The Bechdel Test and Manhood.

I always find it so encouraging when Men stand up for the fight against Patriarchy and Rape Culture. It isn't that we need male saviours, it is that we need friends who are willing to back us up in any situation.

I also love that he talked about one of my favorite movies "The Wizard of Oz." (Which passes the Bechdel Test, fyi.)

It is SO empowering to know that you are not standing alone, but that you are standing with other people who know and understand and WANT to help.

I love this.

Beastly: A Review

Today I watched a movie with my friend Saira.



This wasn't an all together awful movie. But it was terribly cliched.

Things I didn't like about this movie:

• What is up with "stalking" being portrayed as "sweet" or "sexy" recently?
• Blackmail is also not sexy.
• Trapping someone with you isn't romantic.
• The use of the words "slut" and "skank."

Things I did like about this movie:

• Neil Patrick Harris.
• Mary-Kate Olsen as Kendra. Kendra was pretty much my favorite in this film.
• Kyle's tree tattoo.

Of course, watching this movie made me think about a few things.

1. Even though "Beauty and the Beast" is one of my favorite movies/stories, it is definitely not romantic. It is portrayed as such, but when you really delve into it nothing could be farther from the truth.
2. The liberal use of the word "slut" is a cultural epidemic. Seriously. Why do we care so much about someone else's supposed sexual life? Why is it insulting to imply that someone is having a lot of sex? There is nothing wrong with sex!! There is nothing wrong with someone having a lot of sex. Either with one person or multiple. It really, REALLY, bothers me.
3. What is up with our views of "stalking"? Its creepy that Kyle (Alex Pettyfer) follows Lindy (Vanessa Ann Hudgens) around. And, somehow, he is absolved of said creepiness because he saves her life. Really? He saves her life so suddenly its all cool beans?
4. Stockholm Syndrome. That's all I have to say on that point.

The music was half-way decent. Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen) was awesome. The movie was meh. Probably a 1 out of 5 stars. Maybe 1 and 1/2. I definitely wouldn't watch it again.