Inception Punch with Steampunk Zombies

Rating: 6/10 (8 July 2011)

In Sucker Punch, you get the impression that Zak Snyder wanted to make a kick-ass movie with hot chicks in schoolgirl uniforms fighting steampunk zombies. And at that level, it really works - the fight sequences are nothing short of awesome. Crank up the surround sound for those.
But where the film gets annoying is the half-arsed way that he justifies the action - it really makes no sense; and if you can't get past that illogic and just embrace the aaaawesomeness of the action, this film will not work for you.
The story: 'Baby Doll' (played by Aussie actress Emily Browning, who you might remember from 'Lemony Snickets'), in a stylised, graphic novel inspired sequence at the start, is institutionalised by her depraved stepfather, who covets the estate of her recently deceased mother. In a further lurch into depravity, he bribes a turnkey at the the 'Institute for the Totally, Like, Insane' to schedule Baby Doll for a lobotomy - in Five Days Time.
Here's where it gets all 'Inception'; for some reason, Baby Doll flips into an alternate vision of the institution as a faux-Twenties speakeasy/flophouse (that still boasts a photocopy machine); and when she is asked to dance, she morphs AGAIN into the really cool Matrix world where she and her vixenish compatriots do incredible deeds, mentored by a mysterious father figure played by Scott Glenn.
A flimsy premise is then constructed that gives the rest of the film some structure, in the same way that classic porn movies feature a visitation from a pizza guy to drive the story; Baby Doll and the Hot Kickass Vixens must gather unto themselves four items to help them escape before the date of Baby Doll's lobotomy. In the flophouse world - one level down - this is represented as the visit of the High Roller (played by Jon Hamm, reveling in antagonist rolls between 'Mad Men' seasons), who will deflower Baby Doll.
Zack Snyder's previous notable efforts (300, Watchmen) had solid scripts behind them, garnered from equally high-quality graphic novels; this movie shows us that he's not much of a writer, at least relating to plot and structure. But what he does well, he does really well, and it is the cool visuals and spot-on classic pop remixes backing the action, that punches this movie up beyond complete mediocrity.
Thankfully, his next movie, 'Man of Steel', has been penned by the same guys behind the critically and commercially successful 'Batman' reboot; Chris Nolan (whoah, Inception again) and David S. Goyer. Let's see if he can redeem himself there; I'm hopeful.