It’s all in your head… or is it?

Sucker Punch was one of my favorite films when it came out. I was beyond excited to see it, so I made sure to watch it in theaters—and I was not disappointed one bit. This review might be a little biased because I personally love this film.

When you first hear the title, you might assume it’s about some kind of fighting. That assumption only gets stronger when you see the cover, which features a group of girls, one of whom has a katana strapped to her back. Naturally, you think, Wow, this might be sick. And it is. I don’t even mind how unrealistic it gets.

That said, if we’re going to argue about realism—against myself, lol—then the idea of Sucker Punch could very well be real. I’ll break down each mission and its meaning.

Intro: The Start of the End

This introduction sets the stage for the entire film. Babydoll (Emily Browning), who plays this role so well that I can’t even put it into words, enters her first “vision.” You could also call them hallucinations, though that would be a simpler way of describing something much deeper. There’s a whole discussion to be had about what exactly she’s experiencing.

Babydoll enters this first mission and meets Wise Man (Scott Glenn). Personally, I see him as more of a guardian angel, but IMDB went with Wise Man, so we’ll roll with that. He greets her, asks some thought-provoking questions, and receives answers that he was clearly expecting.

Then, he gives her a mission. To escape—her only shot at freedom—she needs five things:

1. A map
2. Fire
3. A knife
4. A key
5. ?

The fifth thing is a mystery, and you’ll find out what it is at the end of the film. Without hesitation, Babydoll accepts this as her way out and begins her journey.

What follows is an epic battle. She faces off against three samurai, each wielding a different weapon:

• One with a naginata (a traditional Japanese weapon—a staff with a curved blade at the end—used by soldiers and horsemen in battle).
• One with a rocket launcher and a handheld Gatling gun.
• One with a katana.

And from here, things really take off.

Mission One: The War

Babydoll gathers the others—her friends—and tells them she plans to escape. Most of them are in right away, except for one, who eventually joins because of her sister. Since they’re all in this together, they become part of her subconscious, and therefore, part of her hallucinations.

Here are the girls:

• Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish)
• Rocket (Jena Malone) (Sweet Pea’s sister)
• Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens)
• Amber (Jamie Chung)

These actresses were spectacular. Even Vanessa Hudgens.

This mission puts the girls on a quest to retrieve a map from a German base before it’s taken away on a blimp and falls into enemy hands. If this happens, the war will end prematurely.

In reality, this mission represents Babydoll’s subconscious creating a psychological scenario to fuel her momentum to dance. (Which, by the way, we never actually see—but damn, it must be amazing.) The map in the hallucination represents the real map they need to steal from Blue Jones’s (Oscar Isaac) office. With it, they’ll be able to plan their escape by knowing exits, entrances, and guard positions.

Mission Two: The Quest for Fire

Next, they need fire. And where better to get fire than from a dragon?

This mission takes them to a medieval setting, where they are told that the fire they seek can be found within a baby dragon guarding a treasure. Wise Man, in his signature fashion, gives them his usual warning:

“And one last thing… don’t wake the mother.”

To get the fire, they must cut open the baby dragon’s neck and retrieve its heart. By striking certain stones together, they will create “the most beautiful fire you’ve ever laid your eyes on.” And he wasn’t kidding.

Why Babydoll decided to strike the flame inside the cave—right next to the dead baby dragon—I will never know.

Mission Three: Time Bomb

This mission throws the girls into the future, where they must deactivate a bomb before it destroys an entire city.

The objective is to obtain the bomb, which is named “The Knife.” This represents the real knife they need in case they run into trouble during their escape.

Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned. A friend is lost during this mission. It’s not a total failure, but it’s far from a success.

Mission Four: Sacrifice

Unlike the previous missions, this one isn’t a hallucination—it’s real.

Babydoll loses everything in order to complete her goal. She needs the key, which is around Blue Jones’s neck. But by this time, Blue is fully aware of what’s happening, and all hell breaks loose.

During this moment, two more of her friends are lost. Now, only two of them remain. This is why I called it Sacrifice.

Mission Five: Live, and Be Free

This is the end. And also, the beginning.

After all these missions, Babydoll receives a lobotomy. For those who don’t know, a lobotomy is a neurosurgical procedure where a small needle is inserted just below the eyeball and struck with a small hammer. Yes, it sounds insanely painful. The purpose? To make the patient forget everything—including their own name.

If you’re wondering whether this is legal, it very much is. However, no self-respecting doctor or psychiatrist would recommend it, purely because the effects are inhuman. You become a vegetable—mentally speaking.

Now, I want to leave you with a powerful quote from the end of the film. Not only is it a great line, but it also leaves you with a lot to think about. It’s a simple yet deep, self-inspiring message:

“Who honors those we love for the very life we live?

Who sends monsters to kill us, and at the same time sings that we’ll never die?

Who teaches us what’s real, and how to laugh at lies?

Who decides why we live, and what we’ll die to defend?

Who chains us, and who holds the key that can set us free?

It’s you.”

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If you enjoy amazing fight scenes, a great plotline, an incredible dancer we’ll never actually see perform, and imagination with no limits, give this film a watch.