Today was the first day that both our kids are in day-care all day. Effectively the end of our parental leave. Me and my SO decided to treat ourselves to a movie and saw Barbie. We figured if the conservative sphere was getting pissy about it, it must be good.
Anyone else see it?
I wasn’t expecting much. I have to say, I don’t think I could have ever expected this movie to be what it was. It’s campy, funny, colorful, and steps on your throat with it’s message and hardly let’s it off. I say that as positivity as someone can.
It’s amusing to me that some people think the movie is anti-man. It did make me feel mournful for my daughters inevitable loss of innocence. A corporate, big budget toy advertisement of all things. I think that’s the most surprising part. In some ways Barbie is the most unlikely and perfect vehicle for what the movie has to say.
I don’t know. It’s conflicting because, at the end of the day it’s a huge corporate puff peace, but also… What else could deliver it’s message to so many people?
I’ve seen it twice, I thought it was really fucking funny, me and my friends were cracking up basically the whole show. I do think they should’ve been harder on capitalism, of course, I thought it leaned way too hard into girlboss territory.
Haven’t seen it, don’t plan to, don’t care to tbh.
But having talked to some people about it, this is my takeaway: “Messaging” is simply a new tool of marketing, especially “subversive” messaging. You’re not buying a car - you’re committing a revolutionary act of activism against climate change and fossil capitalism. You’re not buying an ethically farmed, grass-fed, local steak, you’re fighting animal cruelty and big farming lobbies with your consumption. You’re not simply dressing up skandidly in pink to watch a multi-hundred million dollar Hollywood production of Barbie produced and approved of by its parent company, giving new legitimacy to that old rubber toy franchise and boosting sales numbers. You’re totally subverting gender roles and criticizing capitalism by doing so.
Imo you’re not. You’re just buying a new car, munching another steak and going to the movies again promoting one of the most famous IPs of all time. It’s the same thing we’ve done our entire lives. Changing the messaging around the act without changing the act, doesn’t change the act. You’re just doing the thing.
There can’t be anything really subversive coming out of the hegemonic culture industry. By the very nature of its production, via the commodification it undergoes, it has already become toothless and assimilated. Neoliberal anti-capitalism is just the newest sales-pitch. It’s along the lines of “diverse” CIA targeting officer recruitment ads. Just like capitalism can’t produce true anti-war movies, it can’t produce anti-capitalist or real anti-gender-role movies. It would be self-defeating if it did.
That being said, if you enjoy it more power to you. Nobody needs a grand narrative of subversion and messaging to go see and enjoy a movie at the theater. If you get something deeper out of it, even better.
I could not have said it better myself. We need to be much more critical especially of media that purports to have some kind of “radical” or “subversive” message because i guarantee you, if it’s made it to the mainstream it most certainly does not. Products made by big corporations may carry superficially anti-corporate messages but in reality they just serve to reinforce consumerism by getting people to believe that by consuming they are doing something radical.
I agree, those who wanna watch it and enjoy it should do so without feeling bad about themselves or feeling especially accomplished for doing so
completely agree with this take, it’s just more consumer activism/voting with your dollar bs.
OP literally asked “Who saw it” and you respond “Haven’t seen it, don’t plan to, don’t care tbh” and then give an opinion…
Unreal.
Because OP literally only asked who’s seen it all the answers here are plain yes/no ay?
This “you have to experience something to comment on it” is liberal individualism anyway. I don’t have to be a farmer to comment on the impact of climate change on farming or climate change more broadly.
You’d have a point if I had commented on the movie’s writing, aesthetic, picture, acting performances, score, etc. But I didn’t. I made a general point about the nature of cultural products under capitalism and the laws that govern this movie as much as any other.
If you haven’t seen it and don’t care about it, then how are you able to discuss anything within the movie and give your opinion on its content?
Imagine a film critic giving his opinion and in the end saying “I actually didn’t watch the movie”.
You are just formulating an opinion based off of what you’ve heard other people say, and it comes across as pretty foolhardy and arrogant.
The farmer example is also not applicable at all, because that’s still something you can research and find data on independently. You can’t independently gather data or an opinion on a movie. Unless you read the plot summary I guess, but that competently destroys the point of it being a movie.
No investigation, no right to speak.
And no, reading the plot summary or watching a YouTube analysis isn’t investigation.
I watched the 45 minutes long Ben Shapiro video, can I criticize the movie?
That is excellent investigation comrade. Everyone knows that Comrade Shapiro’s analyses are so bulletproof and awe inspiring and you don’t even need to watch the movie after listening to him.
Eh, had a response for you but clearly by your post history it would have been a waste of time. You don’t get it and you won’t. Take care.
You can make this same statement, which I don’t disagree with, about every film. It’s technically correct, which is the more boring kind of correct. Since most Normans are not at that point on the ideological world view scale, the movie exists in a whole different context for them. I think giving the Norman cultural context, this movie is subversive by that standard. It exists in a state of equilibrium between corporate revisionism and subversive cultural critique. Any tip of the scale in one direction or the other leads to either a vapid mass market blockbuster or a wildly unwatchable but biting satire that no one bothers to see.
