women in Movies

[Lisalou]

In almost every movie that you see, you will find a woman at the center of the story. But is Hollywoods desription of women acurate? The scale on this one is so large that neither side actually tips. Some women are "Tomb Raider" goddess, and some are Unfaithful housewives. Then their are the drug addicted girls who are interrupted, along with the wives searching for a proof of life. How about the bickering sisters who seem to always hang up with out saying goodbye. And then there are the women who always get mail and the rich, powerful man in the end. Then of course there is that special women who is stuck on a cold mountain going through trial after trial. Then comes the frustrated housewife talking about her story of us. Women have been described as falling from the deep end of the ocean and perhaps when she's down there she will find her favourite cocktail has white Oleander in it. How about the woman trying her hand at playing with boys to become the first G.I. Jane? Or how about the beautiful yet leathal women who answer the calls and commands from a guy named Charlie? Sound a bit ridiculious? Last years Hollywood's Annual Gross was $11,000,000.00. So in a billion dollar industry us women take the lead. As women we have powerful roles in most of these movies. But are we really what all these movies say we are? Of course movies are fun to watch, but I know I could never complete a Navy Seal training course, or enter century old tombs in search of treasure while keeping a beautiful figure, perfect hair and perfect teeth. Do modern day movies give men the wrong idea about the inner workings of a women? As women is it our basic instinct to stalk our prey and when we don't get what we want, we boil the guys pet rabbit? Hmmm I don't think so. If we lead a billion dollar industry shouldn't WE have a say in what's normal and what's just way out there? I don't think men think on these things when they go to action movies because inside every guy is a MI agent waiting to burst out. The macho image that hollywood gives men, is that fair? How many former Marines actually liked being referred to as a "jar head?" Besides SciFi movies is there any truth to what we see?

[trapt]

I've read this post over and over and I've got nothing really more to add to it. It's true what you've posted especially the comment about the perfect hair and teeth.

[2nddan]

Interesting, Lisa.
I dunno about how much honesty there is in the portrayal of man or woman, but the story in films can be quite inspiring.

My favorite film of all time is A Walk On The Moon with Diane Lane and Viggo. I liked how you can make mistakes yet still realize what is important and be drawn back to those ideals.

Unfaithful is another of my favorites. Mostly it made me realize how easy it can be to take an important person for granted. You really have to commit to keeping a relationship in order. Edward didn't and Connie strayed, then they worked at noticing the other. I sometimes feel that I was close to that same sort of indifference. Unfaithful helped me see how important Mindy is to me.
ted

[Lisalou]

Then perhaps there is the other side of the scale. If we delete the perfect hair, teeth, bodies and unreal stunts then what lies at the bottom is hard core lessons that maybe the mainstream is missing. I agree with you 2nddan that we can learn something. The story of us is a movie that is near and dear to my heart. Had I watched it with my first husband maybe we would not be divorced. The characters in that movie fit my ex husband and I to a tee. First time I saw it I had to watch it again, and when Michelle talks about going to chow fun I cried because my hsband and I could easily had gone to chow fun instead of the chop house called divorce court. But what I would like to see is more movies like "real women have curves." Something that shows more of what the real world is like. (I hope you get what I mean) Most recently I saw Crash and LOVED that movie. But I would have loved it more if the characters were average looking americans. Ok the lock smith looked the part so did his wife, but the black couple who were stinking rich and lived in beverly hills sort of ruined it for me. I understand were the director was going with this, but I would like to have seen a middle class black couple getting out of a honda accord, and the wife looking more like she was from Compton and then she said "he doesn't drink he's buddist." Does that make sense? I would like it if all the actresses and actors in hollywood would look real. I would like it if they at least looked like they ate something. Why are all the women a size 00? And why is the rest of the world trying to look like that? I don't think it's beautiful to see a women who is so skinny her cheek bones pop out of her face. Or worse when they are so thin and then have plastic surgery and become even more unreal looking. Somehow Hollywood as lost track of what is hot and what is not. Look at Marilyn Menroe even now she is considered one of the most beautiful women to grace the hollywood screen. Yet she was not a size 00 she was a size 10. And look at Betty Page there are still men wooing over her and she's a size 8. I don't want to go on and on about size because that's not my main point. Would we all go see a movie that had average looking people in it, with average bodies, average hair etc etc. Or is the "sexiness" of hollywood actors/actresses the reason why we go see a film?

[stellargellar]

it's not completely the actors' fault. sometimes our expectations of them are carried out in the films. you can't claim that you haven't dissed an actress for having flaws, can you? either way, whether it's the wrong perception of people of what's beautiful or hollywood's superficial portrayal of real people, we're all at fault one way or another.

i think the only thing we could do is focus on the real message behind every movie (if there really is one). we're all already aware about this superficiality anyway, so why not just take the initiative to look beyond it. :D