a third level on making a mundane action into a fun thing to watch.

Third, the movie does project "some" women empowerment. I will get more into it as I describe what I saw.

The movie world.
We have three different perception/realities
The real world (RW): it is a mental institution. The world is bland and well, evil. Life is like that. Life is hard. Life is never about giving a person a chance. We learn this when Babydoll was attempted to be attacked by her step father and later the step father was trying to attack babydoll's sister. Why? he is a bastard, he also wasn't getting the inheritance from the marriage. Babydoll was trying to protect her sister and end up killing her

also the step father wanted the money so put babydoll in an institution and have her lobotomized. nice eh? The sad part is that, being the real world, that happen all the time and some people get away with it (the step father did)

The Sexy World (SW) : this basically is to draw on the men to watch it. Who doesn't like scantly clad women in a Burlesque type show. This world shows that if a women want to get somewhere, they have to be sexy. Well that is what people think the message is, but what it REALLY is that the women (the dancers) are really trapping themselves into that role. They think this is all there is. They think they are limited by what the world gives them. This world is "your perception" of the world. You make what you want of it. you can make your boring lives a lot more exciting via your own perception. You can make the difference if you choose to. This world shows that the women are "slaves" to the orderly BUT that is true because they only perceive it to be. Even the doctor (who in the real world is in charge), thinks she is "under" the orderly (my interpretation) (1)

The war world (WW): This is your sub conscious or your "soul" "inner thoughts" "your mind" What ever you may call it, this is where the real battle is about. This is where you think about the things you want to do, what you could do, you fight with your inner self to achieve your goal. The director/story writer made the actual sequence/result from this world. Why? cause it is easy that to show what a person try to do, and then show the real world and switch back? nah. too boring. It is better to let your imagination figure out what REALLY happen. (2)

(1) In any institution (pun intended) there is always someone who seems to "runs the show" It may not be the actual person in charge. The orderly seems to be doing a lot on the inside. He knows the ins and outs of the place and can make things happen. This is true in the real world. You be surprise how a person in certain position can seem to influence people or "make things happen" like an office. You have bosses come and go, but who usually are around (well most of the time) it is the office assistance, or a clerk, or something who knows what is what. They actually have more power than the CEO (again, perception)

(2) the exception was when sweetpea was trying to steal the knife and Rocket got killed. It was a touching moment, but not as awesome when you saw on the train where it was a choice/sacrifice of the younger sister save her older sister (launching her out of the train before it explodes = jumping in front of the butcher and took a stabbing for her older sister)

So. That is fine and dandy Chibi, where in the world is the women empowerment?
In the War World (WW), Babydoll met up with an old man (who is Babydoll's angel) told her that she had ALL weapons in the world to help her. It is figurative in terms that she has all the smarts to do it, but she project them as actual weapon. The battles she fought was actually using tools she had (sexual, psychological, or physical) to achieve her goals. The goals was to escape. She needed help. She saw the way and she need others to help her.

There was a scene where the Orderly found out (I forgot his name) or thinks he found out and try to scare the girls BACK into their submissive roles, but the women did not back down (after a small scene) Figure the will not take it anymore and move on.

In the end, where Babydoll was telling Sweetpea that she was the strongest only because Babydoll was Sweetpea's guardian angel. Babydoll knows that she can't fight against the situation she got herself in. The Orderly saw to that by order a lobotomize on Babydoll BUT Babydoll knows that she can do what she can NOW and then "dream" in peace (hence the last smile which freak the doctor out)

The story was actually Sweetpea, but it was twisted to start with Babydoll. Interesting twist. I didn't like it, but that was the director's choice.

So, what is the basic message.
Everyone has all the weapon they need to achieve the goals in life. This can mean almost anything really. It can mean that you have the capability to do anything if you put your mind to it. For a long time (men's fault) been putting down women or try to "stick them" into roles for a long while. Women as just as smart, talented, and some say better than men, but they let their perception (WW), social acceptance (SW) and physical limitation (RW) to block their way. Life is never easy. Life is hard. But life is what YOU make of it. Life is not about being totally rich (it would be nice) or have everything you want, but it is about personal fulfillment. Even in the 2011, there are many women still "stuck" in the role they are in now. They let the system (glass ceiling) block their progress. They let their partner talk down on them (intentionally or unintentionally). Their co-worker, their friends, their spouse, their family, you name it, there are so many people help keep the women down where they are. There are few women who go beyond and pursue their dream and goals. It can be anything, you have all the weapon (tools) you need to do it.

You can call me crazy, and maybe I'm reading too much into it, but when my wife said that this movie suppose to "empowered" women and she didn't see it at first, but when we sit down and actually thought about it, it kinda does in their own way.

You may or probably not going to agree with me and disregard this wall-o-text, but that is what I think.

Mar 27, 2011#48

The Lovely Boehner

I honestly can't respond to most of the wall of text since I haven't seen the movie (and am not really tempted in a car-crash way), but the idea that men can't know anything about female empowerment and feminist issues is bullshit.

Mar 28, 2011#49

Chibibar

The Lovely Boehner said:
I honestly can't respond to most of the wall of text since I haven't seen the movie (and am not really tempted in a car-crash way), but the idea that men can't know anything about female empowerment and feminist issues is bullshit.

Well. I agree (that is BS!). There are some people who say, if a person who can't experience certain thing, can't really give "advice" about it.

Some people believe that:
If you are not a parent, you can't give parenting advice.
If you are not of that sex, you can't really know what is going on emotionally, psychologically, or physically.
If you haven't been raise from a broken home, you don't know what kind of life they lived.
If you never been <insert situation>, how can you understand that person?

There are people who actually believe this. I don't. I think people with empathy can imagine what life is like or even grasp the concept of it.

Mar 28, 2011#50

Shannow

Easily in the running for the worst fucking movie of the year, and there is some real shit out there. Worst I have seen so far, at least. Fuck, even the alcohol I had with me did not make this steaming pile any better. Uuuuuggggggggh.

This movie was just fucking dogshit all around. My only solace was not only was the theater less than 1/5th full on a Saturday opening weekend, and most people in there had the same reaction to it that we did.

