(no subject)

[labellementeuse]

I was spoiled for the two key dead-lady plot points but I'm not sure if the way I feel would have changed much if I hadn't been: but gosh, it really was Disposable Lady Theatre. Thank goodness in 2012 we have James Bond to remind us that women are secretaries and hookers. And if not those, we're bitches (who are terrible at our jobs; was there a single competent woman in that film? Don't count M since it's predicated around a major fuckup). Even the bystanders on the Tube were mostly male, for crying out loud.

In its favour I will say that it was a very long movie that didn't feel quite as long as it was, although like Batman I imagine it'll wear a bit on a rewatch. Also that I have never been a great fan of Bond in the first place, like I mean I'm not a Bond buff, so I can't speak to its role in the canon and how it's commenting (except the very obvious gadget jokes). I don't know how common it is for Bond girls to die the way she did (I don't even remember her name - the actor was fantastic, by the way; she seemed genuinely terrified the whole time, I thought it was a pretty nuanced performance. I'm not sure the cut-away sex scene was quite as tawdry and shocking as I think it was intended to be, unfortunately.) I thought the scotch line was reprehensible, and I will stick to my guns on it being reprehensible because it got a laugh in my theatre.

In other news I was in Auckland briefly and had a truly delightful time and it was so nice to see the Flat of Trolling and their associates. <3

I also got to spend some time with my brother, which was very nice because I don't see him that often (though to be honest I don't see the one who lives in Wellington that often, either). He's wrapping up his MSc, which is on something ferociously complicated to do with antibodies and lymph nodes. Wellington brother is applying for work as a music teacher (practical, not theory - I assume chiefly guitar and probably the usual musicianship stuff they do with small children, clapping games and marching to music and that kind of thing), for which he has no actual qualifications but at which he would be excellent. He's a talented and hard-working musician, good with kids, patient and doesn't lose his temper; I really hope he gets it.

My sister, the baby of the family, is about to turn 20 (well, in April) and it's ... honestly it's really kind of fun getting to know all of my siblings as adults, independent of each other. Sis and I went to Skyfall with the rents tonight and it was pretty nice to be able to sit there and chat and drink a glass of wine. We used to fight ferociously as kids and I remember my mother telling me, be good to your brothers and sister because they'll be your best friends when you're an adult, and I really laughed at her, but the older I get the more I'm grateful for them (although we still can fight pretty ferociously). (And not that I'd give up for a second the dear friends to whom I'm not related ...)

Comments

[caramarie]

I don't think that sniping the wrong person when you've got a moving target who is grappling your ally is exactly a sign of incompetence. She said she wasn't sure she could make it, so it's not like she was being unrealistic about it.

Re: Eve ending up as a secretary, I think you have to take into account that Miss Moneypenny is an existing Bond character. So it's not 'taking an action girl and turning her into a secretary, because women can only be secretaries', it's 'taking an existing character who is a secretary and giving her a back story where she could have been a field agent but decided against it, because who on earth wants to end up like Bond?'

Also, even the original Miss Moneypenny was a naval officer. Also note that up until this point in the Daniel Craig films, the person in the 'secretary' role has been a man.

I agree that all the stuff with Severine (they don't actually mention her name in the movie, I think? Only in the credits) was disgusting. Never watch Goldfinger, by the way. The Scotch line didn't bother me hugely, because (a) it was obvious that Bond was upset about Severine and (b) I read it as being about 'how having to interact with villains makes you into a monster yourself'. He says it because he can't be thought to care. (As opposed to earlier movies, where he just doesn't care – we're still in the 'origin of Bond' in Skyfall. Before he is an actual monster.)

Not going to be home for dinner, BTW, going to a nice middle-aged person movie with my workmates.

[caramarie]

Oops, that was long!