MovieChat Forums > Prey (2022) Discussion > Youre a bigot for not liking it? Movie =...

Youre a bigot for not liking it? Movie = meh because the lead is a selfish child not because of gender or race

posted 2 years ago by AZ (62)
13 replies | jump to latest

Post edited because I don't want to stir bullshit drama on here and detract from even my own valid points.

That said, there are many valid criticisms of the movie as there are probably reasons people might like it. Love it or hate it, I say put effort into explaining why you do.

I post on this board because I love the franchise and AGAIN was hoping for a better movie. My reason for not liking it is the characters. There is a point to the "woke" criticism because if a male played the same role they would be called a selfish asshole. What's the message of the movie? That women need to be more narcissistic than men to be better than them? "Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster"

The lead is a selfish narcissist who puts that ahead of the well being of the tribe. Most of the secondary characters are assholes to get us to sympathize with her. Who is the movie supposed to "represent" sociopaths? Teenagers who have yet to discover how reality works? The greatest fantasy in the movie was not that it's a teenage girl fighting the Predator. It's when she was rewarded for all the destruction she had caused.

It reminds me of the meme about teenagers - "Teenagers if you don't like being told what to do by your stupid parents act now! Move out! Get a job! Pay your own bills! You can do it because you know everything!"

Naru has that attitude but she constantly relies on help from others to survive and it's also others who weaken the Predator for her. They suffer so she can be glorified = narcissistic teenage power fantasy.

If they were gonna do the teenage rebel thing they should have at least made her actually run away and fully separate from the tribe. Make it about her struggling to survive in the wilderness, sink or swim on her own. She could have a character arc where she learns the value in humility and her tribe. To appreciate the guidance of her grizzled elders-having been aged by her harrowing survival experiences herself.

Maybe while she's off doing soul searching on her own she hears her tribe in the distance. It's the warriors fighting the Predator. She arrives just in time to see them get taken out. That could be used to resolve her solidarity with her tribe, to vow to go back to help it in any way she can... but not before hunting down the mysterious creature and avenging the others. Along the way she could meet the French. Make them bad guys who turn good, have them team up once they realize what the Predator is.

They could have made Naru a hero worth cheering for. The Predator represents a selfish amoral hunter. He has some rules but he's still a monster who shoots people in the back and skins them. The selfish immature lead is not a good counter to that. Arnold and Danny Glover were so heroic and fun to watch in their movies not because of gender or mere muscles.

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 2 years ago

What's with the posts that are just to complain other posts?
Just reply to someone instead of making a new thread.

[–] AZ (62) 2 years ago

It's easier to make one thread than to go tit for tat in others explaining why people who don't like it aren't all bigots.

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 2 years ago

Of course it's easier.
You're arguing with ppl without actually arguing with them lol. This in itself usualy leads to strawman argumentation.

At any rate, the bulk of your post is good material; it's just your criticism of the character, and of the movie. But I feel like it's silly to begin with a number generalized complaints. At any rate, you do you. I didn't mean to be too serious. Just poking fun by reusing your language. Again, most of what you've written is good material for discussion, which already puts you above 90% of this website. :) Godspeed.

[–] asom (6832) 2 years ago

"What's with the posts that are just to complain other posts?"

Hahahaha
hahahahaahaha
hahahaha
hahaha

I love the self irony in a post complaining about a post complaining about other posts.

Shall I complain in my post about your post complaining about a post complaining about other posts?

[–] mirelurk (884) 2 years ago

It's not ironic cause acidraindrop didn't start their own thread

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 2 years ago

I meant to write "thread" the first time. Hence my second sentence: "Just reply to someone instead of making a new thread." Nothing ironic about what I did.

You replied directly to TruMovieFan in his thread. That makes sense.
I replied directly to AZ in his thread. That makes sense.

AZ made a thread to complain other people without directly talking to them.

[–] asom (6832) 2 years ago

A thread starts with a .... post. Usually named "Original Post".

So yeah, even though he started a thread he technically wrote a post to do so :D

[–] AZ (62) 2 years ago

Again why go tit for tat? I've made plenty of replies saying why I don't like the movie and am not a bigot. Seems reasonable to spell out the reasons with my own thread.

The majority of my post isn't about other peoples posts. It's about the reasons I don't like the movie. Am I allowed to post those or do I have to piggyback on other posts?

[–] AZ (62) 2 years ago

At least the majority of my post isn't complaining. It's what I didn't like about the movie. I even gave them a concession with admitting there are reasons people might like it and how I'm not in favor of trollish critiques.

[–] almonigal (1283) 2 years ago

Who is Naru ?

[–] Reaperscout (605) 2 years ago

This movie is definitely garbage. And those that hate the movie hate it because we've seen movies with better female characters. Whether if they are THE main character, the main female character, or a supporting character. I even created a thread listing pretty much all my favorite female characters throughout the years. And I didn't limit to just movies. I did video games as well. I actually could've listed more female characters. Plus I forgot some. But comments have a limit on words and characters, so I picked wisely and some had to be cut. There is plenty of better female characters out there and plenty of movies (along with TV shows and video games and maybe even books) with better female characters in them. Prey was garbage and people need to get over that some did not like the movie and sex/gender and race have nothing to do with it. We've seen better throughout the years and decades.

My top five movies of 2021 debunk all the claims and accusations that those who didn't like Prey are just sexist and racist and afraid of a female character or female-led movie. Those Who Wish Me Dead with Angelina Jolie (who plays the movie's main character/protagonist and main female character) was among my top five favorite movies of 2021. I wouldn't say it's the best movie of all time, but I'd rather watch it than Prey. Angelina Jolie was more badass and stuff in that than the girl in Prey. Prey was just terrible and complete garbage.

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 2 years ago

Glad you liked Those Who Wish Me Dead. I saw a bit of negativity about it on this site. I thought it was great.

[–] AZ (62) 2 years ago

I wouldn't even call it garbage because if someone likes it they like it but yeah I have strong feelings of not liking it. I couldn't get behind the lead at all. Where as I thought all the characters shined in Predator. Meh the Predator franchise doesn't have many good sequels. At this point I'm happy with the first two movies.

Can you link to that thread you made? I think I saw it before but can't find it. I've been watching older movies to look for goodies I may have missed but anything new and genuinely good is cool too.