Sucker Punch Review

Some films can get away with the world in which it takes place making very little sense. Films like 'source code', which whilst operating on somewhat broken logic, was still enjoyable to watch and really quite exciting. Unfortunately the same can not be said for Zach Snyder's latest 'Sucker Punch', which is quite possibly one of the most boring films I've seen in recent memory.

Yeah we're all extremely hot, but when theres little to no character development for any of us, how are you sopposed to care?



Theres not a good thing I can say about this movie. The paper-thin polt only serves to move our characters from one poor cgi-action set peice to the next, each more atrociously dull than the last one. The entire film is literally just an excuse to shove robots, samurais, dragons and highly attractive barbie dolls (each with little to no character at all, and about five lines between them) into an hour and a half onslaught on the eyes and ears that leave you dumbfounded as to what actually happened. You wont be emotionally invested in any of it, and by the time the third act rolls around and the film actually tries to have a narrative you will have been long past caring.

I'm sorry, where was I? I seem to have lost track of what I was saying...

I know it seems like I'm being extremely harsh on this film. And yes, this is starting to sound less like a review, and more like a straight up rant. But it really is everybit as boring and dull as I've said. The concept has been done so much better in films like 'Inception' and 'The Matrix', and the latter came out more than 10 years ago. So do yourself a favour, and dont go see this film, watch 'Source Code' or 'Scre4m' or even the matrix at home. Anything, but not this. And lets hope that Zach Snyder's upcoming reinvention of superman 'Man of Steel' is leagues ahead of this skidmark in an otherwise respectable hollywood portfolio.

Source Code Review

Source Code, the latest sci-fi fare from up and coming director Duncan Jones, is really the kind of film that doesn't hold up to close scutiny of any kind. Its the sort of movie that really starts to fall apart when you really think about the logic behind it. And generally, films where the world in which they inhabit make little sense usually leave me checking the time periodically whilst watching and wondering what I could have instead spent the £4.90 on (see Sucker Punch). Its very strange then, that I actually found myself enjoying Source Code. Alot.



I imagine this was the look on his face when someone first tried explaining how the science works in this movie...



Jake Gyllenhaal (who has finally made his first decent film in years) stars as Captain Colter Stevens, a helicopter pilot who is the first person to be used for a top secret government program. The 'source code' allows Stevens to live in the last 8 minutes of train bombing victim, through some kind of techno babble which you wont understand even after youve thought about its plausability for hours after you've left the theater. In short, Stevens must try and find out who bombed the train in an effort to stop him from attacking again, and he is forced to play out the same 8 minutes everytime until the bomber is caught. The plot gets alot deeper than that, but I wont go into detail and risk spoiling it...

The film rarely has a dull moment.



As it has been advertised, the film plays out a little like a cross between Groundhog Day and the Matrix. This is true for the most part, with Gyllenhaal's character constantly reliving the same 8 minutes, each in a new and interesting way. And whilst it feels like both those movies, it still manages to offer a viewing experience that feels both fresh and new to the audience, borrowing certain traits from those movies but still feeling original and utterly enjoyable. The entire film is buzzing with tension throughout as we slowly learn more and more about Stevens situation, with a well paced narrative that never seems to sag. If this movie intrigued you, and you cant get past the somewhat silly premise, then Source Code is well worth the price of admission.