Prometheus Blu-Ray

Got a chance to check out the PROMETHEUS Blu-Ray... and as you may recall, I was one of the few in the pro column for the film upon release.
Just like John Carter, I think Prometheus was an unfair victim of expectations and marketing.

So, as eager as I was to re-view the film (I had hoped to see it again in theaters, but never did), I was even more keen to see a longer cut, that sadly wasn't in the home release (at least for now). However, all of the deleted, extended, and alternate scenes are in the home version. Oh how I wish we had most of them in an alternate version of the film... about 2/3rds of what was cut, and nearly all of the alternate material improves upon the original. Especially the alternate extended ending that features more of the climactic encounter/s with the "engineer" (I'm not a fan of the alternate opening though). Not to mention, Fifield's attack on the crew in it's intended CG enhanced take is far superior to the traditional effects version.

For all those that write this off as a failure as an Alien film, feel it's inner logic is too flawed, or were looking for more action... I'm sorry you have those hang-ups, or feel that way. For me, it's a somewhat flawed gem of a sci-fi picture, that I absolutely love!

Now I'll just keep waiting for the alternate/extended cut/s...

MEANWHILE AT THE MOVIES... Prometheus!

SPOILER FREE (in white): 


 Prometheus is big, glorious, fully rendered sci-fi cinema. It's not an action film, it's not a horror movie (though there are horrors to be sure), and perhaps most frustratingly, for some, it's not really an Alien movie either. It is much more akin to 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY or CLOSE ENCOUNTERS of the 3rd KIND then the tone of any of the Alien films (except very much the first, which it has equal parts of many elements). It's conceit isn't to scare, or thrust into action, but to explore something very alien, and ask some big cosmic questions. And at that, it wholly succeeds. It gives you much to explore for yourself, both in terms of it's themes, and in terms of it's relation to that other Ridley Scott booted franchise.

MORE SPOILERY (but still spoiler specific free): 


 That's right, it's not an Alien movie, don't expect that. Ridley and Damon tried to warn us, and set expectations appropriately here. It's not a direct prequel... as they said. But it does very much play in and further explore that universe, and the genesis of Alien. 

SPOILER WARNING: 


 It even gives us the Space Jockey/s, a burst chest, and the ship... just not in the right places. And something, briefly, very Alien-esque... but that's as close to a classic Alien as we get. 
 There are other alien creatures and life though, and like the the world that's visited, and the crew and their ship Prometheus, it's all amazingly rendered in jaw dropping realistic 3D (and the creatures here, and the horrors they unleash are a level of demented fun on par with Alien). Prometheus is a paradise for sci-fi enthusiasts. You can completely geek out on the 2 hours you get to spend with an expedition to an alien world. I loved it. I have no problem with the direction the film takes. 

BACK TO NON SPOILER TERRITORY: 


 In terms of the story, and characters, they're all interesting too, and mostly successful. Most every gap in logic or plot is explained (relatively)... it's a pretty tight script. Fassbender and Theron stand out from the cast, and Noomi is solid. Also worth mention is the fantastic score, and amazing sound that accompany what is a visual delight for eyes, and therefore ears. A fully immersive sci-fi treat. Which makes this a banner year for sci-fi. Earlier we were treated to the popcorn pulp adventure of John Carter, and now we have cerebral pulp horror. To me, as much as I love fantasy (can't wait to get some more Tolkien) and comic book superheroes... nothing excites me more than science fiction. Nothing. So a big thank you to the many folks who made Prometheus possible.


HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Meanwhile at the movies... Barsoom Withdrawl - JOHN CARTER REVIEW

My dearest readers,

 I've just recently returned from Barsoom, and the following are my accounts of the journey...

