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silverthunder) wrote2009-02-18 06:01 am
silverthunder) wrote2009-02-18 06:01 am
Push
So, on Sunday night, Cody and I went to see 'Push' with Ty and Anika.
I wasn't expecting much, so it was a pleasant surprise when the movie was actually pretty entertaining. It certainly had an interesting premise. I enjoyed the various types of abilities that were displayed, and the characters were likeable enough. The story was engaging, too. I enjoyed watching it. I'm actually hoping for a sequel.
The thing I kept thinking about through the whole movie was that this would've made a much better miniseries (or even full series) than a movie. Greater length would've given more time to explore the various abilities, introduce the various groups and organizations, and develop the various characters who come into the action. The pacing wasn't bad for how much they had in there, but it would've been much better if there had been more time to flesh things out and slowly integrate everything.
Note: I'm only critiquing this movie so harshly because I enjoyed it. I wouldn't go into this much depth on a movie I didn't feel had real potential. It certainaly wasn't anything revolutionary when it comes to how it treated the women in the cast, though. The female characters were fairly weak.
Kira, the main female and love interest to the main male, was a delicate girl, both her psyche and her person. She had a very interesting and strong power and the ability to kick some serious ass, but she was protected and sheltered throughout the movie, captured and used as a tool, and treated like a prize. She was not a character who moved the plot and created action around herself, but rather was a plot device used by other characters. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary for female treatment here.
Another thing to note in relation to Kira: if there is a 'special person' in a movie or series - someone who has a special power or ability or who holds the key to great things - this person is nearly always female, and if they are not, they are most likely a child. Often they are both of these things. The implication is that this person needs to be protected and/or fought over, and so they lean towards the stereotypically 'vulnerable' types to emphasize this. Children obviously fall into this category, and unfortunately, women are made to do so as well. If the special person is a grown man, then he is changing things with his power or abilities. If the special person is a woman or a child, the action is usually moved by using them, rather than them being the mover. It's an unfortunate cliche.
The second major female character is Cassie, who is 13 years old. Because she is a child, she's a bit of a different case. I fail to see why they needed to put her in a mini-skirt and knee-high boots, but that's a minor issue. It's clearly not done to sexualize her, but rather to create this 'punk kid' image. She has the attitude that Kira lacks, but she lacks the power and ability that Kira has. The Watchers are particularly vulnerable because they lack the means to act. They see things, and can direct others, but they are unable to take action unless they have great physical ability or a weapon of some sort (note also that all Watchers in the movie are female). Cassie moves some of the plot, but not a lot of the action. She is essentially reliant on others to defend her or to fight for her. This is a fairly typical stereotype due to her being both female and a child.
The other major female character is a villain - another Watcher. Again, she relies on the men with the aggressive abilities to carry out any action and to fight for her. Nothing really new. Her character isn't explored much - we only know that she is 'scary' and she has some daddy issues.
There are three other minor female characters that deserve mention. The first is a lady who helps Nick and Cassie to locate Kira - and then, later on, the case they are looking for. As her character is not really explored, it's difficult to say much about her. She seems to be fairly competent, and she's obviously made a career with her ability, but again, her power is passive and she is a secondary character with not a lot of impact on plot or action. The second is a minor villain who seems all right at the beginning and then ends up wanting to torture Nick to death. I didn't understand her motivation. She met him once when he was unconscious and now wants him to die horribly? I might understand a little if it was Cassie she hated, but even with her, there didn't seem to be much tension. She was just annoyed because she owed Cassie's mother a favor. I didn't get this character at all. They didn't make much effort to give her a believable personality.
The third is Cassie's mother. We see her at the beginning assisting Kira's escape, and she is referrenced throughout the movie as having set all of this in motion. She is a powerful Watcher, but she is still much like the other Watchers in the movie: reliant on others to carry out what she needs to have done. From what we hear of her, she seems fairly competent, and it would be interesting to see more of her. But due to the passive nature of her power, her role is not really an active one. We still don't understand the true nature of what she is doing as of the end of the movie. Why did she allow herself to be captured, if she is so powerful? What does she expect them to do? Will she be rescued, or will she escape?
