Fifty Shades of GreyWhen college senior Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) steps in for her sick roommate to interview prominent businessman Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) for their campus paper, little does she realize the path her life will take. Christian, as enigmatic as he is rich and powerful, finds himself strangely drawn to Ana, and she to him. Though sexually inexperienced, Ana plunges headlong into an affair -- and learns that Christian's true sexual proclivities push the boundaries of pain and pleasure.
Well.. I did it. I had to go and see this movie and I was lucky to find a girlfriend who wanted to go with me. If you remember from my review of the book Fifty Shades of Grey I didn't really love it. It was just so over the top for me but I also don't really enjoy romance novels so I figured that was one of the big reasons why I didn't love it. Still I was quite curious about the film.
It is odd that it seems to be shunned upon by a lot of people. People = EVERYONE. People who have read the book/not read the book, seen the movie/not seen the movie. It's kind of funny. I mean... for once a woman is shown enjoying herself in some sexual situations and it would seem like that is not OK. But... I do have to agree that the parts of the movie where she (Anna) is being controlled by Christian is nuts. I just couldn't do it in my life. The movie itself was OK though I wouldn't watch it again. If you read the books you already know what to expect, my friend who went with me had not read the book. She too thought the movie was just OK. Honestly it gets kind of boring. Really the whole movie is about Christian trying to get Anna to sign this contract about a dominant-submissive relationship. He apparently gets off on controlling someone. When she asks him why he keeps saying "it's just who I am". I think he probably needs a therapist.
The sex scenes aren't that big of a deal to me and I was quite pleased that they didn't have an actress playing Anna who had huge boobs. Thank you to having a woman with a more realistic body. Though she is thin and people will complain that it is not a typical body. Maybe I was happy because her body type is similar to mine. Of course no male nudity.. surprise! Apparently the actor Dornan's contract says no penis allowed. Boo. I saw a couple leave during the first sex scene and never come back!
I think the actress Dakota Johnson does make the film. She is like all the other women out there. Looking for love, trying to make it in the world, living in a little apartment and eating cheap food. She's the actress who has to brave on the screen in her own skin and really has to do all the heavy breathing and what not in the scenes. Sometimes the film reminded me of Pretty Woman which is sad because then I kind of felt like it was a hooker/client relationship.
I really do enjoy the soundtrack to this movie too!! So a few good things come from this film. This song right here by the Weekend is amazing!
And this song by Annie Lenox
I give the film 2 1/2 stars Have you ventured out to see the film???
Great review!!! Like you, I thought that the book was way too over the top and that the writing wasn't even all that great. The movie did surprise me, though! Same as you, I wanted more Christian (I had no idea he signed that part about nudity in his contract!) but I was happy that Ana was cast as a normal girl with a normal-ish body (she was still really thing and had NO cellulite, which made me super jealous). And the soundtrack was awesome! Also, did you think it was funny? I definitely appreciated the humor they made out of how awkward they're supposed to be when they're together near the beginning. It did, though, have some slow parts.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, I agree with pretty much everything you said! Great review :)
-Jessica (Peace Love Books)
Hmmm, I'm still on the fence. Maybe I can wrangle up a brave girlfriend to go with me.
ReplyDeleteI went to see it and pretty much had the same thoughts as you - it was okay, but I wouldn't see it again.
ReplyDeleteI did like that Anna sometimes would laugh and giggle at the absurdity of what Christian wanted. I mean... I would be laughing my tail off.... and probably rolling my eyes as well. I want someone to shower me with gifts like Christian did to Anna... though I don't know if I would want to be whipped to get a car. LOL!
ReplyDeleteThat was me... I found a girlfriend who is down for whatever and just likes to hang out. Love her so we had a lot of fun going.
ReplyDeleteEh... yeah... I didn't walk out of there so excited. Plus that ending where it just ended. Just dropped off. I guess we have to go see the next one if we want to know if Christian chases her some more.
ReplyDeleteI'm so on the fence about this! I did read the books but I probably won't see the movie (well maybe eventually if it's on Netflix or something). If people like it then good for them, I guess. Like you said I do think it's good/important for a women enjoy herself in sexual situations, but in the book half the time I didn't feel like she actually enjoyed it, as she often talked about feeling used and sad afterwards. I just don't know. Hard to say! I LOL'd at the no penis thing in the contract. I mean I wouldn't want to show mine either, but considering what kind of movie it is it's kinda funny, hahahah.
ReplyDeleteLolz that's pretty funny a couple left during the sex scene and did not return. I've been waiting to read a review on this movie from someone that I trusted. You always give fair reviews. I thought the books were okay. I know that some people laugh at me when I say that I kind of liked them. I really didnt think the books wouldve transferred to the big screen well. There are too many juicy parts that would earn the movie one of those crazy almost rated X ratings. Of course they were not included. I've heard some people say the movie is almost kind of boring. I am interested in seeing it. My boyfriend thinks it sounds Silly. So there you have it.Lol. I don't know whether I will wait for it to come out ONdemand or go see it on one of those six dollar movie nights.
ReplyDeleteI like Dakota. She has been featured in a lot of the magazines I read. She's very sweet and humble and cute as can be. Jamie is a hottie too. I still believe the sons of anarchy guy would have done a good job. Charlie Hunam is pretty sexy. I don't know why people didn't think he could clean up well enough to play Christian Grey. Sadly they got so used to seeing him as a motorcycle badass that they could not see him as Christian. It would've been interesting . It definitely would not have hurt the movie.