Mar 28, 2011#51

Gusto

Shannow said:
most people in there had the same reaction to it that we did.

Those are the BEST kind of theatre experiences. Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World are among my best movie going experiences.

Mar 28, 2011#52

Hailey Knight

I wish I could say that about Scott Pilgrim--my favorite movie of 2010, and we were the only people in the theater... so I guess technically I DID have that experience, but it was only one other person having the same reaction as me.

Chibi: Alright, I can see where you're coming from with that analysis. I don't agree entirely, but I can see your point. However:

1. I never felt Snyder made this movie to be about female empowerment. I was just noting that some of its viewers were seeing it as a movie about female empowerment.
2. I highly doubt most, if any of them, put that kind of thought into it beyond "girls with guns wooo".

Mar 28, 2011#53

The Lovely Boehner

Another awesome review: http://cavecitysink.tumblr.com/post/4167367840/this-movie-made-me-feel-bad-to-be-alive-a-review-of

Mar 28, 2011#54

Adammon

The Lovely Boehner said:
I honestly can't respond to most of the wall of text since I haven't seen the movie (and am not really tempted in a car-crash way), but the idea that men can't know anything about female empowerment and feminist issues is bullshit.

There's a real fucking surprise. You're all over this thread commenting on how shitty the movie is without having even seen it.

Mar 28, 2011#55

Espy

Adammon said:
There's a real fucking surprise. You're all over this thread commenting on how shitty the movie is without having even seen it.

To be fair I don't need to see an Uwe Boll movie to know it's going to be terrible. I'm not saying Snyder = Boll, just that it is possible to know something is probably going to suck without seeing it (especially if we are going off personal tastes here). I mean, I KNEW Transformers 2 was going to be one of the worst films ever made way before I drank a bottle of vodka and watched it.

Mar 28, 2011#56

linglingface

This isn't directed at anyone here, but I just have to say that I'm tired of people HATING this movie to the point that they're getting mad at people who DO like it. Sure, hate a movie, but I feel like some people hate Snyder so much that they just want to hate the movie going into it. My friend got facebook un-friended (yeah, yeah, ha ha) today because someone got so upset that she liked the movie. This friend argued with her, deleted her comments, and then wrote her a parting message basically saying "Fine, whatever, can't stand you anyway. Have a good life." Really??

Bah, just had to vent. Just annoyed. And again, I'm not directing this at anyone here.

And on another note, some of those bad reviews are really hilarious.

Mar 28, 2011#57

Gusto

Yeah let's not get carried away here.

Mar 28, 2011#58

linglingface

Mar 28, 2011#59

Espy

@Heatherling: to be clear, having paid to see several Uwe Boll films in the theater I can't in any way look down on anyone who enjoyed a movie like SuckerPunch. Doesn't mean I think it looks good, but in the end, you know, it's just a movie.

Of course once upon a time "how do you like your steak" was just a question around here... :aaah:

Mar 28, 2011#60

Adammon

Espy said:
To be fair I don't need to see an Uwe Boll movie to know it's going to be terrible. I'm not saying Snyder = Boll, just that it is possible to know something is probably going to suck without seeing it (especially if we are going off personal tastes here). I mean, I KNEW Transformers 2 was going to be one of the worst films ever made way before I drank a bottle of vodka and watched it.

Itt doesn't matter if it's 300, Watchmen, or Sucker Punch, you can expect several things from Snyder's style:

1) Slow mo
2) Unrealistic explosions
3) Comic book physics
4) Girls (or guys) wearing small amounts of cloth instead of clothing
5) Emotions to the EXXXTREEEEEEEEME!
6) 80s and 90s music montages

Considering all three of those came from comic books (I'm leaving off Dawn of the Dead and Legends of the Guardians) , it makes sense that the action would be comic-booky. Even the acting isn't terrible in his movies, I think Gerard Butler was pitch perfect in 300 and Jackie Earle Haley was rediscovered thanks to Watchmen.

Compare and contrast to Uwe Boll movies, where the acting, action, cinematography, editing are all universally terrible.

Stylistically, it's like Woody Allen movies. You know that it's going to be 'witty', a little creepy and not funny to the "football in the groin" crowd, but it doesn't make them bad movies.

Now the Coens - they make bad movies.

Mar 28, 2011#61

Espy

Thats what I'm talking about. One's personal tastes define what kind of pre-concieved notions (and the impressions of those they trust) they will carry into their view of a film, seen or unseen.
Of course that doesn't make it okay to "hate" anyone who likes a movie you dislike, but it does make it okay to have a difference of opinion, even a strong one.

Mar 28, 2011#62

Adammon

Espy said:
Thats what I'm talking about. One's personal tastes define what kind of pre-concieved notions (and the impressions of those they trust) they will carry into their view of a film, seen or unseen.
Of course that doesn't make it okay to "hate" anyone who likes a movie you dislike, but it does make it okay to have a difference of opinion, even a strong one.

I hate your opinion, and you by extension! This conversation...is OVER! *slow mo dive as a huge explosion wipes out Soon-Yi, who was dressed as a catholic schoolgirl wearing MP40s as earrings*

Mar 28, 2011#63

Espy

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Mar 28, 2011#64

linglingface

Mar 28, 2011#65

linglingface

Can't deny it. This is impressive.

This makes me feel lazy, lazy, lazy. Also, they're all petite girls like myself and I can't even do one proper pull up... :confused:

Wish I could randomly bring up in a conversation that I can dead lift 235 lbs!

Mar 28, 2011#66

Jay

heatherling said:
This isn't directed at anyone here, but I just have to say that I'm tired of people HATING this movie to the point that they're getting mad at people who DO like it.

Jay said:
Critics can suck my d-

Mar 29, 2011#67

Shannow

heatherling said:
This isn't directed at anyone here, but I just have to say that I'm tired of people HATING this movie to the point that they're getting mad at people who DO like it. Sure, hate a movie, but I feel like some people hate Snyder so much that they just want to hate the movie going into it. My friend got facebook un-friended (yeah, yeah, ha ha) today because someone got so upset that she liked the movie. This friend argued with her, deleted her comments, and then wrote her a parting message basically saying "Fine, whatever, can't stand you anyway. Have a good life." Really??