I Was lucky my wife scored preview screening passes to JOHN CARTER (in 3D) last night, as I'd been anxious to see the film after first hearing about it. An Edgar Rice Burroughs sci-fi book series, that inspired nearly every major sci-fi property I've loved, helmed by a Pixar director?!? One can only hope something of that pedigree lives up to a fraction of the promise. And since it's a Disney movie, they've been advertising the hell out of it for some time, but perplexingly, the ad campaign did little to excite anyone about the film. So are they playing things close, and hoping to blow people's minds when they get a look at what they've put together, or was it a creative misfire, that feels as empty as the PR (made even more lackluster by the endless derivative contemporary creations; Star Wars, Avatar, etc, that have stolen all the ideas Burroughs offered up in 1912)??

Growing up a Star Wars and comic book fanatic, and comic and genre nut to this day, you can see how I might be frenzied to find out sooner than later, just what awaits on the mysterious 3D live action CG enhanced Andrew Stanton Barsoom (Mars). So, tonight was the night I'd find out, more than a week before the release, and I couldn't have been happier!

So, what's the real story?
Does it disappoint, or deliver?
 The short answer?
John Carter delivers in spades.
It is a truly great sci-fi motion picture, full of heart, life, and creativity. A sci-fi geeks dream, and one of the finer genre films I've had the pleasure of seeing.

The level of craft here, from the production first and foremost, is impressive and appropriately epic and nuanced, to the story and scripting, which is smartly honed and resonant, this adaptation is built with the care and passion we've come to expect from Pixar, who deliver technically astounding and emotionally rewarding films. And though Stanton was working outside Pixar here, and in live action, thankfully he was able to successfully bring that aesthetic with him. And just like Pixar films, the story plays wide, without sacrificing the maturity and heft required to engage a mature audience, or the fun, spirit, and magic to enchant younger viewers (and us big kids). Unlike Pixar though, it is not a movie for children, but firmly in the Star War motion picture blockbuster wheelhouse, of a pre-teen core demographic. A pulpy adventure tale with fantastic feats of brawn and bravado, plucky princesses, hostile aliens, and fabulous creatures and tech. The type of movie making that millions fell in love with decades ago in a galaxy far far away, but seems increasingly hard to find, on this scale, in this day and age.

Perhaps my references to Star Wars and Pixar are a bit heavy, especially since this film offers more then either of those quantities. Unlike Pixar, it's of course live action, and dares to dream a more straight forward and tonally advanced action story. There is death, and blood, and consequences to the action, and some mildly unsettling depictions of a brutal alien society. And while it may traffic in some of the best things the Star Wars franchise had to offer, namely endearing and fascinating alien characters and settings (Woola, will certainly steal many hearts, and capture zillions of youngsters impressionable minds), the story also skews a bit more towards fantasy, and with it's late 19th century settings, it has western elements too. So yes, it offers the best of those two amazing and beloved creations, but also more. No small feat.

That's not to say it's a perfect work, or that there aren't some things that are lacking. Some of the casting or directing in the live action department could've used some more spirit or punch, as most performances skew to being fairly reserved, at contrast to the plots strong emotional themes. The humanoid characters don't quite go all out and effortlessly live and breath their roles, perhaps with the exception of Bryan Cranston (Tyler Kitsch, our leading man, is very good though). And I especially found Mark Strong's villain, and his fellow Therns, to be the weak point of the whole production. From the design and costuming of the mysterious god like characters, to the depiction of some of their key tech, just seemed very weak and garishly staged (whenever they're on screen, I feel as though I'm looking at a goofy movie character). All this making for a bit of a disconnect from the otherwise pretty pitch perfect story and production. And then also, while fairly good at a couple key scenes, the score was invisible and sorely lacking otherwise. I know I harp on this aspect time and again, and admittedly it's a pet peeve of mine, but music and sound is as important to a film as any other element, and both are at best serviceable here. Also, most of the action scenes could have played out a bit more, or had a bit more heft to them. While there are quite a few, like with the acting, things could've stood to be amped up a bit more here.

