Best Movie of the Year: What's your take?

Anneke:

All men are eventually defeated by women.

[Isa]

Originally posted by OneSockChef:
[b]I am all for Chocolat! Yes it was just a simple little fable, but what is wrong with that? It made me feel happy. It made me go home and bake a chocolate tart, so it even made my husband and son who didn't go see it with me happy...B]

You are absolutly right. Wonderful film, beautifully shot too. And I won't even talk about the chocolate. Plus, you can take it on so many different levels.

Thanks Iza

[BevReview Steve]

CHOCOLAT - Haven't seen it yet

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON - As a fan of Hong Kong martial arts films, want to see this badly, but haven't. Heard very good things about it.

ERIN BROKOVICH - Well, this was based on a true story, and the person in the story did, um, have a clevage issue. It was a well done film though, and I enjoyed it, however I don't think it's in the caliber of the rest of this bunch.

GLADIATOR - As a movie buff friend of mine always says, it's epic, and the Academy likes epic. Personally, I found it a little non-historical, which bugged me a little. A little over the top too.

TRAFFIC - Saw this movie on Tuesday. Wow. Artistically, a winner. Haunting and somewhat depressing, but a very stark look at the drug issues of North America. Very powerful. If I'm not swayed by Tiger after I see that, my vote would be for Traffic.

[mudbug]

LOL! (Good one Crudeau)

Ok. For the record, here's my take on the comment regarding "feminism" in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

According to the American Heritage Dictionary:

fem·i·nist
A person whose beliefs and behavior are based on feminism.

fem·i·nism
1. The movement to win social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.
2. The movement organized around this belief.

I am well aware of the fact that a few critics are describing a "feminist bent" in this film. I do not believe however, that just because a woman is strong and successful or good at what she does, be it cooking, martial arts, raising children, or accounting that feminism is in action. We as human beings are all human beings. We just happen to label and classify eachother because it's our inherent nature to do so, whether it's the color of a person's skin, weight, hair color, height or where they were born.

What bothers me is that it is only pointed out because they are women. No one would be saying a thing if the same film had all male leads (obviously).

I don't see this film as feministic. Why? Because the female characters are not publicly demonstrating or imposing their beliefs or strengths onto others for the sake of female equality. They don't actively recruit other females or publicly protest for equality because they are women. In fact, they go to great lengths to remain subservient and honor the ancient traditions of their culture in their roles as females. Their training has been done in secret because it wouldn't be readily accepted in that culture. They (the characters) are people who just happen to be women.

G.I. Jane and Buffy the Vampire Slayer are more feministic in my opinion.

As far as the tree scene. I feel the viewer has to give in to the mythological aspects of the study of having mastered the specific form of martial arts referred to in this film.

And why isn't there an antonym for "feminist"?

To quote the words of someone we all know..."This is my opinion... I could be wrong!"

CCHIU:

I agree with a lot of your comments about feminism. I don't think we will have arrived until we stop classifying people, i.e. the first WOMAN astronaut, or the first BLACK Secretary of State, etc. We will have arrived when such distinctions don't matter. However, I have my serious doubts as to whether we will ever ARRIVE.

IMHO, we have progressed greatly technologically, but we are still close to the Stone Age sociologically.

The opposite of feminism is masculinism (which nobody has ever heard of).

[Anneke]

I think the opposite of feminist is misogynist (sp?).

Ok, I think what you are saying makes a lot of sense IF you were talking about reality. Which we are not. This is a fictional story. The ensemble of characters represent a certain microcosm if you will, which is not representative in terms of gender balance of any warrior society. The point of any art work - including movies - is (or at least should be) to get some kind of a message accross. What exactly is the author saying in this movie? I have no problem with female warriors except that they were virtually non-existant! If you discount the fact that there are so many of them in this movie than one can only attribute it to the author's desire to make a chick-flik, which I think would be underestimating the author.

So if we establish that there is a reason for all these warrior women in this movie, what is its significance? The obvious one is the feminist message. Personnaly I think that it's more subtle than that. I just wish that vehicle hadn't been used. Though this is a fantasy story, it's too outragously historically inacurate.

Once agian I'd like to reiterate that I liked the movie.

[ 02-16-2001: Message edited by: Anneke ]

[shroomgirl]

They flew!!!
I didn't think of it as having feminist overtones at all....it kept my attention throughout. Now if they would only have had an easier name to remember.
Crowe was hot though.

Shroom:

Just thank your lucky stars that they didn't use the Chinese name for the movie...Wo hu zang long

[ 02-16-2001: Message edited by: Crudeau ]

Woof, woof!!!

[ 02-17-2001: Message edited by: Crudeau ]

ABC News:

"Hannibal Devours the Competition Again"

"Hannibal Cannibalizes Costner"

"Hannibal tops the box office for a third straight week, devouring this weekend's two newcomers."

[Papa]

You just made me realize that I have not seen any movies in the past seven years!

[Nicko]

That is classic Papa. You are true Greek. When I was living in Greece no one went to the movies. We sat around and talked or someone played guitar and everyone sang songs and danced. In your case you are problably tasting some olive oil.

[mudbug]

I finally looked up "misogyny"

mi·sog·y·ny (m-sj-n) n.

Hatred of women: “Every organized patriarchal religion works overtime to contribute its own brand of misogyny” (Robin Morgan).

Interesting...

[Nicko]

Cchui can you explain what that has to do with this topic? This is best movie of the year? I just don't understand where you are coming from...