Squealing tires, machine-gun fire, explosions, slamming babes, blood, gore and big-ass swords.
Really, what more does a film need to be great? In today's world of overly mushy love stories, there
is nothing quite like a good action movie. Good versus evil, it's the intrinsic battle of the world,
and why not fight it out with all the fun of classics like The
Terminator and Rambo
and more recent releases such as Sin
City and War of the Worlds? Without a doubt, these testosterone and clearly
based-in-a-fantasy-world films are much better than the same old love story.
First of all, we go to the movies to escape the mundane; we don't want something that parallels our
real lives. That is why we love action films. Most of us will never be in a high speed crash, caught
in crossfire, or anywhere near a bomb; however, there is a certain thrill to being involved in these
dangerous situations. Watching movies that present these scenarios allow us to get that precious
adrenaline high at a safe distance. While chick flicks are also often based outside of reality, it
is in a much more dangerous way. The women of our generation now expect nothing less than what Julia
Roberts got in Pretty
Woman. This isn't reality; guys don't really treat their girlfriends like that. Newsflash; the
boy you have a crush on isn't suddenly going to tell you of his undying love. Yeah, it may suck, but
it is true. But we females can't seem to get it through our heads, and these films, in the end, just
make it worse.
I don't ever want to see my boyfriend cry - unless someone is dead or on fire, and not on the big screen. Sorry to be oh-so-sexist, and politically incorrect, but if a guy cried along with me to The Notebook, he wouldn't last long. There is something to be said about the necessary mix of female and male personalities, and that is continued in the arena of film. Opposites do attract, and if guys only wanted to watch the latest Reese Witherspoon film, I'd be a little bit worried about the state of the world. Most guys really hate chick flicks, but girls, we know the same cannot be said about us and action movies. I won't lie; I was all bitching and moaning when my ex dragged me to see Tomb Raider II, but truthfully I enjoyed it. I don't think he could say the same about A Cinderella Story or The Lizzie McGuire Movie, both starring the fabulous actress that is Hilary Duff. Another extremely important point for us women is that the chick flicks we often love so much just continue to perpetuate our unrealistic idea that a man will come sweep us off our feet, and we will live happily ever after. With these high standards in place, we are continually unsatisfied with our relationships, and want something that doesn't really exist. One of my roommates said it best when discussing what movie we watched, rejecting many of our options: "Because they would make her too sad." We aren't talking The Pianist or Schindler's List, but rather A Walk to Remember, Sweet Home Alabama and Two Weeks Notice. The argument that action films are all mind numbing sex and explosions is just untrue. A great deal of action films have all the elements needed in a more serious drama, mixed in with some bad ass car chases. My favorite example of this is Gone in 60 Seconds, which is clearly in the category of an action film, but also deals with family ties, broken relationships, friendships and love. There are plenty more examples where that came from, just think along the lines of Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis or Mel Gibson. The recent release of Sin City also is a testimony to the easy combination of cinematic genius and smashing dudes' skulls in. Don't get me wrong, I do love a good chick flick. But when you are looking for a good time for all parties, an entertaining escape from your mundane life, and not a depressing reminder of failures, an action film is where it's at. There have been countless times that my group of good guy friends at home have dragged me to a movie I was sure I would hate, only to come out loving it. |
© 2005 The Georgetown Independent
