Review: Sucker Punch

On face value, Sucker Punch is exactly my sort of film. A metaphysical action movie packed with artistic shot composition, mashing science fiction and fantasy at every turn, all with a dark narrative tying it together, oh, and girls with swords and guns. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite satisfy.
I'd like to distance myself from those who condemn it for having no story, Sucker Punch does have a great narrative behind it, a story about strength, the search for confidence and to fight against circumstance. However by the end of the movie I felt a little cheated; a lack of character development and focus made the experience more like a music video than an inspiring character piece, making its message feel more than a little "tagged on".
However, the visuals are superb, as you would expect from Zack Synder - the man really knows how to photograph scenes like pieces of art. It isn't objectifying women either, in fact it is quite the opposite.

Final verdict is that it requires more than one viewing, a great visual and audio experience (I want the soundtrack!) but just shy of greatness with a lack of explanation and development.