100 Girls
Forum
It is an awesome movie!!! It is as good (okay, better) as some mainstream movies, but with the independent feel to it. The acting was exceptional, the story line is a clever spin on Cinderella, and even though the movie itself isn't very reaistic (which is fine by me, that's not a criticism), the perspectives on things like love and sex are the most realistic I have seen in a teen-directed film. I thank my sister for suggesting this movie to me, and right after I rented and watched it for the first time, I went right on line and ordered it. It is just too bad the Offical Movie Soundtrack wasn't released, the music is awesome!!!
>>By Psycogirl66 (Thursday, 24 Jul 2003 05:48)
anyone know what that last song is called. Ya know, the one that was playing when he finally gets the girl?
>>By 123 (Friday, 25 Jul 2003 21:44)
"But to a lot of guys out there, those sexual images are probably what it took to get them to listen, wouldn't you say?"
Of course. But the question is, what are they listening to? Once it gets them to listen, the film doesn't challenge them in any way; instead, it justifies behavior that's simply criminal, and could get real-life guys who follow it into a whole mess of trouble. And along the way, it tries to put some pretty stupid political ideas into their heads.
Now, you might argue that bringing politics into a film discussion is unwarranted, and in most cases, I'd agree with you. But "100 Girls" is different, because unlike similar-themed movies (like, say, "American Pie"), this one goes out of its way to make a political point -- in this case, in response to what we're asked to believe is "feminism" or "women's studies." Yet, to anyone who's ever bothered reading actual feminist works or taken an actual women's studies class (regardless of whether they agree with the conclusions or not), it's clear that Michael Davis hasn't the foggiest notion what he's talking about. He knows nothing about "women's studies."
No, that's not quite true. He knows barely enough (a few code words, at best) to make himself seem insightful to the tons of male viewers who REALLY don't know anything about it.
And because this movie has a specific political agenda, we are justified in critiquing the content of that agenda on its own terms.
As I've said before, I could have ignored all of this if Davis had ended the film on a different note... on the same sort of note, actually, as virtually every other film of this genre. If one -- just one -- of the 100 girls had called Matt on his hypocrisy, and forced him to confront it, then the movie wouldn't have annoyed me so much. The fact that Davis didn't end the movie this way tells me that he thinks Matt's behavior is okay, and that he wants the audience to think the same thing.
Just for the record, since I haven't really been clear about it -- what's hypocritical about Matt? Matt spends a great deal of time telling us how crappy guys are in voice-overs and monologues; and Davis contrasts Matt with Rod and Crick, the two definite shmucks of the story (and the only other male voices). Davis consistently portrays Matt as a sensitive, sweet nerd who wants only to understand women (as if women all think alike?). Davis wants us to identify with Matt.
Yet, Matt spies on these girls. He breaks into their rooms and rifles through their personal belongings. He manipulates them by sabotaging the air conditioning and posing as the maintenance man. He lies to them by dressing in drag and posing as "one of them." Various and sundry other violations. In real life, this is all the behavior of a stalker; Matt sees himself as a "nice guy," and because it's told from his point of view, the film wants us to see him as one, too; but he isn't a nice guy. He's a creepy, manipulative liar with one hell of a chip on his shoulder.
And that's OK! ---- provided he gets a comeuppance, as other such male characters in similar films always do (see, for instance, the very similarly-themed movie "Sorority Boys"). Because then, the audience learns what the character has learned. In "100 Girls," no one steps up and confronts Matt on his slimebag behavior. No one points out that he, too, has been behaving like a shmuck, as bad in his own way as Crick. Instead all the girls -- all of them -- swoon over his closing monologue, and beg to be his girl.
The ending message is clear: women as a group are gullible enough to excuse any amount of bad behavior, provided we fill their ears with the right amount of syrupy love talk; two-facedness from men is a-OK, since it's just the way we are; we should be allowed unfettered access to women's private spaces with impunity, and they should be happy about it; women who criticize this bad behavior (like the so-called "women's studies" teacher does) and expect a higher standard are nothing but frigid, hateful bigots (literally Nazis, according to this movie's imagery); hence, us "nice guys" can dismiss a woman's ethical concerns on the grounds that she's unnatural, hateful or crazy. Real women, after all, exist for our pleasure and enjoyment, revel in stroking our egos, and are more than happy to repress their own independence to help us actualize our "manhood."
In making this departure from standard form, and going out of his way to include anti-"feminist" commentary (without actually bothering to learn anything about feminism), Michael Davis has created a propaganda piece that defends sexism from men, and defines it as good and normal. He's either consciously misleading the audience about the content of "women's studies," in which case he's a liar. Or he actually believes what he's saying and thinks he has nothing to learn from women who don't fawn over his oh-so-sensitive self; in which case, he's an idiot.
