I will say first and foremost that I realize by writing this I may lose some respect from people, I may lose friends, some of you may look at me totally different, and I am probably opening all sorts of cans of worms. But I really would like to express my opinion, and if you don't like what I have to say, I'm sorry.
Also a disclaimer: I may give away some spoilers to those who actually WANT to read the books before judging them, and I'm sorry.
So, if you haven't heard, there's a series of books being turned into a movie (well, the first book is being movied, I don't know about the future of the others) known as "Fifty Shades of Grey." What? You haven't heard of it? That's one soundproof rock you've been living under then. Quite a few of my friends have been posting articles slamming the books and the movie. First of all, I have to say that the movie isn't even OUT yet, so how can you accurately critique something that has only been viewed by a select few? I have patiently read each of these reviews and opinion pieces as I do try to see the other side. I've noticed something about each and every one of the pieces. Yes. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE: The author of the article has not read the books. Most of them admit it straight out, that they don't even WANT to read the books, and the others I can tell they haven't read the books because of information they ASSUME is in them. I'm not writing this to try to convince anyone to change their mind, to read the books or watch the movie. If you don't want to, that's perfectly fine. All I'm saying is don't condemn something so vehemently without any true knowledge of it.
Yes, the "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy has sex in it. It even (barely) explores the realm of bondage and sexual sadism. (I'm not trying to make light of that fact, as sexual sadism is not something to take lightly no matter how much or how little there is.) But people keep shouting "abuse" and talking about "forcing" an innocent young virgin to do unimaginable things and even saying that a rich, powerful man is using said power and money to influence such a young and impressionable woman.
That's where I know that the authors of such articles haven't read the books. (And here's where some spoilers may come in.) If they had read them, then they would know that Ana (the main female character) wanted nothing to do with Christian's (the main male character) money and expensive gifts. She tried to return each and every one. She explains to him (when they actually get into a relationship...yeah, they actually DO have a relationship other than sex) that she feels like she's being bought and therefore DOESN'T want the expensive things. Even when they get married in the third book (*gasp* They get married?!), she's not used to having all the money and tries not to use it if she can help it. He offers to make her owner of the publishing company she works for just because he can, but she doesn't want that.
They say she chases him. Hold on just one moment if you will. They go out for coffee and she does get a little dreamy-eyed. He immediately tells her that he "doesn't do the dating thing," and tells her to stay away from him. You know what? SHE TAKES HIS ADVICE! She's upset, but she puts him out of her mind and goes on with her life. HE'S the one that chases her and decides to do things her way. He lets her meet his family. He meets her family. He publicly admits they're dating. Yes, DATING.
They say he makes her do things. She doesn't do anything she doesn't want to. He tells her she can walk away any time. And she does. At the end of the book, SHE wants to know the worst he'll do and he shows her. She IMMEDIATELY leaves. And he's devastated. Why? Because he LOVES her. Yeah, I said it. He loves her.
These books are not about a man trying to abuse, break, demean an innocent woman because he can. It is about a mentally unstable man who is saved from himself and his past by a strong woman. She doesn't give in to him. She does what she wants and he's okay with that. He actually finds that he likes that she fights back with him and argues with him (no, he doesn't like it like THAT...it's not a turn on). I don't care what people say...this trilogy IS a love story. If so-called critics actually read the books, then they'd know that.
I wouldn't say the books/movie glorify the darker realms of sex. No, it's not a tender romance, but it's not dark. It's kinky. It's just unconventional. Not your missionary sex (sorry!). If that's not your cup of tea, then okay.
The main article I keep seeing is this one (I've seen others, but this one seems to be really popular). I will say that these are some of the most ridiculous "points" that any person has made on the subject. 1) If you're good-looking and rich, you can do what you want--Christian doesn't let anyone know (not even his family) what he does. He makes people sign non-disclosure agreements. Obviously it's not something he's particularly proud of. 2) Sex is completely for pleasure--I don't know how the person came to this conclusion exactly. 3) If you stick with a guy long enough he'll change--she's not trying to change him. She's trying to understand him. She doesn't know how it'll work out. She's basically treating this as a relationship, which it is. 4) You can do whatever sexual violence and she'll love it--again, I don't know how they came to this conclusion. She lets him do what SHE wants, what she's okay with. When he shows her his darkest side, the side she can't handle, she leaves.
As for women (or men) taking their significant others to see the movie in hopes to enhance their sexual and/or intimate lives, that's kind of a whole different issue. Yes, sex is supposed to be intimate between you and your mate. But however you and your mate choose to relish in that intimacy is up to you and your mate, not someone telling you what's wrong or right with a certain sexual style.
And I think lastly, as far as the Christian aspect, no, maybe you shouldn't see the movie. But then you shouldn't have seen "Titanic." Maybe you shouldn't have seen "Bridget Jones' Diary." Maybe you shouldn't have seen "Gone With the Wind." Maybe you shouldn't have seen any of the "Twilight" movies (for those that have). Heck, maybe you shouldn't watch any of the "Harry Potter" movies. Yes, I completely put "Fifty Shades of Grey" in the same category of "Harry Potter." Both, if you're going with "I'm a Christian and therefore it's wrong to see it," have aspects that are basically forbidden in the Bible.
I, for one, would like to see the movie. For me it's more for a literary aspect. I read the books and I'm hoping Hollywood won't, well, do what they normally do and screw up the story. I don't know that I want to see it in theaters, per se, but I would like to see it. And if that upsets you, I'm sorry. If you don't want to see it, then don't. If you don't want to read the books, then don't. But don't just read articles by people who ASSUME what something's about and take it as truth. Try to get the whole picture before you decide.
