A movie review and more

Hello!!!

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(hears an echo)

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Okay!! Okay! I'm sorry. I got engaged and disappeared. I didn't even blog on the presidential election-- the freakin' presidential election!

But right around the time Melissa McEwan took a step back from blogging at Shakesville, I realized I too needed a break.

Feminism is a passion of mine but let's face it, it's not a relaxing hobby. After the election, I cut back on reading blogs (although I couldn't stay away entirely) and I stopped commenting. I read frivolous books, planned my wedding and visited family.

Everyone needs to carve out time to be happy. I can start crying over a letter from OxFam!! There's a lot of suffering in this world and while I don't advocate ignoring it -- (we should always keep up with our teaspoons) it's also important to keep a healthy balance. You can't do any good if you're miserable.

So I took a break. But I'm ready to dip my toes back in again... so I figure... let's start with some fluff.

How about a review of a movie?

STOP NOW If you don't want spoilers---



So Will Smith is Hancock, the unhappy superhero who spends most of his day drunk, laying on park benches. He flies in to "save the day" but in the process wreaks havoc (think millions of dollars in destroyed property). Citizens of LA are unamused and boo him on sight. Nancy Grace even calls for his incarceration!

In steps the public relations man, Ray, played by Jason Bateman... Hancock saves him from a train and Ray repays him by offering to revamp his image. It's decided that the city needs to "miss Hancock." So they let Hancock go to prison to make amends.

While in prison, Hancock gets in a fight with two large cons (who apparently are the dumbest people ever -- who picks a fight with an immortal superhero?) and it ends with --- brace yourself --- Hancock putting one man's head up the other man's ass. Really..... Yes you see it... I guess it was supposed to be a funny but I was disgusted. Is there not some other sophomoric violent stunt he could have pulled without evoking imagery of unconsenting anal penetration????

Ray's wife, Mary (played by Charlize Theron) dislikes Hancock more than your average person and the audience is meant to deduce there is history there.

You learn that Hancock is drunk and miserable for a reason. He woke up 80 years ago (he's immortal and doesn't age) in a hospital in Miami with no memory whatsoever and no one to claim him. He's been lonely and grasping for his past and memories all these years.

SO-- major spoiler time...

We come to find (through some very lame and hole-filled storytelling) that Mary is actually an immortal hero as well and since the dawn of time she and Hancock were lovers/partners/some variation thereof. But they were star crossed and doomed to grow weaker and vulnerable when they were together. When Hancock lost his memory all those years ago, she fled hoping to save him and herself once and for all.

So Hancock became a drunken superhero and she became... a housewife.

Nothing against housewives, but this woman can do anything. She is actually STRONGER than Hancock. She is indestructible, she can fly and she can apparently control the weather and start tornadoes. I guess we're meant to believe that after all this time she wanted to lay low. But the motivation for hiding her gift is unclear -- other than to regulate her character to helpless woman role (yes Hancock has to SAVE HER at some point). During one scene she actually hands her husband a jar to open- when he does she sighs, "Oh honey you're so strong."

And later when she is giving Hancock the 'motivation speech,' she says something like, "You were built to save humanity, to be the God's insurance policy here on Earth!"

There's no trace of irony that she too is clearly built special-- endowed with God-like powers. But no, it's only Hancock with the magnificent, heroic destiny. When he flies off to leave her (as he must for their own good), the story jumps months into the future to show that Hancock has literally flown to the moon and back and yet Mary is still walking next to her husband and son, eating ice cream like any other domestic Plain Jane.

Fine. They can't be together. It destroys their powers. But you're telling me they couldn't fight crime and do battle in separate hemispheres? And the stupidest part, Mary's husband is Hancock's PR man. He was the biggest advocate of, "Your powers give you a special role to play-- use them well." Yet, he doesn't care when his wife hides her ability and stays home to cook meatballs when the world needs saving???

Charlize Theron is an amazing actress and it's a waste to give her this cardboard role. Basically she was a plot device -- only there to connect the two male leads and occasionally wear cleavage-baring, dominatrix/superhero get-up.

And it's a bummer because as far as superhero stories go, it had originality and potential but it fell so, so flat.

I smell Oscar

I cannot WAIT to see this movie

Pardon me while I freak out

RQ, I feel your pain....

I couldn't settle down after watching this netflix movie.



Several times in the documentary people mention how strong women are and how amazing giving birth is.

I've never had children. And now I'm officially to scared to do it naturally OR in a hospital.

See, I've had major abdominal surgery and it sucked hardcore... so c-sections are out. And I think I'm dying when I have the flu, so not sure how my wimpy ass would tackle natural labor pains.

I guess that leaves adoption because I watched those women give birth vaginally and all I could think was, "UMMM, HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?"

Sexism against SATC part II

Apparently responsible for downfall of women


I told you that the Sex and the City movie was getting whomped by the sexism stick. But I don't know if I was prepared to see this.



For reference, Mark Rudov also brought us these hits:

- He called America a "gynocracy" and said of Sen. Hillary Clinton: "The woman is not called a B-word because she's assertive and aggressive; she's called a B-word because she acts like one."

- "Well, this is exactly why men shouldn't allow the vagina monologue to become a dialogue. Hillary Clinton, who's living by the gender sword, is going to be dying by the gender sword. She sends in Elton John to do her hissing when she's having a catfight with America."

- "Men are depressed, and it's their own fault, because men are allowing women to take over the world. You know, female happiness is an oxymoron."

- When asked about the downside of a woman president he responded, "You mean besides the PMS and the mood swings, right?"

- Comparing Obama and Hillary: "When Barack Obama speaks, men hear, 'Take off for the future.' And when Hillary Clinton speaks, men hear, 'Take out the garbage.'

That's a SMALL sampling.

I just want to reiterate that it should be very, very telling that conservative commentators are in such a huge rush to "boycott" this movie and condemn not only the movie characters, but ALL American women as shallow, spoiled, whiny, manipulative whores. The SATC movie and series was far from perfect, but it was about women. Women were the stars and they drove the plotlines. It was about women getting what THEY wanted. And that's scary to these assholes.

These women wanted careers, wealth, respect and power. They wanted choices - they had abortions and children out of wedlock and they didn't apologize for it. When a marriage failed, they got out and got a divorce. They wanted sex. They WANTED ORGASMS. Women getting what they want is scary to a man like Mark Rudov. He obviously has a toxic personality, and I'm willing to bet a tiny, tiny penis.

