To think that Poor Things is actually a seriously fucked up film?

[AngeloMysterioso]

Spoilers obvs

Basic plot summary- pregnant woman trapped in an abusive marriage attempts suicide by jumping from a bridge. Frankenstein-type scientist retrieves her body, transplants the unborn baby’s brain into her head and brings her back to life. This child-woman is then basically abducted by a dodgy bloke who teaches her all about the joys of fucking, she very naively gives all their money away and because they are now broke and she enjoys sex so very much, she becomes a prostitute, whilst still having the mental age of a young child.

There’s no denying Emma Stone is brilliant in the role, but AIBU to think that it is otherwise one completely messed up Freudian nightmare of a movie?!

I’m not sure that people (who haven’t seen the film) saying that it sounds awful equates to the film being thought provoking.

@doyoumind has actually helpfully and humbly categorised herself as seem-analytical (could someone please explain what that means please?)

We're debating something that is purely subjective. I have already said everyone is entitled to their own opinion (unless they are making negative comments having never seen the film). I'm happy to disagree.

If you want to continue the debate, where is the evidence that it isn't thought provoking?

You’re asking for evidence of something not existing? 😂😂😂😂

In order to highlight the futility of the debate.

If the film had been thought provoking the level of our discussion would be very different. We would be exchanging ideas and the conversation would be inspired/inspiring instead of which it is just a one dimensional conversation with some of us agreeing with op that it was fucked up and others saying it wasn’t. What’s thought provoking about that?

I suppose if you are semi-analytical this is what passes for thought provoking.

A closed question isn't a great starting point for exchanging ideas and inspiring conversation, and certainly not in AIBU, imho.

What can't be disputed is that I found it thought provoking and your evaluation of that sentiment doesn't really matter to me.

I've not been on Mumsnet long but I'm recognising posters who are really anti men.

Yes!!! It is a terrible, sexist film. The protagonist who is meant to have a little girl's brain is sexualised from the very start and the scenes where she's having lots of sex she is still meant to have a girls brain of 7-12 or something?
Totally bizarre and gross. Great costumes but not much else going for it.

Well I saw it this evening. Thought Emma Stone was excellent. Creatively and visually the steam punk surreal Victorian theme was memorable. I can see how the book would have fitted into the Victorian science vs religion debate alongside Frankenstein and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Thought the amount of sex was gratuitous. Went to research about the book and seems like the film focuses much more on her sexual awakening than her political awakening which was a big part of the book. The ending of the film is also very different from the book and imho not for the better.

Interesting provoker of dedate though!

Really don't like the look of this or salt burn. Will be giving both a miss. Pity because I love Emma Stone.

There's plenty of them!

Saltburn is actually quite good too but if you only watch the tiktok scenes that are the most shocking you probably will hate that as well.

Bless. Someone else who can’t understand that people may dislike something.

I liked Saltburn.

I remember feeling quite.uncomfortable in the beginning of the film where we were introduced to Emma Stone in her toddler-like.stage and the medical student fancied her. DH felt the same. I remember thinking that the discomfort hit me hard because I have a toddler at the moment and we are experiencing her do very similar things/sounds Emma Stone was doing in the beginning of the film.

As the film went on, as she matures, you forget a little that it's still a baby's/child's brain in a woman's body, but ultimately if I think about it and stop being entranced by the fun steampunk visuals and see it for what it is, I still feel uncomfortable watching essentially a child go through such adult themes.

As I watched all the 2024 best picture nominated films I can recognise a film that is thought provoking. Ie I thought about what it all meant afterwards quite a bit.

Zone of interest - thought provoking
American fiction -thought provoking

Holdovers /past lives - great/okay but neither provoked much thought after. Neither did Oppenheimer or killers moon.

Poor things -main thought -I saw far too much of Emma stone's body and could have done without seeing mark ruffslo naked bar a corset thing.

I think most of the people on MN who come across as being anti men are actually anti men who are anti women, IFYSWIM.

It is true. It's a misandrists' paradise and it is extremely boring for those of us who have more balanced views.

Sleeves were good.

How's this relevant to a discussion on a film?

As PP said, imagine my surprise that this movie was made by men

1. Nothing problematic about men (even the ‘nice’ one) lusting after and having sex with a very innocent child, because she looked like Emma stone.
2. ofc she’d become a prostitute if she was short on money
3. Conveniently didn't get abused or STIs or pregnant
4. all ok because she went on a journey and was richer for the experience

Because the kneejerk reactions of 'misogynistic' are similar to the ones on all threads which mention the dynamic between men and women. Nobody so far has been able to give a satisfactory explanation of why they find the film misogynistic, just that it features a woman who has a lot of sex and wears pretty dresses. It reminds me of other threads where men and 'patriarchy' are blamed for absolutely everything, a lot of things being decisions that women make for themselves and that men barely even notice.

You can't really dictate what posters talk about even when it is off topic.

Some women see misogyny in everything.

You said that because the lead actress is pretty and enjoys sex it is for the male gaze. You do know that some women like to look nice and enjoy sex.