Women in action film...

[JordanB]

Hi, Hopefully you guys can help me! I am a media studies student and for my critical research project I am finding out about women in action films. I am asking for your help as I have to ask others opinions and not just quotes from books/articles etc...



The question I need to ask you is ;



"(In your opinion) How has the representation of women changed in the action film genre over the last 30 years?"



Answering this question would be much appreciated.



Jordan

[batman]

How would you answer the question? What films have you watched or intend to watch to help you formulate your own ideas?

[JordanB]

I would talk about Terminator and how that changed from the first where Sarah Connor was a weak character who relied on a man to help her, then in the second film she was strong and knew how to use weapons and stand up for herself etc. (Had less fear). After Terminator I would compare it with more recent films such as Charlie's Angels and how these women reflect the male gaze but are still strong powerful women, but have stereotypical aspects to the film. Another film would be Tomb Raider and how Lara Croft is an independant strong woman, with masculine aspects to the way she dresses etc.



So, In the last 30 years do you think representation of women has changed in action film, what films can be examples of the change? or examples to show it hasn't changed and that women still need to be rescued by a man and be the sexual object to the male audience?

[batman]

And as this Britmovie .... do you plan to include any British films in your research?

[GRAEME]

name='JordanB']I would talk about Terminator and how that changed from the first where Sarah Connor was a weak character who relied on a man to help her, then in the second film she was strong and knew how to use weapons and stand up for herself etc. (Had less fear). After Terminator I would compare it with more recent films such as Charlie's Angels and how these women reflect the male gaze but are still strong powerful women, but have stereotypical aspects to the film. Another film would be Tomb Raider and how Lara Croft is an independant strong woman, with masculine aspects to the way she dresses etc.



So, In the last 30 years do you think representation of women has changed in action film, what films can be examples of the change? or examples to show it hasn't changed and that women still need to be rescued by a man and be the sexual object to the male audience?

Terminator is important - but surely the key texts here are the Alien quartet. Ripley broke the mould of women in action films before Sa-rah Con-nah.

[penfold]

Other examples for you; the film, that you could argue made it allowable for a female action heroine to be in a Hollywood film, is Alien in '79. Ripley led the way - before that, if you were lucky, you had feisty, rather than heroic, cf Princess Leia. The same description also applies to the Karen Allen character in Raiders, though she was able to cut through stereotypes by being a heavy drinking bar-room brawler who looked good in a dress.....and don't overlook the Sandahl Bergman/Brigitte Nielsen roles in the Conan films of the early eighties.....

[JordanB]

name='batman']And as this Britmovie .... do you plan to include any British films in your research?

if you don't want to be help then thats fine, hopefully someone else won't question me for asking simply for your ideas. As a film site I thought you may be opinionated in the subject, I understand it is a Brit movie site but hey I'm from Britain lol! If you are offended I've come onto this website then ignor me don't keep asking me questions about the topic if you have no intention of replying to the question. Sorry if I've taken it the wrong way, but theres no reason to be rude.

[JordanB]

Yes, I agree Alien would be the first but isn't that a different genre? science fiction?

[Nick Dando]

It's still an action film. It doesn't matter what the main style of the the film is as, arguably, it could be considered to be a haunted house thriller, too.

[Steve Crook]

name='JordanB']Sorry if I've taken it the wrong way, but theres no reason to be rude.

And there's no need for you to be rude or even to assume that he is being rude either. Batman just asked a question.



This is a site about British films, although we have members from all around the world. Your own nationality doesn't really matter. It's British films we talk about



If Batman hadn't asked that question someone else would have, I would have.



Steve

[James Fox]

Speaking of women in British action films, I just saw Neil Marshall's "Doomsday." Although I didn't like it as much as his previous films (I've no doubt this was pitched to the studio as "Escape From NY" meets "Mad Max" meets "28 Days Later" ), the character of Eden (The Major) is pretty badass.

[JordanB]

So does anybody think women in action film has changed?

[penfold]

Yes they have, but I haven't detected much change in the last 25 years, say - there was quite an abrupt change - around thirty years ago, in fact - that allowed women to be action heroes too. The recent fashion for comic-book based films, the X-Men series for example, have given more scope for this, but that element was in the comic books earlier than in film....at least back to the 60's. IMHO.

[batman]

name='JordanB'] Sorry if I've taken it the wrong way, but theres no reason to be rude.

You have taken it the wrong way.



I asked the questions because I wanted to know more of your own views etc. so that I could perhaps offer some alternatives. I didn't instantly come back to you because I had to get some sleep because I am working tonight!

[GRAEME]

One way of charting the change would be to look at the role of women in Bond movies - arguably the genesis of the "action genre" if there really is such a thing. They go from being pretty, passive and victims to kicking and fighting in their own right and arguably back again (?). I didn't watch much of the Brosnan era but that could provide a clue.



Interestingly women are often largely absent in true action movies - ie the stallone/Arnie/Dolph muscle fests - we are after all meant to gaze adoringly at the bloke's body in those movies!

[Mark O]

name='JordanB']So does anybody think women in action film has changed?

Not a Movie, but I'd regard 'Widows', 'Widows II', and 'She's out', as action roles for Women.......

[GRAEME]

IIRC there have been several other recent threads about this topic - check 'em out!

[moonfleet]

Who wants to kill Bill ???



Beatrice Kido aka Black Mamba !!



One of the greatest character, IMO, who took the usual place devoted to males in action/vengeance (and humour) movies......



Moon.

[ram4553]

name='GRAEME']One way of charting the change would be to look at the role of women in Bond movies...

I'm also taking GRAEME's approach, in a way, as a reference point.



There was sort've a seismic shift from Bond girls becoming female versions of Bond. They now kick ass and still look terrific in leather or less. They are as formidable physically and mentally as men (maybe deadlier than the male? <lol>. They are sexually forward (aggressive?) as opposed to sex objects.



I'm reaching a bit further back when I recall Barbarella (1968). Sci-fi, sci-fant, sci-fi-fant-soft-core-porn...whatever. It had plenty of action. Jump ahead to Barb Wire (1996). Sex kitten evolved to sexy killer?



(Hmm. Jane Fonda and Pam Anderson. That would make for an interesting panel.)



Examples to varying degrees: Pam Grier, Sigourney Weaver (Alien franchise), Carrie Anne Moss (Matrix franchise), Angelina Jolie (Lara Croft franchise), Uma Thurman (the Kill Bills). Crouching Tiger and others in that vein.



Maybe less emphasis on romance/sex lately in some scripts (eg The Kingdom, some films by Carpenter and Bigelow.



I'd give this angle more thought, but I'm wondering about the parameters in which women are "allowed" to be front-and-center in action movies. Often seems there's a maternal instinct/kid involved involved to justify their actions (eg Terminator, Aliens even Cassavetes' Gloria ). I dunno, maybe this is more palatable at the box office? Sexy mamas that are traditional and ground-breakers?



I also think, despite its lameness, TV can be a step ahead culturally and socially. Think Emma Peel, Honey West, etc.

[moonfleet]

Yes, yes, yes , there are very good and strong women's characters in John Carpenter's movies !!!!.......just say Halloween, Fog, Mouth of Madness, Vampires, Ghost of Mars (a matriarcal government !!), Prince of Darkness......the most non-macho action films director ??

But, he had a an excuse, he was in love for somes (Adrienne Barbeau )



Moon.