50 Shades Series: Fan Fiction Run Amok

[Betweenyouandme]

I think it makes more sense that Bella and Ana are blank slates rather than that pretty and interesting women on the coasts couldn't like these books. I mean, I can picture the stereotype of a family-oriented mid-westerner, but I don't think that's the entire group of consumers. Hopefully, the sale of movie tickets will provide some information about where the movie is selling out, etc.

[Dandesun]

Most writers have characters that are shades of themselves. That's completely natural. It's not an easy thing to make characters that are completely unlike you unless you have something, somewhere in the story that anchors it and most authors have a piece of themselves somewhere in a story to anchor it for themselves. Samwise Gamgee was Tolkein's shade, after all. Stephen King has used many instances and flavors from his own life to color his work. It's absolutely normal.

 

The issue comes in with the rest of the story. Or if the story is even any good. From what I have gathered, the 50 Shades trilogy is a knock off of the Twilight series as a whole... just a lot more sex is involved. It's not a completely new story of Edward/Bella. It's basically the same story... except without bad vampires and the whole werewolf element. The premise and the major points of the Bella/Edward - Ana/Christian "relationship" are pretty much identical.

 

I am well versed in fan fiction. I've been a part of some amazing fic communities starting in the early 90s when I wrote X-Men fanfic. I still have real life, in person friends from those days, it matters to me a lot and I'm a person who has written fan fiction all of her life much if it without knowing that's what it was called. Fan fic is always about separating the wheat from the chafe and, believe me, when something is popular the way Twilight or Harry Potter... you're going to get a LOT of crap spewed out by people who don't know how to craft a story. I tend to give fic writers, especially young ones, a lot of leeway because it's clear they're exercising muscles they maybe don't get to often and they got inspired by something. I don't hold it against EL James for parlaying a fic into a lucrative series of her own and a movie deal. Brava! But I have to also acknowledge that her work wasn't going to be my cup of tea based on the inspiration. And, really, I can see how one could take a Twilight fic and change the names and have it all be good. It's not like the characters in Twilight were that astoundingly over-powering. They were ciphers themselves.

 

For me, I think it comes down to the fact that this movie is based on a series that was cribbed from another series that wasn't amazing literature to begin with. Bad on top of bad on top of bad.

[proserpina65]

I think it makes more sense that Bella and Ana are blank slates rather than that pretty and interesting women on the coasts couldn't like these books. I mean, I can picture the stereotype of a family-oriented mid-westerner, but I don't think that's the entire group of consumers. Hopefully, the sale of movie tickets will provide some information about where the movie is selling out, etc.

The vast majority of people I know who read this crap were attractive, professional women mostly in their early to mid-thirties, and I live on the East Coast, so no, they aren't the Mid-western hausfrau stereotype.  But that is, of course, anecdotal.  I'd love someone to do an actual study of this; I'd be interested to know how the readership actually breaks down.  Movie goers will be a pretty diverse group, I think, at least for the first weekend.

[Dejana]

The vast majority of people I know who read this crap were attractive, professional women mostly in their early to mid-thirties, and I live on the East Coast, so no, they aren't the Mid-western hausfrau stereotype.  But that is, of course, anecdotal.  I'd love someone to do an actual study of this; I'd be interested to know how the readership actually breaks down.  Movie goers will be a pretty diverse group, I think, at least for the first weekend.

 

I also agree that the Fifty Shades series didn't get to be this popular (100 million copies worldwide and counting) by only appealing to Midwestern moms. It's like the canard about Titanic making all the money it did only because teen girls all saw it twenty times each, when a ton of other movies with heavy appeal to teen girls were lucky to make a fifth or a tenth as much. People on "the coasts" like escapist trash as much as anyone else. 50SoG is simply polarizing, both widely hated and adored. Other popular properties also have their detractors but go largely ignored by the people who don't like them, for the most part.

 

More reviews are pouring in...

 

Variety:

 

If the problem with too many literary adaptations is a failure to capture the author’s voice, then that shortcoming turns out to be the single greatest virtue of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” the hotly anticipated first film inspired by E.L. James’ bestselling assault on sexual mores, good taste and the English language. In telling the story of a shy young virgin and the broodingly handsome billionaire who invites her into his wonderful world of hanky-spanky, director Sam Taylor-Johnson and screenwriter Kelly Marcel have brought out a welcome element of cheeky, knowing humor that gradually recedes as the action plunges into darker, kinkier territory. Glossy, well cast, and a consistent hoot until it becomes a serious drag, this neo-“9½ Weeks” is above all a slick exercise in carefully brand-managed titillation — edgier than most grown-up studio fare, but otherwise a fairly mild provocation in this porn-saturated day and age.

 

CinemaBlend:

 

For those of you who have managed to avoid any plot details regarding Fifty Shades Of Grey, it revolves around the torrid, yet ultimately dull, love affair between Anastasia “Ana” Steele and Christian Grey. The duo meet when 21-year-old Ana (Dakota Johnson) interviews Christian (Jamie Dornan) as a favor to her ill roommate. Christian finds himself captivated by Ana, who herself can’t help but be entranced by the enigmatic and devilishly attractive billionaire. The two soon kiss, but before they are able to fully consummate their relationship, Grey explains that his need to control everything has boiled over into his sex life, and he is only interested in a BDSM relationship. Which is something that Ana toils over.

 

And that’s about it. Done well, Fifty Shades Of Grey could have introduced a mainstream audience to the intriguing world of BDSM, while also using the prism of Christian Grey to examine, in a nuanced fashion, how his unique sexual desires have influenced his approach to business at the same time as blocking his pursuit for love. Oh, to be watching that movie!

