The Flick Filosopher responds:
I can't say the same for myself. I need more than pretty images and a cool soundtrack to enjoy a movie.

ctrevino@MIT.EDU continues:
Granted, there was objectification of women on the character of Lelou, but in my opinion all characters, men and women, were little more than stereotypes. So what? This is not a character drama, it's science fiction for God's sake!

The Flick Filosopher responds:
Why should science fiction be held to a lower standard than any other type of movie? The characters may have been stereotypes, as many film characters are, but I don't think it's unfair to say that men are more often stereotyped positively than women are. As a woman, I'd much rather watch women doing things for themselves than having to be rescued by men all the time.

ctrevino@MIT.EDU continues:
The technology seems incredible, lots of things happen for No Apparent Reason. So what? If you can't take things for granted go see biographies instead.

The Flick Filosopher responds:
Suspense of disbelief doesn't work that way. A movie should carry you away to the extent that you don't realize all the plot holes that are there until way after the movie is over. If a movie is so unengrossing and boring that picking it apart while you're watching it is more fun than the movie, there's something wrong.

ctrevino@MIT.EDU continues:
I agree the film is sexist, the argument implausible, the talent wasted. So what? I'd still go watch The Fifth Element again than Independence Day or Men in Black. By far.

The Flick Filosopher responds:
We are all entitled to our opinions. I stand by mine.

ctrevino@MIT.EDU continues:
On G.I. Jane:
"[...] and watched the end credits thinking that I'd just seen one of the best military movies ever made."
You got to be kidding me. Don't you really think the sequence when they disembark on Libya was a lot of nonsense? I mean it was just more of that shit depicting enemy soldiers as mental retards. You might as well tell me Rambo III was a great war movie.

The Flick Filosopher responds:
I didn't see the enemy acting stupidly. Where did you see that?

ctrevino@MIT.EDU continues:
"[...] G.I. Jane asks for nothing more, and nothing less, than equal rights for women in the military -- not special rights or double standards, which the film acknowledges only harm women in the end and keep them separate."
Hey, I couldn't agree more with you. However I don't think there would be too many women in the military if it wasn't for this double standard. Except maybe it's all the standards which are wrong to begin with. After all as it's been said so much, it doesn't take a lot of strenght to pull a trigger.

The Flick Filosopher responds:
Well, there are lots of men who can't measure up to military standards -- they don't belong in the military any more than the women who can't measure up. That said, we do need to ensure that the standards are fair to the needs of the military and not artificial barriers to keep women out. The standards for any job shouldn't be gender based -- if a person can do the job well, he or she should be allowed to perform it. That goes for cops, fire fighters, ballet dancers, astronauts, teachers, whatever.
And I think G.I Jane showed that it takes more than physical strength to be a capable soldier.

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MaryAnn Johanson.
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