Obviously I have not seen the film (so kudos for the early thoughts), but a reporter from Movieline has and promptly made a list of shameless moments from the film. There’ a lot of rubbish included that sounds harmless (who gives a fuck if there is a Bad Boys II poster in the background of a scene), but I want to  address two of them specifically  because though we try to expand very basic things (everything) into gigantic social issues, rarely are they thought in  manner that goes beyond basic common sense.

There are two robots in the film called Mudflap and Skids, and despite being red and green, respectively, they are voiced in a way that clearly designates them to be the “black” robots. Also, Skids has a gold front tooth (no, I’m serious) and both cannot read.

Should have added that they could be ‘brothas’ (not sure if that’s the case!). Let’s see, there are probably lots of who have red or green (dare I say over-sized) Red of green T-shirts who speak in manner that would identify them regarding nationality (not to mention regional variances), sex, race, among several other things. Something is only ‘clearly designated’ because the viewer goes in with their own perceptions of how ‘black’ (or ‘white’ or whatever) characters would talk. Does the President of the United States talk like either Mudflaps and Skids? There are also any number of people who choose to have gold teeth, something that I think is rather aesthetically unpleasing, but to each their own. The way they are described, I would most likely view them as ‘rappers’, but that would be as erroneous as well as several of them don’t qualify regarding what’s been reported. Of course, there are also white rappers.

Every single woman in this film is sexually objectified, save for John Turturro’s mother. Every single one — even Shia’s mom! Whenever there is a scene set in a combat unit or government office, there are no women featured or even glimpsed because then they’d have to be wearing pants, presumably.

Every single one is depicted by a real actress who presumably read the script (excluding Arcee)  and accepted the role. Even if we could  accept the fantasy that the entire female cast is morally bankrupt, I always like to suggest that to objectify women or men in a film, you usually need a lady of gentlemen to take part. One would assume that Megan Fox would be the central figure in such a discussion–I don’t think she gives a shit, and it could be argued that that type of power or independence regarding sexuality is actually a beneficial lesson, though admittedly I kind of find the idea that lessons or messages of worth are found in such a film (one that has gone out of its way to call itself a popcorn film)–or should be looked for in any film.  Real world practice, people. Movies are movies. Some certainly reach higher, but let’s keep it real.

With all that in mind, I definitely enjoy and appreciate early thoughts on a movie I very much want to see. I have no defense of the Jazz treatment in the first movie though. I love me some Jazz! That said, Bay did not create that portrayal of the character–that’s straight of the G1 cartoons.

 

Source: Banana Syrup Co 

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