Bah, just had to vent. Just annoyed. And again, I'm not directing this at anyone here.

And on another note, some of those bad reviews are really hilarious.

It is what we do....go read the transformer 2 thread from when that fucking travesty of a movie came out.

I actually think this movie is worse than that, but I am not quite as angry, becasue at least this one tanked hard and didnt make a shit ton of money. At least the idiots didnt flock in droves and go out and praise this one.

Mar 29, 2011#68

Chibibar

I actually like Transformer 2. It was different. It is not a great film and the story was cheesy, but I don't think it was that "bad"

I have never let a director or who act in the film make me pre-judge any movie. If the preview looks interesting, then I will go see it. Sometimes I catch them on-demand or netflix instant queue and check it out or even cable.

Mar 29, 2011#69

Shannow

I went in to Sucker Punch with even expectations. I did not go in thinking this would be terrible, or great. I saw it, and it was fucking horrid and boring. May as well have been a demo reel with a shit story built around it that made no sense and jsut got worse and worse as the movie progressed on.

Mar 29, 2011#70

Frankie Williamson

Zack Snyder is an even less competent director than Michael Bay.

Mar 29, 2011#71

Espy

I think I get a little concerned when a reviewer says that "this movie isn't about character development" like it's a good thing.

Mar 29, 2011#72

linglingface

Espy said:
I think I get a little concerned when a reviewer says that "this movie isn't about character development" like it's a good thing.

I agree with most the things she said but I would've liked to have seen more character development. We had a glimpse at the lives of Rocket and Sweet Pea, but Blondie and Amber we know nothing about. Sure they were minor support, but I wanted to at least know why they were there.

Mar 29, 2011#73

Chibibar

heatherling said:
I agree with most the things she said but I would've liked to have seen more character development. We had a glimpse at the lives of Rocket and Sweet Pea, but Blondie and Amber we know nothing about. Sure they were minor support, but I wanted to at least know why they were there.

I agree. I think the movie could use more backstory (at least something) on the other supporting characters.

Mar 29, 2011#74

linglingface

Hoping for more backstory on the DVD! Kinda bummed Amber didn't get more screen time. Sure she's a pilot, but she couldve gotten out of her machines to fight on foot a little... Seems like wasted training.

Mar 29, 2011#75

Shannow

Sigh.

Mar 29, 2011#76

DarkAudit

The Transformers 2 thread was more fistfight than debate. And I bloodied my knuckles more than once.

As soon as I saw the first commercials for Sucker Punch, I had an idea what the reviews were going to be like. And Rotten Tomatoes didn't disappoint.

I haven't seen it, I don't plan on seeing it, and that's all I have to say about that.

Mar 29, 2011#77

The Lovely Boehner

Frankie Williamson said:
Zack Snyder is an even less competent director than Michael Bay.

To defend Michael Bay just a little bit, I think he can be a fairly solid director, but he just knows making a $300m gross high-budget/event movie requires no effort. I stand by Bad Boys 1, 2, and The Rock as pretty fucking good action movies.

Mar 29, 2011#78

linglingface

Bad Boys is too awesome. I think Mike's mom loves the movie more than anyone I know haha

Mar 29, 2011#79

Espy

The Lovely Boehner said:
To defend Michael Bay just a little bit, I think he can be a fairly solid director, but he just knows making a $300m gross high-budget/event movie requires no effort. I stand by Bad Boys 1, 2, and The Rock as pretty fucking good action movies.

Compared to everything else he's done those movies are almost minimalistic.

Mar 29, 2011#80

Frankie Williamson

The Lovely Boehner said:
To defend Michael Bay just a little bit, I think he can be a fairly solid director, but he just knows making a $300m gross high-budget/event movie requires no effort. I stand by Bad Boys 1, 2, and The Rock as pretty fucking good action movies.

I'd agree up until about Bad Boys 2. Fuck that movie.
Ok, the movie is logically over. Thank God. Man, I've been in this theatre seat a long time. Hoo, gonna grab my jacket.

MOVIE:WE'RE GOING TO CUBA FOR FORTY MORE MINUTES!

Shit.

Mar 29, 2011#81

linglingface

This answers a couple questions: http://screenrant.com/sucker-punch-spoilers-discussion-benk-107573/

Mar 29, 2011#82

Adammon

Espy said:
Compared to everything else he's done those movies are almost minimalistic.

I hate your opinion and you by extension but this is a really good point. A lot of the modern 'action' directors have confused "MORE" with "BETTER". More cuts, more explosions, more swearing, more loud music when tension isn't necessarily a function of speed. I compare the original zombie concept, a slow, monolithic unstoppable menace that we were scared of because "Fuck, they're going to keep coming and there's nothing I can do about it." to the modern reincarnation (hah) that is basically cracked out meth addicts on a sugar high. M Night Shamalamabananarama best scenes were slow, steady tension-building and atmospheric, Some of the biggest jumps I've had were in movies like Signs where the children are videotaping and someone's screaming in the background and a fucking alien walks across the street in front of them. There was no jump cuts between 6 different camera angles and a crushing score on top of it.

American Beauty, which I thought was an excellent film with an 'el retardo' ending (That's spanish for you, Messicans), had Sam Mendes use long, floating camera movements towards the dinner table with explosive results. It felt real, so it added power. If you want to entertain, that's one thing, but if you want to entertain and effect, you have to add some way for the audience to either empathise or at least pictures themselves in a similar situation.

Mar 30, 2011#83

Calleja

I freaking loved Sucker Punch and actually not only agree with heatherling that it had an "inception-y" vibe going on (I think there's actually 3 levels, not just 2) I literally said it out loud to Morphine at the theater. She loved it too, by the way.

You people take your movies (and what people think of them) WAY, WAY, WAAAYY too fucking seriously. It's a movie with nazi zombie robot soldiers and giant mechanical samurai being fought by pretty girls in revealing clothing. If you go in expecting more than that, you're the moron, not Snyder. That being said, I think there's a pretty solid message of solace for victims there. But HEY WHAT DO I KNOW I LIKED SUCKER PUNCH I'M DUMB BLOOP BLEEP

Mar 30, 2011#84

Gusto

Calleja I was gonna rebut you a bit but you ended your post with BLOOP BLEEP and I think we should be best friends please.

