re: Star Wars: TROS - Non spoiler reviews and box office watch - Passes 500 mil, domestically

quote:

---

Why do these writers and directors refuse to entertain the idea that a female hero can show an ounce of weakness and it would be ok?

---

Because the Outrage Brigade would come at them with the full power of their cancel culture.

quote:

---

Because the Outrage Brigade would come at them with the full power of their cancel culture.

---

Well, then they miss out on well-written characters.

quote:

---

Ah ok. I figured that would be the case even if it were true. Still cool though.

---

I've always liked the character and It's my oldest daughters favorite.. She'll be with me Friday so I'm hoping she'll be surprised to see said character on screen..

That said, my expectations are pretty low for this film, I'm just hoping there's enough pleasant surprises in it to where i don't completely hate it.

quote:

---

The actress is also herself very annoying

---

Tagging this on to your previous point weakens the point. It makes your point read like you can't separate a performance from a personality. And not a criminal or horrible personality, but one that you just think is annoying. You might better make this point by giving us a couple reasons why Rey is unlikeable, outside of the irrelevant personality of the actor who portrays her.

quote:

---

It makes your point read like you can't separate a performance from a personality.

---

Whatever. I don't care.

also lol at the ending scene.

what an embarrassment, the series became

quote:

---

Why do these writers and directors refuse to entertain the idea that a female hero can show an ounce of weakness and it would be ok?



Fear of the SJW Twitter lynch mob.

---

Whereas the precursors of the women kick arse club were all super flawed people. Ripley from Aliens, Buffy from BtVS, and Sarah Connor from the Terminator all made mistakes and heavily doubted themselves.

It is why we remember those characters fondly. Not because they could kick arse, but because they were profoundly imperfect doing so.

Hell, feminist icon Xena Warrior Princess screwed up and showed vulnerability all the time.

It isn't just female characters mind you. My favorite John Wayne characters are from the Quiet Man, the Searches, and True Grit. Why? Because they were characters with some deep flaws that had to overcome them.

We don't like perfect people. We prefer our humans to be a little more human thank you.

Having Rey be wonderful at all times makes it damn near impossible to relate to her.

Heroes having flaws or doubts or even weaknesses makes them endearing and relatable. Because that's how human beings are.

It's easier to picture yourself as a hero if you see it's OK for a hero to not be 100% perfect and capable at all times.

Luke getting his arse absolutely kicked by Vader in ESB is one of the most powerful moments in Star Wars. Luke, missing a hand and facing certain death, desperately clinging to a few wires on the bottom of space station is about as low as you can get.

It's what makes his ultimate triumph and journey so satisfying.

People in general do not root for somebody who always wins.

quote:

---

We don't like perfect people. We prefer our humans to be a little more human thank you.

Having Rey be wonderful at all times makes it damn near impossible to relate to her.

---

Even though Captain Marvel wasn't human, this is the same reason that Captain Marvel sucked.

Having a female lead isn't a problem whatsoever. Alien and Aliens are two of my favorite movies of all time because of Ripley, not in spite of her. Part of what made Alien and Aliens such great movies is that Ripley's fear was palpable, and the audience could imagine themselves being in that same situation. The scene in Aliens where Ripley goes into the hive to rescue Newt is cinematic gold. The shot where she closes her eyes right before the elevator gets to the bottom...a quick moment, but perfectly captures the feeling of "holy shite, am I really about to do this?" That makes the experience real and relatable. Ripley is human. She isn't an invincible badass ready to stomp some alien arse.

The problem is having a protagonist (male or female) that the audience cannot relate to whatsoever. The job of a protagonist is to provide a perspective that makes the story relatable to the audience.

Protagonists aren't meant to be like your favorite sports team. We want our favorite teams to be perfect and beat everyone while we cheer them on.

Books/movies/etc. are not meant to be "rah rah" (or in some cases, "you go girl!") experiences. I mean, they can be. Writers and directors can come up with whatever stories they want. But audiences aren't under any obligation to like them.

Ripley and Sarah Conner are the best two kick arse action women of all time because their presentation feels genuine and they feel like real women with real emotions and vulnerabilities.