Here’s the Hello Ladies guide to this summer’s most anticipated movies. From the previews, it is unlikely that many of them will pass the simple Bechdel Test. The Bechdel test has just three criteria. Does the movie:
- Have at least two women in it
- Who talk to each other
- About something besides a man?
“Hot Tub Time Machine” is about four guys who party in a hot tub then wake up in 1986. Even though it stars my teenage crush John Cusack, I think I’ll pass.
“Grown Ups” starring Adam Sandler is about five guys who bring their families together one summer. The movie’s tagline is “Boys will be boys… some longer than others.” Enough said.
“Jonah Hex” stars Josh Brolin as a badly scarred bounty hunter chasing a terrorist and Megan Fox as a prostitute with a gun. Riveting.
“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” might pass the test even though its another installment in the story of Edward stalking Bella. I’ll take Buffy any day.
“Knight and Day” stars Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz as a fugitive couple doing lots of stunts. It was filmed in Boston and for that reason alone I might go see it.
“The Last Airbender” M. Night Shyamalan, avatars, action, adventure – if anyone else can make any more sense of it let me know.
“Despicable Me” is an animated 3D film about the evil Gru (voice of Steve Carell) who is planning to steal the moon until he meets three orphan girls who have different plans for him. This one has potential.
“Salt” Angeline Jolie looks hot in pencil skirts playing a CIA agent who jumps on moving cars and trains.
What gives Hollywood? Is it too much to ask for a movie starring women that I can relate to? You know, something that speaks to the issues I care about: the plight of women across the globe, career, fashion, parenting. Oh wait. You tried that. And it sucked.
Update: Toy Story 3 is a great movie. Check it out.
That’s my plan Petrina – or watch it on Logo.
I think I’ll just go pop my Buffy DVD in the player and console myself with reruns.
I did hear they hired white actors to play Asian roles. Thanks for the info Fred.
I haven’t really been following this, so any other commenter, please feel free to correct me, but I can shed some light on “The Last Airbender” and suggest a reason to NOT go see it.
The movie “The Last Airbender” is based on an animated TV show called “Avatar: the Last Airbender.” It is not in any way, shape, or form related to “Avatar” the movie by James Cameron. For one thing, it’s a lot less racist. The TV series takes place in a pan-Asian fantasy world, where four tribes use magic of the elements to keep the balance of power. This process is overseen by the Avatar, a single adept who can “bend” (use the magic of) all the elements, and who has gone missing. The series is about finding the Avatar and restoring the balance. The series is owned by Nickelodeon, its creation owes a lot to anime, and although the two series creators are white men, they employed many knowledgeable Asian and female consultants in its creation, and I would say the series is refreshingly not anti-all my values. I recommend it.
But not the movie. As previously stated, the series is owned by Nickelodeon, and my understanding is that they sold the rights to the movie completely, and the series creators have no say. That is probably part of why the movie hired a bunch of unknown, white, and (from the trailer) bad actors to play all these Asian roles. From what I’ve heard, the series is gutted in the movie, and in a particularly racist and sexist way. Many of its followers (me included) are refusing to see the movie because of this.
Cool list, though. Thanks. I’ll probably check out “Despicable Me.”