I'm not saying SATC is a revolutionary feminist statement. It's driven by a lot of consumerist ideals. But what big budget Hollywood film isn't? Think of some of the movies targetted at men. You're gonna tell me their film heroes are so much loftier than Carrie Bradshaw? Look at some of the biggest male-driven hits -- the Apatow comedies, the explosion/shoot 'em up action/superhero hits. Those are all about consuming hot women and driving fast cars... oh and getting high.

But when women shop for shoes and sit around and talk about unhappy sex lives, or cheating husbands -- they are whiny, "entitled princesses" who are just ruining life for men.

Someone please tell me why someone like Mark Rudov, whose entire career is made selling sexism gets booked on all these big talk shows so frequently? Why is there always one poor women on the panel to defend this movie (as if she has to justify her choice to see a mindless summer flick)? Why do we need to silence women everywhere-- even when its fictional women in movies?

Just let women (and men!) go see the movie. They may love it. They may hate it. But they are entitled to go without having to explain to a bunch of assholes why four fictional women in a movie do not mean that all women in America are vapid and whiny. Especially when this series has tackled so many serious issues: broken realtionships, forgiveness, friendship, cancer, infertility, death, etc etc etc. I am so sick of people dismissing this show as stupid SIMPLY BECAUSE it stars women and is targetted at women. Stop trying to tell people that women's lives = stupid!

What I find even more interesting is that the male anxiety over Sex and the City was going on pre-movie. I was (stupidly) watching Family Guy last night (In case you haven't heard, I've HAD IT with that show -- honestly -- I seriously can't handle it anymore) -- an old episode came on where Brian the dog is watching SATC on TV -- naturally only because he's hanging with gay guys. Brian comments:

"So, it's about three hookers and their mom?"

REALLY?

Cause 40 something Robert Downing Jr and 60 something Harrison Ford just played studly action heroes and no one seems to tweak about that.

Interesting... and yet completely predictable.

Blog, Women and Hollywood has more about sexist comments against SATC



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Mom's words of wisdom upon reading this blog:

People like this ass face Rudov (whoever he is) annoy the hell out of me, but really -- who takes him seriously? He says this crap so he can get his ugly face on Fox news shows. They have to talk about something because heaven forbid that they talk about how their hero Geoge W. and his cronies Lied thier asses off to get us into a war that resulted in the deaths and mutiliatons of thousands of American soldiers and that we'll be paying for for the next 4 or 5 generations. it's all sound and fury signifying nothing.

Your points, however, are well taken. I wonder if people from other countries who see movies like this think this is the way American women really live??? That would be frightening. On the other hand, these women do have the power, status, smarts and money to live the lives they choose for themselves without apology. Even if we don't live in Manahattan and spend all our time shoe shopping, this is a goal for which we should aspire!!!

:) I *heart* my liberal, feminist mother

Sex and the City Movie/Sexism review

I've always been a fan of Sex and the City. Yes, the show had some flaws. It was relationship-centric (99% of the time those relationships were heterosexual and involved white, athletic-bodied people with VERY disposable incomes). That aside... I still loved the show. Episdoes could make you laugh and cry and they dealt with some very real subjects -- the episode where Miranda's mother dies, where Charlotte miscarries, where Carrie breaks her engagement with Aidan and when Samantha learns she has breast cancer -- are just a few examples. For all their flaws, these characters were very interesting and they were WOMEN.

I don't think I need to stress how rare it is for a show to revolve around the lives of women (even if those women's lives seem - at times - to revolve around men).

So when I heard the movie was finally coming out, I was thrilled. The event became even more hyped because my girlfriends used it as an excuse to get together. We all met in Bismarck (I live about 3 hours away) but one came all the way from Montana (8+ hours) -- gas prices be damned, we hadn't seen each other in years and this was our excuse!

There were about 7 of us and we spent the whole day together prior to the movie. It was wonderful catching up. I got to hold a friend's new baby and touch the belly of another friend who just found out she's gonna have a girl! We talked about our relationships, marriages, careers, politics and yes, we talked about sex. We're Midwest women from a low/middle class. Our shoes are Payless and we take our 'posh breakfast' at Perkins. Still, the SATC women appealed to us.

Not all of us loved the movie. One woman in our group felt the women weren't "strong enough" and several of us agreed that we didn't understand their romantic choices. But most of us really enjoyed the movie. I was one of them.

**SEVERE SPOILERS AHEAD (in blue)***

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Seriously, stop reading if you don't want MAJOR plot points revealed.... you have been warned....

When Steve tells Miranda he cheated, the audience in the theater gasped. When they put their relationship back together, it was one of the most touching, realistic moments I've seen in film. Cynthia Nixon and David Eigenberg (Steve) brought me to tears when they reunited on the Brooklyn Bridge (do NOT forget kleenex).

There are plenty of laughs but also serious heartache. Carrie is jilted at the alter by Big (in one of the least sensible parts of the movie, in my opinion) but the scene is so powerfully acted, I could really forgive some of my nagging questions about Big's motivations. Charlotte in particular will give you chills in that scene. As Big tries to approach Carrie, she screams "NO!" My friend Randi pointed out the subtext in that 'NO' was clearly, "If this woman was not in my arms, I would rip out your jugular." Amen.

Really, I don't know if I've laughed that hard in a movie theater in years. I left the theater very happy and I'm taking my mother this weekend. She's a much harsher critic than I am - so we'll see...

Here's where I get pissy though. The press around this movie has sucked the big one seriously-- one reviewer even called it a "Taliban recruitment film!"** Sexy boyfriend (who I left at home) said our local news woman went to the theater and was trying to "find a man" who wasn't "dragged against his will." When I went, I met several men out with wives/girlfriends who said they enjoyed the show. Why is this shocking? We aren't perplexed when women enjoy action or horror movies, why can't men enjoy a movie where the females lead?

Then I saw one of my fave you tube channels, Reel Geezers, reviewed the movie and they really pissed me off too. It was just one sexist comment after another:

- These women aren't that hot
- They are bad parents
- They're thoughtless -- they care about shoes, not the Iraq War
- It was like soft core porn.

I've watched other Reel Geezer Reviews and they aren't prudes by any means. Not sure what is up with them.

Why is the media asking asinine questions like "Will regular women relate to the SATC girls?" -- really? Do we worry if men will relate to the Hulk? After all, men don't get big and green... I'm not sure men can look past that to the message. *sarcasm*

SATC women have always been into shoes, bags, designer labels etc. But is that any more ridiculous than the gadget/car/weapon fixation we get in so many traditional "men" movies like Batman/Bond?

Speaking of "soft core porn." Bond has a different bed mate in every movie, often times more than one woman per movie. We don't blink at this! However, when we portray women who aren't necessarily in monogamous relationships (and enjoy sex), suddenly it's 'too much'? PLEASE.