We could discuss those ideas, but I think you would need to see the film in order to critique it for it’s content. Otherwise, we can return to the time honored traditions and write long winded shibboleths back and forth to each other, like two squawking crows at dawn, broadcasting our belief systems to the greater murder, without really saying anything of substance.
Yeah I saw it.
It’s good. And worth watching. But there are so many people on social media saying this is going to be revolutionary for the feminist cause.
You’re right about the corporate puff piece part. And the rehabilitation of Ruth Handler’s image like she was anything other than a cynical capitalist whose creation played a huge part in calcifying the concept of gender roles in generations of children that came after her.
Mattel signed off on the movie. It exists with their permission and approval. They are not going to start or enable a cultural revolution against their own interests, and if they reinvent themselves so that it is in their own interests, they’ll be doing it for profit, not for the liberation of women.
But fuck if anyone will listen to the skeptic’s take. This thread is the first discussion I’ve come across where saying negative things about the movie (not even saying it’s bad, just criticizing) doesn’t result in a dogpiling of misogyny accusations.
The face of feminism in 2023 is a fictional character and it’s copyright belongs to Mattel.
Still waiting for a quality torrent. Not paying shit to Hollywood.
https://myflixerz.to/watch-movie/barbie-693.9766228 Its ok I guess, quality is in the eye of the beholder I suppose but here it is. Edit:make sure to X out the popups
Thanks, torrent galaxy have tscreens from the release day but I prefer to wait for the stream/dvd rip.
this is where i watched it. i thought the music was a little hard to hear the lyrics but pretty good considering its a recording of the screen. the video quality was great.
I’m going to see it this Friday at a local, independent cinema. I don’t know how revolutionary it will be, but I have heard several men saying they had a reality check because of the movie. So it’s doing something positive, I guess?
I did the same. I saw it at a local independent cinema. The audio quality could be better, but they have big comfy leather recliners so the tradeoff is worth it for this type of movie imo.
In order to be a success, this movie just had to be funny. It succeeds. They do try and shove a message in your face at the end. I found this to be awkward and it didn’t really fit in with the theme of the rest of the movie, but it wasn’t so egregious that it ruined it.
God damn fantastic film. Say what you will about the capitalist motivations/backings, but visual narratives are often the most accessible to the general populace. It’s not a revolutionary creation, but it is fun, well executed, and it might get people to pause and take an extra moment to consider the position women hold in North American society.
Now we can watch as capitalism fucks it all by taking the completely wrong message from the success of the film and creating a flood of low-effort remakes in the so called ‘Mattel Cinematic Universe’. Catchy soundtrack though.
I watched it a while ago and had fun, but the barbies literally vote patriarchy away, so it’s just your harmless liberal “feminism” piece.
I need to get me a mojo dojo casa house.
Seriously though, i’m trans, I know what male privilege is, and I saw the effects of giving it up. The movie is certainly on point in that regard.
i only saw the first 30 minutes so far but i rly liked it. funny and quick and bright and interesting (barbie is suddenly worried about death even tho shes in ‘barbie dreamland’? fun)
Found the mf who was texting in front of me at the cinema
I haven’t seen it yet but my friends and I are planning on a Barbenheimer double feature, I’m looking forward to it since I’ve heard a lot of good things.
You’ll have fun, for sure. I’m interested in Oppenheimer but I have a strong feeling it’s very revisionist and likely wreaks of character rehabilitation. I’m sure it’ll be a gorgeous film.
I don’t know much about Oppenheimer the guy but people seem to be split online about the movie; some say it’s sympathetic to Oppenheimer while others say it’s critical. All I know is that Einstein is in it and there’s nude scenes.
My brain read this as Einstein sex scenes and I am all for it.
I think the first scene is a sex scene
Imho, the Barbie movie is the biggest trojan horse in cinema history. It has nothing that resembles anything “barbie” done previously. For good or bad, it is a success and noone can argue but just think about how many mothers/fathers didn’t even think of the age rating of the movie and took their kids to watch a highly politicised story. As it is with many things in life, there’s a time and a place for everything, imo, and this sort of approach to ideologies is becoming more and more like religions, where they target the young. Aside from what I personally think about the movie, I don’t want my kids to have to worry about politics or anything other than living their lives as kids, innocent and joyful and that we as parents will keep on working in the background to keep them safe and fed and loved, that’s it. Being a parent is hard, I tell ya…
Lol man, every women I know has a story about being sexualized by an adult man when they were a child. Every, single, one. None of these men were considering wether it was the time and the place to shatter their innocence. That seems like more of a real threat then the “ideologies” of the Barbie movie.
I’m sorry to hear that. I was referring to kids though, not teens.
I’ll back up the previous commenter. Every single woman i know was sexualised by adult men as children. Children, not teens. Like 6-7 onwards was the first I remember personally. Prepare them. Yes you want them to have that perfect childhood and be children, but they also should know that men can be creeps and it’s not their fault and not acceptable, and what to do when it happens.
