Sucker Punch

[AYBG]

I'll just chime in to say "Don't write this one off just yet."

Don't write this one off just yet.

There. Anywho, the critical response is disappointing but not unexpected and, as far as I'm concerned, largely invalid. I haven't seen this much predetermined sniping against a film since that on Spielberg's 1941.
Rest assured - the film does have meaning beyond the superficial. I'm lucky enough to have been in regular contact with the film's DP since the summer, and when he refers to the film's themes I believe him. In fact, I'm leaning towards believing some of the positive reviews that state that it's "genuinely feminist", and that maybe this has had some impact on the critical response. "You will be unprepared" indeed.

Look, I'm not saying that it's necessarily a great film. I haven't seen it. But what I'm trying to get across is it's clearly not being approached the right way. Clearly when people have seen the film's marketing they've just thought "geek bait". But here's where it gets interesting - if the film does indeed lure the male gaze then subvert it (a la the likes of Kubrick), then perhaps it's fair to say (in advance no less) that a large proportion of the panning critics are being rather narrow-minded.

So, approach the film as a work of art. The question then is, does it work as a work of art? kk seems to think not, and fair enough. Just don't go criticising it for apparently being shallow entertainment, and don't avoid it for that rather tenuous reason.

[kevinknapman]

I don't doubt that Zack Snyder is very sincere in trying to deal with themes more complex than just girls in skimpy clothing fighting dragons, it's just the way he goes about it. Sure you can use a burlesque club to deal with the themes of the male gaze and female empowerment but when you're also trying to present that as a fantasy in the head of a 20 year old woman I'm afraid it fails in my opinion. I couldn't accept or believe it and as a result I couldn't take the attempt to tackle those themes seriously, because it just comes across as a device to tackle themes rather than a natural piece of story-telling.

[superhero]

With the truly awful box office performance of Sucker Punch, you would think Warner Bros is going to think twice about giving Snyder the Superman reboot gig.

[EthanRunt]

They would if they hadn't already handed it to him to insight box office flames on Sucker Punch. Superman news doesn't light Sucker Punch's BO on fire, the Amy Adams thing yesterday wouldn't have created buzz to catch this effort.

[lilacstem]

More tickets just became available for this. Same website as posted in free films.

[superhero]

I am not surprised....

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

AYBG watch the film first man before criticising critics But your idea of approach is a helpful one to take.

I got myself a Fulham show, so look forward to watching this highly slated film! I do enjoy a lot of nonsense now and again and this one at least seems to deliver it in style, we'll see.

I frowned upon the idea of Snyder directing Superman too but we have to keep an open mind for all kinds of interpretation. For me nothing tops Donner's Superman though.

[ClareBarr]

Looking forward to this one on Thursday

[superhero]

There's not much of a crowd outside the cinema in Leicester Square. How embarrassing for the stars attending!

[Celini]

not much people waiting but so many of us redirected all around the square!!!
first time I walked by Leicester Sq when there is a Premiere since the refurbishment started... what a mess!

Looking forward to this one tomorrow!