Sucker Punch: The Video Game Levels of Zack Snyder's Mind

49 Comments

Posted March 25, 2011 - By Guest Writer

By Adam Rosenberg

Sucker Punch: The Video Game Levels of Zack Snyder's Mind

Zack Snyder, the writer and director of the cinematic ode to video games that is Sucker Punch, is also unsurprisingly a fan of interactive experiences. He told me during a recent interview that Gears of War 2 was his jam while writing today's release. Even now, as he develops Superman: Man of Steel, Call of Duty: Blacks Ops is the dangling carrot he uses to reward himself as he progresses through each day's load of storyboards.

Sucker Punch is a movie that is structured like a video game. There are expository "cutscenes" that unfold in its fantasy-world brothel and full-blown "levels" painted as action sequences that play out in a variety of environments as the alternate reality rabbit hole extends deeper. "We talked a lot about the [possibility of doing a] game, but no one wanted to make it at the level we wanted to do it," Snyder told me. "Plus, we didn't have the time. That was the biggest problem."

The influence of video games on Sucker Punch is clear, so we're taking a moment now to consider each action sequence and the games that might have informed it. Read on to find out why you're being Sucker Punched in the first place.

Sucker Punch:

Intro / Babydoll's origin

Unlike the rest of the movie's action moments, this open sequence is set in the real world. Star Emily Browning croons a haunting rendition of Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" while a horrifying family scuffle plays out. The action is minimal, but Snyder's unique flair for visuals is in evidence. Babydoll's (Browning) life-changing confrontation with her stepfather carries a very dark and sinister tone, the sort you'd expect to feel from an adventure game thriller or even a survival horror.

See Also: Heavy Rain, Max Payne, Fatal Frame

Sucker Punch

Gearing Up

Once Babydoll is installed in her new home, the story proper begins to unfold. For her first "quest," our lead earns her weapons, a razor-sharp katana and a semi-automatic hand cannon with a pink kitty charm dangling from the grip. I say "earn" because Babydoll faces off against a trio of hulking samurai warrior-monsters. A Skunk Anansie remix of Bjork's "Army of Me" thrums in the background as Babydoll twists her way around swinging blades and hailing bullets. She takes on each baddie individually, in a setup reminiscent of fighting games.

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joejohnathan

REPORTING: Earth to haters; GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR LUMPY ASS AND ENJOY THE MOVIE. That is all.

Posted: April 25, 2011 9:29 PM
jonathorston

i just saw this film, it was very complicated, but a brilliant film, can't wait to buy it on dvd, i thought that the darker parts of the film (in the mental institution) where better than the fantasy bits.

Posted: April 12, 2011 11:36 AM
williamhrt

I am old. Age is not the problem with the critics, their lack of inteligence and attention to detail is the problem. Read the reviews that are negative and you will see they often contain mistakes about the film and they often have comments to the effect they are confused by it. Lets be honest, the average critic is average. They have average IQs. They are not smart enough, engaged enough, or creative enough to get the film. They are your typical "Huh" average person that makes one realy question if humanity, writ large is really worth it.

Posted: April 1, 2011 7:43 PM
shmaron

Saw it on saturday, and thought it was pretty awesome. Well, put together storyline and a great soundtrack. Definitely buying this on blu-ray.

Posted: March 28, 2011 10:37 AM
Chaos-Phoenix

This was a good movie, not the action flick the trailers seemingly shown. I understand the need to get people who wouldn't normally see this kind of a film to go, but lying about it only hurts the trust you put in your moviegoers. Next time some people will be weary of said films.

Posted: March 28, 2011 10:30 AM
b_radfury

Wow. This movie could not have sucked any harder if it had starred the worst adult film actresses. You do not need to be 40 to see how Gods awful this movie is. You just need to have a brain and an expectation above soulless eye-candy. I went in just expecting some decent action and it still blew me away at how truly horrible it was. I enjoy mindless popcorn entertainment as much as the next guy, but man this was utter garbage. Even if you added blood, guts and boobs, this movie still would have been crapola. Sadly, I cannot help but lower my expectations for the upcoming Superman film. Idiot Hollywood execs: please do not give Zack Snyder full creative control over another project again. This only proves that he needs to stick with quality story ideas that are not his own. Oh, and enough with the slow-mo action sequences. They were decent in 300, but now it is nothing but a sad and tired gag.

