Wicked Witch of the....WHAT?!?!?!

Can we just take a second to discuss how fucking grotesque this is?

This promotional poster from Sam Raimi’s “Oz: The Great and Powerful” showcases the film’s antagonist, and iconic movie villain; The Wicked Witch of the West. In a low-cut dress. With digitally enhanced cleavage.

Really? 

No, seriously. REALLY?

The highly sexualised depiction of women in the media is already something that I find a gigantic issue, but this is the sexualisation of, not only what is meant to be a grotesque character, but also one of the most frightening and iconic movie villains of cinematic history.

I fully understand the need to bring in a certain audience, and I understand that posters are designed for a primarily male gaze (which is an entirely different issue). But who in their right mind thought that giving The Wicked Witch of the West a push-up bra was a good idea? Maybe the film makes her a sympathetic character, and showcases a characters decline into insanity, but the whole point of the character is that she is unappealing in every aspect. For want of a better description, she is evil incarnate.

We’ve had films recently such as “Snow White and the Huntsman” that play on the expectation of women in media, and the insecurities they face. No doubt years “Maleficent” will carry the same themes with Linda Woolverton helming the script. But from what I’ve seen of this film so far, this isn’t an angle they are taking, and so I just cannot comprehend the logic behind this image. The image of Margaret Hamilton’s witch (undoubtedly the most famous incarnation of the character) had her covered completely from head to toe, in a strict, sexless fashion. Because that’s what the character is supposed to be.

Even the book “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire features a description of the character’s pubic hair. But this isn’t there to sexually gratify the character, rather to create an alternate human image of a character that eventually becomes an iconic image of evil. 

What I’m really trying to say is: is this really where film promotion has lead us? To a point where we have to sexually  objectify even the most iconic and vile characters? Is the depiction of women in the media at a point where sexualisation is so unlimited that we will dress up even the most vulgar characters if it gets an audience? Cause if it is; I’M OUT!!

It's Time To Begin, Isn't It?

It’s the end of year and it’s time to break out all those clichés. At midnight we’ll all make resolutions we won’t keep and as the fireworks light up the sky we’ll smile with those thoughts of a better change.

I don’t tend to make resolutions as I never keep them; it’s that simple. Every year I tell myself to just do what makes me happy, and in 2012, that’s what I’ve been. There have been weddings and celebrations and road trips, and there have been bad habits and late nights, but no matter what; I’ve been happy. 

This next year for me will be one of great size. Half way through the year I graduate and am suddenly out on the world on my own, having to fend for myself. University has been my constant for two and a half years and suddenly the idea of not having a security or not seeing the people I love every day is scary. With 6 months left, it really is the time to make the most of it and spend that time working hard, but getting to do all the things that being at university allows me.

                It’s also time to close a few chapters; be that with people, or places, or old habits. There are these things in my life that aren’t good for me, and I just don’t want around anymore. And to those things, I say ‘goodbye’. I’m aware of the heavy use of cliché in this entry, but it’s the end of the year. You can forgive me. 

                So to anyone reading, may your 2013 be as great as my 2012 was.  Happy New Year.

Star Wars Episode BLAH: The Commercialisation of Hollywood

Thanks to yet another acquisition by Disney, we are being “treated” to another trilogy of Star Wars films. Now, I have seen the original trilogy numerous times, though wouldn’t go as far as to call myself a “fan”. However, even I can tell you that after the bastardisation of the trilogy by the prequels, I cannot see the need to make more. For me, the Star Wars trilogy is a key example of the commercialisation of Hollywood. We were told the prequels were always planned, then given characters that we there to sell merchandise, and a story that had so much potential but so little substance. It was all style, and so little else.

As a writer, it angers me how the majority of films nowadays are sequels, prequels, reboots, adaptations or “re-imaginings” and yet hardly any of the commercially successful films of the past year have been original works. In this year alone we’ve had two Snow White adaptations as well as a reboot of a franchise not yet ten years old (Spider-Man). Even Christopher Nolan’s brilliant Dark Knight Trilogy, whilst stunning and brilliant, is just a director’s vision of a story we’ve seen done. Yes, we constantly adapt Shakespeare, but those stories are classics, and timeless. Is Batman really the new Hamlet? 

