A slightly shorter post today...with some things I've been thinking about lately, apropos of my new love of Marvel! (Don't worry, I'll be back to my normal post length next Friday. :))
When my dad first showed me Pirates of the Caribbean, he was not expecting me to love it as much as I did. Same thing with Avengers. I think he's still kind of surprised, thirteen Marvel movies in.
I have achieved my goal of confounding my family...with my love of action movies.
(Yes, that means my two favorite movie genres are action and sci-fi. I'm guessing you weren't expecting that. Neither was I.)
(Okay, I must explain myself. Every fantasy movie I can ever remember watching has been based on a book. And, as the t-shirt Legolas got me for Christmas says, "the book was better". If this is not enough explanation for you, you are welcome to come discuss with me in the comments.)
So...action movies.
Based on the amount of surprise Dad showed...I started wondering why people assume that women won't like action movies.
Sure, I know women who don't like action movies as much. (*cough* my mom *cough cough*), but at the same time, I know a lot of women bloggers (girl bloggers? female bloggers? help me out here, guys) who are also obsessed with Marvel. Like, a lot of them. Like, very obsessed.
Why isn't it more common to notice that women do love action movies? Obviously, we love those ones best which have character development and quiet moments and sweet ships and not too much violence...(that is honestly the only kind I have ever watched). But we still love them. A lot.
Because, you know what? Fundamentally, the best kind of action and sci-fi movies, like any other kind of movie, are about the fight between good and evil.
And they're about love.
And self-sacrifice.
And saving lives.
And friends.
And yes, super awesome powers.
And snark. (*side-eyes at Tony Stark*)
And women love these things.
Maybe we don't like action movies with gratuitous violence, or extreme amounts of content, or large swaths of swearing...but are those even good action movies anyway?
I think not.
Action movies, the truly good ones, aren't just a "men" thing. They're a human thing.
And that's that.
What's your favorite movie genre? Do you like action movies? Who's your favorite Avenger?
AMEN to this! *round of applause* I don't think any genre of movie - not even romance - can be confined to the interest of one gender. If it's truly done well, anyone should be able to enjoy it! (And honestly, I know more girls who like action movies than guys. XD)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! It's true, putting genres in boxes apropos of who is "allowed" to enjoy them, is ridiculous! If it's a good story, it's a human thing. :) (I think I know more girls who like action movies than guys, too! XD)
Delete(Did you have to kill me with that gif of Pietro? Sacrifice is MY FAVORITE THING! *bursts into tears*)
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes! My mom always said that action movies were a guy thing and stuff like that so she was surprised when I started getting into Marvel. I was surprised myself by how much I enjoyed it and promptly dragged my two sisters into the fandom. She makes fun of us, but we all think that she would love the stories and the characters! But then again, lately she's been telling me that the first thing she pays attention to in a movie is the set design whereas I don't care what it looks like (until rewatches ;)) as long as the story is good. I remember commenting from when I was little that I was surprised how similar my taste in films was to my dad's. He actually is more aware and sensitive to action than my mom is! We've started watching Marvel movies with him but he always walks away after awhile (except with Spider-Man). Yes to all of this, as genres aren't confined to either gender!
(I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I wanted to put the gif of Tony from Avengers, right when his eyes close, but Legolas told me that no one would know what that was from. XD Sacrifice is MY FAVORITE THING TOO!)
DeleteI had heard that action movies were a "guy thing", too, so I was also surprised when I liked Marvel! My taste in films is similar to my dad's taste in films, too! Twins! :) That's interesting that your dad is more sensitive to action! So it's really true that genres aren't confined to either gender...either for them to enjoy it or for them not to enjoy it. (If that makes sense. :))
I like this.
ReplyDeleteI think it more depends on what TYPE of woman you are, honestly. I know a lot of women who just aren't into action movies, period, and they all have that kind of motherly, thinks-in-terms-of-relationships, all-about-the-people personality.
Like, I can enjoy stories in genres I'm not into if they're really good stories, because the elements of story that appeal to us on a deep level ARE those universal elements you talked about, but I'm enjoying them DESPITE the extra genre trappings that I DON'T like. And with action movies, the action part is the extra trappings that some people just don't like--and in my experience that does more often tend to be women? I don't know. I also know plenty of women who DO like action, of course. It's an interesting thing to ponder!
Thank you!