I suspect there will be a sequel - or rather, I hope there will be. It probably depends on how much the movie brings in. I'll go see it if there is one.
I wasn't expecting much, so it was a pleasant surprise when the movie was actually pretty entertaining. It certainly had an interesting premise. I enjoyed the various types of abilities that were displayed, and the characters were likeable enough. The story was engaging, too. I enjoyed watching it. I'm actually hoping for a sequel.
The thing I kept thinking about through the whole movie was that this would've made a much better miniseries (or even full series) than a movie. Greater length would've given more time to explore the various abilities, introduce the various groups and organizations, and develop the various characters who come into the action. The pacing wasn't bad for how much they had in there, but it would've been much better if there had been more time to flesh things out and slowly integrate everything.
Note: I'm only critiquing this movie so harshly because I enjoyed it. I wouldn't go into this much depth on a movie I didn't feel had real potential. It certainaly wasn't anything revolutionary when it comes to how it treated the women in the cast, though. The female characters were fairly weak.
Kira, the main female and love interest to the main male, was a delicate girl, both her psyche and her person. She had a very interesting and strong power and the ability to kick some serious ass, but she was protected and sheltered throughout the movie, captured and used as a tool, and treated like a prize. She was not a character who moved the plot and created action around herself, but rather was a plot device used by other characters. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary for female treatment here.
Another thing to note in relation to Kira: if there is a 'special person' in a movie or series - someone who has a special power or ability or who holds the key to great things - this person is nearly always female, and if they are not, they are most likely a child. Often they are both of these things. The implication is that this person needs to be protected and/or fought over, and so they lean towards the stereotypically 'vulnerable' types to emphasize this. Children obviously fall into this category, and unfortunately, women are made to do so as well. If the special person is a grown man, then he is changing things with his power or abilities. If the special person is a woman or a child, the action is usually moved by using them, rather than them being the mover. It's an unfortunate cliche.
The second major female character is Cassie, who is 13 years old. Because she is a child, she's a bit of a different case. I fail to see why they needed to put her in a mini-skirt and knee-high boots, but that's a minor issue. It's clearly not done to sexualize her, but rather to create this 'punk kid' image. She has the attitude that Kira lacks, but she lacks the power and ability that Kira has. The Watchers are particularly vulnerable because they lack the means to act. They see things, and can direct others, but they are unable to take action unless they have great physical ability or a weapon of some sort (note also that all Watchers in the movie are female). Cassie moves some of the plot, but not a lot of the action. She is essentially reliant on others to defend her or to fight for her. This is a fairly typical stereotype due to her being both female and a child.
The other major female character is a villain - another Watcher. Again, she relies on the men with the aggressive abilities to carry out any action and to fight for her. Nothing really new. Her character isn't explored much - we only know that she is 'scary' and she has some daddy issues.
There are three other minor female characters that deserve mention. The first is a lady who helps Nick and Cassie to locate Kira - and then, later on, the case they are looking for. As her character is not really explored, it's difficult to say much about her. She seems to be fairly competent, and she's obviously made a career with her ability, but again, her power is passive and she is a secondary character with not a lot of impact on plot or action. The second is a minor villain who seems all right at the beginning and then ends up wanting to torture Nick to death. I didn't understand her motivation. She met him once when he was unconscious and now wants him to die horribly? I might understand a little if it was Cassie she hated, but even with her, there didn't seem to be much tension. She was just annoyed because she owed Cassie's mother a favor. I didn't get this character at all. They didn't make much effort to give her a believable personality.
The third is Cassie's mother. We see her at the beginning assisting Kira's escape, and she is referrenced throughout the movie as having set all of this in motion. She is a powerful Watcher, but she is still much like the other Watchers in the movie: reliant on others to carry out what she needs to have done. From what we hear of her, she seems fairly competent, and it would be interesting to see more of her. But due to the passive nature of her power, her role is not really an active one. We still don't understand the true nature of what she is doing as of the end of the movie. Why did she allow herself to be captured, if she is so powerful? What does she expect them to do? Will she be rescued, or will she escape?
I suspect there will be a sequel - or rather, I hope there will be. It probably depends on how much the movie brings in. I'll go see it if there is one.