Searching through the internet the other day I stumbled upon a trailer for a film entitled “A Good Day to Die Hard” starring Bruce Willis. It wasn’t until much later I realised this was the fourth sequel in the Die Hard franchise, because the trailer shows us just another action film. It’s not even necessary to keep the name of Die Hard because it’s simply an action film. The name has been attached to ensure box office gross. It is copy and paste film-making. Over the years we’ve seen the decline of original film-making as companies back the continuation of franchise. In 1982, out of the top ten grossing films of the year, seven were original films; 1992, six films were original, 2002, three films were originals. And finally in 2012, two original works. TWO! And the success of one of those films has seen the sequel announced.

Another example of how unoriginal Hollywood can be is the Avengers franchise. Iron Man’s success saw sequels, which saw other Marvel comics hitting the big screen and soon we were given The Avengers, another brilliant film from this year. And suddenly The Avengers 2 is in the works, and now filmmakers are lining up to create the same franchise based around the DC Comic superheroes. It’s just an endless cycle of people taking pre-existing stories and re-packaging them for modern mainstream audiences.

Now, that isn’t to say these adaptations are a bad thing. The previously mentioned Dark Knight Trilogy is one of the finest examples of modern filmmaking, and one of the films I most look forward to next year is Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby”. With these re-imaginings, we continue to see differing vision of classic stories, and mostly offer a fresh take. However, as original works continue to decline in number and success, what troubles me is that we may stall new works. Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” is yet another example of how original story can be a mixture of substance and style for all audiences, without having to sacrifice story or intellect. It’s commercial and critical success show us that audiences are not solely interested in re-visiting characters, but also something fresh.

With more and more sequels being announced and franchises ever-growing, there seems to be no end in sight. The question I leave you with is this: Is this Hollywood now? Or do you see a Renaissance of original film making?

Sin

I’ve been thinking and discussing the ideas of “sin” quite a lot lately. Now as a non-religious person I obviously don’t feel the need to abide by the rules of any religion, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t strive to do good things and commit acts of kindness. I’m also well aware that as human beings, we sin. We commit acts that we know are lacking in morality or that do us damage. We drink, we smoke, we gossip, we indulge, and yet even though we feel guilt after these things, we don’t break our own cycles.

I, for one, think a little sin is good for everyone. I think we all need those moments where we are completely reckless and buy that jumper that we don’t really want, or order that next drink that we definitely don’t need. I believe that as long as the things I do don’t hurt beyond myself, then it’s okay to do that harm (with limitations, obviously). But when we start to hurt the ones we love or care about, then our sins become bigger. 

Temptation is fine. Acting upon temptation is human. It’s in our base instincts. As long as we understand our limits, and that we risk danger to others, a little sin is good for the mind.

But I do strive for better. I hope that someday I can break some of those cycles and can leave behind a lot of those sins I constantly re-commit. I hope that I can break some of my cycles I know that move beyond me. And I hope above all else, I can look back and see good more than bad.

“Make me good, God, but not yet.”

Autumn Falls...

So, I think we can agree that whatever semblance of summer 2012 was offering up has indeed passed. Now, despite having about 4 sun-soaked days this year, I’m still not upset by the passing of the season; as with the changing times, brings Autumn (or “Fall”, to any Americans reading).

Autumn is my second favourite times of the year (the first being the Christmas period for obvious reasons). I’ve had many discussions lately about how excited I am for this time of year.

Autumn to me is putting on your coat, and scarf before stepping outside where the air isn’t too cold, but just icy enough to pinch your cheeks. All the trees suddenly burn with oranges and reds and when the leaves fall to the ground, even the most cynical person can’t help but smile at the crunch beneath their feet. Children rake up the fallen foliage and jump in the beds of leaves, then scramble to re-structure. Back at home, my favourite thing about Autumn in my village is one particular tree. I don’t know the name of it, but all year round the leaves are purple, and amongst the others, it just looks beautiful.

Autumn also re-ignites my love of cinnamon. Suddenly all warm drinks, be it coffee, hot chocolate or apple juice must be flavoured with it. Walking round Leeds at this time, the street vendors always carry some, and that smell just fills me with happiness. There is something about that taste and smell that is synonymous with those last months of the year.

Returning home at the end of the day and taking off coats and hats and scarves, then quickly grabbing the seat nearest to the radiator trying to warm up; it’s just a time that seems very traditional to me. I think there is something very nostalgic and classic about Autumn that reminds me that so many of the things that make us happy come from places that are so small, be it the colour of the leaves, or that sense of home. It takes away the need or want for “more” that summer brings. In a cliché-d, romanticised view of the world, Autumn humbles me, and reminds me that I don’t need a lot to make me happy. Just the falling leaves, and the smell of cinnamon in the air.