As for the Iraq war comment-- that just takes the cake. Did anyone go into that theater with the expectation that the war would come up? Do we expect the stoner dudes in Superbad to stop and ponder war and peace? NO. But because it's women shopping, drinking and partying -- suddenly it's "shamefully" shallow.

If you enjoyed the show, I think you'll enjoy the movie. If you've seen it, please tell me what you think. :)

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Last minute thought--- I recall Sarah Jessica Parker from movies like "Hocus Pocus" and "First Wives Club" (where she plays the sexy young girlfriend) --- and I realized something... she's always been a cute/hot girl at the multiplex. She's never been the "ugly friend" or anything like that.

And for good reason... She's NOT ugly. Not until Sex and the City took off and she became a heroine for single women everywhere. Then suddenly Maxim named her Unsexiest woman alive. Interesting that suddenly lots of critics are stumbling over themselves to print their feminist backlash reviews railing at these women for being ugly and shallow.

One commenter at Women & Hollywood blog may have said it best:

It's a bizarre cultural experiment, seeing how so many people are so threatened by a single movie aimed squarely at ladies.

** UPDATE: More sexist press for Sex and the City -- this one manages to also be sexist to Hillary Clinton in the process! What WILL they think of next?

Damn you Judd Apatow

I know '40 Year Old Virgin' and 'Knocked Up' had some problems. I recognize the sexist sub-plots but I still had a good time and enjoyed many laughs. I acknowledge what many other feminist bloggers have said... Superbad was a steaming pile of crap. Not much to enjoy in two moderately attractive men (at best) drawing pictures of penises and tweeking hardcore at menstrual blood. Not to mention that every female character in that movie didn't necessarily need a character name as much as the word "sperm dumpster" tattooed on her forehead.

Anyway. I have been excited for the movie "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" ever since I heard it was starring Kristen Bell (the goddess from Veronica Mars). Apatow produced this movie and from initial previews, I was skeptical but hopeful. But a few days ago, I saw another trailer for this film and this time I was genuinely pissed off.

In a new scene, we see the male lead in bed with a woman. As they begin to throw off clothes, he asks, "Are you sure you aren't too drunk?" Her annoyed response is: "Don't be so sensitive!"

Damn You Judd Apatow. Seriously. Making sure you aren't about to rape someone isn't being "too sensitive."

I am so sick of these boys-will-be-boys "comedies" that all include alcohol as the only way to achieve sex. In 40 Year Old Virgin we had the "tackling drunk bitches" scene. In Knocked Up, the drunk hookup was the basis for the entire plot and the subsequent odd coupling of Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen. Then there was Superbad, where the young men had to quest for booze otherwise "the chicks won't have sex with you."

I am so tired of it.

I know we're making comedies here, but could we acknowledge that date rape is a huge, HUGE problem and alcohol is the #1 date rape drug?! I can only ignore the alcohol/sex obsession of Apatow and crew for so long. In Knocked Up, I was generally comfortable because there was a sense that yes, the liquor greased the wheels for the (highly unlikely) hook-up of Heighl and Rogen's characters but both were clearly consenting. In 40 year old Virgin, I felt pacified because (lovable) Steve Carell is clearly uncomfortable "tackling a drunk bitch" and instead chooses to find a sexual relationship with a coherent woman.

It wasn't until I watched Superbad that I got cranky. That movie seemed to poke fun at Michael Cera's character, who was too soft to accept that "getting girls drunk" was just part of the plan. His obvious discomfort with sleeping with highly-intoxicated Becca is fodder for laughs. When he says "I don't think you want to do this. You're really drunk" Her response was, "I don't understand why you have to be such a little bitch about it."

We need to stop sending messages that guys are pussies if they stop and ask women, "Are you okay with this?" / "Is this what you really want?"/ "Are you sure you aren't drunk?"

I think a lot of women find it to be a turn on when the man they're about to sleep with is concerned for their well-being and wants to make sure they are comfortable. Why do these Apatow flicks (beloved by 20-something men across America) have to call a man a pussy if he worries about having sex with a drunk woman? Not only your guy friends, but the women you try and score with will also call you a bitch or scoff at you for being "too sensitive."

I realize that I'm judging the movie based on a trailer but seriously, every single Apatow movie directs these messages at young men over and over and over again. It's not funny and it's a really dysfunctional message. Let's try and demonstrate the valid point that women appreciate a man who will think twice before just screwing you. We want a man who will stop and think, 'Hey this is a human being, not just a convenient masturbation hole.' Is that so hard to understand?

Apatow and company might just be impressed at how THAT message would widen their appeal with young women.

The Heart of the Game

People with Netflix accounts, add this one to your queue. Head on over to Amazon and watch the Fishbowl segment to see the preview and (fabulous!) interview.

This movie chronicles the true story of a high school women’s basketball team in the Seattle suburbs. The Roughrides, their coach Bill Resler and specifically, point guard Darnellia Russell. The film is wonderful. I’d recommend it for sports lovers AND feminists but really, anyone could enjoy it because it’s exciting and emotional.

The Amazon clip gives lots of detail, but the basic story follows Darnellia. In her junior year, she becomes pregnant and has a baby girl. She drops out of school for some time and when she returns she is barred from playing (for dropping out). She sticks around to become a fifth year senior but then is barred AGAIN from playing -- this time by the WIAA. Their rationale: You can only play as a fifth year senior if you missed time due to a "hardship.”

Apparently an unexpected teen pregnancy didn’t meet “hardship” criteria. According to the WIAA, “It wasn’t a hardship; she made her own choices.”

Thankfully, Darnellia took the WIAA to court and the decision was overturned (because any sane person can see it doesn’t make any sense to punish women for becoming pregnant when high school aged men face no similar consequences). Darnellia should never have been punished-- she had worked hard to stay in school, raised her grades and would graduate. She had support from her mother and boyfriend of five years. She also had the support of her coach and team.

Before the pregnancy, Darnellia had fistfuls of offers from colleges across the USA. After the birth of her daughter--- NOTHING. She needed to get back into the game in order to have any hopes of scholarship, and therefore college.

Not content to let it go, the WIAA took Darnellia back to court AGAIN. But once again, they were overruled. After this loss, the WIAA threatened to take the matter to court after the season closed, meaning that if they won that battle, every game Darnellia played in will be forfeited.

The team’s response? Screw you, WIAA.

So they played anyway WITH Darnellia.

I won’t ruin the ending but I encourage you all to see it. It's very moving with some fascinating side stories about other women on the team as well as Coach Resler.