Thanks for the review 😃👏💃
I'm not planning to see this, but I am having fun reading other bloggers thoughts on it! And it's all pretty much what I would think if I saw this - it seems good for a laugh! I think you make a great point about showing women enjoying sex though, and with women with a normal body type. I guess there is something positive to say about this film. I wonder if they will be able to make the rest of the movies even better though.... but I'll just wait for other bloggers to tell me about it. :)
ReplyDeleteI know people that have read the books and a lot of them loved them, but from everything I know about them, I just can't. Most of their relationship just sounds SUPER abusive and I hear the film (besides the sex scenes) is much of the same. I DO really like the soundtrack though. I l really enjoy Ellie Goulding's "Love Me Like You Do."
ReplyDelete-lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
Thanks for watching it for me. Seriously. I didn't want to go see it, but I was curious about it. Loved your review!
ReplyDeleteI'll probably watch this one at home when it comes out somehow but I wasn't really driven to go watch it in the theaters. Great review! I read the book and thought it was okay but didn't really love it. I didn't find it to be anything like most romance novels aimed at adults in terms of character and relationship development. I mean obviously the sex was not YA but for me it read exactly like what it was - Twilight fan fiction. I didn't even realize that that was it was until much later but I kept thinking "this feels like reading Twilight!"
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the book or really care to see the movie but I was getting awfully sick of people bashing the movie. Good grief! If they don't want to see it then don't. No need to judge anyone that does. Anywho, I was excited to see someone that went and saw it so I could get their opinion. Great review.
ReplyDeleteYeah... some of the scenes in the movie was a little awkward because she obviously didn't feel comfortable with half the things going on with the sex. She would be teary eyed. I was like.. ugh... if you are so upset why are you still doing them?? I did think there might be more man nudity in this, but there never is. I suppose showing a penis is like showing a vagina and movies just don't do that. Must get them a rating of X. Though I don't know why it was in his contract then.
ReplyDeleteI have NO idea what that couple thought they were seeing. They were even a young couple. The sex scene wasn't even that serious yet. Yes for thinking you can trust my reviews! That makes me feel great. Sometimes I worry if they are worded well. I can't stand when people laugh at what other people like. If you like these books... great! A lot of people liked them.
ReplyDeleteDakota is so fun. I think she is hosting Saturday Night Live this week too. She looked amazing at the Oscars this week. I wish that Charlie Hunam would've stayed cast in this movie. Man is he perfect. I think he ended up backing out... I can't remember why. I would give the movie a shot if you loved the books. I go to movies by myself all the time!
Yeah... I won't go to see the next movies. I didn't bother to read the 2nd and 3rd book. The movie didn't even have an ending where I thought.. I have to see the next one!!! I am still glad I went though to be able to check it out. I was hoping it would be more like Magic Mike. I had a lot of fun seeing that movie and I really can't wait to see the second one this summer.
ReplyDeleteThe soundtrack is soooo amazing. I too think the relationship is abusive. Seeing it on film acted out is a little awkward too. I just want to scream out to Anna and tell her he's a stalker! STALKER
ReplyDeleteHAHAH! I know a lot of people who aren't going to see it. Though I think it made enough money last season to make the next movie.
ReplyDeleteIt was curiosity that made me go to the theater. Plus I though that maybe it was going to be a good time. I did have fun with my girl friend and am glad she went with me. Funny thing is I liked Twilight. I think maybe because it made me feel like a teenager while reading. Fifty Shades was just ... flat. I needed more story then just a sex contract.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way. I mean... so many people judge it because of what they heard. Not actually seeing it or reading it. That is why I did both. I wanted to be able to form an opinion by actually knowing the source material.
ReplyDeleteI'll be waiting for video to watch in the comfort of my own home. LOL! I'm still shocked that my mom went to see it with friends. She didn't read the books--I read the first and half of the second and got bored, so I know what you mean about the movie. I laughed out loud at your nudity clause comment. :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't like the books all that much. I read books 1 and 2 and then stopped. I would be curious to see the movie, but just not brave enough to go to the theatre >.<
ReplyDeleteI haven't read or seen either but I agree does seem to me like a big deal about nothing..seems hypocritical what a big deal is made about it..does seem sexist how a book like that is read by women and gets slammed..whereas tons of things that are geared toward guys are considered okay..what is the difference?
ReplyDeleteHaven't read the books, but I was curious enough to come read about the movie. I found it funny that a couple left during the sex scene - did they not realize what they were going to see? (Or maybe they decided their time could be better spent re-enacting it themselves. LOL!)
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I granted it 2.5 stars too. It was actually not all bad, all due to Johnson. She really rocked the role, and had me and my girlfriends laughing. Best part was her drunk dialing Christian at the bar. :D Overall, we treated the movie like a time to be snarky and whisper to each other. Luckily there wasn't that many people in the theater.
ReplyDeleteYour mom probably went to see it with friends for the same reason I did... it seemed like one of those girly movies you go to with girlfriends. Like Sex and the City and Magic Mike. Those were fun movies to go to with your girlfriends. This one wasn't that great for that. Though the girl I went with was a good sport about it.
ReplyDeleteIt really was curiosity that brought me to going to see this film. I just wanted to know what was the hype all about. Though I was surprised that Entertainment Weekly gave the movie a B. I would go more for a C.
ReplyDeleteThe drunk dialing at the bar was great!! I thought that part was hilarious. She really did make the movie. I agree... the movie was kind of about just having fun and laughing and not taking it serious.
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