Thelma and Louise: good or bad

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by cynatnite

Agreed, it's up to the viewer, but if it was how you described it they would have gone on a man-hating massacre.

Lol they weren't too far off from getting there lol

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by cynatnite

I liken it closer to a Butch and Sundance type of movie.

It's not a man-hating movie. To boil it down to basics, it's a man's world and as these women see it, men have gotten away with a lot. For Louise, she was raped and the perpetrator got away with it. There was an attempted rape on Thelma and she finally gets angry after being subservient all her life, then kills the man who did it. There's a lot more to it, but that's the gist of what I see.

The story could be an allegory for feminism and women's empowerment in a patriarchal world. They do take a more militant route than most would. In the end, they go out on their own terms.

I think it's a great movie and the acting by the cast is wonderful.

Here's the problem. This does not nor should this be considered empowerment and feminism is about equality and there was nothing to even suggest such. It's one thing to fight back against someone who's attacking you but it's something different when said attacker walks away but is shot after an crude remark is made. Last time I checked and I do not claim to be a law expert, that's murder and let's not mention assault on an officer.
Militant behavior is not empowerment and I will stop that sentence there
Then there's the fact that other than Harvey Keitel's character, every other character were just one dimensional pieces than anything else.

[cynatnite]

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

Here's the problem. This does not nor should this be considered empowerment and feminism is about equality and there was nothing to even suggest such. It's one thing to fight back against someone who's attacking you but it's something different when said attacker walks away but is shot after an crude remark is made. Last time I checked and I do not claim to be a law expert, that's murder and let's not mention assault on an officer.
Militant behavior is not empowerment and I will stop that sentence there
Then there's the fact that other than Harvey Keitel's character, every other character were just one dimensional pieces than anything else.

Sure, just like Handmaid's Tale is a religious series.

I said allegory. It's a fictional movie and not real life.

[AaronJ]

I knew that there was controversy regarding the film, but I honestly never even realized that the question as to whether it was "good or bad" was even up for debate. Learn something new every day, I guess.

[cynatnite]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

I knew that there was controversy regarding the film, but I honestly never even realized that the question as to whether it was "good or bad" was even up for debate. Learn something new every day, I guess.

Men and women usually have different takes on the movie. It's mostly dependent on personal experiences. Some folks can get rather defensive themselves if they think it's an "attack" on them.

This was always a controversial movie which I think is a plus. As long as it makes you think.

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by cynatnite

Men and women usually have different takes on the movie. It's mostly dependent on personal experiences. Some folks can get rather defensive themselves if they think it's an "attack" on them.

This was always a controversial movie which I think is a plus. As long as it makes you think.

But the controversy cannot nor should not overwhelm the movie to the point where it suffocates and the controversy IS the movie.

[Cremildo]

Other than the fact that there might be a debate on whether Sarandon's character's killing of a harasser was justified or not, I don't see how the film is controversial. Maybe it was in 1991, but not today. And I wouldn't call it misandric, either - if it were, there wouldn't be decent male characters like Keitel's, Pitt's, or even Madsen's.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by cynatnite

Men and women usually have different takes on the movie. It's mostly dependent on personal experiences. Some folks can get rather defensive themselves if they think it's an "attack" on them.

This was always a controversial movie which I think is a plus. As long as it makes you think.

True enough. For instance, I find films that end up being quite divisive often are some of my favorites.

[atlantajoseph]

So, it's been six and a half years. I wonder if Maggot ever got his blu-ray or if he is still wrestling with this.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by atlantajoseph

So, it's been six and a half years. I wonder if Maggot ever got his blu-ray or if he is still wrestling with this.

Took a look through maggot’s collection and they bought Thelma and Louise.

[atlantajoseph]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Took a look through maggot’s collection and they bought Thelma and Louise.

Yaay, good call!

[blugremlin]

I personally really liked and enjoyed the ride "Thelma and Louise" took me on...I didn't see it as "man-hating", misogynistic, or whatever label someone chooses to pin on it...was just a fictional movie, and an enjoyable one at that. This s*** is just SO subjective....personally, I recommend it as pure entertainment.

[Cremildo]

Despite the fact that Ridley Scott is my favorite filmmaker, I had no idea he had been involved in the project since pretty much its inception as a producer, and tried to get it off the ground for over a decade along with writer Callie Khouri. I simply assumed he was a (great) director-for-hire.

Originally Posted by IMDb Trivia

Callie Khouri first conceived the project in 1979. She was hired by Ridley Scott for a project called "Thelma & Louise" around 1980. Ridley Scott was going to produce, and Khouri was appointed as director. They were turned down by many studios, until MGM purchased the rights in 1981. But Khouri wasn't ready to direct the film, so Scott was going to direct himself. The movie was originally announced in 1981 for a 1983 release. Originally, Scott and Khouri wanted Natalie Wood for Thelma and Tuesday Weld as Louise. However, Wood drowned in 1981 and Weld quickly dropped out from the project, so this would never come to pass. A number of filmmakers were attached to Khouri's script including Brian De Palma, John Carpenter and Sidney Lumet. By 1988, Ridley Scott spoke of casting Mia Farrow, Lily Tomlin, Candice Bergen, Tuesday Weld, Meryl Streep, Liza Minnelli, Jessica Lange, Isabella Rossellini, or Kim Cattrall for the role of Thelma; Vanessa Redgrave, Glenn Close, Mary Steenburgen, Kim Basinger, Ellen Barkin, Goldie Hawn, Debra Winger, Anjelica Huston, Sigourney Weaver or Lorraine Bracco would be considered for the role of Louise; Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, Steve Martin, David Bowie, Tim Curry, Richard Gere, Pierce Brosnan or James Woods could be Hal; Kevin Costner, Bruce Willis, Rick Moranis or Chevy Chase would play Jimmy; Jon Voight, Willem Dafoe or John Travolta would be Max; and Christopher Atkins would be J.D.

[drush9999]

It's a great movie, if it's themes still grate with people, then it's still relevant

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by cynatnite

Men and women usually have different takes on the movie. It's mostly dependent on personal experiences. Some folks can get rather defensive themselves if they think it's an "attack" on them.

This was always a controversial movie which I think is a plus. As long as it makes you think.

I agree - it is controversial but never bothered me way back when I saw it. I didnt think much of it, really. It was OK but it came and went. Of course, in this ridiculously brutal & divided political climate...... that film coming out now would break the internet.

Or, even worse, it gets remade with two guys instead that go on a girl-hating/killing spree. Yikes! They could call it call "Frank & Ted".

[kylor]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

I agree - it is controversial but never bothered me way back when I saw it. I didnt think much of it, really. It was OK but it came and went. Of course, in this ridiculously brutal & divided political climate...... that film coming out now would break the internet.

Or, even worse, it gets remade with two guys instead that go on a girl-hating/killing spree. Yikes! They could call it call "Frank & Ted".

Bill & Ted's Dark Adventure

Their bodacious babes cheated on them! They won't stand for this! Totally bogus and most non-triumphant. They avenge their scorns and unleash hell on Earth! Enough making peace with music! Let's make peace with death! William Sadler's Death is back in business.

[Jay H.]

Great movie with an excellent cast. Never understood (or cared) about the controversy surrounding it.