Also, as with most modern big budget films, especially ones with such huge effect driven scope, I should touch on the special effects, and the 3D. Both are excellent. The 3D isn't of the level I remember Avatar (still the high water mark here), but it's perhaps the next best I've seen, and the effects are seamless, with Stanton relying heavily on live settings and practical filming whenever possible to good effect. The result being, though it's not over the top otherworldly, it is one that you completely buy into. I should also mention, as I said up top with the lackluster ad campaign, I also wasn't too drawn to the designs I'd seen of the tech and world depicted, however, after getting a closer look, I came to quite like most of what they did here.

In my short summation of the film up front, I gave it pretty high praise. It is a finely tuned script and production of cosmic proportions. I'm not sure where John Carter stands among my all time favorites, but it certainly ranks up there, and to compare it to something somewhat recent, that went on to do huge box office, would be the JJ Abrams Star Trek reboot. While I loved that movie, I certainly had my problems with it also, but I'd say much more so then this. Or in contrast to another recent global box office destroying sci-fi film, Avatar, which was long on world immersive craft, but very short on story, John Carter leaps bounds over it creatively. There's more I could praise about John Carter, and likely a bit more I could criticize, but ultimately, I loved the movie. It tells an epic, original (if familiar, or rather in spite of it's many familiar elements) story, with amazing visuals, and fun characters. As I said in the title to the review, I really do miss my short time on the red planet of Barsoom, with all it's fantastic creatures and sights, and just like John Carter, I want to go back again, and as soon as possible (here's hoping we get the sequels). That's the magic of movies and the amazing worlds they can take us to, and John Carter offers plenty of both.

Virginia!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - John Carter is not to be missed on the big screen.

Faithfully yours,

JPM

Meanwhile at the movies... best line ever!

Going to a a preview screening of JOHN CARTER tonight!!
(So check back for a review tomorrow!)

However, yesterday brought the amazing and cheestastic trailer for the PIRANAH sequel, PIRANAH 3DD, and the best moment had to be when Ving Rhames comes on screen, and before kicking carnivorous fish ass, shouts...

The fact that the sequel is directed by John Gulager, maestro behind the sublimely tasteless FEAST (one of my all time faves), AND that the cast includes Gary Busey, Christopher Lloyd, and The Hoff?!?!
My mind is blown!

Race to Redline!

I'd been waiting to see the just released (in the US) anime, REDLINE, for over a year. TwitchFilm.com had featured it back before it hit the festival circuit, and it was jawdropping. Insane design, technically flawless, drop dead sexy animation. It's also the directorial debut of Takeshi Koike, whom you may know from the amazing Animatrix "World Record" segment, and he was also a key animator on my all time favorite anime, the blisteringly cool DEAD LEAVES (with Redline sharing a fairly similar style). It didn't hurt that it's produced by renowned anime studio Madhouse either.

Got a chance to watch last weekend, and it does not disappoint!

The animation is sublime throughout, but where Redline maintains the next level cool is with the vision and scope of the story. Sure, it's ultimately a simple race tale, and for those amped up by it's high octane race visuals from previews and scenes online, it doesn't disappoint. However, there's more to this anime then just mindless racing action (not that it might not have been better served with more of that), but it offers a full story, on a few levels, with many sub-plots, character arcs... more than you'd expect from a title like this. Also, with it's intergalactic race circuit, it's of course rich with supporting characters of amazing variety. Basically, there's a lot to love, and that makes Redline utterly re-watchable. It did not supplant Dead Leaves at the top of my anime list though. Here's hoping we don't have to wait several years for another anime to challenge for the title!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Meanwhile at the movies... Thing vs Thing!

Waited in line last night for a preview screening of the new THE THING prequel/reboot, so here's a quick review...

Cowboys and Aliens just root...

but don’t toot.

MEANWHILE AT THE MOVIES... When JJ met Steven

Got to see another movie preview screening this week (gosh I'm lucky), this time it was the much hyped top secret JJ Abrams project (is there any other kind?), SUPER 8, which comes out Friday.

MEANWHILE AT THE MOVIES... more like 2nd class.

Saw X-Men: First Class today... here's a review.

