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Here's a look at the new release that I saw this week. Since there was only one major new release, I have included mini reviews of a couple other Zack Snyder films.

Sucker Punch

Starring: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jamie Chung, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Carla Gugino, Oscar Issac, and Scott Glen

Synopsis: This is really a tale of two films. Co-writer/director/producer Zack Snyder has been working to hone his unique visual style for his past few films. That's certainly the case with "Sucker Punch." Snyder's recent fanboy films — "300" and "Watchmen" — were based on graphic novels, offer rich source material to inform the story to go along with the visual style. With "Sucker Punch," Snyder worked without the source material net. While the visuals are still at times impressive, the story is more of an incoherent jumble. And the fact that there is so much going on at all times — a blaring soundtrack, wild visuals, and potentially key dialogue — it can be hard to follow. My sister actually suggested it was the kind of film that might make more sense if you had a hard copy of the script to read. I found myself agreeing with that, therein lies the problem. The film spends too much time on eye-popping visuals and loud music, and not enough time on making sure the basics of the story come through. Combine that with the fact that it's a bit like the plot of "Inception" minus the humanity and on acid, and it becomes even harder to follow at times. That being said, I think there is the makings of a compelling film here. In fact, it might be the kind of film that gets better on a second viewing as you'd be able to better filter out the exotic scenery and soundtrack to focus on the message. However, that is a filmmaking flaw. Though the story elements can be difficult to follow, it's hard to deny that Snyder has done some interesting things with visual storytelling. The action sequences — of which there are many — are varied and uniquely conceived. Some have suggested the film plays out like a video game that you're watching instead of participating in. While, to some extent, that is a fair criticism, I found it more interesting than that. It's a film that's certainly more in tune with it's visual style than the total impact of its presentation. How you feel about that presentation — and the somewhat dark tone of the beginning, middle, and end of the narrative — will define how you feel about the film.

Rating: PG-13 for thematic material involving sexuality, violence and combat sequences, and for language.

Verdict: Two stars out of four.

More from Synder: "Sucker Punch" is not his first attempt at creating a surrealistic world for an action film. Relying heavily on computer-generated scenery, Synder first employed this technique in a pair of adaptations of graphic novels.

300 (2006)

Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headley, and Dominic West

Synopsis: This film, based on the graphic novel from Frank Miller, focuses on 300 Spartans who fought a noble, but doomed, battle against the Persian army. The film was unique in the way it created the digital world, but the level of violence is over-the-top to put it lightly. This film did not resonate with me. I felt it was overly violent and overly sexualized. It was more popular with critics and audiences.

Rating: R for graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity.

Verdict: One star out of four.

Watchmen (2009)

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Billy Crudup, Malin Ackerman, Matthew Goode, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Synopsis: This film, based on the graphic novel from Alan Moore, focuses on an alternate 1985 where superheroes are real but aren't that heroic. President Richard Nixon (serving his fifth term) has outlawed masked heroes and the world is on the bring of nuclear war. The film serves as a shot-for-shot adaptation of the graphic novel. It also preserves the major themes of the source material, including the nature of heroes, the nature of man, and a dark vision of the future. The film is an interesting psychological exploration of a worldview that is 180-degrees from the Christian worldview. The production is, at times, graphic and violent, but it is done in a stylized way to fulfill the ends of the plot. Though some will disagree, I found this to be a fascinating production and thought it was one of the best films released in 2009.

Rating: R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language.

Verdict: Four stars out of four.