Source Code (2011)

SPOILERS BELOW

Had been looking forward to Source Code since seeing it covered on Film 2011 and was pleased to see it had finally been released.

Went to the cinema with an understanding of what the film was about and that is that mankind have found a way of reliving the last 8 minutes of a persons life. Jake Gyllenhaal then has to relive a persons life over and over until he can find out who blew up a train and has a dirty bomb planned to go off in down town Chicage.

There are some interesting twists in the storyline and, although confined to a small 'pod', you get a lot of background story on Jake's character. It's this background that helped the film for me. It made me care about Jake's character and I ended up feeling for the guy and was pleased when the ending came. Pleased in a good way of course.

There are some pretty predictable moment, and I wasn't so chuffed at the end when the person I pointed out in the first 5 minutes actually ended up being the bomber!

This isn't a film where you can just go and watch it mindlessly. You'll need to think about this film. 

Make the effort though, it's a good film!

Chris's score:

Sucker Punch (2011)

SPOILER WARNING

Well, what can I say about Sucker Punch. Well, it's certainly different, that's for sure.

It's basically a story about a girl who is taken to work in a whore-house, and who's dance transports her to an alternate reality where she, and her other friends are 'superheroes', if you like....well, at least that's what I thought.

I can't lie and say the acting is first class. Babydoll (or Baby Dyke, as we like to call her), is the star of the show. It is her sexy dance that hypnotises the owner of the whore-house/hospital (confusing, yes I know).

I must admit, however, that the special effects are quite good in the fantasy scenes. The way the girls plan to escape, and how they go about trying to do so, is quite clever - despite it going tits-up.

The film starts off with an introduction to Babydoll, and how her step-dad was abusive to her sister. In an attempt to save her, she nearly kills her step-dad. She runs away, but ends up being caught and taken to a hospital where her step-dad pays for a labotomy so that Babydoll cannot tell anyone what really happened.

The film portrays her subconscious mind, and her attempts at escaping in to her own little world.

Aside from the slightly comical moments, the sparse action scenes, and a few shock moments, I didn't really feel the film had a lot to offer if I'm honest. It is a bit disappointing when you realise that none of it actually happened. It's a bit of a disappointing ending for myself personally.