So sure, this movie "brought me to a discussion." But that's hardly enough to redeem it.
>>By palindrome (Sunday, 27 Jul 2003 00:49)
Haha... What an interesting guy. I don't disagree with you on a lot of points. Because after I saw the film, that was actually exactly what I thought. But hey judging by a lot of the female response on this discussion board, I think it's right to say that what he did certainly appealed to a lot of female audience out there. God knows why... lol... And the sad thing is, these so called "nice guys" exist in one form or another. I can go into an elaborated discussion on how everyone is essentially hypocritical, but I don't feel like it.
So yeah. I think I said this last time before, too, I agree with you, and was basically stating another point of view. I still think that without providing a character which spies on girls, the majority of guys out there would not even begin to view things from a different point of view. I am a guy, and I don't approve of what Matt does. No, I don't think invading privacy and manipulating girls is a great thing to be doing. In fact, I found it ridiculous that girl (forgot her name already) actually helped Matt in his search. I guess everyone has a different perspective on things. This film, for me, was just a good laugh. Whether it's a laugh at how ridiculous the concept and plot is, a laugh at how hypocritical the characters are, or a laugh along with Davis, it was quite a fun experience.
I suppose you chose to be angry at the characters... lol... that's another healthy way to go about it.
On a side note, palindrome, you're a pretty well spoken intellectual. Maybe you wanna chat sometimes for fun (though our idea of "fun" appears to differ).
>>By 123 (Monday, 28 Jul 2003 06:29)
Dude.. you guys need to chill out. Especially palindrome, stop freaking out, its just a fucking movie. They make bad movies every day about worse stuff, and you came in here and wrote like 3 fuckin essays about how bad this little low budget teen movie was. Take a few deep breaths, calm down, and go write an book on how bad stalking is or something. I seriously doubt someone is gonna see this movie and then completely change their views on women, then go out and think this kind of activity is ok, and if they do its their own damn fault for being so gullable. So just calm down dude and go watch X-men or something
>>By Logan (Monday, 28 Jul 2003 07:35)
Has anyone seen the next movie by the creator of 100 Girls?Its called 100 Women,another great watch.If somebody here has seen it,please help me with this one. Who sings the song played at the end,2,000 Kisses, and where can I find it?
>>By fast232stang (Sunday, 11 Jan 2004 08:30)
Okay, this is aimed at palindrome. You make a lot of intelligent points, and obviously you've thought about it, but I have a few problems with a bit of your logic. You can't make a movie without some degree of stereotyping, otherwise the audience won't identify with it. You do realize that although you're not a dumb stereotypical male, that a lot of guys are? Am I stereotyping by saying that? Sure I am, a bit. The stereotype exists for a reason. Not to say you are one of those guys, and I'm not either, and a lot of guys aren't, but don't you see a lot of guys really do fit the stereotypes given to them? And notice all the women that really liked this movie. They don't seem put off by the fact that this nerdy guy constantly invades the girls' privacy in ways that basically break the law (stalking, B&E, fraud). They don't mind because those aspects of the movie are not MEANT to be realistic. You can't say that his invasion of their privacy is sexism. Who says he wouldn't break into a guy's place for his own ends if he was so inclined? He doesn't do it out of sexism, he does it because he's a weirdo that thinks it's okay to break into others' homes.
Aaaaanyway, aside from the little details (which shouldn't matter, this isn't a realistic movie), the points that the movie makes do generalize quite a bit and show a skewed vision of what feminism is. How could he possibly think feminism is like that ..? Oh wait, because a good number (I'm not saying most or even half, but a considerable number) of feminists take 'gender equality' to mean 'guys are pigs and everything they do undermines our beauty, intelligence and importance.' I am well aware of what feminism really is, but I know a lot of self-proclaimed feminists that do not know. So in the end I do have to agree with you that the creator of the movie probably doesn't know what feminism really is, comparing it to chauvinism in female form, which tends to ruin that point that he tries to make.. But it still has value. I think it is aimed at the 'feminists' that take it too far. He loses points in my book for neglecting to mention that not all feminists are like that, but he still has a valid point, even if he did a bad job of making it.
Your posts did made me rethink what I had thought of the movie, but I still think it has great entertainment value. Remember, it's not meant to be a realistic scenario.. think of the (kinda distasteful in a fun way) fairy tale quality of it. I still enjoy the point made about THAT kind of feminist, even if it was a bit off on what a real feminist is.
>>By vaz (Monday, 23 Feb 2004 16:57)
The discussion board is currently closed.
|
DISCOVER NEW MOVIES