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Memorable, crazy movie

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

I'll tell you why so serious

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Probably not the worst film I've ever sat through, but definitely one of the worst. However, what bothers me most about it isn't the terrible film itself... it's the fact that it was written and directed by the lead actress' father. He put his daughter in the role of Ariel, a character who has inappropriate feelings for her father.Let that sink in for a moment.We first see Ariel in a swimming pool with her father, setting up their awkwardly sexualized relationship which is the basic framework of the story. Later, we see her fully naked, bluntly attempting to seduce her tutor. This scene also reinforces the idea that Ariel is a "bad person." Finally, we see her savagely beaten by an angry lesbian. This serves as the climax of the film.If you were a filmmaker, would you put your daughter in that role? If so, what fucking planet are you from?Other than that, this is a very dull film.

I was impressed and delighted that CityTv aired this movie on a Saturday night in a relatively prime time slot - a welcome change from the usual Hollywood schlock that dominates the airwaves. This movie courageously, if not deeply, explores some interesting family dynamics, thankfully not the usual ones. Instead of the usual predictable, boring,stifled family life anecdotes, Punch gives us a glimpse into REAL people with REAL - and interesting -problems - not the usual TV and Hollwyood fare that doesn't reflect any families I know! EXCELLENT MOVIE! The writing, directing and acting was absolutely top quality on all counts: I don't think anyone missed a beat - first class acting throughout - making these interesting characters totally believable. Thankfully, the women were all strong, interesting and compelling - the topless boxing was a welcome change from the plastic (and I mean that literally) "beauty" queens that bare - or don't quite bare - their breasts. This is part of what makes this an important movie - women come in all shapes and sizes and thanks to this movie for reminding us of this. If you want plastic tits, boys, you can find them almost anywhere(unfortunately)... 'Punch'is real and totally rocks. Every character has issues that they are actually working through, in different kinds of ways, and the exploration of the relationships between these characters demonstrates how we learn from others in relationships. Very cool. Unusual to encounter, although Canadian films seem to be good at this overall. UNFORTUNATELY, the narration gimmick was a real distraction! What was that about? I'd love to see it 'sans' narration - whatever the intent of the narrative technique was, it din't work. Too bad, apart from that, this was an outstanding film.

I saw this film on cable and believe me, once was enough. It is at best a character study of a disturbing father-daughter relationship. At worst it leaves a strong impression of incest, and shows the destruction that passive parenting can create. It is very clear from the start that Ariel, the daughter, is angry at the world. When her father, a prominent doctor, invites his new girlfriend home for dinner, Ariel makes every effort to sabotage the evening. She finds faults with this woman which exist only in her demented mind, as she wants her father all to herself. The evening ends with Ariel punching this woman in the face and screaming like the mental patient she is.In my opinion, Ariel is clearly the villain. When the victim's sister(a topless female boxer)enters the scene, Ariel does what every bully does: rationalize her actions by claiming that the victim brought it on herself. Ariel walks all over her father, treats him like dirt, but he is to blame because he let it happen. The female boxer makes an effort to understand why Ariel is the way she is, but to no avail. The intervention of the boxer was like a form of therapy. Ariel needed to be put in her place, and her father sure wasn't able to do it. I cheered the climactic ending as Ariel got a taste of her own medicine, because I could not muster up any sympathy for this rotten bitch.

NO SPOILER :-) A surprisingly solid movie. Do not watch this if you want a Hollywood film that ties up all the loose ends and is cookie-cutter and two-dimensional. The writing here is complex, real, sensible, but not 'perfect'. I could easily imagine these people living next door. It also does not fall into the trap of becoming too complex to follow, or too full of emotional overtones to be believable.As for the 'topless female boxing as titillation' complaint, well, that is bunk. The situation is just another example of a character who is trying to find her solutions imperfectly in an imperfect world. She too grows throughout the movie, and this has effects on her chosen career. As the boxer says in defense of her career to a baseless charge: "This is how we make our living". Going into the ring is just going to work - sure she has her personal reasons for choosing her career, but who does not? Sonja Bennett is very solid, as is the rest of the cast. Others say more about this, so I will desist.Rent it and watch it with a loved one. It may provoke some surprising conversations! Lance