Some of the most telling moments in this documentary come when we get to hear clips from a morning radio talk show:

CALLER: I think it sends a horrible message to children that they can just pick whatever course of action they want and not have to worry about the consequences-- cause someone’s gonna step in and fix it for them and I think that’s wrong.

HOST: But isn’t there another dangerous message that’s being sent? If she loses her eligibility and then it’s ‘Hey girls, getting an abortion isn’t gonna affect your life nearly as much as carrying a kid to term’?

CALLER: Oh don’t get me wrong, I don’t think she made a poor decision by keeping the child.

HOST: Right

CALLER: I think her poor decision was made when she chose to have sex while she was in high school

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SECOND CALLER: Secondly and most importantly and maybe cause I’m the only woman so far who’s called in—who the hell is taking care of this baby? I don’t understand how a girl can go to school full time, keep up her homework, get ready to go to college, hopefully, take care of a baby - and I think this proves, that she and her family’s priorities are all screwed up.

END RANT FROM ME: Yeah those conservative values are sounding really compassionate aren’t they? PLEASE! Just more reinforcement that pro-life policies are about punishing women for being sluts who have sex. Otherwise wouldn’t they want the young woman to get a shot at a college scholarship? NO. She should have the baby and then hide in shame, giving up all her hobbies and take care of her baby (with no opportunities to better herself in college). Hmmm? Sexism and racism much?

One commenter on IMDB had an excellent point I shall leave you with. People may say, “Of course colleges quit writing her, she had a baby—that’s a huge liability” --- Funny thing--- drug abuse is a huge liability! As is a history of violence against women, and other kinds of trouble with the law, but that doesn't stop colleges from giving scholarships to plenty of top male athletes with these kind of things on their record.

America the beautiful?

Last night I watched the movie "Why We Fight" by Eugene Jarecki. It's a great documentary because it saturates the viewer with facts and asks questions, more than makes assumptions. If you hated "Fahrenheit 9/11," this is much more your speed. I personally believe that peace is a feminist issue, so watching a film that asks that essential question, "Why do we fight?" was great and had me gasping out loud at certain points. For example, when Jarecki talked about the fall of Rome and compared its rise and fall to the current state of the United States, I got chills!

What Jarecki shows through his documentary is that the Bush administration's approach to Iraq and foreign policy isn't a brand new concept, but rather a path that our country has been on since World War II.

In his farewell address, Eisenhower warned America to beware the "military industrial complex." Our American way of life is so heavily dominated by military supremacy. We have troops deployed and in permanent bases in hundreds of countries around the world. I realized in watching "Why We Fight" that America has had her fingers in many foreign policy blunders, Iraq merely being the latest.

In one part of the documentary, Jarecki takes us to the morgue in Iraq where he runs through his book documenting the bodies that came in after the U.S. began air strikes. 90-percent of the deceased were civilian!!! As the Iraqi man ran his finger down the book, my heart was breaking, "Housewife, housewife, female student, soldier, child, child, housewife, student, soldier, child"-- on and on. Then we learn that of the first 50 "precision, "smart bomb" air-strikes" NONE hit their designated target!

Our federal budget for defense is more than all our other budgets PUT TOGETHER. Makes you stop and think. This documentary is chock full of information and was significant for me on many levels-- as an American and as an advocate for peace. I think everyone, regardless of political leaning or their opinion on Iraq, will learn something from this film.

A movie feminists might NOT love

Keep in mind, to be fair, I have not seen this movie. However, based on the preview, I sincerely doubt I'll see it.

First of all, off the top of my head I can't think of any recent movies that are that flattering when it comes to the idea of female superheros. Charlies's Angels seemed nothing but an excuse for three hot women to dance around in various male-fantasy outfits. Now comes this one where a superwoman uses her various powers to strangle her ex, throw live sharks into his room and blast a hole in his ceiling.

She has the power to fly, carry a car and survive just about anything and yet losing a boyfriend is just the worst thing ever!! Judging by the preivew only, she seems completely neurotic, prone to breaking down into crying fits and losing it. Now if there's one thing I don't find funny in the slighest, it's relationship violence, and I'm sorry, the mere fact that it's woman to man, doesn't make a difference. At one point in the movie, Uma Thurman leans in to her boyfriend Owen Wilson and says, "I always knew you'd come back to me, that's why I didn't kill you." Har har.

Take for example this plot description:

When Matt Saunders meets Jenny Johnson, he thinks he's found the perfect girl. However, he decides to break things off with her when she becomes too needy, controlling, and jealous. Jenny doesn't take it well and decides to get back at him by using her superpowers. When, Matt and his co-worker, Hannah start to have a romance with each other it sends Jenny over the edge.

That's supposed to be funny? When people leave violent situations and are stalked and threatened... I don't laugh. Becoming jealous of an old lover's new romance and then taking violent action, is also not so funny. It's annoying that they bill this as some kind of super woman type flick.

A really compelling movie would be a woman with superpowers and a relationship with an average Joe... see if those two could make it without jealousy or life differences getting in the way. Then we'd have a plot that wouldn't force Uma to play this needy, jealous, pyscho.

But to be totally fair. I probably can't judge it until I see it-- if I ever do. Judging by another review, I'd say I won't have to.

More TV and films for feminists

Veronica Mars- Another TV show I love. Strong, funny, intelligent female lead who works as a private investigator with her father. She is confident and centered in her values. A great role model for young women watching the series, Veronica is a take-no-prisoners, fearless woman. Fave scene: Veronica walks up behind two boys who are making fun of an intoxicated girl at a party and says, “It's all fun and games till one of you gets my foot up your ass.”

Buffy the Vampire Slayer- I’ve actually composed an entire blog post to this show alone. Its strong female and male leads all embody feminism. Plus the show is funny, poignant, touching and gives us a lot of great life lessons regarding sexism, racism and the metaphoric good vs. evil battle. Fave scene: way too many to pick from-- seriously. Check out the other post but if I had to choose...ugh... it's impossible. Maybe I'd choose the episode "Once More with Feeling" just because it stands out so much as different-- it's the musical episode. But if you don't believe a show called Buffy could have an impact on feminism, check out the many academic books and college level courses some universities offer JUST on this show... one of my fave books, "Sex And The Slayer: A Gender Studies Primer For The Buffy Fan."

Sex and the City – at times, I’ll watch an episode and roll my eyes at the over-the-top bed hopping and promiscuity, especially from character, Samantha. But overall these women are strong, independent and yes, flawed—it only makes them more human. They forge strong female bonds of friendship and are there for each other in times of serious turbulence, failed relationships, marriages, infertility, miscarriage, unplanned pregnancy, heartbreak, death etc. I admire all of them, even Samantha. Fave scene: Unfair. Can’t choose. I’ll be lame and say the last scene of the finale when all the girls are walking downtown Manhattan together.