Agreed and we do teach our kids about this issues at home. We read books together, there’s no question we won’t answer. In my opinion we don’t need Barbie to teach them that, that’s all. It’s like going to watch the Lego movie, we didn’t even think of age rating, same happened here I believe…
I’m sorry you seem to be missing my greater point here: Our daughters will be sexualized by a man even while they are still children, not just teens, robbing them of their childhood innocence, which is far more damning then me or you taking them to see the Barbie move… Where most of the films message will fly right over there heads, but could create an opportunity to have a conversation about the fact above.
We do have those conversations at home. I don’t need Barbie to be the messenger, I’d prefer she was a toy my kids play with, like in basically every other Barbie cartoon ever made before this movie. That’s my opinion.
if you have a kid you’re doing an absolute disservice to them with that attitude. like if u have a girl you’re gonna be like nah that wasn’t sexism dont worry ur pretty little head? everything is political. especially parenting.
e from what I personally think about the movie, I don’t want my kids to have to worry about politics or anything other than living their lives as kids, innocent and joyful and that we as pare
I was referring to kids, not teenagers. The movie is rated PG13 but in fact kids aged 5 or 6 and over are watching it…
And they should.
I saw my first R-Rated movie at 6, and it was fine.
even at that age.
wow, the white liberal MLK was talking about 📸
This isn’t a liberal. This is literally the take that Ben Shapiro and a whole lot of brain dead stupid as shit right wing commentators had.
This is a conservative moron masquerading as them “caring about the kids”.
Have you seen the movie? And to blame the movie for kids watching it is absolutely ridiculous. Put the blame where it should be, with the parents.
Also, newsflash about kids and teens: They don’t give a fuck about politics and aren’t going to give a shit about what is getting the rights panties all bunched up. They want to watch a movie and laugh, and if you could get over yourself, you’d have a good laugh too.
Quick personal question, do you make your kids go to church?
I’m not religious but their mother is Jewish and so they go to the synagogue. Why is that?
You’re concerned with political messages in a movie (mostly about women in power) and then force religion on your children. You do see the irony right?
I have to recognise that I’m in a odd situation here and so you’re right about that. What I’ll say is that marriage and parenting can be complex things and, although I’m an atheist but my partner isn’t, we did talk about this aspect before committing to having kids. Personally I do my part to pass on what I believe to be the good aspects of life onto them and, although they are taught Judaism, I also teach them critical thinking, questioning everything that doesn’t seem right or fair and so, in that sense, I’m no hypocrite.
I didn’t realize what sub this was, and for that, I apologize. I respect your decisions with your teaching to your children and as an atheist myself, my question/concern would be if your children are taugh Judaism and you’re teaching them to question everything, that (depending on the age I guess) could be very confusing to children.
As confusing as being brought up as a Catholic boy and being taught the same way by my parents and learning to be aware enough to not fall for the church rabbit hole. I know of at least two other boys that attended youth catechism same time as me that weren’t so lucky and we only found out about the abuses years later. Today one can’t question the current narrative without ridicule, even if you’re questioning the method and not the merit…
it was rated pg13 and you’re complaining? what the hell?
Do you think that under 13s aren’t going to watch the movie?
What do you think PG means in PG-13? Perfectly Good?
Parental Guidance - 13 and over.
PG-13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers.
It’s not a restriction by age it’s a warning about content, but it’s left to the parents to decide if it’s appropriate.
Nice, thank you.
uh yeah it’s up to the parent to know if their kid is mature enough. There’s nothing in that movie that could scar a kid like an R rated movie could, what more do you want? do you want them to literally start making parents bring birth certificates to movies to prove their kid isn’t under 13???
No, what I meant is that nobody went to see the Barbie movie expecting to find a movie heavily politicised, that’s it. Have you ever watched any other Barbie content before this movie? I certainly have done so with my daughter. If I’m going to see a John Wick movie, I know what to expect and so would you. Did you expect a Barbie movie to be what it was? I never said the movie was wrong or the message was wrong, that was never the point of my comments and every one seems to miss that.
Did you expect a Barbie movie to be what it was?
Yeah pretty much. Knew it was about feminism weeks before it even came out lol
fair enough.
Barbie is inherently political. The mere existence of Barbie in previous generations inspired similar movements to the “anti-woke” far right reaction that we’re experiencing today.
Hehehe, we’re still talking about Mattel’s Barbie doll, right? Because that toy’s history is not as clear cut as you seem to think. =)
I don’t think you really have an understanding of what politics even means as a word. Yes, I’m referring to the toy. Yes, it is inherently political. You’re giving a bad name to my home state with your strange obsession with sanitized, non-political movies, which by the way, literally don’t now nor never have existed.
A Trojan horse with neon lights announcing the hidden soldiers and surrounded by anti-Greek protesters.
Did you watch the trailers? Was there political cues in them?
Can you give an example of a piece of media devoid of politics?
Recent ones? Probably not and that’s the issue I guess.
No, any at all. I don’t care how recent.
