Page 4 | Went to see Barbie last night…

NotAnotherMojito · 2023-07-24T06:36:30+00:00

Loved the costumes and some simple laughs… But generally, I thought the film was a bit dark and not quite what it seems. The feminist agenda, patriarchy, Ken’s long way to empowerment were the obvious points but I have also felt that the underlying message was that we are all a bit fed up with girl power and some of us just “want to be”. Same for men - some are happy not to be masters of this world and tired of masculinity expectations. They do not know what they want anymore and they are holding on to the idea of patriarchy like a comfort blanket. Not sure I have worded this very well early in the day but somehow instead of reinforcing feminist agenda, the film has left me confused. Is it ok not to aspire to be anything special (or only if you look like Stereotypical Barbie)?

Babybabybabyy · 24/07/2023 23:22

Was a bit of a let down! I also left a bit confused what the point was.. I wasn’t even sure what Barbie was planning to choose to do at the end because it just all seemed such a mess 🤔😂 I liked the first part but when it came to all the Ken’s arguing on the beach I started losing interest. My friend turned to me about 2 minutes later and said she was getting bored of it too! There were one or two good points in it but it just sort of went round in circles and I didn’t even find it funny really other than literally one or two things that happened

Babybabybabyy · 24/07/2023 23:25

I also think it should probably have either been a kids film/PG or completely an adult’s film but it was a 12A and a lot of it wouldn’t have interested kids at all. Before it I was thinking why didn’t they just make a shorter version suitable for kids and cut any bad bits out but when you saw the whole storyline it really wasn’t the type of film you could do that with 🤔 Would have been better if it was shorter overall and if they’d been able to cut a few bits out to have one version kids could have watched, given it will interest kids more than a lot of adults

Doyoumind · 24/07/2023 23:45

Babybabybabyy · 24/07/2023 23:25

I also think it should probably have either been a kids film/PG or completely an adult’s film but it was a 12A and a lot of it wouldn’t have interested kids at all. Before it I was thinking why didn’t they just make a shorter version suitable for kids and cut any bad bits out but when you saw the whole storyline it really wasn’t the type of film you could do that with 🤔 Would have been better if it was shorter overall and if they’d been able to cut a few bits out to have one version kids could have watched, given it will interest kids more than a lot of adults

Why did it need to be a film for kids. There are other Barbie films made for children

It had a massive opening weekend. As a film for children, it would never have come close to achieving the same level of interest or profit.

CarpeVitam · 24/07/2023 23:58

onefinemess · 24/07/2023 08:05

I think you need to move on from this idea of patriarchy, it's not something that exists in today's world, not sure if it ever did. I mean, how dare those bastard men go out to work keeping the sewers clean, and how dare they not let any women work down there. And the men who refuse to let us go out and dig the ditches on the roadside, and fill all the potholes, not to mention that every single one of them are rich, powerful, have influence, one of them have to work in minimum wage jobs, none of them are unemployed or homeless. Misogynistic bastards, each and every single one.

As I said, the patriarchy just doesn't exist.

However, we have fucked over an entire generation of kids and we will have to deal with the damage.

We told them they were the most important people in the room, that they could be anything they wanted to be and if they didn't "achieve" their God like status, it was someone else's fault, not theirs. All they had to do was participate, christ! we even gave them medals for it!

Everybody can't be rich and famous and live in mansions and drive supercars. If they were, we wouldn't know who was famous, and there wouldn't be anyone doing "ordinary" jobs to supply the glitterati with their mansions or cars. You can't buy something if nobody is making it, no factory workers, no supercars.

I think being "ordinary" is normal, it's healthy, but telling children that it's not OK to just be OK is what's causing all the problems.

That movie was awful.

"Patriarchy doesn't exist."

Thanks for laugh! 🙄🤣🙄🤣🙄

charabang · 25/07/2023 00:41

I went to see Barbie tonight. Now I want pink Birkinstocks.

BodgerLovesMashedPotato · 25/07/2023 02:13

I was completely ",meh" to Barbie film, had no interest whatsoever.as I've never been a girly girl ,(for want of a better expression) or a Barbie fan.
From what I have read reviews wise though she's suffering from anxiety and the feminism and patriarchy slant sounds interesting. Need to.wach

Babybabybabyy · 25/07/2023 06:49

@Doyoumind because its barbie 🤔 a children’s toy?

Zoopet · 25/07/2023 06:58

I went to see Barbie last night.
I fell asleep....

hopeishere · 25/07/2023 07:00

I thought it was ok. But not amazing. I had zero expectations, knew nothing about the plot. Best line was "mothers stand still so their daughters can see how far they have come".

CaptainMyCaptain · 25/07/2023 07:07

Babybabybabyy · 25/07/2023 06:49

@Doyoumind because its barbie 🤔 a children’s toy?

But the children who played with Barbie grow up and have memories and their children grow up and they have feelings about that. The film was more about that imo.

BorneoBound · 25/07/2023 07:12

I went yesterday with my mum and 12yo DD. We thought it was good! It definitely sparked discussions about sexism in the car on the ride home. We had a great giggle, loved the costumes and sets. I thought it was thought provoking for some, particularly when the Ken's weren't allowed a high up political role but were pacified with a couple of judge positions because they still have a way to go to be equal

Vettrianofan · 25/07/2023 07:13

Was going to take my DC, all four of them laughed and said no chance.

KitBumbleB · 25/07/2023 07:16

onefinemess · 24/07/2023 08:05

I think you need to move on from this idea of patriarchy, it's not something that exists in today's world, not sure if it ever did. I mean, how dare those bastard men go out to work keeping the sewers clean, and how dare they not let any women work down there. And the men who refuse to let us go out and dig the ditches on the roadside, and fill all the potholes, not to mention that every single one of them are rich, powerful, have influence, one of them have to work in minimum wage jobs, none of them are unemployed or homeless. Misogynistic bastards, each and every single one.