So, after first hearing about this reboot origin story to the X-Men film franchise, and learning of the characters (and cast) in place, I had mixed feelings. But, in the buildup to it's release, I'd begun to get genuinely enthused about the movie. The early 60's era setting look and vibe was really appealing, and the mish-mash character line-up of mutants, not adhering to really any kind of X-Men continuity (I'm a huge long time X-fan), and the use of truly lower tier characters (and even some that were either made up, or just so obscure I have no idea) looked to work in the samples and snipets I'd seen. Then as release came even closer, a strong positive buzz began to build. Having seen the film, I'm very much back in the mixed feelings category.

HANGOVER 2 ...a quick (preview screening) review

Got to see a preview screening last night...

Now, I wasn't a big fan of the first, finding it to give away just about every shred of hilarity via the commercials, and then it seemed hyped up beyond anything resembling reality. So with that said, I was glad to get into a preview screening of the sequel, to try and avoid all the good bits via the new ads (which already were wayyyyy too spoiler heavy - message to studio marketing assholes, it's the biggest comedy ever, I don't think you need to give away anything in the ads for the sequel!!)...

I found the movie overall to be mildly entertaining, and sometimes humorous (unlike the lady next to me how must have climaxed a dozen or more times and couldn't stop gasping in laughter at every. little. thing. that. ever. happened), until close to the end, when things got pretty hilarious, and finished very strong.

This is however the exact same movie, redone in Bangkok. The formula works though, so I look forward to a third... I just don't know where they'll set it, having gone from Vegas to Thailand... I'm guessing the moon maybe (if only the ads for it didn't give away the alien sidekick, stolen Millennium Falcon replica the wolfpack pilots, and the Mike Tyson as leader of Mars cameo)???

RECOMMENDED

MEANWHILE AT THE MOVIES... Thor blasts into the comic book movie forefront!

I got a chance to see a preview screening of THOR this Saturday AM (in 3D), so here's my review (with mild spoilers)...

First off, let me just say, WOW!
I've never been a Thor fan, never cared for the character in the least, and I also was very un-enthused by the trailers for the movie (finding the Captain America trailers to be much more enticing, even though I'm equally un-enamoured with Cap), but dang, I am now!

The movie Thor kicks ass, and is a bolt of fun from the first frame. The first half or so of the movie is downright magical, and had me gleefully squealing time and again at the comic book spectacle portrayed on screen, the pure imaginative anything goes action that can, until this time, only take place on the comic page... where you get to see the fantastic and beyond real brought to visual life, page after page... or in this case, scene after scene. Thor operates on a level no comic book movie to this point has, it goes further in depicting the out of this world elements of super heroes and fantasy than any other adaptation has to date (though I suspect Green Lantern could rival or surpass that). While we've had some truly great movies based on comic book characters, stories, or franchises, most of them are so firmly grounded in the real world, that they, due to the constraints of budget, and effects, focus more so on those elements of the comics than the books themselves. And while Thor certainly does it's fair share of that, it also seamlessly depicts the fantasy realm of Asgard and Norse gods at play and war.

Thor is shown doing things we haven't seen a comic book hero do on screen since maybe the early Superman films, only of course, a bit more fantastically thanks to 21st century movie making. He comes close to a Superman level of iconic heroism, and Chris Hemsworth turns in a Christopher Reeves level performance of braun and charisma. The rest of the cast is amazing too; you believe Natalie Portman as the passionate astrologist that goes ga ga for a fallen god, Kat Dennings is spot on as the young comedic relief, Stellan Skarsgard adds weight and consciance as the nordic born astrologist counterpart, the warriors three and other Asgardians bring their roles to life, and, most of all, Anthony Hopkins makes Odin THE father of all gods and quickly wiped away any doubts I had that he could pull off the role at his adavanced age, he's amazing and turns in his most memorable performance since Silence of the Lambs! I love this cast.