Saved –This movie is a must-see; it’s a great comedy with interesting religious commentary and feminist musings. The plot involves a cast of teenagers attending a Evangelical Christian School. There, Pastor Skip backflips onto the pep rally stage shouting, “Are we down with G-O-D? Let's get our Christ on! Let's kick it Jesus-style!" Yikes.

Main character Mary has the perfect life as one of the more popular girls at school. She has the perfect friends and the perfect Christian boyfriend, Dean. Except her friends turn out to be vapid and her boyfriend turns out to be gay. Mary is convinced she can help Dean be born again, trying everything to turn him straight, eventually offering her virginity to “save” him. Problem is, Dean’s gay porn stash is discovered and his parents cart him away to hospital for drug users, gays and unwed mothers *what a nice combo, huh?*

Mary, ends up pregnant. She discovers this not due to any help from her high school sex ed which showed pictures of human bodies sans private parts and only included the lesson “wait for marriage” but thanks to a show on TV about a woman who thought she was pregnant (due to a lack of her period) but ended up finding out it was cancer. Next scene you see Mary riding home with a pregnancy test chanting in fear, “Please let it be cancer” --alas, she is pregnant and forced to reevaluate her Christian morals and friends.

The outcasts from school take her in after figuring out her secret. A great line in the movie are where two kids are talking about Mary.
“There's only one reason Christian girls comes down to the Planned Parenthood.” ”She's planting a pipe bomb?”
“Okay, two reasons.”

Mary eventually comes to a new realization about sexuality and Christianity. This transformation is best exemplified when one of her former "friends" tries to “help” her:

Hilary Faye: Mary, turn away from Satan. Jesus, he loves you.
Mary: You don't know the first thing about love.
Hilary Faye: [throws a Bible at Mary] I am FILLED with Christ's love! You are just jealous of my success in the Lord.
Mary: [Mary holds up the Bible] This is not a weapon! You idiot.

A long description… can you tell I love the movie?


North Country – “What are you supposed to do when the ones with all the power are hurting those with none? Well for starters, you stand up. Stand up and tell the truth. You stand up for your friends. You stand up even when you're all alone. You stand up.”

A great movie to watch if you want to understand the history of sexual harassment in our country. Based on real events, this movie makes you so thankful that women and some men stood up back in the day against what was wrong. It was true that women living in the iron range and working in the mines were brutally harassed. Women were grabbed, groped, attacked, bullied, cornered and asked to “service” their male coworkers and much worse. Plus all the women applying for a job were forced to undergo a gynecological exam to prove they were not pregnant! Yikes. Charlize Theron gives a powerhouse performance even though at times, it seems that the director may be trying to hard to “move” us.

Any woman who complained of her treatment was threatened with losing her job, but the main character goes ahead and takes the company to court anyway. There is a fantastic courtroom scene where other female co-workers stand up in solidarity behind her. Some of the women standing in the courtroom are not actors, but real plaintiffs from the real courtroom drama that unfolded years before! Chills!

Little Women— Also a great book for feminists. Another tear-jerker and perhaps smacks a bit of the smaltzy-ness of Anne of Green Gables but again… I love it. Marmee (the mother played by Susan Sarandon) brings up her four girls to be strong, and take pride in their worth as human beings, not simply as women. I remember at a young age, watching this movie with my mother. There is a scene where two men sit next door watching the March women and one asks, “What do those girls do over there all day?” The answer, “Over the mysteries of female life there is drawn a veil, best left undisturbed.” My mom scoffed. I remember thinking then, how stupid it was that men made us out to be these incomprehensible creatures. Which, by the way, I still hear in many movies and in stand up comedian routines… like women are so tough to figure out. Really women on a general level want respect, as equals. They don’t want to be treated like second class citizens. As Jo says, “I find it poor logic to say that women should vote because they are good. Men do not vote because they are good; they vote because they are men, and women should vote, not because we are angels and men are animals, but because we are human beings and citizens of this country.” And Marmee teaches her daughters, to never think of themselves as mere objects of physical beauty for men; they are strong, not weak. “Feminine weaknesses and fainting spells are the direct result of our confining young girls to the house, bent over their needlework, and restrictive corsets.” Go Marmee!

The Buccaneers—“Can a woman never be free?” laments character Laura Testvalley in this BBC adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel. Laura works as a governess in the St. George home helping raise young Nan. Through Laura, Nan and her sister Virginia secure marriages to wealthy English landowners. The plot is much too complex to explain. It’s a 2 part miniseries running 212 minutes long but it’s well worth the time and it will keep you engaged. The four main characters are young American women who marry English Lords and Dukes and find that their lives as kept wives in oppressive English society are not what they had imagined. “They told us it all ended at the church door and we would live happily ever after!” one woman sobs.

The main story revolves around Nan and her daring escape from an abusive husband. Nan is aided by her governess, Laura in leaving her marriage for the love of her life, Guy Thwaite. But what happens along the way is a truly shocking revelation of what life was like for women and men in that type of society --when marriage was a business arrangement at best and at worst a living hell. At one point Nan’s husband Julius comes to London, under orders from his mother to, “Bring Nan back home by force if necessary.” When Nan asks Julius why he doesn’t do this, he breaks down screaming, “Because I’m not a monster!” Heartbreaking.

Movies for feminists

I haven’t posted in so long. I guess I’ve needed a break from the anger. So, for a change of pace... here's something fun. I’ve started to think about movies that I’ve watched through the years that have helped me understand my feelings on feminism. Some funny, some serious but all great films.

This post is going to be a series. I have other movies and TV shows I’d like to add but here they are for now… these movies are great for men and women who enjoy great cinema and embrace feminist values.

Iron Jawed Angels- Best movie ever. It should be required to watch in high school classrooms. My high school history teacher told me that women were “given” the vote in 1920. What a load of hooey! Watch this movie and you’ll see just how hard women like Alice Paul had to fight for women to vote. Being wrongfully imprisoned and tortured for starters… This movie is very informative, very entertaining and very moving!!! Fave scene: The suffrage parade where a woman on a horse leads groups of women, some in cap and gown, some in their country’s traditional dress down the streets of D.C. with Lauren Hill music playing… I get goosebumps every time.