Mar 30, 2011#85

Morphine

It's a fun movie, a fun and indulgent one, I liked it.
Visually, I looooved it. Great photography, great costume design, overall editing, it's so visually delicious, it should be fattening.

Mar 30, 2011#86

linglingface

I'm really tempted to make Amber's dancing costume, except I'm afraid to make a corset and can't possibly afford to buy a real one. >.< We'll see!
I'm also tempted to make Babydoll's sparkly costume (ooh, shiny!) because it's just that pretty that I'd wear a blonde wig.

Mar 30, 2011#87

Shannow

Mar 30, 2011#88

Krisken

Mar 30, 2011#89

Shannow

Pretty much.

Mar 30, 2011#90

Ravenpoe

I haven't seen the movie, and don't plan to, but I support it's efforts against the shannow.

Mar 30, 2011#91

Chibibar

heatherling said:
This answers a couple questions: http://screenrant.com/sucker-punch-spoilers-discussion-benk-107573/

kinda match the wall o text I put out in my spoiler section

Mar 30, 2011#92

Baerdog

We should all be talking about Rango instead of this pile o' shit.

Mar 30, 2011#93

Adammon

Baerdog said:
We should all be talking about Rango instead of this pile o' shit.

If only there was some kind of button you could push that would create a new thread that you could entitle "Rango!" BUT HEY WHAT DO I KNOW I LIKE THIS THREAD SO I'M DUMB BLOOP BLEEP

Mar 30, 2011#94

Allen who is Quiet

Why would you want to change this? This is awesome. It's

This movie was dumb and anyone who likes it is dumb
versus
These action scenes were great and anyone who didn't like it ruins movies by analyzing them and having standards

Mar 30, 2011#95

Chibibar

Allen who is Quiet said:
Why would you want to change this? This is awesome. It's

This movie was dumb and anyone who likes it is dumb
versus
These action scenes were great and anyone who didn't like it ruins movies by analyzing them and having standards

to be fair, there are many crowds and reason to watch a movie.

Sucker Punch
To be intellectually stimulated by the movie: Maybe. This does have some debate, but you have to see all the layers and actually want to think about it. Not many do.
To be amuse by the movie: partially. There are scantly clad women which are nice to see, but the fight scene to some might not be "up to par" to other action flicks.
Is it a feel good movie? nope! it is not one of those, happy ending movie.
Is it Artsy? Yup. The style they use and the way the movie is represent is very artsy. I told people that if you don't appreciate abstract type movies, then this is NOT a movie for you.

Mar 30, 2011#96

linglingface

Baerdog said:
We should all be talking about Rango instead of this pile o' shit.

Then get out of this thread and make one for Rango. Easy.

Mar 30, 2011#97

Shannow

Abstract!? HA! This fucking pile of steaming shit had the subtlety of a fucking brick to the back of the head.

Mar 30, 2011#98

sixpackshaker

Shannow said:
Abstract!? HA! This fucking pile of steaming shit had the subtlety of a fucking brick to the back of the head.

Sounds like Nick's prom night.

Mar 30, 2011#99

Chibibar

Shannow said:
Abstract!? HA! This fucking pile of steaming shit had the subtlety of a fucking brick to the back of the head.

To each their own mate

I don't presume to understand other people's thought. I still haven't figure out how does the English Patient got so many awards. I can't watch that without falling asleep each time (I try to watch it in cable)

Mar 30, 2011#100

Shannow

Ravenpoe said:
I haven't seen the movie, and don't plan to, but I support it's efforts against the shannow.

You cant see it, but I am shaking my fist at my computer screen. Curse you Ravenpoe!

Mar 30, 2011#101

Gusto

Shannow said:
You cant see it, but I am shaking my fist at my computer screen. Curse you Ravenpoe!

RICHAAAAAAARDS!

Mar 30, 2011#102

Espy

I'm getting the impression that Shannow didn't like the movie. Maybe I'm crazy, but thats the vibe I'm picking up.

Mar 30, 2011#103

Gusto

Yspeii you must be some manner of empath.

Mar 30, 2011#104

Shannow

Oh no, I love 2 hour "movies" that may as well be a director's demo reel of for completely horrid vignettes tied together with absurdly shitty storytelling in an effort to try to seem hip and cool that instead only bore the living hell out of me. You see, I am a masochist.

Mar 30, 2011#105

Espy

So wait, you did like it? I'm so confused. :confused:

Mar 30, 2011#106

sixpackshaker

Shamwow, just let it go...

Mar 30, 2011#107

Shannow

Why? this is a forum, is it not?

Mar 30, 2011#108

sixpackshaker

you seem to be shortening your life getting worked up over a Hollywood Movie...

Take a deep breath.

Mar 30, 2011#109

Shannow

The only life shortened here is Ravenpoe's. I will get him. Mark my words. POOOOOOOOOOEEE!!!!

Mar 30, 2011#110

Ravenpoe

I always wanted an arch enemy!

Mar 30, 2011#111

linglingface

If you ~~don't like~~ HATE something so much, why keep watch over the thread and continue to tell us you hated it? WE KNOW.

Mar 30, 2011#112

drifter

Anger is a gift.

Shannow's a giver.

Mar 30, 2011#113

Chibibar

heatherling said:
If you ~~don't like~~ HATE something so much, why keep watch over the thread and continue to tell us you hated it? WE KNOW.

you know, until I met my mother in law, I NOW firmly believe there are people who actually enjoy being angry and hateful all the time. I am not saying Shannow is that person, but maybe he just enjoy expressing his hatred for a movie cause it makes him happy?

Mar 30, 2011#114

Espy

Or maybe, and just run with me on this one guys, he just thinks it sucks.

Mar 30, 2011#115

Krisken

Espy said:
Or maybe, and just run with me on this one guys, he just thinks it sucks.

I think he should tell us again, just to be sure.

