SUCKER PUNCH (2011)
Starring Emily Browning (Lemony Snicket’s A Serious of Unfortunate Events; The Uninvited; Ghost Ship), Abbie Cornish (Limitless; Somersault; Bright Star), Jena Malone (Contact; Into the Wild; Pride and Prejudice), Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical; Thirteen), Jamie Chung (Grown Ups; The Hangover Part II; The Man with the Iron Fists), Carla Gugino (Spy Kids; Sin City; Night at the Museum; Watchmen). Directed by Zack Snyder (Watchmen; 300; Man of Steel).
Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch received mixed reviews when it hit theaters. However, notwithstanding the film’s box office numbers, there’s a subtle gem we can all appreciate in the trailer: a fantastic five-part graphic match.
NOTE: Before continuing, look up “Match Cut” (graphic match) on Wikipedia.
Now, watch the Sucker Punch trailer:
Notice the series of graphic match dissolves? It begins at 0:47 with the woman’s leg:
The swinging leg dissolves perfectly into the swinging metronome:
Which then turns into the maneuvering plane:
Which then becomes a stream of fire from the dragon:
Which then dissolves to a shining sword:
The stills, in succession, effectively capture these transitions. However, go back and watch again to fully appreciate this series of matches – the motion adds another layer of fluidity.
By graphically matching these five images, Snyder and the trailer editor create a sense of unity among the visuals.
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