Sucker Punch (Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens) in Theatres on March 25, 2011

Sucker Punch

Hazel's
Rating: 4/5
Review: Whatever the critics say, I love the movie... the concept, the actors, the scenery... awesome! I heard Babydoll is one of the orphans in Jim Carrey's movie "A Series of Unfortunate Events"... better watch that movie too =)

Audience
Rating: 3.4/5
Like the Movie: 62% (n=34,185)

Critics
Rating: 1.95/5
Like the Movie: 20% (n=108)


Reviews

"A wonderfully wild provocation - an imperfect, overlong, intemperate and utterly absorbing romp through the id that I wouldn't have missed for the world." - Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

"I can't be sure whether it's brilliant or idiotic, although I'm pretty confident it's both, and not always in different places or at different moments." - Andrew O'Hehir, salon.com

"Director Zack Snyder and his production crew clearly had great fun envisioning this swords-and-corsets fantasy. Few others are likely to approach their level of enjoyment." - Mark Jenkins, Washington Post

"It's technically impressive and loaded with eye-catching images, but without characters or a plot to support them, all of Sucker Punch's visual thrills are for naught." - rottentomatoes.com

"Zombie soldiers, dragons, cyborgs, doesn't matter: Snyder is just a big boy with lots of toys. These, unfortunately, include his actresses." - Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

"If the goal was sensory overload and audience stupefaction, he has succeeded indeed. Snyder apparently is offering lobotomies to all. Step right up." - Tom Long, Detroit News

"Sucker Punch reviews itself with its title -- in fact, it does leave the viewer feeling sucker-punched." - Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News


Movie Info

Genre: Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Synopsis: "Sucker Punch" is an epic action fantasy that takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality. Unrestrained by the boundaries of time and place, she is free to go where her mind takes her, and her incredible adventures blur the lines between what's real and what is imaginary. She has been locked away against her will, but Babydoll (Emily Browning) has not lost her will to survive. Determined to fight for her freedom, she urges four other young girls - the reluctant Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), the outspoken Rocket (Jena Malone), the street-smart Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens) and the fiercely loyal Amber (Jamie Chung) - to band together and try to escape a terrible fate at the hands of their captors, Blue (Oscar Isaac) and Madam Gorski (Carla Gugino), before the mysterious High Roller (Jon Hamm) comes for Babydoll. Led by Babydoll, the girls engage in fantastical warfare against everything from samurais to serpents, with a virtual arsenal at their disposal. Together, they must decide what they are willing to sacrifice in order to stay alive. But with the help of a Wise Man (Scott Glenn), their unbelievable journey - if they succeed - will set them free.. -- (C) Warner Bros

Rated: PG-13 for thematic material involving sexuality, violence and combat sequences, and for language

Running Time: 2 hr.

Distributor: IMAX

Directed By: Zack Snyder

Written By: Zack Snyder

Cast
Emily Browning (Babydoll)
Abbie Cornish (Sweet Pea)
Jena Malone (Rocket)
Vanessa Hudgens (Blondie)
Jamie Chung (Amber)
Oscar Isaac (Blue)
Carla Gugino (Madam Gorski)
Scott Glenn (Wise Man)
Jon Hamm (Doctor, High Roller)


Source: rottentomatoes.com

Red Riding Hood (Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman) in Theatres on March 11, 2011

Red Riding Hood

Hazel's
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: Throughout the movie, I kept on guessing who the wolf could be, but in the end, realized all my guesses were wrong... totally someone you wouldn't expect! This movie is an interesting take on one of our beloved fairy tales (though I found the plot cliche especially the ending). The director, Catherine Hardwicke, also directed Twilight. I asked my boyfriend Joey which one he liked better, Red Riding Hood or Twilight. His answer is "Red Riding Hood" and with that reply, I also agree =)

Audience
Rating: 3.3/5
Like the Movie: 55% (n=28,914)

Critics
Rating: 1.8/5
Like the Movie: 11% (n=137)


Reviews:

"Catherine Hardwicke is Anne Rice with a camera." - Rex Reed, New York Observer

"Red Riding Hood is pretty decent, considering it's, you know, Red Riding Hood." - Tom Long, Detroit News

"If you're a Twilight fan, you may feel as though you've already seen this. And if you're not, well, why would you be interested in something like this at all?" - Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

"If, by chance, you've missed "Twilight" and its sequels, don't worry. Shiny, moody, moon-faced and dumb, "Red Riding Hood" pretty much replicates the experience entirely." - Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

"Red Riding Hood does trot out the classic what-big-eyes-you-have routine. It's a pretty amusing moment, and it makes you wish the rest of the film had that same sort of knowing sense of humor." - Christy Lemire, Associated Press

"Amanda Seyfried is magnetic in Red Riding Hood's starring role, but she's let down by her uninspired leading men and a painfully cliched script." - rottentomatoes.com

"Poor Amanda Seyfried. One of today's most lively and expressive young actresses, she finds herself stuck between two lifeless pieces of wood." - James Berardinelli, ReelViews

"Red Riding Hood" is entertainment for the village idiot." - Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"But, my, what sharp teeth Ms. Hardwicke doesn't have." - Manohla Dargis, New York Times


Movie Info

Genre: Horror, Romance

Synopsis: Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) is a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie's older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon's arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon, Valerie begins to suspect that the werewolf could be someone she loves. Panic grips the town as Valerie discovers that she has a unique connection to the beast - one that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect... and bait.-- (C) Warner Bros.

Rated: PG-13 for violence and creature terror, and some sensuality

Running Time: 2 hr.

Distributor: Warner Bros.

Directed By: Catherine Hardwicke

Cast
Amanda Seyfried (Valerie)
Billy Burke (Cesaire)
Shiloh Fernandez (Peter)
Gary Oldman (Solomon)
Max Irons (Henry)
Virginia Madsen (Suzette)
Julie Christie (Grandmother)


Source: rottentomatoes.com