New on DVD: Sucker Punch, Beastly, Season of the Witch

Sucker Punch

Comic book style action

The Gist: A doe-eyed young woman in a schoolgirl outfit, imprisoned in a mental institution, takes on the evil men who abuse her, or at least she does in her mind. This movie has many layers of reality. Recruiting a team of ninja babes, they fight increasingly imaginative battles in this highly stylized action movie.

The Ups: The cinematography is beautiful and unique, with the special style of director Zach Snyder. Highly choreographed fight scenes are reminiscent of great ninja flicks, but with chicks in short skirts and belly-baring shirts.

The Downs: The movie dances on the line between a feminist empowerment story and exploiting scantily clad women. The girls are fighting back against injustice and even human trafficking, but do it in a highly sexualized way. One level of reality takes place in a forced brothel situation. On a related note, the different levels of reality can be confusing.

The Verdict: People either hate or love this movie. It’s highly stylized in a sort of comic book, anime kind of way.

Be Aware: It’s rated PG-13, but the adult themes of sexual exploitation, female use of sexual prowess to achieve ends, and trafficking make the movie adults only. The sexual content isn’t explicit, but it is pervasive throughout the movie.

Movies Rebecca hasn’t seen also new on DVD:

Beastly, the story of a mean high school boy mutilated by a curse. He must find someone to love him the way he is. This is supposed to teach him kindness and not to judge by appearances, but the movie is apparently so bad that it only teaches the value of money. As in, “We just wasted $10 on buying this flick that we could have used buying lunch at Chick-Fil-A.” Rated PG-13.

Season of the Witch – Nic Cage is a medieval knight charged with the custody of a woman. She’s accused of being a witch and must go to a monastery. Because, you know, religious people are stupid, ignorant, and bigoted. Apparently the movie is so badly made you’ll wish there was a spell to remove it from your memory. Rated PG-13.