Mar 30, 2011#116

Piotyr

Espy said:
Or maybe, and just run with me on this one guys, he just thinks it sucks.

I'm going to have to see more smoke before I buy into that fire.

Mar 30, 2011#117

Chad Sexington

What? Shannow hardly comes across as vindictively hate-filled. And even so, who *doesn't* enjoy getting angry at something once in a while? It's a good release to direct your agitation at something that pushes your buttons. And furthermore, why can people not appreciate a good barb even if it's directed at something they like? I like some stupid shit, like the movie Resident Evil: Apocalypse movie, but I laughed pretty fuckin' hard at some of the quips delivered by critics (both professional and peers). You say those of us who disdain Sucker Punch take movies too seriously but you come across equally incapable of laughing at it.

And if you make a thread to talk about something, you don't get exclusive rights for it to only be about your point of view on it. We don't need heatherling's "I love Sucker Punch" thread and Shannow's "Sucker Punch is an abyss from which my soul will never return" thread. And conflict (relatively civil conflict) is infinitely more interesting than sitting around nodding in agreement. "I sure loved Sucker Punch." "Me too." "Yep." "Yeeeep." Excellent. I have gained more from the diverse tastes in the film, and I defend the presence of both camps, if only for my own amusement. Dance, monkeys.

Dance.

Mar 30, 2011#118

Krisken

This is better than the Politics forum. I thought people were unreasonably lumped together in those threads, but man, media is where it is at.

Mar 30, 2011#119

sixpackshaker

Anyone who likes Resident Evil: Apocalypse is a fucking idiot, that bleeds shit out of their ears.

Now you may see where that is not a constructive conversation to have on any forum.

Mar 30, 2011#120

Adammon

sixpackshaker said:
Anyone who likes Resident Evil: Apocalypse is a fucking idiot, that bleeds shit out of their ears.

Now you may see where that is not a constructive conversation to have on any forum.

A medical forum might be interested in the fecal-aural bleeding.

Mar 30, 2011#121

Chad Sexington

Whoaaaaaaa I did not say anything about constructive, I said for my amusement.

And that shit-bleeding is a DISORDER, YOU DON'T NEED TO RESORT TO PERSONAL ATTACKS.

Mar 30, 2011#122

sixpackshaker

It wasn't personal, it was just about anyone in general.

That is the issue these opinion about films, steaks, pop music boils down to... one poster likes something that is not universally awesome, then another poster comes back to make blanket statements calling the previous poster an idiot.

Mar 30, 2011#123

Chibibar

Chad Sexington said:
What? Shannow hardly comes across as vindictively hate-filled. And even so, who *doesn't* enjoy getting angry at something once in a while? It's a good release to direct your agitation at something that pushes your buttons. And furthermore, why can people not appreciate a good barb even if it's directed at something they like? I like some stupid shit, like the movie Resident Evil: Apocalypse movie, but I laughed pretty fuckin' hard at some of the quips delivered by critics (both professional and peers). You say those of us who disdain Sucker Punch take movies too seriously but you come across equally incapable of laughing at it.

And if you make a thread to talk about something, you don't get exclusive rights for it to only be about your point of view on it. We don't need heatherling's "I love Sucker Punch" thread and Shannow's "Sucker Punch is an abyss from which my soul will never return" thread. And conflict (relatively civil conflict) is infinitely more interesting than sitting around nodding in agreement. "I sure loved Sucker Punch." "Me too." "Yep." "Yeeeep." Excellent. I have gained more from the diverse tastes in the film, and I defend the presence of both camps, if only for my own amusement. Dance, monkeys.

Dance.

I am all for a good discussion of the movie

good and bad. I am not flaming Shannow for his hatred for Sucker Punch. Like I said, this is not a movie that everyone can enjoy. I went to see it without reading a thing about it, then my wife told me about what the director said and hope to "convey" and I saw it again and see where it could lead that way.

Is it going to make the "top movie" of the year? probably not. It is a thinking film, if you want to see where it is coming from. If you just watch it as an action sequence flick, then probably not since it is "disjointed" with three different world mash together.

The basic of the movie is this. It is about a girl escaping from a mental institution that she doesn't belong there. That is pretty much it. Sure it can go with the classic girl "seduce" her way out, or try to make it drama like (might make it R rated instead) but the director went with action and different layer of "perception of reality" to tell the boring initial story

Mar 30, 2011#124

Frankie Williamson

sixpackshaker said:
It wasn't personal, it was just about anyone in general.

That is the issue these opinion about films, steaks, pop music boils down to... one poster likes something that is not universally awesome, then another poster comes back to make blanket statements calling the previous poster an idiot.

That really didn't happen here, it was implied, but no one outright did it.

Mar 30, 2011#125

sixpackshaker

Added at: 20:49
It was done plenty. Especially using that emote.

Mar 30, 2011#126

Chibibar

Frankie Williamson said:
That really didn't happen here, it was implied, but no one outright did it.

well, if I did that, I apologize (not my intention)

Mar 30, 2011#127

linglingface

I've said before that I have no problem with people disliking the movie. I don't have some kind of crazy personal attachment to it, I just enjoyed it. There's plenty of things I hate, but I'm not going to make people feel like they're stupid for liking those things.

What do I hate is Person A says they like something. Person B comes along to say they hate it. Person C says they like it. Person B comes back repeatedly to state again that they hated it and Persons A and C's opinions are basically shit upon.
State your opinion, but don't berate others because their opinions are different from yours. That's all. I'm just seeing a lot of people practically being "bullied" for liking the film. I don't mean here on the forums, but elsewhere... just annoyed.

Mar 30, 2011#128

Shannow

I did not insult anyone here deliberately. I could have, oh lord, I could have, but I did not. But, as Chad said, if you make a thread on a movie, and sit there and gush and gush again and again about it, I can just as much say I dislike it. it is really that simple.

Becasue, Christ, it was a bad fucking movie. Just...terrible all around.

Mar 30, 2011#129

Ravenpoe

I'm going to name one day a year to be shannow day, and on this day, we shall screen sucker punch, and discuss the artistic merit of it's fine cinema.

