I just saw the
aforementioned movie. Although it has a
PG-13 rating I thought it a quite violent cinematic experience not suitable for
children. Clearly some with offspring
disagreed, as there were families with children in the theatre.
Some observations, the film
reinforced gender stereotypes and both the leading women characters Ellie and
Cornelia were figuratively and literally supporting their respective men. This was odd because within the story Ellie
literally saves a life and Cornelia is Queen of the Apes.
Never-the-less Ellie
seems to be the most passive doctor in the world; she literally seeks male
approval before plying her trade. And
Cornelia is well for the bulk of the film, she whimpers and looks loving into
the eyes of her husband, Caesar.
In addition Cornelia was
probably the most passive mother ape (to a newborn) ever. She exhibited no physical
strength. And in then some of the female ape characters some had decorative
head gear on….they were bejeweled.
Yes I know I am having
this solo discourse about a movie that features talking apes. Still I was aware that within the narrative/the
reality of this film experience women where those who wear pretty things and
asked for permission.
There is also the scene
when an ape is carrying a helpless woman over his shoulder that is disbursing
as it harkens us back to the sociopolitical scene of the equally helpless Fay
Wray being carried off by the Big _____King Kong.
And then there is the
violence. And there is lots of it.
The film operates within
the prism of stronger/harder will succeed – for the male characters. And some of the scenes of violence between
the ape characters are quite brutal.
I did like the films
narrative on war. It is so very
interesting to see how this war is started through manipulation of fear of the
other…..and to then see that particular cancer festers and spreads.
The film also gives a
respectful nod to the callousness of animal testing, and a most dramatic nod to
the consequences of science without responsibility.
See the movie, and yes I
do think it is more than talking apes.
-Debra V. Wilson
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