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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

Skyfall... Most Sexist film ever?? *spoliers*

46 replies

jiminyCrick · 15/11/2012 21:04

So, I went to see Skyfall last weekend. It was so-so (I did enjoy Casino Royale, but not really any other Bonds)

The film ended and I sat there with my mouth literally hanging open in shock. So to sum up...three main female characters:

One shoots him and becomes a secretary as she can't "handle" field work.
One is an ex-prostitute who he sleeps with and then watches whilst she is shot and killed (and takes a shot himself, hey, you win some you lose some)
One left, the female hope. Oh no wait, she's accused of being shit at her job and is ultimately replaced by a man after being killed.

So the only remaining woman is in the role of secretary (now nothing wrong with being a secretary...but..come ON!) and bond may or may not have had sex with.

you see another woman in the film, but he is just having sex with her.

Yes, not the most important thing in the world..but it's 2012!! How can a film like this be made? How does no one mind?? WTF?

Someone tell me i'm being paranoid please.

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germyrabbit · 15/11/2012 21:06

there was another thread about this, depressing isn't it, nor is it suprising for james bond though is it.

and daniel craig is a bit of a midget

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CoteDAzur · 15/11/2012 21:11

You just realized that James Bond films are sexist?

There was another woman in the film. You know, the one running MI6.

It's also significant that you haven't registered Judi Dench as a "woman". Why do you think that is?

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TomsBentPinky · 15/11/2012 21:14

Mr Craig looks like a hobbit.

Awful films.

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jiminyCrick · 15/11/2012 21:16

ummm...yes...judi Dench is referred to as "the female hope" above. The one who is nearly booted out of her job and then replaced by a man when she is killed...so... Tbh, that was the bit that shocked me the most. I know Bonds are sexist, but I kind of thought, well, token woman, it's ok. She's the real power here anyway...oh...wait...WHAT??

I know Bonds are sexist...BUT IT'S 2012!! Normally his "sexy sidekick" assists him in someway and he has some sort of emotion towards her, not just some mans wife that he shags before taking a shot at her, or some woman who is so shit she shoots hims by mistake...

I didn't see the other thread on this, not been on for a while, it would be interesting to read.

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CoteDAzur · 15/11/2012 21:20

Ah I thought "female hope" may have been someone else I haven't noticed _ because I may have slept through some of it_.

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CoteDAzur · 15/11/2012 21:21

because I may have slept through some of it, rather.

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Flicktheswitch · 15/11/2012 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jiminyCrick · 15/11/2012 21:27

LOL at CoteDAzur! I wish i'd slept through most of it.

Yes guys, it's james bond, so it's ok to give that message out?

Come on, that's not an excuse.

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jiminyCrick · 15/11/2012 21:30

and again IT'S 2012!!!

Seriously, if someone has a reputation for being a dick, it's not an excuse for them to continue, is it??

"Oh, you mean Peter Sutcliffe killed someone again? Well, Like D'UH!! it's PETER SUTCLIFFE!! What do you expect you doodoo brain??"

Maybe a bit harsh and OTT, but you get my point!

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B1ueberryMuff1n · 15/11/2012 21:31

I refer to the post that says 'urr it's james bond' !

I went to see this with my bf and there were rows and rows of podgy pasty hairy badly dressed young men. I hope they enjoyed the FANTASY

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SomersetONeil · 15/11/2012 21:34

Hi jiminy - there have been several threads on Bond/Skyfall in this forum now. You're not being paranoid, everyone else with a brain cell has noticed it as well.

I don't think people saying, 'well, it's James Bond' mean that it's an excuse. Just that James Bond films always have been deeply sexist. This isn't a revelation to anyone, really. And another reason as to why you're not being paranoid. Wink

Google Giles Coren for a good commentary.

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Cadmum · 15/11/2012 21:34

I could not get beyond the fact that Bond had sex with a woman he rightfully identified earlier as having been trafficked as a child. Vile!!

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jiminyCrick · 15/11/2012 21:36

But it's not OK!! everyone i've spoken to says "yeah, it's James Bond"
...but IT'S NOT OK!!

Fantasy is fine, you know, having a hot car (supposedly) hot bod, they made Bond a little vunerable and accessible...grand. But why no strong women? Why push that idea in a mans head?? Or ANYONES head?

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jiminyCrick · 15/11/2012 21:37

Thanks Somerset, I will!

Sorry, I don't mean to be dull, I just wanted to ask other peoples opinion!

And Cadmum...yes, YEUGH!

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jiminyCrick · 15/11/2012 21:41

"Coren says Bond?s seduction of Bérénice Marlohe is ?so vile, sexist and sad that it made me feel physically sick ... he creeps uninvited into her shower cubicle, like Jimmy Savile, and silently screws her because he is bored?. Her subsequent murder he compares to ?disgusting, exploitative, 1970s-style death-porn?.

Ha! Spot on! Thanks Somerset for this! (I don't get much chance to read papaers etc, totally missed this!)

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SomersetONeil · 15/11/2012 21:44
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jiminyCrick · 15/11/2012 21:48

Phew. I am glad there are some people out there with sense and brain cells. My friends were starting to kill me a little... "but it's bond! It's amazing!"

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ecclesvet · 15/11/2012 22:02

You missed the female MP, who was of course a total bitch.

Does the film pass the Bechdel test? There's the inquiry scene where M and the MP are talking, and the scene where M and the female field agent are communicating about the chase...

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jiminyCrick · 15/11/2012 22:19

oh yes her, totally forgot about her.

I'm not sure it does you know. Possibly. POSSIBLY. By the skin of its teeth. But not really.

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ConsiderCasey · 15/11/2012 22:53

I reckon an interesting extra step to add to the Bechdel Test would be the question "do the two female characters talk to each other in a non-combative way?"

because on the rare occasions that women are shown talking to each other they are often portrayed as hyper-competitive and not at all sisterly. This James Bond film comes to mind, as does Merlin, Outnumbered, oh could go on forever...

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jiminyCrick · 15/11/2012 22:57

Hear Hear.

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hmc · 15/11/2012 23:04

I think I will still go and see this - to judge for myself, but I don't doubt that you make valid points, and thank you, I will definitely not be taking my impressionable dc now

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samandi · 19/11/2012 12:43

Well, it is being touted as a return to ?classic Bond? ... Hmm Bit depressing that many of my male friends prefer it to the last two.

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Slumberparty · 19/11/2012 15:34

I saw this the other day (even tho I have never been a fan of Bond films) and was 'amused' at the scene where the woman Bond was shagging gets shot in the head and there is no reaction from Bond. Later in the film his car gets blown-up, then he is really angry....Hmm

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choceyes · 19/11/2012 15:49

Well I saw the film and I was in two minds about it.

M got killed and replaced by a man - why not? Does it matter what their genders were? I didn't think so.

The girl that JB shagged - yes her past was tragic and still held prisoner, but from what I saw she wanted JB, she was pleased when he showed up in the shower wasn't she? Is she not allowed to shag somebody she finds attractive?
And when JB seems unpertubed about her getting killed and the flippant comment about a waste of whiskey, isn't that what a field agent would do? Remain cool and calm? Surely getting emotional about it isn't going to help him do his job? It would be so out of character for him to have reacted in any other way I would have thought?

I was a bit depressed that the young black girl gave up field duty to become a secretary to be honest, and that really does't sit well with me at all. Although DH pointed out that being the secretary to the head of MI6 is not "just being a secretary", and maybe you could look at it that way. And surely no one forced her to become a secretary and it was her own choice too.

Did enjoy the film, but I didn't think there was much of a storyline to it though, not as gripping and tense as some of the others.

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