Mar 30, 2011#130

linglingface

Ravenpoe said:
I'm going to name one day a year to be shannow day, and on this day, we shall screen sucker punch, and discuss the artistic merit of it's fine cinema.

You win at life. That is all.

Mar 30, 2011#131

Shannow

Nop, he does not.

POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEE!!!!

Edit..you couldnt see it, but I now have on my Metal Dr doom mask and I was shaking my fist at my computer.

...I think I am about to be fired.

Mar 30, 2011#132

Hailey Knight

I have no problem with people feeling like this:

Calleja said:
I freaking loved Sucker Punch and actually not only agree with heatherling that it had an "inception-y" vibe going on (I think there's actually 3 levels, not just 2) I literally said it out loud to Morphine at the theater. She loved it too, by the way.

You people take your movies (and what people think of them) WAY, WAY, WAAAYY too fucking seriously. It's a movie with nazi zombie robot soldiers and giant mechanical samurai being fought by pretty girls in revealing clothing.

Then there's:

If you go in expecting more than that, you're the moron, not Snyder.

Which I agree with.

But then...

I think there's a pretty solid message of solace for victims there.

At which point, yeah, you're

DUMB BLOOP BLEEP

I'm sure this is a real pick-me-up for victims of everything everywhere.

Mar 30, 2011#133

linglingface

^^ I was reading this and picturing Charmander saying it all. <3

Mar 31, 2011#134

DarkAudit

Mar 31, 2011#135

linglingface

I especially like reading about the training they went through. Also, this talks a little about the director's cut dvd at the end.

LOS ANGELES — Depending on who you talk to, Sucker Punch is:
a) An empowering feminist manifesto that subverts its fanboy fantasy framing.
b) Exploitative trash that doesn’t have a brain in its pretty tiny head as it teeters around CG explosions in hooker heels.
c) Both. But seriously, dude, don’t overthink it.
Whichever you choose, there’s no doubt the movie, now in theatres, proved a walk — or strut — on the weird side for its wild girls.
“I had no idea what to expect,” says Jena Malone of the training she underwent to play mouthy, munitions-prone Rocket. “I’d never stepped in a gym before in my entire life.”
How quickly things change when you sign on for a women-in-prison flick for the God of War crowd.
“I was nervous,” Malone remembers. “I didn’t even know what to wear (to work out), really. I walked out crying. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I don’t think I can do this at all.’ Then three weeks in, I started to gain 10 pounds of muscle and was completely addicted.”
Indeed, after training with the same folks who hammered the Spartans of 300 into fighting form, Malone and her fellow vixens were promptly throwing punches, swinging swords and wielding machine guns.
“It was rigorous but completely exciting,” Malone says. “You’re blind from sweating so much.”
Even Hudgens, who has a dance background, was left, as the movie’s tagline declares, unprepared.
“The second morning I woke up in Vancouver after working out, I was almost unable to walk, I was so sore. I’ve never experienced that kind of pain physically before in my life. But I showed up (on set) and the girls were there and they kept me going.”
Directed by mayhem maestro Zack Snyder, Sucker Punch stars Emily Browning as Babydoll, a psychiatric patient in a 1960s institution who, in order to escape a lobotomy, retreats into a fantasy realm where she battles zombies, dragons, monsters and robots. She’s joined by four other stripper ninjas: Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), Amber (Jamie Chung) and Rocket (Malone).
“Abbie and Emily and I did a month (of training) in L.A., a month in Vancouver and then (Hudgens and Chung) came in to join us for the third month,” Malone says. “So they did six months total and we did eight months total.”
Which isn’t to suggest the cast performed the stunts themselves.
“It’s strange a lot of actors are like ‘I do my own stunts.’ It takes years and years to train your body to do some of these stunts,” Malone says. “For me to walk in with some sort of presumption that in three months I’ll be able to learn what it’s taken someone a lifetime to master is just completely ridiculous. But they give you physical strength to endure shooting these sequences for 16-hour days, but it gives you a physical embodiment of the character. It’s not just generic action.”
However Sucker Punch is ultimately received, its characters are likely to be remembered alongside other famously fierce film femmes.
Which ones do they admire most? “Angelina Jolie, Sigourney Weaver, Uma Thurman in Kill Bill,” Hudgens says. “They were really strong women.”
“Sarah Polley in Dawn of the Dead,” Malone says, referring to Snyder’s 2004 remake. “I remember seeing that and thinking, ‘That is someone I’ve never seen; that is awesome.’ She’s this nurse who’s really tired and then totally kicks ass and makes the right decisions in the right moments.”
DVD to feature sexy scrapped scenes
Emily Browning’s sex scene with Jon Hamm isn’t the only sequence that got the hook in Sucker Punch.
So did the dance numbers its courtesans originally performed.
“We all worked really hard on these dances we had to do,” says Jena Malone. “They were very fulfilling and it was beautiful to step out of this very male-driven gym.”
What were the sequences like?
Malone describes her’s as a “sci-fi nurse zombie pole dance. I started up inside of a giant syringe and worked my way down the needle and then did a little jig.”
Jamie Chung, who plays mechanically inclined Amber, says she was “a bedazzled French maid.” And Vanessa Hudgens describes hers as “a belly dance. I got to dance with a knife. It was a spectacular Moroccan set.”
Still, while they’re disappointed the scenes didn’t make it to the big screen, audiences will eventually get to see them. “They will,” says Malone, “(on) the director’s cut (of the DVD).”
Presumably the same will be true of Browning’s love scene with Hamm, which was axed to secure a PG-13 rating in the U.S.

Apr 1, 2011#136

Jiarn

-reads first page of thread, realizes it got ridiculous, skips the rest-

The movie was everything I wanted it to be, and much much more. My GF and I went in with no knowledge of the film, other than some quick teaser trailers and screenshots. We came in expecting a visual orgy ala Expendables with no substance. We were so very wrong. There was charm, story, character, pain, happiness, fear, excitement, tension, and a fantastic ending. That's just the non action scenes. The actual "dream" scenes? Pure glee. This is a movie I'm going to watch again and again. We thought it was fantastic.

