I have thoughts! On Sucker Punch!

[schmerica]

So me and missmollyetc saw Sucker Punch today, and we both thought it was really well done. I have some thoughts on it.

Like, seriously, wow: excellent. Having seen it, it actually really surprises me how bad most of the reactions I've seen of it are (outside my friends list, which has like it a lot, I mean). I'm honestly surprised by how people watched that and walked away with a message of exploitation, rather than empowerment (even the costumes - I didn't get a feeling of them being there for titillation at all, in the action scenes). I actually thought it was truly more of a feminist movie than any I've seen in a long time.

You know "Becoming, Part 2"? The fight during Angelus and Buffy? "No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all that away, and what's left?" And she catches the sword betwene her palm and says "Me."

This movie made me feel exactly the way that moment did, basically.

Also, I sometimes have mixed feelings about action movies in general - sometimes I love them, and sometimes I am bored silly. But I really liked the action scenes here. I think there were three main reasons for this:

1) You could follow the action really well. This is surprisingly uncommon tbh! Most movies I have no idea what's going on during action scenes.

2) Visually stunning, both sets and choreography - Molly mentioned that it was better than any she had seen since she stopped watching Hong Kong movies. Zack Snyder has that weird slo-mo/fast playing with time style, but where it was really distracting and unnecessary in Watchmen, I thought it worked well here.

3) Every action scene was completely necessary, not tacked on and or just there for the heck of it. They were full of emotional weight and significance.

Also, did you guys notice that they were WOMEN in an ACTION movie doing ALL the kickass-ness and fighting? And not once in that world did any one of them have to, say, be a Sexy Lady Spy/Courtesan or whatever the fuck? I should not have to be as impressed with that as I am.

Also also there was some interesting things going on with Mme Gorski, too, that were actually kind of subtle - like, okay, she's not a bad guy, but she's in the position of being abused by Blue AS WELL but also having to contribute to the girls' abuse herself, while still trying to do her best to shield them from the worst of it - and on the one hand, there's her giving up Blondie to Blue, and on the other there's the fact that it's her who gives the chance at that fantasy world in the first place, and it's her who calls the police at the end. It really underlines again that theme about how the misogyny and abuse leaves you in this place with no choices, you know?

So, yeah! It's definitely not for everyone, and I can totally see how it could be triggery as fuck for many people. But I am really glad I saw it, and it's definitely not just garbage like most reviews are making it out. cidercupcakes has some really good and thoughtful posts about it that I recommend!

Comments

[impertinence.livejournal.com]

I agree with this post! It was a really good and interesting movie. And I think it balanced the emotional shit with being a really awesome pure action movie, too.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

I think I need to see it again soon! KILL EM ALL, BABYDOLL.

from friends-friends

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

I'm honestly surprised by how people watched that and walked away with a message of exploitation, rather than empowerment (even the costumes - I didn't get a feeling of them being there for titillation at all, in the action scenes).

Thank you. I'm surprised too, especially since the costumes in the brothel-world seem intentionally exploitative, as if to underline exactly how creepy all this is, while in the war world, the costumes are sexy, but not, as you say, titillating.

I loved the movie and am sad it's getting such a negative reaction.

Re: from friends-friends

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

At this point I'm kind of hoping it'll at least achieve cult classic status.

[missmollyetc.livejournal.com]

Absolutely bang on! I loved this. Although, I did feel the intense need to give my mother a hug after I'd seen it.

The thing I really enjoyed about it was how well all the actors played off each other. This was the sort of movie that if one person had given less than an honest involved performance, we'd never have experienced the same impact. I loved each actor, even when I loathed the character.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

You have such good thoughts!

[fleurdeliser.livejournal.com]

Honestly? It seems like a bunch of people are trying to justify not liking a movie about a group of girls using feminist language or just by panning everything else. I hope I can see it myself sooooon.

[myounghistory.livejournal.com]

I'm butting in here, even though I haven't seen the movie yet so I don't really have a strong opinion on it, but dude, this strikes me as a really unfair thing to say. Just from having seen the trailer and reading reviews (both positive and negative) of this film, I can tell that there are plenty of reasons why someone might dislike this movie, no matter how much they want more movies with casts of primarily women. To say that the people who are seriously offended by the movie only disliked it because they're sexist jerks who don't like seeing movies about women is unfair and in many cases, probably wrong.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's not a judgment I would feel comfortable making at all. But you should definitely go see it!

[1001cranes.livejournal.com]

iawtc. &hearts

[1001cranes.livejournal.com]

or entry, really!

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Appropriate icon is appropriate!