Fifty Shades of… Guilt (One Woman’s Opinion)

This week is a big week. Sadly not because I have a Valentine’s Day date or anything *cough* cat lady forever *cough* but because of the world wide release of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Lawd.. I’ve been back and forth on this. I’m guilty of mocking it from afar, the print version at least; because of all its shortcomings (no double entendres here… yet) and also just because of the fact it was based on a fan-fiction Twilight idea by the author E.L James. I mean, by association it was already more than unappealing in my eyes.

I do try to be open minded with movies and after studying it, I want to think that I enjoy a wider variety than the regular movie going folk. I see all kinds of genres and just try to appreciate more about the different styles of movies around the world. By now, a 30 something lady like myself knows what she likes and doesn’t like.

At the beginning of the year of 2015, with Fifty Shades of Grey (movie) on the horizon and with the ever growing media junket, we’ve been bombarded with it everywhere. I’m sure it doesn’t escape those that are too young to read it, let along watch it! With all of the products with official or unofficial tie-ins, it started to feel altogether like a different phenomenon. There was a different tone in the air with it being printed, with it being as popular as it was considering its not the first erotica of its kind (and comparatively, its rather tame) – but having said that, there has been such a strong and vitriolic backlash; its almost like its the Robin Thicke of the sexy movie genre. Christian Grey as a character, with E.L James at the pen holding helm seemed to be the very representation of all that was wrong with violence against women under the guise of extreme obsession and infatuation.

To be seeing this from the outside looking in; chuckling and knowing that its not going to be a cloth bound classic in the near future is one thing. Another is eye rolling at of the number of ‘gasps’ and ‘holy Cows!’ thrown about, but you know what? Its a good trailer. There. Its in black and white. I said it. Jamie Dornan is a damn fine looking man. That is why I want to see it. And yet.. there is this stigma attached to this, and it feels like more than the normal ‘Oh. You like dance movies?’ There was this.. shame. Guilt, that you’d even pay money to see it (as I speak there are movements for people to donate to women’s shelters rather than spend the money on the film)

Lord, it was almost as if you pay money for the film, the soundtrack or buy the book; that meant you were clearly against women, and well if you were a woman, shame on you even more for supporting it.

This is almost stream of consciousness; with some heavy editing and I’m grateful if you’ve made it this far.

I just needed to express this, and offer a friendly side hug. If you’re in the same position and you’re on the fence; go see it. Its another movie, its not ‘based on a true story’, its not life or death – its fantasy.

With thanks to my colleagues that shared this almost taboo topic around the coffee machine (not a watercooler) and with a bloody excellent post written by Katy Rochelle at Girl Meets Cinema; I want to declare that I will be seeing Fifty Shades of Grey tomorrow with a great friend, and we will laugh, we will swoon, and enjoy the fromagerie. If its a guilty pleasure, to be more guilty of than my predilection for Michael Bay films; then so be it. Don’t even think that means I want the epitome of Christian Grey or that I’m going to be taking a visit to Bunnings for some rope, and cable ties; but damn it, I just want a good popcorn movie and not be taken to task for even wanting to.