Sucker Punch

CHICAGO – Vanessa Hudgens, the former teen actor from the “High School Musical” franchise, has a brand new bag. Besides shocking movie audiences with her memorable performance in last year’s “Spring Breakers,” Hudgens deconstructs her glam image in the new film, “Gimme Shelter.”

CHICAGO – After the resounding success of Sony and Sucker Punch’s 2009 “Infamous,” my expectations were sky high for the June 2011 follow-up. In fact, they were so high that the first couple hours of the game disappointed me. This is it? It feels too much like the first game. Give it time.

CHICAGO – We’ve seen a lot of overly stylized films based on video games and comic books but rarely has there been a movie more derivative of other mediums yet not actually based on one than Zack Snyder’s “Sucker Punch,” a movie loathed by dozens of major critics (and defended by our very own Patrick McDonald) and recently released on Blu-ray and DVD in a 17-minute longer extended cut.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald guests on Bill Moller’s show on WGN-Radio in Chicago on Mar. 26, 2011 to review recently-released films including “Sucker Punch,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules” and “Win Win.”

CHICAGO – It’s a pleasure to see the comic book film done right, especially with the visionary guidance of director Zach Snyder (”300”). “Sucker Punch” is an amazing treat, a feast of eye candy and incredible adventure.

CHICAGO – With the NCAA tournament distracting the nation’s attention and a lackluster group of new options at the multiplex, Bradley Cooper’s “Limitless” climbed to the top of a very weak top ten for the weekend of Mar. 17-19, 2011 with only $19 million. New films from Matthew McConaughey (“The Lincoln Lawyer”) and Simon Pegg (“Paul”) disappointed even more.

CHICAGO – In our latest fantasy/action edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new film “Sucker Punch” from “Watchmen” and “300” director Zack Snyder!

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Arthur

CHICAGO – Warner Brothers has released a slate of images from a large portion of their 2011 schedule of films, including “The Rite,” “Unknown,” “Hall Pass,” “Red Riding Hood,” “Sucker Punch,” “Arthur,” “Something Borrowed,” “The Hangover Part II,” “Green Lantern,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2,” “Crazy Stupid Love,” “Horrible Bosses,” “Final Destination 5,” “The Apparition,” “Dolphin Tale,” and “Sherlock Holmes II.”

CHICAGO – Sony’s highly anticipated “Infamous” is a thrill ride of a game, a wonderful examination of heroism and villainy with perfectly designed gameplay, gorgeous graphics, and immense replayability. The bar had been set pretty high by months of anticipation for this title and expectation often leads to disappointment. Not with “Infamous”.