Let me start by saying I have not read the books… yet. I
will, because I need to form my own opinion on the story and writing. There is
so much mud being flung around the
internet about these books that I am almost obligated to at least take a peek. Seriously,
fights are breaking out, friendships are being lost… over a story. It’s fiction
people. Remember that.
Now, that said, I went to the movie with no prejudice in
mind. I knew it was a movie centered around a BDSM-ish relationship. Kinky… sure, why not. Girl’s night at the
movie. Let’s go have a few giggles and popcorn.
Giggles there were aplenty! But I fail to see why people are
fighting about this movie and it’s book franchise so fervently in every corner
of the internet. Sure, there is sex, and the idea of a BDSM relationship, but
what you got on screen simply a bit of kink with an odd love story.
Story-wise, I think the angle the writers and producers went
with was perfect for the general adult movie going audience. It was something new.
Not the standard Valentine’s day romance fair. Inf fact, it ends on a break up
note. Definitely not lovey dovey, guy gets girl, romantic.
Now, remember, I have not read the books. I am going off of
what I saw on the big screen only.
This movie is, at bottom line, a story about a woman trying
to crack the shell of a broken man who has, for no real reason (call it love at
first sight syndrome), latched on to her as an object of desire. She, despite
many red flags to his emotional issues, tries to dig down deep and find the
heart she believes he does have and get him to accept normal relationship-y
things. Along the way they engage in some new sexual grounds for her, but none
of what was shown on the film crossed any real taboo lines. I daresay it wasn’t
even really BDSM they were showing. Some light bondage, sure. Some gentle
flogging… more like tickling, yes! And, there were some titillating scenes with
her strung up while he teased her. All of which were not really crossing any
lines as far as I could tell. Certainly not abuse. Everything that was done was
consensual. Even that last bit with the belt was ordered by Ana. Watch closely.
Gray, for all his “I’m a Dominant,” posturing really never did anything without
Ana’s okay.
Some interesting points I noticed while watching. The
initial mousey appearance of the main character Ana was just that. While she
spoke with a simper and constantly bit her lip, she was not completely a
doormat. She never once signed the contract and quite regularly kept Mr. Gray
on a chain waiting for her to give him what he wanted. She demanded negotiations
on the contract, and despite his very forward advance, left him in the cold
that night. Despite his anger at her trip to Georgia, she did not cancel plans.
Despite his consistent reminders that he was not a romantic person, she whittled
him down to agreeing to all of her demands. Dinner and dates, bringing her home
to the family, sleeping together in bed. These were all things Ana wanted and
demanded in her own coquettish way. She forced her hand and her “Dominant” gave
in each time. She managed to get everything while she was being wined and dined
by her new beau. I’d hardly call this being a doormat. Also, not to be the one to spoil it for other
moviegoers, but she did walk out the door on him at the end of the movie. Great
cliffhanger, and another example of how she really held her own when it came
down to it.
There were some issues I did have with the movie, and I can’t
say I wasn’t 100% unbiased. I’d been warned before watching and the warnings
did prove true, to some extent. The chemistry issue was definitely apparent. But,
only in about the first half of the movie. So, I have a feeling it wasn’t the
actors at fault. I felt they (the movie producers) were trying way too hard to show
how different the two characters and their worlds were before delving into the
kinky relationship that develops. They are essentially from two different
worlds. One is a rich business man hiding his inner demons behind work, working
out, and his kinky bedroom fun. The other is from a multi-family divorce home
trying to work her way through the world. She’s used to disappointment in life
and having to work through it. She wears her demons on her sleeve. The two
though, initially, were so horribly awkward in the beginning I wondered how
they would ever pull it off. Also, Christian was giving off the worst stalker
vibe in the hardware store. It was off putting in the worst way. The characters
did mellow out at about the halfway point and the awkwardness and stalkerness
was much more tolerable. The characters did begin to feel more real at that
point but it was a knock to the movie’s credit that it took that long for them
to become likeable.
Another point I didn’t quite feel was right was Christian as
a dominant. Not knowing what a Dom should look or act like, I am only
speculating here, but during the scenes where he was the Dom, I just didn’t
believe it. It felt to me like playing around. Sorry. That part just never became “real.”
So, all that said. I found the movie an enjoyable 2 hours. I
laughed, I oohed, I gawked, I enjoyed. And in the end, I don’t see the BDSM
angle as much of a problem. There wasn’t a real representation of BDSM in this
movie as I could tell. Just a bit of kink.
As for those screaming abuse. I don’t understand the abuse link either. The
characters themselves have their own issues, but what transpired in the scenes
was not abuse at all. Maybe I am missing something. I do feel that people like to find things to
complain about and with its popularity, FSOG is a fashionable thing to throw
mud at. Maybe that’s all that is happening. I’ll just leave it at that.
I will read the books to see if I might be missing more, and
when I do, I’ll come back and post the review as well.
Thanks for reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the
movie. Did you see it? Did you like it?