A League of Their Own – Strong, athletic, competitive, beautiful, muscular, raw… FEMALE athletes in the 1940s. A funny story more about the relationship these women form as teammates, and most importantly the two sisters who are the focus of the story. But if you watch closely, you’ll also get the message of female independence, a desire to be seen not as different, or less worthy but seen as equal. Fave Scene: There’s a very well done scene where a young black woman throws a baseball so hard it actually hurts the catcher’s hand. You see the looks of amazement from all the women on the team (all of whom are white) and you realize that these women have once again been awakened to prejudice.

Legally blonde- Beautiful, perfect sorority girl has guy. Loses guy. Decides to get guy back. Learns in the process that she is smarter, cooler than doofus guy ever was. Girl becomes secure, powerful lawyer even though she is (gasp) blonde, beautiful and ultra perky. Who knew? Fave scene: A mean girl tricks Elle (Reese Witherspoon) into showing up at a party in costume. When she makes fun of her look Elle bites back, “You look great too. Except when I dress up as a frigid bitch, I try not to look so constipated.”

Anne of Green Gables – I don’t care if anyone makes fun of me for loving this schmaltz-fest... I love this movie and it is good! Anne was my hero growing up. She was strong and very smart. And even though it bothered some of the other boys that she was different, strong and smart, she didn’t care. Anne was never afraid to go her own way as an independent woman, turning down marriage proposals to pursue a career and a life in a bigger city. Although, when the time comes, she’s not afraid to do what’s right for her... return home and marry her childhood love. Fave scene: When Gilbert “rescues” Anne from the water, she doesn’t let him off the hook, “The fact that you rescued me, unnecessarily, hardly wipes out past wrongs.”

Vera Drake— Set in 1950’s England; Vera is a selfless woman who is completely devoted to her working class family. She is a caregiver to everyone in her life, new neighbors, sick friends and her elderly mother. She also secretly visits women and helps induce miscarriages. In 1950’s England abortion was legal but very expensive. Vera provided a safe method for “girls who need help.” She doesn’t even take money for it. Vera always treats these women with a smile and kind words. When she is found out and brought to trial we see just how this affects her family. When she is in prison, she meets other women jailed for providing illegal abortions but realizes that the fight must continue or more women will die. Favorite scene: Her family sits talking about abortions. A friend of the family says thoughtfully, “Me mum brought up six of us in two rooms. If you can't feed 'em, you can't love 'em, now can you?”

Real Women Have Curves—Ana is a first generation Mexican-American teenager on the verge of becoming a woman. She lives in Los Angeles. After she graduates high school, she is offered a scholarship to Columbia University but her traditional parents disapprove of her moving away and leaving their family. Her mother wants her to help at her sister’s sewing factory which is little better than a sweatshop making dresses that wouldn’t fit one woman in Ana’s family. Through that experience, Ana learns a lot about the “values” of corporate America. Her mother is always harping on her to lose weight so she can get a husband but Ana teaches her family that her real qualities are in her wit, education and truly, she is beautiful. Fave scene: When Ana gets all the women at work to strip down to their underwear in the hot sewing factory and celebrate their curves.

Westward the women—An old 1950’s Cowboys and Indians movie with a twist. Back in the day where the west meant “Texas,” men settling out in California needed wives. They sent a wagon train to bring women from the East to live with them and marry. Over one hundred women go on a wagon train journey through desert, Rocky Mountains and some Indian attacks. It's old, so not entirely politically correct, especially when it comes to portraying Native Americans. However, I love how the women in the movie transform from society gals in New York to hardened pioneer women that can survive just about anything. A great idea for a movie today would be what happened after the women arrived… interesting, maybe I could write a script. Hollywood anyone?

An In-Depth Look at Rape

In her novel, "Lucky" Alice Sebold recounts the incident that changed her life. She was a freshman at Syracuse University in 1981 when she was attacked by a strange man and brutally raped in a dark tunnel. At the time Alice was only 18, now in her 30s and a successful New York Times Magazine contributor, she looks back on the event that shaped so much of her life.

The title of the book refers to Sebold's luck… she was attacked by a serial rapist but not murdered. But she was also lucky because her case was easy to prosecute. She was a virgin prior to the rape, she was wearing bulky clothing, and her rapist beat her, leaving unmistakable evidence of violence. In her novel, she addresses these facts and draws attention to the nature of rape in this country. At one point, the defense attorney in the case insinuated that because she was wearing "Calvin Klein" jeans she was somehow sending out a signal.

Sebold's rapist was convicted, but many rape cases are more complex. Many rape victims know their assailant, maybe they have had a previous sexual relationship with him/her, or at the time of the assault they were under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Many of these rapes have little or no physical evidence to present. But ask yourselves, why is the trial focusing on the character or sexual history of the victim? Why does society approach victims of rape this way? We have already discussed that our cultural perceptions of women affect the way we treat them. We approach women with:

Double standard-- if they initiate sex they are sluts
Stereotypes-- women who are victims of rape were asking for it or deserved it
No respect-- viewing them as commodities rather than independent sexual beings

But is there something deeper?

Alice Sebold's book is a personal story of a real life crime, but when we see rape portrayed by media or movies, what is different?


Movies that showcase false rape

Consider the movie, Wild Things where a high school guidance counselor, Sam (Matt Dillon), is accused by two students, first Kelly (Denise Richards) and then Suzie (Neve Campbell) of sexual assault. Both girls give convincing testimony on the stand and to authorities of their rapes. They appear genuine victims, giving specific details of their alleged assaults, all the while crying and exhibiting signs of being victimized. It is revealed later that these girls are really carrying out an elaborate con to gain money. They are also portrayed as very promiscuous. The tagline for this movie, "they're dying to play with you."

Or the movie Disclosure where Tom (Michael Douglas) is nearly sexually assaulted by his boss, a very seductive Meredith played by Demi Moore. When Douglas' character charges her with sexual harassment, her demeanor instantly changes to a demure, innocent woman who has been the victim. The audience knows the real truth- this woman is conniving and depraved and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. The tagline for this movie is "sex is power."

An older movie, The Crush features a teenager, Darian (Alicia Silverstone) obsessed with a 20 something neighbor man, Nick (Cary Elwes). When he resists her advances she sneaks into his home, steals a used condom, plants semen on herself and then accuses him of rape. In the picture: Alicia Silverstone (portrayed highly-sexualized at 14) accuses Cary Elwes of rape. Her character is mentally unstable, murdering and vicious.

Kevin Spacey stars in The Life of David Gale as a successful professor whose entire career and family life is shattered when a student accuses him of rape. In this scenario, the girl initially tries to seduce Spacey's character for a grade and he resists. Later at a party he engages in consensual sex with her, she encourages him to be rough (ripping her clothes, etc). She later goes to authorities and reports it as a rape using physical evidence from their encounter.