Then there's all the little geek things that shine. Seeing SHEILD in action, and getting their asses handed to them as they encounter the first omega level super power, who's merely mortal here... The Asgardians in battle... the Frost Giants, who while simplistically done, come off far better than they do in the previews... the massive Frost Giant beast... Hawkeye being onhand to potentially deal with Thor... the way the Frank Kirby Destroyer creates unholy carnage as his blasts pierce your eardrums!!!! Damn this is a fun movie, especially for us comic geeks!!! This is the most comic geeked I've been since the first X-Men and Spider-Man flicks, but agian, it delivers so much more geekyness, even IF you're not a fan of the character!

Then there's the 3D. It doesn't suck! It actually adds a bit to the movie. But like Green Hornet, the film should play well in 2D as well. The 3D isn't ever overbearing, or in your face, it just enhances things and stays pretty much in the background. I would recommend seeing the movie in 3D, but don't worry if you can't or don't.

As much fun as the movie was, and as great as the first half to two-thirds were, I felt while the ending was solid, it lacked a bit of a punch. (MILD SPOILERS) After seeing the Asgardian on Frost carnage, the Asgardians dueling the Destroyer on Earth, and Thor in action against SHEILD, I felt the finale with Thor and Loki was a bit weak, and needed more drama. You never got the sense that Loki was any real match for Thor, in direct combat, so having them go toe to toe for the ending was pretty perfunctory.

Also, with Marvel running things now, and committed to an immersive universe where the characters cross over with each other, why not push that a bit more. Sure Hawkeye makes a cameo (and that was only tacked in via last minute reshoots), but can't Nick Fury show up more, or have the big SHEILD heavy be some other hero or villain from the Marvel universe? Don't be afraid to go further with these geek/character things, and give us a bit more of that...

All that said, get your ass to the theater and prepare for a genuine comic book treat. Thor delivers the goods on all counts and is a pure joy to behold! WOW!! Branagh perfectly blends the fantastic Asgardian story, with that of the god on Earth, and stages it all fairly epically. I can't wait to see it again!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

MEANWHILE AT THE MOVIES... when tires become self aware, no one is safe, but we'll all have a good time.

In theaters now, but also on-demand, RUBBER (which I watched the other night in an insane double bill with Hobo with a Shotgun), is an inspired piece of film making. And it is a film, in the sense of the word, much more than a movie, in that it plays with the medium as an art form and toys with the audience in a meta way, but it doesn't get too caught up in all that to still deliver a fun movie along the way.

After first hearing about Rubber, as it confounded foreign audiences with it's story centered around a murderous tire... yes, murderous.tire. I knew I had to see this French horror(?) film as soon as possible.

Aside from the truly strange premise, Rubber goes further into the bizarre by introducing meta elements that play on expectations and mess with the conventions of movie making/watching. But for as radical as the story and narrative are, it's balanced by an accomplished hand at the wheel... If you thought early Cohen brothers were inspired film makers, or Michel Gondry was out there, make way for Quentin Dupieux! He's a mad man. But he also knows how to make a sharp and gorgeous looking film, that's as solid to watch, as it is insanely fun to experience.

Binoculars, tires, tricycles, turkeys, no object is too mundane or left field to become a key element in the film. Why? No reason. If you can roll (pun not really intended) with this kind of anything goes, just for the heck of it cinema, then you should by all means see Rubber. You may find it as charming and intoxicatingly clever as we did.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Here's a fan art I'm working on...

MEANWHILE AT THE MOVIES... Hobo with a Vengeance!

In theaters in May, but on-demand now, HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN is part Grindhouse, part Clockwork Orange, and all bad-ass in-your-face creative buckshot!

The film is pretty special in that not only was it born from a fake Grindhouse trailer contest, but it actually delivers, and then some, a pitch perfect love letter to all the best of video era schlock, complete with 80's straight to video action star Rutger Hauer (who doesn't mail this one in, but rather gives a great performance), as the titular hobo. Our "hobo" rides the rails and only wants to save up enough in his coin sock for a lawn mower and another chance at life, but fate has brought him to a city just this side of hell, and pushes him to dig deep and invest in some pump action justice.

