MovieChat Forums > Never Back Down (2008) Discussion > Does anybody else think girls are shown ...

Does anybody else think girls are shown as really bloodthirsty in this?

posted 16 years ago by gonog998
54 replies | jump to latest

Thats my question - does anything else wonder why the girls are shown as being so bloodthirsty in this movie. Okay the main girl is sensitive enough but as for the rest - well just look at how they are portrayed in the film.
Every time our hero is shown as whacking out other guys on youtube the girls jump up in excitement and can't wait to oggle him in the classroom or school corridors - their eyes glowing in awe and admiration. And when the main bone-crunching fights happen its the girls again - usually provocatively dressed in bikinis or short club dresses - who are in the front line of spectators jumping up and down in atavistic bloodthirsty glee!
As a resident in the UK surely not all American college girls act like this when they see men fight?
Not that I necessarily object - its just interesting that the movie focuses so much on this aspect - but then again movie-makers have always liked to link sex up with violence so maybe its down to good ol' box office - along the lines of "give the public what they want to see".
Not surprisingly perhaps the producer, director and writer of this film are all men - I doubt if women film-makers would have shown girls in such a harsh light.
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[–] BoSoxRule 16 years ago

No, I definitely noticed that, too. Even Baja, the "sensitive" one, is the catalyst for the first fight to happen at the party. You would think that some of the girls would feel sorry for Jake, especially after Ryan taunts him about his dead father. But no, they just want some blood!!

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[–] gonog998 16 years ago

Hi
Thanks for responding. Actually I forgot about Baja enticing the hero to the first party so he can get his a*ss whipped by her bada*ss boyfriend. Although she does feel remorse about itafterwards. But then again just before the final showdown she encourages to go out and fight. Guess the fact that she reads "The Illiad" might be clue that even she is not all sweetness and light!
American colleges sure seem rough tough places! Institutes of education...? Bear pits more like!! I mean don't any of these kids doing any studying - in this film all college seems to consist of is stripper parties and fight clubs!
Although a lot of teenage boys and girls probably wouldn't criticise that!

[–] BoSoxRule 16 years ago

Well, it was actually high school, but it's a bit over-the-top and exaggerated.

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

[–] maxloh-1 13 years ago

I agree that this is wrong. However, you are complaining about this when it's only one of several instances in which the movie portrayed humans acting in an unrealistic manner. This movie is good because of its MMA and its glorification of martial arts, not realistic portrayal of women's behavior.

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[–] shaggysacks 16 years ago

There are lots and lots of girls who get off on watching people beat the *beep* out of each other. I'd say this is a fair assessment considering the type of party it was.

[–] Neptuny 16 years ago

Not surprisingly perhaps the producer, director and writer of this film are all men - I doubt if women film-makers would have shown girls in such a harsh light.

Kind of sexist of the OP. They can wear our pants, but can't feel our barbarity. Nice.

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[–] theevilmonkeycmp3 16 years ago

why when one side of the human personality is shown in a movie ppl think they makers of the film are saying EVERYONE of that gender or type are all like that? fooking idiots! there are so many types of ppl in the world and this movie was showing the way ppl acted in this group, that was it. if you can't understand that then just kill yourself and please don't reproduce.

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[–] brett-98 16 years ago

I thought the bloodthirsty part was a little over the top.

Sadly, the girls sitting around drooling over the guys being hot and ripped is pretty realistic.

I'm of the opinion that women are way more superfical then men. When a guy wants to date a hot girl, he is looked upon as a pig. When a girl wants to date a hot guy, she is looked upon as a strong women going after what she wants.

[–] bluepolkadotsxo 15 years ago

I respectfully but strongly disagree. There are many (at least some) women who are sensitive and caring and could care less about the superficial things in this world. Men are rarely looked upon as pigs (at least not by their male friends, they think hey! I've banged 10 chicks I'm awesome!) in fact, it is very common for guys to chase after girls and then when she finally sleeps with him she gets labeled as a slut. Seen it happen many times. So it goes both ways, girls can be terrible to guys and guys can be terrible to girls. But as far as I can see it's usually guys who are treating girls terribly, taking advantage of them, and only wanting them for sex. Talk about superficial...
Just to clear things up.

[–] activista 9 years ago

@brett-88

Both men and women can be superficial---no one gender has got a claim on that. Also, I've never seen this flick at all. it sounds like just another boring predictable male fantasy action flick that's all. I remember when it came out, and thinking that the plot sounded just like every other kung fu flick I'd seen or heard of---new or different, basically.

[–] hkhuffstutler 16 years ago

I have two co-existing theories here:

1: They were vibing the audience reaction of women like me who went to see because it was about gorgeous men fighting each other (Moviewise, I am a little bloodthirsty, I freely admit that)

2: The director was clearly trying to establish the credibility of their underground warrior culture by making the brawls seem as much like a Roman colliseum as possible, with Ryan playing to the crowd and the bloodthirsty crowd (including women who throw themselves at him) loving him for it. I think the script's repeated allusions to Achilles are evidence to that mood the director wanted to set.

[–] lexx_icon 15 years ago

can't wait to oggle him in the classroom or school corridors - their eyes glowing in awe and admiration.

. Are you writing fanfic?

But no, okay. To answer your question, I'm a girl and I'm pretty sure I'd react the same way. Back in school or at the club, whenever a fight broke out I'd always be the person who pushed their way to the front to get the best view, hyping the sh-t out of it.

I mean, if some guy got jumped and was getting his ass kicked I wouldn't be "bloodthirsty" about it. I'd try to stop it or call for help. But if both parties are down and ready to give a show, hell yeah, I'd want to see some sh-t get wrecked.

When a guy wants to date a hot girl, he is looked upon as a pig. When a girl wants to date a hot guy, she is looked upon as a strong women going after what she wants.

Uh, no. Guy who wants hot girl = superficial pig. Girl who wants hot guy = vapid whore. It cuts both ways.

[–] jamiemcgrory 15 years ago

In our high school fights there was always some girls at the front swearing and shouting at the fighters as much as the guys were. The only difference I saw between girls reactions to fights and guys is that the portion of girls who didn't want the fight to happen were very likely to start crying just out of the high tensions going around.

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[–] manofthedesert 15 years ago

thats one of the things unrealistic in this movie

real people, even guys, would in real life be siding with jake and telling the other guy to back down, especially after mentioning his father