On PC's note, another film critic friend of mine mentioned bemusedly on FB that this movie - hard sci-fi with an incredibly strong female lead - fails the Bechdel test, and is now inundated with people responding with "Oh, that's so disappointing." Except, no! It's impossible to say more without spoiling, but it fails the Bechdel test on the incredible technicality that for like 70% of the movie there ARE NO OTHER CHARACTERS AT ALL. She can't have a conversation with another woman because SHE IS ALL ALONE IN MOTHERFUCKING SPACE. In terms of the Bechdel test being a thought experiment to identify movies that tell female stories, this one passes with flying colors.
Mal: And I never back down from a fight. Inara: Yes, you do! You do all the time!
'Shindig'
Buffista Movies 7: Brides for 7 Samurai
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
Jessica - Oct 06, 2013 4:19:59 am PDT #25597 of 30000
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
Fiona - Oct 06, 2013 4:27:06 am PDT #25598 of 30000
With regards to the female issue, I thought the "my dad wanted a boy" line was interesting, but don't quite know what to make of it yet.
Polter-Cow - Oct 06, 2013 6:22:21 am PDT #25599 of 30000
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Fiona, I had the same thought about that other thing too, ha!
fails the Bechdel test
Sure, but it passes the Mako Mori test!
§ ita § - Oct 06, 2013 7:42:59 am PDT #25600 of 30000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
it passes the Mako Mori test!
I wish another "go team female!" test would get big mindshare so more people would stop being so knee jerk...maybe I had to see that sentence typed out to fully appreciate the futility.
As you were!
le nubian - Oct 06, 2013 9:26:00 am PDT #25601 of 30000
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
Jessica,
Thanks for the correction.
Re: Bechdel
People need to get over themselves. I could have done without a backstory element, but the core story has been told so many times from a male perspective. Or from an alien one. This was a welcome approach.
Matt the Bruins fan - Oct 06, 2013 9:37:20 am PDT #25602 of 30000
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
Does the original Alien have any conversations between Ripley and Veronica Cartwright's character that would pass the Bechdel test? Because I would bust out laughing if someone suggested that franchise lacked in the strong, well-drawn female character with agency department.
Polter-Cow - Oct 06, 2013 9:46:58 am PDT #25603 of 30000
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
I agree. The way this movie is structured, the story and character could only be so much, and I think it did a great job with what it had, and the actors sold it as well.
Scrappy - Oct 06, 2013 10:06:49 am PDT #25604 of 30000
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
I really liked it.
smonster - Oct 06, 2013 10:46:53 am PDT #25605 of 30000
We won’t stop until everyone is gay.
Bechdel is one criterion, but people get hung up on it.
I'm going to see Gravity this evening, but my date is blind in one eye so we're seeing 2D. I'm a little bummed, but since I tend towards anxiety maybe it's for the best.
le nubian - Oct 06, 2013 10:55:26 am PDT #25606 of 30000
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
Smonster, Beau doesn't like 3D so we saw it on a reg screen. It is still gorgeous and overwhelming. You will dig it.