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I think Michael Keaton is the worst Batman ever.
He’s a fine actor, but he never captured the requisite regality that billionaire Bruce Wayne needs. He’s not a physical presence, like Christian Bale or Val Kilmer, who could defeat terrorists or super villains.
I’ve never seen a movie starring Gal Gadot. I’ve yet to watch “Wonder Woman.” I’ve got plans to see it soon but I just don’t trust the moviemakers behind DC Comics films. My heart was broken with “Man of Steel.” No character development. No joy. No wonder. That bitter taste kept me out of the theater for “Suicide Squad” and “Batman v. Superman.”
As a child, if you told me a studio was going to make a movie starring Batman AND Superman, I would have done almost anything to see it. Now as a cynical 30-something adult, I have no problem with saving my time for better tasks. Like sleep or Facebook.
It’s been a week since “Wonder Woman” debuted, and there’s a buzz. The box office sales are outpacing projections. Women seem to really dig the movie. There’s hope that the movie’s success will encourage studios to make more movies with women superheroes. I hope that includes women of color. But I digress.
My cynicism is a special thing. I still have my doubts about “Wonder Woman.” I woke up early Saturday morning and started texting with my sister. She had seen the movie. This text sessions would allow me to be real, something I can’t always do with folks watching on social media. The exchange was a fun one, and both of us shared our expectations and if the movie met them.
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Women need to feel good about themselves in a way white men feel about themselves when they see any of the Superman or Batman movies. Men take this feeling of freedom for granted.
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See, I have no interest in spoiling the fun of women who desperately need Wonder Woman. This is a bit of a moment for movies. Women need to feel good about themselves in a way white men feel about themselves when they see any of the Superman or Batman movies. Men take this feeling of freedom for granted.
And for this, I’m more reserved about Diana Prince. I have opinions about the movie—good and bad—but they don’t matter as much, and I’m OK with it. Does Gadot look like Wonder Woman? That’s not for me to judge. Men speculated on her workout routine and commented on her body soon after Gadot was cast. Wonder Woman embodies hope; there’s no way she would put up with that objectification. Sure, actors have to look the part, but let’s not pretend we share the same equity. Men can’t use the same language and mindset with Gadot as I did when I was 11, when I was judging Keaton’s Batman. It’s apples and oranges. Male directors film with their male gaze. Fashion magazines body shame women. Internet comments are stuffed with sexist comments from males of all ages. And we are all worse because of it.
This isn’t about being a killjoy. It’s about understanding the system of inequality that’s led us up to this point. I hope “Wonder Woman” delivers. And if it doesn’t, that’s OK. I’m grateful that the next movie will. Ask Wonder Woman herself. She knows that victories come in different ways, not just by bludgeoning the opponent.
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Photo credit: IMDb
Men take this feeling of freedom for granted. I know its a bit of a no no to speak of women as a collective but how wonderful of you to tell what what freedoms men as a collective have. I suppose you’re trying to save me the trouble of thinking for myself. I have opinions about the movie—good and bad—but they don’t matter as much, and I’m OK with it. And I respect that. But you seem like you want to project how you as a man feel across men as a whole and dictate that we should all feel… Read more »
Funny. Growing up watching superhero movies, or any kind of male-led action hero movies always made me feel inadequate. The message in these movies has always been that if you’re from another planet, have some kind of awesome mutation, some incredible source of funding, and are really tall, well built, and good looking, you too can save the world and get the girl.
We have a little bit of a double-bind for men with this. I’m surprised nobody has commented on it yet. If men don’t go to see it in droves, we’ll be collectively accused of “misogyny” or having “fragile masculinity”. If we do go and see it in droves, I’m sure the accusations of “objectification” would start almost immediately. I’m looking forward to seeing it. I loved Wonder Woman as a kid – long before I even had sexual feelings for any woman. It was cool, it was fun and it didn’t take itself as seriously as some other shows from… Read more »
I get the impression Wonder Woman doesn’t give a shit about “objectification” (noone should) – only a handful of her fans.
We have a little bit of a double-bind for men with this. I’m surprised nobody has commented on it yet. If men don’t go to see it in droves, we’ll be collectively accused of “misogyny” or having “fragile masculinity”. If we do go and see it in droves, I’m sure the accusations of “objectification” would start almost immediately. Queue the objectification. Now that the movie has been out for 2 weekends I’m seeing people who were preemptively calling men fragile for not wanting to see the movie switch to saying men who saw the movie were objectifying her. But what… Read more »
Movies are movies, they entertain, no more, no less. Some movies will give us a message and/or food for thought but to say that any movie causes a person to feel good about him/herself, is a stretch. Wonder Woman is a fictional character, just as Batman and countless others.