Posted on 02/13/2015 6:58:23 AM PST by Kaslin
The electricity fairly crackles.
Millions of supposedly self-respecting women are poised to breeze into movie theaters this weekend to immerse themselves in the filth that is “50 Shades of Grey.”
If there is anything more depressing than that, it is the playful clucking of media anticipation, taking the tone that this is just a fun fantasy ride, just a flight of fancy, two hours of escape.
It is more than that. It is evidence of a damaged society, a nation that thinks it is just swell to celebrate the story of a predatory billionaire punk who victimizes a tragically vulnerable woman for his own sick entertainment.
I can hear the condescending cackles of the oh-so-knowing cultural mainstream, many with Fandango receipts already in hand, poised to mock any who dare to suggest this is cultural rot. But “50 Shades” is a far cry in substance and intent from the occasional edgy book or film that contains sexual or violent passages along the path of an otherwise meritorious plot.
Is there one consumer of the E.L. James book or the Samantha Taylor-Johnson film who can say with a straight face that either would have made a peep in the marketplace without prurient content?
The lascivious appeal is what drove the book sales, and it will drive the opening weekend of box office receipts, charmingly timed for Valentine’s Day. Because what complements Valentine’s Day like a twisted story of an abusive relationship?
Even more disheartening than the smuttiness of this exercise are the poisonous messages it offers about sex. Count off the lessons from a film to be consumed by proud American women this weekend:
— Soulless sadism is hot;
—If the sadist is attractive and wealthy, his violent appetites will be met with approval;
—Such self-absorbed victimizers can force themselves on young, innocent women, and it is kind of awesome;
—Women should tolerate such sexual violence, even find a way to develop a taste for it. After all, maybe you can change him.
Movies filled with tawdry sex will come and go, their worst sins amounting to mere mindless devotion to graphic visuals. This is far worse. This is an attack on virtuous manhood and a celebration of bad choices by women.
And the pathetic thing is, the liberated throngs knocking back a few Pinots in their pre-film tailgate parties neither know nor care.
So enjoy, ladies. Thrill to the imagery of Christian Grey as he beats a college-age girl for his jollies. Imagine yourselves in the pumps of Anastasia Steele as she endures his abuse.
Plenty of movies contain portrayals of perversity, but usually it is in a negative light. it is the particularly noxious works that hold it up as something cool, enjoyable to witness and perhaps even to be emulated.
Maybe this is just an extension of the catnip value of all those vampire movies, ravenously consumed by women drawn to the take-charge romanticism of the undead. In 2015, having Edward and Jacob fight over you in the woods no longer suffices.
Now the taste is for a harder fix. This weekend’s “50 Shades” target audience and any self-respecting (or woman-respecting) men unwise enough to accompany them are rewarding a low cultural exploit that will appeal to our basest appetites.
The film’s defenders will corral armies of straw men— that people have a right to make such movies and to see them, neither of which is at issue. The debate is over the societal merit of this onscreen garbage. I look forward to hearing the attempts to praise it.
In short: Women are nuts. Men need to save their sanity and keep far away from them as much as you can.
Ah, badly written Twilight fanfic formerly titled “Master of the Universe”.
Knew someone who had the book.
We laughed at it, mocked the writing and how idiotic the characters were.
This on the heels of the president’s Super Sunday warning about rapes and attempted rapes.
I see two men who look like angels walking down the road toward the United States. Wonder what their business is?
I”ve never seen HC, but I’ve read about it, and it’s horrible. I guess HC2 is even by far worse!
” This weekend’s “50 Shades” target audience and any self-respecting (or woman-respecting) men unwise enough to accompany them are rewarding a low cultural exploit that will appeal to our basest appetites. “
I worked in Hollywood. This is their stock in trade. I doubt anything has changed much in the 35 years that have passed. They glorify criminals, drug dealers (good customers), and prostitutes with the proverbial “ heart of gold”.
But, but, but........ All the progressives keep saying that GLBT (gilberts is easier to pronounce the LGBT I think)and BDSM is sooooooooo, how do you say, kewl and if you don’t participate, you just ain’t hip. Guess I’ll remain classified as NOT hip. Besides, I can think of several other uses for cuffs, gags, restraints and whips that would help get this country back on it’s feet.
Actually no, I’m heading back to college for writing classes because this schlock is kinda the final straw! Rowling at least killed off the abusive jerk she drew, Meyers (I swear) should go in for counseling, I finished the series but it fell apart into such a cop out ending that I hated myself afterward for wasting my time. With this thing, they are saying the movie is better than the book, which is a little unusual to say the least!
Just two weeks ago we were bragging about how wonderful Hollywood is for making such a great movie in American Sniper and now they stink again. Hard to keep up. No I won’t go see 50 Shades but I don’t begrudge anyone who wants to see it. The liberals were pissed that all of us saw American Sniper and now we are pissed about those who want to see it. Some day it would be nice to say “it is just a movie”. I had to say that a lot with American Sniper.
This movie will go gangbusters for a few weeks....and then drop revenue wise and viewer wise into the toilet of obscurity forever!!! It’s called....being a flash in the pan!!! The reviews were nothing to write home about...average between two & three stars!!! It’s gonna make a ton of money...but, it has no redeeming value, the usual “Hollywood” junkpile!!!
The real muscle flick with staying power for 2015 is “American Sniper” which will pass the $400,000,000. USD, marker this weekend in worldwide sales...headed to $500M.....stunning performance & production by Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper & the entire cast and crew!!! An Academy Award winner. Too bad “Hollywood” will ignore this screen masterpiece for some silly, forgetable, $30M produced film that lost tons of money!!!
Felt no need to read 50 Shades since bubbling rage is a dangerous emotion I try to avoid.
Rough sex is not “domestic violence”, amusing that both feminazis and puritans are criticizing the “film” on that same basis. Let’s not forgot, this was written by a woman for women, a lot of them have that as a fantasy.
How about criticizing it because it’s infantile garbage that originated as “Twilight” fan fiction?
Everyone I know who saw American Sniper loved it, that’s the one I’ll fork over cash to see, 50 Shades I’d pay money to avoid ;)
I was just commenting to a college girlfriend that pre-free love days women saved themselves for marriage....then came living together to make sure marriage would work, which meant less tolerance. Now in college many girls submit to lesbian and bisexual behaviors as the norm to experience and see which way makes them ‘feel’ the best. Next generation will probably gravitate to BSDM which I hear is already available in brothels in Europe and then they’ll all need extensive therapy to get through their past choices.
God is watching our choices even closer nowadays and I feel S&M is heading to S&G.
I don’t think we have to let this slide continue. There’s always going to be people who do a thing because it’s cool/brave/adventurous but increasingly we are being met with huge advertising budgets selling some woebegone broken down pile of poo. I know plenty of people who got burned by Twilight, but I don’t have any acquaintances who have read 50 Shades, more ominously there is no shortage of copies sitting on the shelf of the local library where there is still a waiting list for Harry Potter.
Much ado about nothing. This whole “50 Shades...” crap is nothing more than recycled kink for bored housewives.
Honestly, if one wants to see bondage, etc., a quick Google search will have you up to your ears in whatever you fancy.
Good move by “Jax” to back of starring in this crap.
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