DeleteThat's definitely true, it depends on the person. And that's honestly true for all genres--not every man likes action, either, and not every woman likes romance and most men don't, but that's not a hard-and-fast thing, because some men do...anywho. That got rambly very fast. XD
Ahh yes! You've said it so well! All stories that are good stories appeal to us, but some genres have trappings that certain people don't like. And that's okay. And it's true, it does tend to be more women who don't like action, just like there tend to be more men who don't like romance. I just sort of resent the blanket assumption that women won't like action movies. XD
Yeah, it's a pretty dumb blanket assumption. XD Though I feel even worse for guys, honestly. If I, a woman, let slip that I like action movies, I won't come in for even a little of the relentless teasing that will fall upon the head of the unfortunate male who divulges his love of romcoms...
DeleteOh, that's true! The side-long looks that women who love action movies get are nothing compared to the unmerciful teasing that guys who like romcoms get from their friends...XD
DeleteYES.
ReplyDeleteAlso the stunts! Fight choreographing!?! (Ahem and the adrenaline rush after you walk out of a cinema and you just feel like you can do anything!)
Black Widow is my fav! The character arc of developing a found family and starting to trust them, the tragic backstory, the butt-kickery, and how she's so focused on helping people. (Like in the Avengers when she waves the workers away so they're out of danger and how she runs in a straight line instead of zig zagging in Winter Soldier even though it means she has a greater chance of being shot?) Also, the snark
(But do not speak to me of the Burce-Natasha ship. *gags*)
YES! The stunts! And the fights! And the adrenaline! So good!
DeleteI knoooow, Black Widow is the best! I love how she takes so long to trust her found family, and how her backstory weaves into that so well, and YES I love her focus on helping people! (That scene in Winter Soldier! GAH.) And the snark. Always with the snark.
(I...yeah. Not sure how I feel about that one. But gagging was definitely my first reaction. XD)
*claps* YES TO ALL OF THIS.
ReplyDeleteI kind of grew up with action movies----both my mom and my dad like them, so my sisters and I all like them. And when I saw my first Marvel movie, I became really obsessed.
Of course, some types of women really don't like action movies and that's totally fine. But I don't think it's fair to think it's "weird" for a woman to like action movies, or for a guy to like romance. I think if a story is well-written anybody should be able to enjoy it. Not that it's wrong to have genre preferences or something because it isn't.
Anyway, great post.
Thank you! *awkward bow*
DeleteIt's really cool that you grew up on them! I didn't start watching them until recently, because my dad likes them, but Mom is not as big a fan, and Dad likes to watch movies that she wants to watch with us. But she's been coming around to action movies, too...
It's true! It's fine for women to not prefer action movies, I just want people to recognize that it's not weird for them *to* prefer action movies. And just like you say, if it's well-written it should be enjoyable, regardless of genre preferences. Which, again, as you said, are perfectly fine to have! :)
Thank you again!
YESSSSSSS I LOVE THIS!
ReplyDeleteAWW, THANK YOU!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange that action movies seem to be seen as such a 'guy' thing. Personally I love action movies.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that a lot of (obviously not all) movies in the past, particularly in action, have been so filled with a certain type of 'manly guy character' who takes down the bad guy, gets the attractive girl, etc, for so long that it has just become the dated stereotype despite the change in the genre itself.
This might be a generalization of film in the past, but I think that the reason that so many girls don't realize they love action movies for so long (or other people are surprised that they do) is because (specific types of film) were tailored to 'men'. Girls would be seen as weak, defenseless, or even stupid without the man coming to their rescue. It's not that a girl can't be rescued, it's just the obvious lack of autonomy and the objectivity that occurs that is annoying. Things goes for other things, like the white savior thing, demeaning stereotypes, etc. I like to think that we've realized that we can make a good movie, without being demeaning to anyone, which improves the movie and gives a wider spread appeal. Because explosions aren't just for the guys and because the glorified problematic behavior isn't what made the movie good in the first place.
Sorry if this was too much. I just loved your post and you're completely right, girls love these things same as the guys and it really shouldn't be so shocking that girls (or anyone really) love something that has such a universal appeal.
Quick correction, *That goes for other things, like the white savior thing, demeaning stereotypes, etc. Like when there is a white savior and anyone else is seen as dumb.
DeleteI know, it is so strange! And I'm sure it's true that in the past, not all action movies have had all the tropes and themes that would make them attractive to women--and true that even now there are action movies that are just mostly violence, and I don't find those appealing at all. XD
DeleteOh, that's a really interesting take! That the culture did cater action movies/other types of movies in the past, to men. And while it is true that sometimes it's *nice* for a girl to have a guy rescue her (in my personal opinion at least! :)), girls are not weak, helpless, or stupid, and neither are any of the other minorities that get stereotyped that way, like you're saying. I think you're right, that movie making has somewhat improved to the point where we can make action movies without harmful stereotypes (or with a lot fewer stereotypes).
"Because the glorified problematic behavior isn't what made the movie good in the first place." <<YES. THIS. Thank you!
