You're nitpicking and drawing an arbitrary line. All action is ridiculously unbelievable. *NM*
Aeryn Send a noteboard - 24/01/2012 04:53:40 AM
If we were talking about a fantasy movie with magic and such, then sure, whether it's a man or a woman shooting fire out of their eyes is pretty much a moot point. Equally impossible in either case. When it comes to action movies, though, that's not the case. The odds of 6'4, 275lb Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson winning a fight against four or five guys are exponentially higher than those of 5'3, 105lb Lucy Liu.
In the case of the male, victory requires (admittedly extreme) luck. In the case of the woman, victory requires breaking the laws of physics. All I have to believe for Dwayne to win is that his opponents are morons who attack one at a time, who always make a small sound before attacking from behind, etc. But for Lucy to win, I have to believe that a 105lb woman can punch a 200lb man into unconsciousness without breaking her wrist.
It's basically the difference between watching a football player throw a 50 yard pass through a small tire 50 times in a row, and watching him do the same thing with an anvil. I know the former feat is ridiculously unlikely, and squarely in the realm of fantasy. However, I know that the latter is impossible.
In the case of the male, victory requires (admittedly extreme) luck. In the case of the woman, victory requires breaking the laws of physics. All I have to believe for Dwayne to win is that his opponents are morons who attack one at a time, who always make a small sound before attacking from behind, etc. But for Lucy to win, I have to believe that a 105lb woman can punch a 200lb man into unconsciousness without breaking her wrist.
It's basically the difference between watching a football player throw a 50 yard pass through a small tire 50 times in a row, and watching him do the same thing with an anvil. I know the former feat is ridiculously unlikely, and squarely in the realm of fantasy. However, I know that the latter is impossible.
A thought about women in action roles
17/01/2012 10:42:28 PM
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The actress in Haywire is a former MMA fighter.
17/01/2012 11:13:03 PM
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How many men did she beat in those fights?
18/01/2012 01:47:04 AM
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Haywire may not be the best example
17/01/2012 11:33:31 PM
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So: Action roles should have bigger women.
18/01/2012 03:29:38 AM
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Actually, Buffy is worse because it implies women need magic to be useful.
18/01/2012 05:34:09 AM
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Joyce comes to mind. And Tara - she hardly ever uses her magic. Oh, and Darla.
18/01/2012 10:58:57 PM
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I really doubt the outfit did much to make Xena look big.
18/01/2012 06:53:59 PM
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Lucy Lawless is pretty much Amazonian.
19/01/2012 09:28:11 AM
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It's true that she's not as tiny as others.
19/01/2012 05:46:59 PM
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"Not as tiny as the others" is about the best you can say for her.
19/01/2012 08:54:03 PM
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Re: A thought about women in action roles
18/01/2012 04:13:27 AM
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Indeed. See for example, any Robin Hood made in the last 20 years. Maid Marian HAS to fight. *NM*
18/01/2012 05:35:19 AM
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Re: A thought about women in action roles
18/01/2012 07:50:28 PM
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She is some kind of super hero in super hero movie, is't she? *NM*
19/01/2012 07:30:50 AM
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I don't think she's technically supposed to have super powers.
19/01/2012 08:58:40 PM
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I thought Sarah Connor in T2: Judgment Day was a realistic portrayal of the action heroine.
20/01/2012 05:57:08 AM
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So did anyone actually see Haywire this weekend?
23/01/2012 02:34:43 PM
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It just depends on how much you're willing to accept.
23/01/2012 04:23:36 PM
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You're nitpicking and drawing an arbitrary line. All action is ridiculously unbelievable. *NM*
24/01/2012 04:53:40 AM
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Maybe. I just feel there's a distinction between "one in a million" and "impossible."
24/01/2012 03:53:35 PM
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