Pedofile santas, brazen pimps, a hooker with a heart of gold, and a family clan more sinister and twisted than any imagined, running rough shod over it all, must all face the force that is Hobo with a Shotgun. A simple down on his luck tramp turned wild bear with a taste for human flesh. Oh yeah, it's on. Not for the squeemish, the easily offended, or most anyone, but for those that like the crazy-shit-dial cranked to 11, run to the cinema with brown paper bag beverages, Hobo with a Shotgun will make you howl and squeal with delight... deliverance style!!!

Truly inspired and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Here's the trailer...


And here's an awesome fan art of "The Plague", amazing characters that show up towards the end of the movie (you know a movie's great when perhaps the coolest thing isn't even key to, or needed in, the movie)...

Rise indeed!

OMG! Rise of the Planet of the Apes looks good!!!



Gone is the absurd Burton abomination, and here is a hard sci-fi spin more in line with 28 Days Later and the zombie apocalypse... with apes!
I always loved the Planet of the Apes movies as a kid, and perhaps what was most fascinating about them was the way they were set in reality, more than fantasy... or a fantasy born of reality. This looks to take that to the next level, with a top flight cast, and effects in tow!
Wow!
Can't wait!

SUCKER PUNCH review... beautiful images, furious sound

Got to see a preview screening of SUCKER PUNCH late last night (not since Ghostbusters had I been forced to sit this close to the screen though... front row, left side, sore neck). Here's my review... (with only very mild spoilers)

Sucker Punch is ambitious.
As you may know, the story has layers, and the dream within a dream is where all the action takes place... or rather parallels in a hyper-real fashion the action in the second layer (which may or may not happen in the first layer).
Got all that?
Basically, it's this dream within a dream (because I don't want to call it a world, it's more like a limbo, or dream-scape) where all the epic visual shit we see in the trailer takes place. If you've heard about the movie, or seen much of the previews, I don't think I'm telling you anything you don't know going in.
It's all of these layers that allow for the fantastic action and costuming etc.; the steam zombie Nazis, the giant rail-gun wielding samurai, the dragons, etc, and the outfits, the costuming gone wild, all the cool stuff. All the stuff everyone wonders if it will all work together. So that's the big question, does it?
The short answer, no.

All of these levels, and the fantasy worlds tend to disconnect you from the story and the sense that any of this is really happening, or means anything. The characters feel too much like cut out dolls, or puppets, who rarely ever breathe... okay, well, actually, there's lots of breathing, but just on a surface level (as Snyder likes to decompress scenes in his trademark bursts), and not in a way that makes them lived in or brought to life in any realistic fashion. Oh sure they want to get out from under their oppressor, and they'll tell you that in flat line reads, of cookie cutter dialogue, repeatedly, as they stare at you with dead eyes (because they’re dead inside from their shackled existence). And they’ll use words like freedom, and fighting, or fighting for freedom… or their mystical guide, Scott Glenn, will pop up at each dreamland juncture, and dryly outline their objectives in the basest of words, punctuated by intentionally hokey cliches (yet it doesn't feel like it's played as tongue and cheek as it reads).
Not to mention, the PG-13 rating, on a film that already traffics in some mature subject matter and themes of abuse (sexual, physical, psychological), as well as giant action set pieces centered around war and excessive killing, means it's all watered down, or sanitized. You have multiple sequences where these girls are fighting armies, with blades, semi-automatic guns, grenades, bombs, you name it, but with virtually no bloodshed (because the enemies are all conveniently non-human automatons).
I imagine it goes something like this. Zack Snyder directs 300 (an R rated bloodbath of a film), sets box office records, gets a blank check to do whatever... okay, Watchmen, full on, true to the source rated R adaptation. It stinks up the box office. Studio, "Okay Zack, you've still got some house money, but this time you play by our rules." And we get the homogenized studio treatment we have here. (Not really a good formula for a visionary work by a director, Snyder practically does everything here, soup to nuts.)
And because of this, you don't really get too invested in any of it. It's just pretty pictures, put together in what's meant to be a clever or mind-bending way, but it all collapses without the special sauces (actual character, gore, blood, or anything with substance).
Then there's the music.

