Works on some levels and fails on others

Rating: 5/10 (25 July 2012)

Many people have asserted that this is a love it or hate it movie, but I disagree. I didn't really have very strong feelings about it either way, though certain aspects of it left me with vaguely positive or vaguely negative feelings.
There are two ways to interpret this movie. The first is as a tale of female empowerment, with multiple layers of symbolism, amazing CG and breathtaking stunts. The other way is a series of pointless and gratuitous video game cutscenes with half naked girls, who have no personality or backstory. There's an element of truth to both interpretations, though I think the female empowerment is akin to the 1990s-era "girl power" movement. This faux feminism says that girls can do whatever they want, as long as it titillates men and doesn't upset the social order. While some people may find empowerment in this, I find it a bit cynical and too watered down.
Like Michael Bay, Tony Scott, and Ryuhei Kitamura, I think teenage boys who care more about style than substance are always going to be his main demographic. The frustrating thing is that I think he's capable of doing more.