***All of these movies paint a picture where men are often and easily made victims of women's plots to accuse them of rape.

If a woman in Hollywood takes a role of a highly-sexualized character, she runs the risk of being portrayed as animalistic, evil and cunning. Movies like Fatal Attraction (Glenn Close), Basic Instinct (Sharon Stone) and Disclosure (Demi Moore) all portray sexualized women as something to fear, something immoral and without any redeeming values.

***Other movies to watch closely and see how they deal with rape/sexual politics:
-- To Kill a Mockingbird (white women falsely accusing black man)
-- Rules of Attraction (victim of date rape begins relationship with attacker)
-- Devil's Advocate (Woman believed to be suffering from hallucinations is raped, no one believes her)
-- The Accused (Jodi Foster's character is gang raped in bar. She is accused of dressing and acting like she wanted it)
-- Gone with the Wind (Scarlet is slapped and dragged upstairs by her husband -- this is "romance?")
-- The World is Not Enough (abducted and abused woman played by actress Sophie Marceau falls in love with attacker, begins sexual relationship)
-- Pretty Woman (prostitute played by Julia Roberts is nearly raped by a man who believes she will sleep with anyone)
-- Boys Don't Cry (Hillary Swank's character is raped when a group of men discover she is genetically female, not male)
-- Leaving Las Vegas (Elisabeth Shue portrays a prostitute who is brutally assaulted and raped by a group of 20-something white men)

Misconceptions addressed:
"Many women who report being raped are lying"
How many rapes are reported falsely?

***The word "unfounded", as the police use it, is a technical term meaning "not enough evidence to proceed to trial." It does not mean that the accusation was necessarily false.

Steve Thompson, considered to be one of America's leading experts on the topic of sexual aggression and the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator at Central Michigan University, stated that in an average of 1,000 reports of rape, only one report is false.

The following information is from: Joanne Archambault, Sergeant (Retired SDPD) SATI, Inc. Training Director:

"After literally decades of feminist lobbying and demands for better treatment of rape victims, many police agencies across America are still stuck in a 1950s-era view of sexual assault.

Despite the official promises that victims would be treated with sensitivity, police frequently don't understand how to achieve that goal. And although thousands of dedicated law enforcement officers want to do the right thing, there often is little support for sex crimes investigators. Rape complaints often are not properly investigated when police departments don't allocate the necessary resources to do the work or train their investigators.

There are huge differences in the estimates given for the rate of false reporting of sexual assault. Studies and surveys range from 0% to 98%. This is not surprising given the differences in definitions and the different ways of determining a complaint to be false and then recording it.

Many professionals working in the field of sexual assault contribute to the problem by citing statistics from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Code without understanding the definition or the source."

Dangers in UNFOUNDING
Ø Investigators should not be able to “unfound” a sexual assault allegation without evidence that the crime did not occur.
Ø Unfounding is often used for cases that don’t fit the stereotype of “real” rape.
Ø Many of the victims affected by improper unfounding are women of color, prostitutes, drug addicts or simply acquainted with their assailant
Ø Improper unfounding fuels the myth of false allegations.

Keep all this in mind as you watch the Duke case unfold. In my area of the world, very similar accusations have come to light. Check out this article

We'll always have Paris....

A few days ago, I finally saw the iconic movie, "Casablanca." It is fabulous and would I recommend it to all. After watching it, I looked it up on International movie database (for website, see my list of links to the right). I found some fascinating trivia. I compliled what I thought were the best tidbits of info. I hope it will be entertaining to those of you who have seen it and if not, you really must go out and rent it! Better yet, you can buy it at Target on DVD....

I hope you enjoy....

TRIVIA!

The script was based on the unproduced play "Everybody Comes to Rick's".

The song As Time Goes By" was almost not used! The music director wanted to compose something original for royalties. However, Ingrid Bergman had already cut her hair very short for “For Whom the Bell Tolls” therefore could not re-shoot already-completed scenes that had used "As Time Goes By.”

The piano playing character of Sam, was almost a Samantha. Producers wanted a female. Hazel Scott, Lena Horne, and Ella Fitzgerald were considered for the role.

A man named Dooley Wilson played Sam. He was actually a professional drummer who faked playing the piano.

No one knew right up until the filming of the last scene whether Ilsa would end up with Rick or Laszlo. During the course of the picture, when Ingrid Bergman asked the director with which man her character was in love, she was told to "play it in between".

The movie was made during World War II. Consequently scenes could not be shot at airports after dark (for security reasons.) They used a sound stage with a small cardboard cutout airplane. To give the illusion that the plane was full-sized, they used little people to portray the crew preparing the plane for take-off.

The Director of Casablanca, Michael Curtiz', had a Hungarian accent. This often caused confusion on the set. He once asked a prop man for a "poodle" to appear in a scene. The man searched high and low for a poodle while the entire crew waited. He found one and presented it to Curtiz, who screamed "A poodle! A poodle of water!”

Conrad Veidt, who played a Nazi, was well known in the German theatrical community for his hatred of the Nazis. In fact he was forced to hurriedly escape the country when he found out that the SS had sent a death squad after him because of his anti-Nazi activities.

Many of the actors who played the Nazis were in fact German Jews who had escaped from Nazi Germany.

Humphrey Bogart's wife continually accused him of having an affair with Ingrid Bergman, often confronting him in his dressing room before a shot. Bogart often came onto the set in a rage.

To maximize profits from foreign distribution of the film, the studio suggested that any unpleasant characters other than the Nazis should also be from an enemy country, namely Italy. This is why Ugarte, Ferrari, and the dark European pickpocket are Italian.

The difference in height between Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman changes throughout the film. This is because Bergman was actually a few inches taller than Bogart, to create the illusion that it was vice versa, Bogart stood on boxes and sat on pillows in some shots, or Bergman slouched down. Bogart often had to wear platform shoes as well .

In one famous scene there is a “battle of the anthems.” The French crowd at the night club begins to sing "Marseillaise" in order to drown out the Nazi’s singing "Watch on the Rhine." Many of the extras had real tears in their eyes; a large number of them were actual refugees from Nazi persecution in Germany and elsewhere in Europe and were overcome by the emotions the scene brought out.


*****

The movie has some of the most memorable lines in all of cinema. Here are some
interesting facts about the dialogue:

Captain Renault's line, "You like war. I like women," was changed from "You enjoy war. I enjoy women," in order to meet decency standards at the time of release.

In the German version, the immortal line "Here's lookin' at you, kid", became, "Ich seh' Dir in die Augen, Kleines" which translates as "I look in your eyes, honey".

