 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Sucker Punch
- Review Date: March 22, 2011
- PG-13
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Impressive effects, but mixed messages about women.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this comic book-like fantasy from the director of 300 has disturbing scenes that show men taking advantage of women ... whose sole purpose is to entertain the men. The main female characters are clad in skimpy clothing for much of the movie, too, which seems hypocritical, given that the film is about how a band of oppressed girls take back their power -- the movie ends up reinforcing some of the stereotypes it's theoretically out to bust. Though the fight scenes are often cartoonish in nature, they’re unrelenting and brutal, including shoot-outs, swordfights, stabbings, beheadings, and the threat of sexual assault. There's some swearing ("s--t"), too.
What's the story?
Thrown into an insane asylum after mistakenly killing her sister while trying to defend herself from her menacing stepfather, Babydoll (Emily Browning) preserves her sanity and dignity by allowing her mind to roam free in an otherworldly parallel universe where she’s armed, dangerous, and stronger than anyone else. She enlists the help of four other young women trapped in the hospital: Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), Amber (Jamie Chung), Rocket (Jena Malone), and Rocket's devoted sister, Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish). They must stick together to survive the disempowered Madam Gorski (Carla Gugino) and sociopathic Blue (Oscar Isaac) and his goons, and all before the High Roller (Jon Hamm) makes an appearance.
Is it any good?
Director Zack Snyder might think that if he litters the screen with one fantastical fight scene after another, drains the color from all but a few set pieces (you know, to be artsy), and amps up the volume on the carefully calibrated soundtrack, we’ll be seduced into thinking that SUCKER PUNCH is a great movie. But it’s not. Even though it sports amazing CGI effects and is certainly ambitious in its reach, the movie has no weight behind it, no compelling characters, no elegant storytelling -- in fact, no coherent story at all. (Why does the film place so much importance on Babydoll’s dancing, when it never actually shows her doing so? Why not just give her an entirely different, mesmerizing ability?)
That said, there are a few notable strengths, Cornish being the best of them. She can sell pretty much any role, even this (almost). Her interactions with Malone are so authentic that they seem like they’re in a different world altogether. But even her prodigious talents can’t elevate this strange brew of a movie.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the movie portrays women. Do you think it reinforces stereotypes or undermines them? Who are the most powerful characters in the movie?
How do details like the characters' costumes and names affect how you feel about them? Which characters in the movie can be seen as role models?
What impact does the movie's violence have? Would it be different if it was more realistic instead of cartoonish? Why?
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AGE
Not suitable for anyone
I would not recommend this film for young teenagers as it is a disturbing story about rape and prostitutes who are trapped in a disturbing environment were it is all about dancing and avoiding having sex with these horrible old men. And to top it all off the girls all have problems one got physically abused by her step farther And also got beet up. It has a stupid storyline about them being prostitutes then the next minuite there in a fantasy world trying to escape. NEVER WATCH THIS FILM IT IS NOT SUITIBLE FOR ANYONE
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AGE
Terrible. Soul crushing.
This is a very creepy, sexually scary movie for adults, let alone kids. Sexual abuse ruthlessly depicted from the start.
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Kid, 11 years old
April 12, 2011
AGE
some people are to serious about movies! come on its a bit of fun!
I loved it people are to serious these days I mean every one has different tastes in movies! Im 10 and it was good so what they dance for men you dont see them dancing do you! Its very violent but its cheesy violence not bloody you see a few knives and guns but the only part you see the slightest bit of blood is for 2 seconds at the begining with a tiny bit on her finger tips!
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AGE
Thought the skimpy clothes were a bit much , but there was a lot deeper meaning to this movie than a lot of people saw. Heres the end quote of the movie...which really hit me hard...."Who Honors those we love for the very life we live? Who sends monsters to kill us...and at the same time sings that we'll never die? Who teaches us what's real...and how to laugh at lies? Who decides why we live and what we'll die to defend? Who chains us...and who holds the key that can set us free? It's you. You have all the weapons you need. Now fight!"
THe message to me was that no matter what life hands you,no matter what monsters there are in your life, if you don't give up you will MAKE IT! And I am a 40 year old woman. Sad that a lot of people just went there becasue they thought that there prolly would be some sex scenes. I was happliy surprised that instead of dancing, they went into "Babys" dream world and had some real girl power there!~:)
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AGE
This was the best movie I have ever seen. The music totally sets the mood from the beginning, with Emily Browning doing a cover of "Sweet Dreams." It is so misunderstood, when I went, I went with my dad and my younger brother who is 8. My dad and I were on the same level when it came to the plot, but my brother didn't understand a thing. It was just such a wonderful movie, and I think it has a very positive message. To me it shows how hard a person works to succeed, and that there isn't always a happy ending. Also, the role models are great! It was such an adventure! It has such a deep meaning and I would honestly love to see this movie in 3D.
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AGE
Horrible movie, NOT appropriate for kids.
Sucker Punch punched it down to my least favorite 1. This movie was inappropriate in the way they had the lady's dressed in it. They were in skimpy outfits and danced for a night club... Or did they? This movie was a mix between Inception and Easy A. They started out in an insain asylum, but the rest of. The movie was either in a strange imaginary Club or a weird dancing world inside one girls mind where they all could go to escape the tough, 'real' world of dancing. Then the rest of the movie was about girls getting stabbed, shot in the back of the head or escaping the asylum, and returning home safely. All in all this movie was horrible.
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AGE
A love it or hate it type of film.
This is a very good movie, with action and some violence, sexual material is present sometimes, so i rate this ON for 14 years old because under 14 will not understand the film's message and will consider it dark and disturbing.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 28, 2011
AGE
great movie but not suitable for younge children.
i loved this move and the special effects were great but the women are prostitutes and they are really bad role models if you showed this to a 9 yr old they might think it was ok to act like some of the characters.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 3, 2011
AGE
Action movie that didn't give me nightmares
I thought it was a good action movie with a kittle bit of violence. Didn't give me nightmares. Good entertainment. Great actors. Don't do stuff like this at home.
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| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Zack Snyder |
| Cast: | Abbie Cornish, Emily Browning, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 109 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 25, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | June 28, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | thematic material involving sexuality, violence and combat sequences, and for language |
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