Also a disclaimer: I may give away some spoilers to those who actually WANT to read the books before judging them, and I'm sorry.
So, if you haven't heard, there's a series of books being turned into a movie (well, the first book is being movied, I don't know about the future of the others) known as "Fifty Shades of Grey." What? You haven't heard of it? That's one soundproof rock you've been living under then. Quite a few of my friends have been posting articles slamming the books and the movie. First of all, I have to say that the movie isn't even OUT yet, so how can you accurately critique something that has only been viewed by a select few? I have patiently read each of these reviews and opinion pieces as I do try to see the other side. I've noticed something about each and every one of the pieces. Yes. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE: The author of the article has not read the books. Most of them admit it straight out, that they don't even WANT to read the books, and the others I can tell they haven't read the books because of information they ASSUME is in them. I'm not writing this to try to convince anyone to change their mind, to read the books or watch the movie. If you don't want to, that's perfectly fine. All I'm saying is don't condemn something so vehemently without any true knowledge of it.
Yes, the "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy has sex in it. It even (barely) explores the realm of bondage and sexual sadism. (I'm not trying to make light of that fact, as sexual sadism is not something to take lightly no matter how much or how little there is.) But people keep shouting "abuse" and talking about "forcing" an innocent young virgin to do unimaginable things and even saying that a rich, powerful man is using said power and money to influence such a young and impressionable woman.
That's where I know that the authors of such articles haven't read the books. (And here's where some spoilers may come in.) If they had read them, then they would know that Ana (the main female character) wanted nothing to do with Christian's (the main male character) money and expensive gifts. She tried to return each and every one. She explains to him (when they actually get into a relationship...yeah, they actually DO have a relationship other than sex) that she feels like she's being bought and therefore DOESN'T want the expensive things. Even when they get married in the third book (*gasp* They get married?!), she's not used to having all the money and tries not to use it if she can help it. He offers to make her owner of the publishing company she works for just because he can, but she doesn't want that.
They say she chases him. Hold on just one moment if you will. They go out for coffee and she does get a little dreamy-eyed. He immediately tells her that he "doesn't do the dating thing," and tells her to stay away from him. You know what? SHE TAKES HIS ADVICE! She's upset, but she puts him out of her mind and goes on with her life. HE'S the one that chases her and decides to do things her way. He lets her meet his family. He meets her family. He publicly admits they're dating. Yes, DATING.
They say he makes her do things. She doesn't do anything she doesn't want to. He tells her she can walk away any time. And she does. At the end of the book, SHE wants to know the worst he'll do and he shows her. She IMMEDIATELY leaves. And he's devastated. Why? Because he LOVES her. Yeah, I said it. He loves her.
These books are not about a man trying to abuse, break, demean an innocent woman because he can. It is about a mentally unstable man who is saved from himself and his past by a strong woman. She doesn't give in to him. She does what she wants and he's okay with that. He actually finds that he likes that she fights back with him and argues with him (no, he doesn't like it like THAT...it's not a turn on). I don't care what people say...this trilogy IS a love story. If so-called critics actually read the books, then they'd know that.
I wouldn't say the books/movie glorify the darker realms of sex. No, it's not a tender romance, but it's not dark. It's kinky. It's just unconventional. Not your missionary sex (sorry!). If that's not your cup of tea, then okay.
The main article I keep seeing is this one (I've seen others, but this one seems to be really popular). I will say that these are some of the most ridiculous "points" that any person has made on the subject. 1) If you're good-looking and rich, you can do what you want--Christian doesn't let anyone know (not even his family) what he does. He makes people sign non-disclosure agreements. Obviously it's not something he's particularly proud of. 2) Sex is completely for pleasure--I don't know how the person came to this conclusion exactly. 3) If you stick with a guy long enough he'll change--she's not trying to change him. She's trying to understand him. She doesn't know how it'll work out. She's basically treating this as a relationship, which it is. 4) You can do whatever sexual violence and she'll love it--again, I don't know how they came to this conclusion. She lets him do what SHE wants, what she's okay with. When he shows her his darkest side, the side she can't handle, she leaves.
As for women (or men) taking their significant others to see the movie in hopes to enhance their sexual and/or intimate lives, that's kind of a whole different issue. Yes, sex is supposed to be intimate between you and your mate. But however you and your mate choose to relish in that intimacy is up to you and your mate, not someone telling you what's wrong or right with a certain sexual style.
And I think lastly, as far as the Christian aspect, no, maybe you shouldn't see the movie. But then you shouldn't have seen "Titanic." Maybe you shouldn't have seen "Bridget Jones' Diary." Maybe you shouldn't have seen "Gone With the Wind." Maybe you shouldn't have seen any of the "Twilight" movies (for those that have). Heck, maybe you shouldn't watch any of the "Harry Potter" movies. Yes, I completely put "Fifty Shades of Grey" in the same category of "Harry Potter." Both, if you're going with "I'm a Christian and therefore it's wrong to see it," have aspects that are basically forbidden in the Bible.
I, for one, would like to see the movie. For me it's more for a literary aspect. I read the books and I'm hoping Hollywood won't, well, do what they normally do and screw up the story. I don't know that I want to see it in theaters, per se, but I would like to see it. And if that upsets you, I'm sorry. If you don't want to see it, then don't. If you don't want to read the books, then don't. But don't just read articles by people who ASSUME what something's about and take it as truth. Try to get the whole picture before you decide.