As usual, critics are ridiculously out of touch with what the film was supposed to be. What a shock. I love how they tell people not to shut off their brains during movies, but it's during movies like this they seem to turn off theirs. It was a fun, touching and yes a fan serviced film. It was well done, well told, well shot and got it's point across beautifully. I look forward to my next viewing, which will be soon.

Anyone who can't watch Steam-Powered Clockwork Zombie Nazis and think "That's pure ecstasy!" They're dead inside, in every way possible. No amoutn of Steam-Powered Clockworks could bring them back.

Apr 1, 2011#137

Frankie Williamson

I'll say it, no one is surprised you like it dude.

Apr 1, 2011#138

Jiarn

I like how just because I enjoy the typical "bad" movie = I have no sense of good film.

I like bad movies for being bad cinema. I like good movies for being good cinema. I can tell the difference.

Apr 1, 2011#139

bhamv3

You know how sometimes you watch a movie, and feel like you've seen it before? Not literally, but the movie is going through all the tropes and cliches you've come to expect from the genre, and the only difference is the names of the characters and maybe the setting? Sort of like a "half deja-vu"?

Yeah, I'm getting a huge "half deja-vu" here. This thread is so similar to the Transformers 2 thread, even down to the indignant Asian person saying, "criticize the movie if you want, but stop hating on the people who liked it."

Apr 1, 2011#140

Covar

I had a friend who saw it and called it "a great 2 hour long music video."

Apr 1, 2011#141

Gusto

Covar said:
I had a friend who saw it and called it "a great 2 hour long music video."

That was my reaction to the trailer!

Apr 1, 2011#142

Jiarn

bhamv3 said:
Yeah, I'm getting a huge "half deja-vu" here. This thread is so similar to the Transformers 2 thread

No. Just no.

Apr 1, 2011#143

Chibibar

Covar said:
I had a friend who saw it and called it "a great 2 hour long music video."

I can totally go with that

Apr 1, 2011#144

Shannow

It was terrible. And yes "I got it," and I also love bad movies. But this one was was horribly executed, meandering, and jsut no good, even on a bad movie fun level.

One of the reviews I read for this after I watched it, which, while the review itself had a neutral feel for the film, summed up a lot of the points I felt wrong with this movie (although not all). Ill quote some of that here, sincce it is a much better written conveyance thn what I could put in.

"The fundamental problems I have with it are, I imagine, what many have already pointed out. The characters are thinly sketched, and the performances (save for Oscar Isaac’s) uninspiring. The narrative layers are ludicrous. The fantasy effects are a hodgepodge of slick references that firmly paint it as Zack Snyder’s fantasy world, not Baby Doll’s. It also played my least favorite story trick ever, which was to have a narrator that is relaying events that he / she cannot possibly have seen."

As for the music video reference, yeah, i get that, and agree with it...btu that is a negative thing. Music videos can be slick and good looking, but almost always, you do not care about the characters in those pieces. in that respect...yes, this is a long music video.

Apr 1, 2011#145

Espy

I can barely sit through a 4 minute music video let alone a 2 hour one.

Apr 1, 2011#146

SpecialKO

I liked large parts of it, like the action girl, anime/VG-esque bits, but on the whole, the story framing felt really, really forced, and every time we got a scene of Babydoll in the burlesque house, I just felt uncomfortable.

I know nothing about the director personally, but it seems pretty obvious that he knew just how much he was pushing the mysogyny/child-abuse edge, and he pushed at it as hard as he could to the detriment of almost everything else.

Apr 1, 2011#147

Espy

Child abuse/sexual abuse: Remember, if you are a director who doesn't know how to create any actually interesting characters just get the audience to feel bad for them by making them abused!

Apr 1, 2011#148

figmentPez

The Cinema Snob compared it to Dune or Hudson Hawk. He didn't like it, but he thought that it would gather a cult following over time.

Apr 1, 2011#149

Chibibar

figmentPez said:
The Cinema Snob compared it to Dune or Hudson Hawk. He didn't like it, but he thought that it would gather a cult following over time.

I like Dune and Hudson Hawk. They don't compare to Sucker Punch (Dune was awesome and I love Hudson Hawk, it is a fun comedy)

Apr 1, 2011#150

linglingface

Covar said:
I had a friend who saw it and called it "a great 2 hour long music video."

That's actually a good way to describe the film in a nutshell.

Apr 1, 2011#151

Jiarn

I would put Sucker Punch over Hudson Hawk but under Dune: Extended Edition easily.

I love how so many of the critics are over analyzing the movie, finding problems with the film that never existed in the first place.

Apr 4, 2011#152

linglingface

Took Mike to see it today and he loved it. I'm almost convinced that it was all Sweet Pea's fantasy played through Babydoll... almost on the Sweet Pea train.

It was even better the second time around, noticed a few things I hadn't seen the first time around. (I guess that's how 2nd times normally play out, though

)

Apr 4, 2011#153

Jiarn

Planning on having our second viewing this upcoming weekend too!

Apr 4, 2011#154

Chibibar

heatherling said:
Took Mike to see it today and he loved it. I'm almost convinced that it was all Sweet Pea's fantasy played through Babydoll... almost on the Sweet Pea train. It was even better the second time around, noticed a few things I hadn't seen the first time around. (I guess that's how 2nd times normally play out, though )

That is what I was saying. It is not Babydoll's story

Apr 4, 2011#155

Gusto

Chibibar said:
It is not Babydoll's story

Apr 4, 2011#156

The Lovely Boehner

My favorite part about the whole sexualizing children angle of the movie is how in the opening scene, it makes a really blatant show of his father yelling out SHE IS TWENTY YEARS OLD and then walking over and writing it in huge, zoomed-in block letters on the admission form.

Apr 5, 2011#157

Espy

The Lovely Boehner said:
My favorite part about the whole sexualizing children angle of the movie is how in the opening scene, it makes a really blatant show of his father yelling out SHE IS TWENTY YEARS OLD and then walking over and writing it in huge, zoomed-in block letters on the admission form.

lol, nice. Snyder, master of the understatement.

Apr 5, 2011#158

Adammon

And yet, despite all that, 'child exploitation!!23`12311!