No, it totally wasn't too much! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, and I'm so glad you liked the post!
My dad's always taken me to action movies with him. At first he was surprised to see that I loved the car chases and explosions just as much as him. But know he just always tells me if he thinks there's one I would like and we swap them back and forth.
ReplyDeleteThey really appeal to everyone, especially a lot of the newer ones. I think Marvel had a lot to do with that.
Great post!
Oh, that's so fun that you share action movies with your dad! My dad is the one who introduced me to action movies, as well. :)
DeleteThey do appeal to everyone, and I think you're right that the newer ones (especially Marvel ones) do an especially good job with that!
Thank you!
Lol, I definitely surprised my family when I started getting into Marvel (I think my brother Matthew and I started getting into it at the same time at two different colleges lol). I think you're right in that it's the relationships that sell it for us "female bloggers" lol.
ReplyDeleteAlso, side note to one if the other comment threads: my dad is not really into a lot of action movies (except for Jackie Chan). He'll watch Marvel with us but he also has to step away occasionally.
It's so funny that you and your brother got into it at the same time in different places! Those little coincidences are like little winks from God. :) Yes, the relationships are super important for us "female bloggers". XD
DeleteThat's so interesting! The breaking of stereotypes goes the other direction, as well.
This... is not what I thought the post was going to be about. haha!
ReplyDeleteI also love action movies. I even enjoy the ones that are just kind of ridiculous and kinda horrible (*side-eyes at the Expendables franchise*). I think people tend to assume that there is no DEPTH to action movies, that they're just a bunch of explosions and chase scenes.... and... well... YES, of course they are THAT... a lot of them have some fantastic story and character development and relationships and humor and philosophical moments that make you THINK. Which is not generally what many expect from an action movie. But they can deliver. And sometimes they deliver on those things better because you're NOT expecting it. It hits you between the eyes unexpectedly and in the midst of the cool guys walking away from explosions you're suddenly pondering the meaning of LIFE. And laughing at the same time.
I love it.
Haha, yes, I have been informed that this title was kind of click-bait-y. XD
DeleteYES! Because action movies do HAVE explosions and chase scenes (and they're pretty cool, a lot of the time!) but they also have all kinds of amazing characters and relationships, and YES, they make you think! That was the thing that surprised me most about Marvel, I think--the amount of philosophy that can be drawn from it! (Just ask how much time I've spent pondering and discussing and debating the philosophical ramifications of Civil War. It's a lot. XD). That's such a good insight, that they might be better at those things because we're not expecting it--it's kind of sneaky! But amazing.
I remember having eye-rolling conversations about actions movies with my sisters and cousins and then realizing...Oh, wait. I love action movies. XD But I feel like sometimes what women like about action movies is different than what men like. I'm totally generalizing here, because I know people who don't fit into these, but in general I think a lots of guys are really into the explosions and the smashing while a lot of girls are...not. I know guys that will watch an action movie that is really poorly written with flimsy characters, but they'll enjoy it for the monsters and destruction (I mean, they prefer one that's well-written, but they'll sit through a bad one just for the smashing and blowing up parts). Meanwhile, while I love actions movies, and really enjoy a lot of the action scenes, I'm usually like, "But also, must have character development, humor, and angst, please, or I will be very bored." (And I tend to zone out at little during the big battle at the end.) So sometimes we love the same movies, but for different reasons?
ReplyDelete[Ok, but now I feel like all the girls who love watching explosions are going to come hit me with frying pans. I'm really just talking about my own circle of family and friends, not people in general!]
I think you're right in part--many guys do really watch the action movies for the explosions and smashing and everything, whereas girls don't always like that. (Although I have been known to cheer about a good car chase. Just saying. XD)
DeleteBut not all guys watch action movies for that--my dad, for instance (and, from what I've gathered, Catherine's dad, and MC's dad, too. :)), tolerates violence, but watches movies for the awesome parts, and not specifically *for* the explosions etc. Not to say that those can't be awesome sometimes! I enjoy a certain amount of action scenes, too, but YES there have to be character development, humor, angst, and GOOD RELATIONSHIPS above all.
[Honestly, you admitted that you do like action scenes, so I don't think anyone is going to come at you with a frying pan. XD]
Very very true. My uncle is one of those people who truly deeply just wants to watch things blow up, but my dad cares much more about good writing and storytelling. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I can see where the sterotype comes from...but it's not all that accurate :)
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly! The stereotype may be accurate for some people, but not for the group as a whole. :)
DeleteMy favorite movie genre is westerns, and action movies are the westerns of today, basically. You have a clear delineation between Right and Wrong, you have heroes, you have exciting stuff happening.
ReplyDeleteOh, cool! You're right, those genres are pretty equivalent. :)
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