Rick never says "Play it again, Sam." He says: "You played it for her, you can play it for me. Play it!". Ilsa says "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By"'.

The movie's line "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By'." was voted as the #28 movie quote by the American Film Institute (out of 100).

"We'll always have Paris." was voted as the #43 movie quote by the American Film Institute (out of 100).

"Round up the usual suspects." was voted as the #32 movie quote by the American Film Institute (out of 100).

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." was voted as the #20 movie quote by the American Film Institute

"Here's looking at you, kid" was voted as the #5 movie quote by the American Film Institute. (This line was actually improvised by Bogart in the Parisian scenes. It worked so well that it was used later on again in the film.)

The last line of the movie is one of the most misquoted lines in all of film history. It has been misquoted as, "This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship" or "I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship." Ironically, this iconic line was a last minute addition that was dubbed over by Bogart after the scene was shot.

*******

Casablanca was voted the 3rd Greatest film of all time by Entertainment Weekly and was voted #2 film of all time by the American Film Institute.

And my favorite bit of trivia of all….

In the 1980s, the script of Casablanca was sent to a number of major studios and production companies under its original title, "Everybody Comes To Rick's". Some readers recognized the script but most did not. Many complained that the script was "not good enough" to make a decent movie. Others gave such complaints as "too dated", "too much dialog" and "not enough sex".

HA-- Hollywood has gotten so lame...

Sick and wrong in Film and ESPECIALLY real life

I am not for censorship, but I do have the right to speak against something: Ku Klux Klan marches and Hustler magazine for example. But recently I saw a preview for a movie that really made me sick.

Let me start by saying “I HATE HORROR MOVIES.”

I date someone who really enjoys them, so I’ve tried… I saw “The Ring,” “The Grudge,” and “Cabin Fever.” Every time they end, I mentally kick my ass for spending time on such depravity. I also have to sleep with the light on for days… in fact, I can’t remember the last time I slept with the light off. When Cabin Fever ended, I actually cried (just a little) because I was so emotionally exhausted from terror and nausea (caused by gore).

However, I'm not shattered by all thriller movies-- I can enjoy them if they aren't just gore and blood and have suspensful plots etc. I can understand why people like being scared—it’s a thrill, after all- like a haunted house or rollercoaster. What I don’t get is the really sick stuff--- torture for torture’s sake.


There’s a new movie preview that terrorizes me every time I see it on TV. It’s called “Hostel.” You really can’t tell much from the preview, except that the movie will be about torture, the most graphic, violent torture possible. In fact the whole preview is a series of torture shots and ends with a deep, dark voice saying "inspired by true events."

Well I did a little research online, the director Eli Roth (who incidentally was the man behind the sickness of “Cabin Fever”) said the idea came about after finding a Thai website that advertised itself as a "murder vacation," offering visitors the chance to torture and kill someone for the price of $10,000.

Okay—ewwww.

In an online interview, Roth sounds gleeful about the movie. When asked about the writing process he said, “I just sat down and wrote the sickest, most violent thing I could.” He proudly promises that this project will be 'wild', 'ultra violent', 'sick' and 'disturbing.

Wow. Good for you. And how were you scarred as a child?

Seriously. Torture is a concept that makes me sicker than I can express. What type of human has that capability to create pain on another living human—and take pleasure in it? And furthermore, what type of filmmaker would be so gleeful to spend his time writing a script about it and shooting graphic torture scenes all day?

To answer that, it’s not just Roth…, people like Quentin Tarantino, the man who brought us family classics like “Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction” and “Kill Bill” (SARCASM for God’s sake don’t bring a family to those movies). Apparently Tarantino also thinks this movie is a gem. When Roth told him the idea, he said, “That's the fucking scariest, fucking sickest idea I've ever heard – you've got to do it!”

What is wrong with people? How is this entertainment?

I think it goes without saying that I won’t be going to this movie. What’s more I’ve decided I am really worried about anyone who would go. What would possess you to want to watch scenes of torture? Are we that desensitized? You know... more and more people seem to be defending our country’s use of torture in Iraq. There have been plenty of cases coming to light—we can’t ignore it anymore. Some dating back years (for example visit this article: (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/20/iraq/main564095.shtml)

On a political side note: If we defend our use of torture, my question is-- what separates us from Saddam Hussein?

And if we gain pleasure from watching torture scenes—even if it’s actors, fake blood and fake vomit—what has happened to our humanity?

Fave Movie Quotes

Randomly thought about fave movie quotes today... here is the first of what should be many installments.

“A heart can be broken, but it keeps beating just the same.”
-*Fried Green Tomatoes.*.

"She hates him with a fire of a thousand suns, that's a direct quote."
-Ten things I hate about you

"He just broke up with Anna Scott"
Spike: "You daft prick"
-Notting Hill

"Against my will, I am sent to bid you come into dinner….There's a double meaning in that...”
-Benedict, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing

" If you didn't kill him, then who did, sir?"
Hannibal: "Who can say. Best thing for him, really. His therapy was going nowhere"
- Silence of the Lambs

"Everything seems like nothing to me right now cause I want you in my bed. I love you, not like they told you love is. I didn't know this. Love doesn't make things nice. It ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren't here to make things perfect. The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us. We are here to ruin ourselves and love the wrong people and to die. The storybooks are bullshit. Now I want you to come upstairs with me and get in my bed."
--Ronnie, Moonstruck

"No, I don't think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That's what's wrong with you! You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how."
-Gone with the Wind

“I make more money than.. Calvin Coolidge… PUT TOGETHER!”
-Singing in the Rain

“Man it sucks up here.”
-armegedon

“I hope the pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams, I hope…”
-Shawshank redemption

“A person is smart, people are dumb animals”
-Men in Black

Mother Nun: "There are various vows a nun lives by, the vow of poverty, the vow of chastity..."
Whoopi Goldberg: "I am outta here"
-Sister Act

"I do have a test today, that wasn't bullsh**. It's on European Socialism. I mean, really, what's the point? I'm not European. I don't plan on being European. So, who gives a crap if they're Socialists? They could be fascist anarchists, it still wouldn't change the fact that I don't own a car."
-Ferris Beuler's Day Off

"Think about John Wayne, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold doesn't dance, he can hardly walk! Be a man! Kick someone, punch someone, bite someone's ear! Men do not dance. They work, they drink, they have bad backs, they don't dance!"
-In & Out

Kate: What do you shower once a week?
Doug: Is that an invitation?
-The Cutting Edge

"There's no crying in baseball."
-A League of their Own