Underrated movies 2

2. Sucker Punch

Wow now that was a unique experience.

The story, set in an alternate 60s universe, begins with a young girl who kills her sister by accident while trying to save her from her abusive step father.She is sent into an asylum with other girls and plans an escape. 

What is so original about this movie is that it has a double narrative : As the story in the asylum progresses the main character is faced with her teamates by a number of tasks happening in a fantasy world. 

So as the story unfolds in the real world a similar story with symbolism happens in a science fiction dimension. 

The imagery is so beautiful, the director used the same technic used in 300 which gives that almost cartoonish feel. The girls are so beautiful and embrace their sexuality and make it a strength. (Girly notes : make up and costumes are extraordinay). The CGI on the other hand is a bit over the top but as a fantasy action movie it's not unexpected, and actually works quite well.

This actually reflects pretty well in the music as well which include several cover and remixes such as "Army of me" by Björk which is a real work of art and fits perfectly in the spirit of the movie. Also several covers sung by the main actress herself (Emily Browning), which doesn't have an exceptionnal voice but is still very pleasant.

Two downsides : The story is still a bit messy, espacially considering that the idea of origin was so good (the double reality).

And also Vanessa Hudgens is so useless in this film, she doesn't fit at all in the story, her character is a bystander which doesn't bring anything to the story, it seems more like a carreer move than a real commitment to a movie.

The other issue with Vanessa Hudgens presence is the fact that she brings to the theater many young teenager, another critic that was given about the movie. No it is not for kids, not all movies which have teen star in them does.

She wanted to be seen in a new light (mainly short skirts, plunging cleavage, heavy liner and swearwords), and thought this would be her chance, but unfortunnately it just seems a bit forced and unnatural. But I think she is just warming up, I'm waiting to see her in a real dramatic role (Not a "Beastly" type of teen movie).

There was a lot of critic for this film because of the depiction of women it gave.

Here is a quote from wikipedia :  St. Petersburg Times critic Steve Persall found that the most offensive fact about the film was that it "suggests that all this objectification of women makes them stronger. It's supposed to be reassuring that men who beat, berate, molest and kill these women will get what's coming to them. Just wait, Snyder says, but in the meantime here's another femininity insult to keep you occupied."

I don't get for example how this is more offensive than Lars Von Triers, Dogville. In Dogville the characters played by Nicole Kidman repeatedly gets abused, and finally gets her revenge in the end. How is that any different? Also, this storyline supposedly happens in the 60s where evidently, women didn't have a say (just watch Madmen) in many things and even more so when a teenager.

Anyway, very much like Sin city was when it came out, this is a very unique experience which was very enjoyable and also very underrated for it's novelty and daring approach to an unfortunnately not so good script, but stunning visual.