Apr 5, 2011#159

The Lovely Boehner

Adammon said:
And yet, despite all that, 'child exploitation!!23`12311!

Um. The whole TWENTY YEARS OLD bullshit is getting made fun of since it's a really dumb transparent way for him to justify it. But it's still a character named Baby Doll that looks like a teenage schoolgirl.

Apr 5, 2011#160

Jiarn

I love how people over analyze things, create problems where there aren't any, then begin bashing away as if they had any foundation to stand on.

Apr 5, 2011#161

linglingface

Regardless, Boehner's post did made me chortle.

I'm at least happy to see that the forum guys here aren't simply loving the movie because of girls in sexy costumes with weapons.

Apr 6, 2011#162

Docseverin

More importantly....is there nudity?

Apr 7, 2011#163

The Lovely Boehner

You have to wait for the UNRATED DVD to jerk off to ~~young teens~~ 20 YEAR OLD WOMEN, sorry

Apr 7, 2011#164

drifter

Pffft... who needs to wait? *whips it out*

Apr 7, 2011#165

Disconnected

Gusto said:

to what does this refer to?

drifter said:
Pffft... who needs to wait? *whips it out*

circle jerk!!

Apr 7, 2011#166

sixpackshaker

Hard to say, I can't tell what the photo is behind the typeface...

Apr 7, 2011#167

drifter

Tidus, the main protagonist from Final Fantasy X, who dies at the end.

Apr 7, 2011#168

Espy

Meg Ryan, the main protagonist from Final Fantasy X, who ~~dies at the end~~ ends up with Tom Hanks at the end.

Apr 7, 2011#169

Chibibar

drifter said:
Tidus, the main protagonist from Final Fantasy X, who dies at the end.

well, you can't really die when you don't really exist in the first place

He was a figment of a dream.
FFX-2 shows that the real living Tidus (i.e. the actual person) doesn't even know Yuna

Apr 7, 2011#170

drifter

@Chibibar: I'll defer to you as I never played either game

Apr 7, 2011#171

Shannow

Jiarn said:
I love how people over analyze things, create problems where there aren't any, then begin bashing away as if they had any foundation to stand on.

I would not say that I did any over analysis at all, but that it is just a terrible movie.

Apr 7, 2011#172

General Specific

You guys are still talking about this?

Also,

Gusto said:

That story was beaten to the punch by only 400 years or so. Hamlet here probably wasn't first with it either. Just sayin'

Apr 7, 2011#173

Chibibar

I thought Hamlet was actually a person.

Tidus wasn't even a real person. He is a dream construct.

Apr 7, 2011#174

linglingface

We are arguing about the silly pic now? Let me get this more off topic, then... Final fantasy VII is not the best FF!!!

Apr 7, 2011#175

Frankie Williamson

Of course it isn't. That's not even a debate.

Apr 7, 2011#176

Allen who is Quiet

Valid.

Next topic.

Apr 7, 2011#177

sixpackshaker

What's with the surprising lack of Mecha in Western Media?

Apr 7, 2011#178

Frankie Williamson

Harmony Gold sues anyone who dares try.

Apr 7, 2011#179

linglingface

Geebus there's a ridiculous amount of SP cosplay right now. At WonderCon, judging by photos alone, there were at least 5 Babydolls, 3 Sweet Peas, 2 Blondie's, an Amber, Rocket and Gorski. I can't even imagine what SDCC will be like. I knew when I saw the trailer that it'd be popular, but holy cow...
Definitely need to redo my Amber before SDCC if there's going to be a few there... Happy with my costume, but if there's going to be a lot of SP costumes, I have to have one of the better ones!

Apr 8, 2011#180

@Li3n

sixpackshaker said:
What's with the surprising lack of Mecha in Western Media?

What really annoys me is the lack of any new (and good) MechWarrior or MechCommander games...

Apr 8, 2011#181

Frankie Williamson

@Li3n said:
What really annoys me is the lack of any new (and good) MechWarrior or MechCommander games...

Harmony Gold!

Apr 8, 2011#182

@Li3n

Frankie Williamson said:
Harmony Gold!

Oh right, how did that turn out?! Couldn't they just not use the Unseen models in the game?!

Apr 8, 2011#183

Shannow

FFIX

Apr 8, 2011#184

Tress

FFVI... all others are mere shadows of its glory.

Apr 8, 2011#185

Jiarn

Tress said:
FFIV... all others are mere shadows of its glory.

You got some numbers mixed up there. Fixed it for you though.

Apr 8, 2011#186

Tress

Jiarn said:
You got some numbers mixed up there. Fixed it for you though.

No, I'm pretty sure I had it right.

FF6 (or 3, if you prefer) had the best story of all time. And the best characters. Nothing compares.

Apr 8, 2011#187

Jiarn

Totally agree. Oh except FF4 (or 2 if you prefer). If we're going to exclude number entries, FFT takes the cake of it all. Story/Characters/Gameplay etc. Otherwise, yeah, FFIV

Apr 8, 2011#188

linglingface

Shannow said:
FFIX

No no, this guy had it right.
VI is a very close second, though.

Apr 8, 2011#189

Frankie Williamson

Tress said:
FFVI... all others are mere shadows of its glory.

And correct.

Apr 8, 2011#190

Tress

Well, Tactics WAS pretty awesome too...

Apr 8, 2011#191

Jiarn

I'm just not in agreement. I can't really feel the comparison of storyline of Locke, Terra, Celes against Cecil, Rosa and Kain. There was so much more emotion, depth, plot twists and major reveals. Not to mention the villains. Kefka was a nutjob, the end. Golbez was a deeper villain, with a storyline that comes to a head at the end. Finishing with a twist that just blows it all away.

Apr 8, 2011#192

Tress

Meh. I don't think we're ever going to agree on this.

Apr 8, 2011#193

Ravenpoe

This thread should now be about Shadow Heart: Covenent

Apr 8, 2011#194

Hailey Knight

Just cut it there with Tactics.

When I sold my PS2 and all my PS1 and PS2 games, it was the only one I kept, because I knew it'd be the one to play again. Sure, I have it on glorious laggy PSP version with terrible re-translation, but I can't stop loving it best.

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