Posted: March 28, 2011 8:53 AM
b_radfury

Wow. This movie could not have sucked any harder if it had starred the worst adult film actresses. You do not need to be 40 to see how Gods awful this movie is. You just need to have a brain and an expectation above soulless eye-candy. I went in just expecting some decent action and it still blew me away at how truly horrible it was. I enjoy mindless popcorn entertainment as much as the next guy, but man this was utter garbage. Even if you added blood, guts and boobs, this movie still would have been crapola. Sadly, I cannot help but lower my expectations for the upcoming Superman film. Idiot Hollywood execs: please do not give Zack Snyder full creative control over another project again. This only proves that he needs to stick with quality story ideas that are not his own. Oh, and enough with the slow-mo action sequences. They were decent in 300, but now it is nothing but a sad and tired gag.

Posted: March 28, 2011 8:51 AM
RamenFTW

this movie is aimed at a young gamer audience. and who are the critics? old people who dont understand movies like this. so of course theyre guna hate on it. people should just see it. it blew my mind.

Posted: March 28, 2011 8:17 AM
CoIoneI Klink

Critics and Trolls got it all kinds of wrong, this movie was unique as it was visual eye candy, acting wasn't too shabby at all. Get a mind of your own and go watch and stop listening to these trolls.

Posted: March 28, 2011 5:40 AM
youconduit

Saw it first day it was good.

Posted: March 28, 2011 12:44 AM
swordsman22

Hot women with an arsenal fighting giant samurai monsters, zombies, androids, and dragons. How would any real man NOT want to see this?

Posted: March 27, 2011 10:40 PM
RyokoWins

Movie critics are the most jaded types of critics there are. If it doesn't have deep hidden meanings or emotional roller coasters, they're not buying it. Why can't a movie just be pure fun and insanity? I think Sucker Punch is one of the best movies I've seen in years.

Posted: March 27, 2011 9:16 PM
gtamaster503

The final action scene on the train absolutely reminded me of the Final Fantasy XIII beginning. I don't see how you couldn't see that.

Posted: March 27, 2011 2:41 PM
GamerJoey

Saw it at midnight and im pretty happy i did. I thought it was pretty good!

Posted: March 27, 2011 1:27 PM
Katchxxii

Went and saw it yesterday. Love Snyder's films but this one really fell short for me. Really sad because the action and visuals were great but the story, dialog, and acting were not so good.

Posted: March 27, 2011 1:23 PM
crazyfooinc

You know, every time someone mentions this movie I always think of Sucker Punch Productions (Sly Cooper, inFAMOUS) instead of the movie.

Posted: March 27, 2011 12:42 PM
ReverendGodless

I was actually surprised by this movie. When I went to go see it, I wasn't expecting much, but it turned out to be a really great film. Recommend this movie to all other geeks out there. You'll definitely have a good time.

Posted: March 27, 2011 12:18 PM
jakeoven

best movie ive seen in years

Posted: March 27, 2011 12:18 PM
Metalzero007

saw it yesterday, for most of you out there heres a tiny spoiler: ITS NOT YOUR AVERAGE LINEAR MOVIE ANYMORE! ill go further, ITS NOT YOUR UNLINEAR MOVIE AT ALL. other than the big picture of the plot, theres only the fun action holy... sections and the emotional ones. awesome from beginning to... ehh end. loved the musical score. which is absolutely important, the point of the movie is to sucker punch the hell out of you, and musically it did. the action episodes just blended so well within themselves that i would have rather have 6 different full movies. full of that "high". but in the overall its just a very complete movie. that leaves you just satisfied enough solely because of the end part. it was a crescendo that didnt deliver the big boom at the end. and just finished with an aria. personally, worth watching but dont be so damn excited after 98.2% of the movie

Posted: March 27, 2011 12:02 PM
chronoboi

Saw it yesterday, and it has many scenes which reminded me of various Video Game IPs, especially the trenches scene... Like come on, they totally slapped a Helghast into a transition, complete with glowing red eyes. Looked like something out of a Killzone trailer.

Posted: March 27, 2011 10:27 AM