As I said, the patriarchy just doesn't exist.

However, we have fucked over an entire generation of kids and we will have to deal with the damage.

We told them they were the most important people in the room, that they could be anything they wanted to be and if they didn't "achieve" their God like status, it was someone else's fault, not theirs. All they had to do was participate, christ! we even gave them medals for it!

Everybody can't be rich and famous and live in mansions and drive supercars. If they were, we wouldn't know who was famous, and there wouldn't be anyone doing "ordinary" jobs to supply the glitterati with their mansions or cars. You can't buy something if nobody is making it, no factory workers, no supercars.

I think being "ordinary" is normal, it's healthy, but telling children that it's not OK to just be OK is what's causing all the problems.

That movie was awful.

Hi Ken!

AgathaSpencerGregson · 25/07/2023 07:19

Malarandras · 24/07/2023 08:58

Try telling women and girls in Afghanistan that the patriarchy ‘just doesn’t exist’. Let us know how you get on.

This was my thought too.
some people are very insular.

Blahblahgingerbreadlady · 30/07/2023 19:53

I actually thought it was fab. Yes women should definitely be ok as they are..:

Blahblahgingerbreadlady · 30/07/2023 19:54

KitBumbleB · 25/07/2023 07:16

Hi Ken!

Show quote history

Don’t diss Ken, he understood more than that poster 😂

Beignet · 30/07/2023 20:29

Annachristie · 24/07/2023 08:11

I haven't seen it (not going to) but can't help wondering how much Mattel paid Google to have the front page in pink font and explode with pink stars when you search for Barbie or Margot Robbie.

I just had to check this - you're right! I'm quite impressed with it.

MistyGreenAndBlue · 30/07/2023 21:03

Beignet · 30/07/2023 20:29

I just had to check this - you're right! I'm quite impressed with it.

Show quote history

Google do this a lot
Google "Cat" or any of the Friends characters (have to touch their icon with those - Ross's sofa is good)
And look up Mordor on Google maps and ask for the walking directions.

😂

LadyBird1973 · 30/07/2023 21:25

@onefinemess of course patriarchy exists - the world is set up to make life easier for men as a class and harder for women as a class, even if not all men are having easy lives and not all women are having hard ones!

I enjoyed the film but a nagging thought is that in our ultra consumerist culture, Mattel have just harnessed feminism as a tool to sell more Barbies. It was a toy which had lost some of its appeal.

If Barbie was designed to inspire ordinary little girls, why make her look like a goddess? Might it not have been more inspirational if Barbie had looked more like us from the get go? Idk, cynical me feels like this is a rewrite of history by Mattel, to just flog us more stuff.

WildUnchartedWaters · 02/08/2023 00:28

AgathaSpencerGregson · 25/07/2023 07:19

This was my thought too.
some people are very insular.

Show quote history

Try telling anyone In pretty much any country

I'm not taking away mens struggles. I'm really passionate about male mental health.

But denying the patriarchy.
Were those posters given away by their father at their wedding?

WildUnchartedWaters · 02/08/2023 00:29

LadyBird1973 · 30/07/2023 21:25

@onefinemess of course patriarchy exists - the world is set up to make life easier for men as a class and harder for women as a class, even if not all men are having easy lives and not all women are having hard ones!

I enjoyed the film but a nagging thought is that in our ultra consumerist culture, Mattel have just harnessed feminism as a tool to sell more Barbies. It was a toy which had lost some of its appeal.

If Barbie was designed to inspire ordinary little girls, why make her look like a goddess? Might it not have been more inspirational if Barbie had looked more like us from the get go? Idk, cynical me feels like this is a rewrite of history by Mattel, to just flog us more stuff.

I personally thought that was the point .

Barbie is aesthetically pretty (or Margot is). That's the point.

HelpNeededBeforeIHaveABreakdown · 02/08/2023 02:54

stayathomer · 24/07/2023 19:30

onefinemess
I don't agree that the patriarchy doesn't exist, it's just a lot less in western countries. I do agree with so many of your points and think people calling you a troll need to calm down. The 'you can be anything you want to be' is letting this generation down, big time. Hugely. We have let this generation down by trying to even out all the wrongs done in the past and as a result we have over compensated and caused enough confusion to hurt people's mh.

They are just better at hiding it.

anotherside · 02/08/2023 03:58

@HelpNeededBeforeIHaveABreakdown

Arguably one of the most harmful pieces of advice we’ve given young people is this idea that happiness can be achieved by “pursuing your dreams” or “doing what you love” - which inevitably leads to disappointment for 99% of people, as it invites people who aren’t particularly creative to fantasise about being a famous actor/musician/YouTube celebrity etc. Instead the sensible way to a sense of fulfilment, meaning and happiness is finding out what you’re actually good at (relative to others) and pursuing that.

mathanxiety · 02/08/2023 04:15

Hellostrawberries · 24/07/2023 07:57

First of all, you've given away the key 'surprise element' of the film so I think you should put a spoiler alert in your thread title. I actually loved that message. To me it was about true equality rather than feminism. Women understanding men and men understanding women. And how can you argue against the notion of being who you want to be?

And feminism isn't about true equality?

autienotnaughti · 02/08/2023 04:27

It was a good film which explored patriarch, matriarchy and equality whilst having a few laughs and digs at society.

Of course patriarchy is still a fixture/issue in western society anymore saying otherwise is deluded.

Feminisms end goal is equality buts its climb to get there is about the empowerment of females .