Zack Snyder should not be allowed to have anything to do with his own soundtracks or scores. He's terrible. Sure he can cut together a kick ass trailer to Silversun Pickups, or Nine Inch Nails, but Watchmen and now Sucker Punch are beyond laughable in their song selection. He goes out of his way to use music that's been used to death elsewhere, or here, using the brilliant idea to literally "cover" that up with cover songs, of songs that have been famously used, or used to death. A third remake of Sweet Dreams anyone? Or how about the Pixies "Where Is My Mind", you know, the same song that famously plays, to great affect, at the climax of Fight Club. Worst of all, it's a trippy Matrix style themed flick, so yep, White Rabbit is used. Stop, you're terrible. We all need to prey that he has nothing to do with the Superman soundtrack, I fear for what will become of the Superman theme, and what "clever" tunes ol' Zack has cued up for Supes. (Now, I have no idea, but perhaps this reeks of studio involvement, I don't think so since he likely had carte blanch with Watchmen and did the same nauseating shit (All Along the Watchtower anyone? Ever heard that in a movie?? Maybe that should be the climax… ugh), but either way, it's just as lame and disturbing).
So, song selection rant over, what's even worse about the soundtrack/score, is that the music is part of the visual/thematic formula that the movie settles into, and it's very distracting. Each action vignette is prefaced with the latest blaring cover track, which eventually fades to score, and the back to a reprise to tie up the scene. Nothing wrong in theory there, but the problem is they take the focus, there's too much emphasis on the music, it overrides the visuals, and again, the music is terrible. Zack's on record as being a Heavy Metal fan, so I'll assume that includes the movie, which is probably inspiration, to some extent, for this movie, as well as the soundtrack, the difference being, that was a really good and very contemporary soundtrack... again, this is neither.
I know I rant at length about soundtracks, but folks, think about it, sound and music are a HUGE part of good movie making. Name any classic or blockbuster film, 9 times out of 10 they have a great piece of music or score at the heart. Think Star Wars, think Jaws, or Psycho, etc etc, most likely you immediately think of their soundtracks, or at least tie those to your thoughts of the movie. Try and imagine Star Wars without John Williams’ score, if it had some lame synth space music of the era, it may still be a classic, but it’s an entirely different film. Go out of your way with the sound and miss, and you severely damage your film.

So, that's the bad stuff.
The good stuff?
It's pretty, and there's lots of cool stuff to watch (arguably most of which is in the trailer).
So, if you're really stoked by all the cool stuff that's teased, go see it on the big screen. There’s more of it, and it’s some damn cool stuff. Otherwise, Zack needs to stick to adapting strong source material, because Nolan he ain't.

You'd think by all my thoughts here I hated this film, and I didn't. I kind of liked it, but only with qualifications, and I really wanted to like a movie that's built around all this incredible shit a lot more. I get what Snyder was going for here, I mean most any geek does, Sucker Punch does indeed have a lot of cool shit going on, the hyper-reality of the dreamscapes and it's elaborate combat sequences, with multitudes of weapons, where you see and feel the action in exaggerated concussive force, or super-slo-mo, with shell casings falling at the camera, or characters flying 100 yards and collapsing into eruptions of earth and stone, it's visual candy, expertly rendered and staged from killer angles. And maybe, with all the cool it does have to offer, it's quite possible I'll like it better with repeat viewings, when I can just turn off all my hopes and expectations and enjoy it for what it is. I just might not be rushing back to the theater to do so.

MILDLY RECOMMENDED
Go and see it, have fun with it, just don't expect too much beyond the visuals.

Dance Baby Doll, dance! (SPOILER - she never does!)