 

Instead Fifty Shades Of Grey never verges on the complex, and as a result is both painfully lame and tediously simplistic.

 

Time Out New York:

 

A watered-down adaptation that’s embarrassed to be wet, Fifty Shades of Grey is a sex-positive but hopelessly soft-core erotic drama that fails to be even a fraction as titillating as the E.L. James books that inspired it. And yet, that’s exactly why it works.

Inevitably, this telling of the tale has been neutered to the brink of recognition. Christian is an S&M fetishist, and when Anastasia is invited into her new partner’s “Red Room of Pain,” she’s confronted by a wonderland of leather, rope and repurposed circus equipment. And yet, by the time the movie ends just a few mild spankings later, Fifty Shades feels like going on a trip to Disney World and only riding the monorail.

 

IndieWIRE:

 

Lifted from the first of E.L. James' wildly successful novels, which started as a form of "Twilight" fan fiction, the movie plays strictly by the book — which is hardly a compliment. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson from Kelly Marcel's screenplay, the considerable talent behind the camera and a modicum of considerable performances yield a few undeniable guilty pleasures, but most viewers will be seeking a safe word to escape this two-hour-plus mess of half-baked excess.

 

Taylor-Johnson's previous directorial outing, the John Lennon origin story "Nowhere Boy," similarly tracked a young character coming to grips with his identity. But while Lennon had real talent and ambition, Anastasia's only sincere desires involve whether or not she's willing to sign a contract allowing Grey to turn her into his object of fetishistic abuse. Johnson does her best to give Anastasia's conundrum a genuine sense of intrigue, and her final bits as she confronts Grey on the nature of his peculiar desires register some modicum of suspense. However, the stilted Dornan doesn't even meet her halfway. But he can’t be held entirely at fault for the paucity of material he's given, and the extent to which the movie remains tethered to the book's limited scope.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Dejana

[Betweenyouandme]

I laughed at going to Disney and "only riding the monorail."

[Dandesun]

http://www.ohjoysextoy.com/50shadesofgrey/

 

I love Erika Moen anyway and she makes good points while fully acknowledging it's a shit series. But it's mindless fun and if a person knows what they're about, it's junk food reading.

 

I think the thing a lot of people have been taking issue with is the 'I want my own Mr. Grey' from various readers... which is a huge red flag. "NO!! No, you really don't!" Mindless, trashy fantasy is one thing. Wanting to bring that into one's life for real is another. Especially since Ana is so completely blank that it's so easy to transpose oneself into her place... that's the danger zone.

 

Look, there are some days I go home and eat ice cream for dinner. As a grown up, that's my prerogative and it feels good. I don't do that every night obviously because it's not good for me. Trashy junk food books like this... I don't begrudge anyone for enjoying it. I DO have a problem with those who want that for real because... that's just trouble. And by 'that', I don't mean a legitimate BDSM relationship. I mean a manipulative, abusive relationship like that is portrayed in the series.

[WickedTuna]

I didn't read the book because its not my cup of tea but it seemed really popular. Until I came here and read some posts. Now I'm glad I didn't read it. The reason I came to the forum was to talk about the trailers, etc. Who in the hell decided on the leads? I get no chemistry between them at all! Actually I don't get anything from the actors. The female reminds me of Anne Hathaway which is a huge strike against her. The male seems so wimpy to me. The guy from SOA would have been so much better.

[Athena]

50 Shades of Buscemi (Trailer Recut) - NSFW

 

 

I laughed. Just trying to find the most humor out of all this.

[Featherhat]

I have a random vrush on Buscemi stemming from seeing Armageddon at a young age (for some reason), I'd actually see that 50 Shades. His age is more realistic anyway. I did laugh at the trailers where they deliberately didn't show you Jamie Dornan for like half of it, and then they did and he's just Jamie Dornan. Cute and serial killer but not in the least Dom like. Ah well at least they found someone who loathes this book as publically as Robert Pattinson hated Twilight. Except for the fact that he think this book= all BDSM. 

[Zuleikha]

The premise and the major points of the Bella/Edward - Ana/Christian "relationship" are pretty much identical.

 

I don't think it is. I think that sells E.L. James short, and I don't think she has much to ground to lose. She used the plot outline of Twilight as a very broad structure, but I think they're functionally different stories. Bella never has qualms about her relationship with Edward. Their tension is all about the mixing of the human and the supernatural and how Bella can stay alive in a world of vampires and werewolves. Bella gains actual power over the course of the series, and her relationship with Edward is strengthened by her gaining enough power to arguably be his superior. Fifty Shades' tension comes from Ana's do I/don't I with Christian and there is no external threat that locks the two together. I would also argue that Bella is smarter and more courageous than Ana (but again, I've only read  the Jenny Trout recaps so I could be selling Ana short).

 

I think the thing a lot of people have been taking issue with is the 'I want my own Mr. Grey' from various readers... which is a huge red flag.

It is, but how much of that is there really? Sure people joke about it and someone wrote a Huff Post article, but it's not like there's anything more than anecdote to suggest the typical reader really wants a Mr. Grey in the controlling sense. Also, Christian's ridiculously wealthy, attractive, and drives Ana to intense, multiple orgasms. Those women who say they want a Mr. Grey may just really mean they want to not have money worries and to be more satisfied in bed. 

 

h well at least they found someone who loathes this book as publically as Robert Pattinson hated Twilight.

Then why did Jamie Dornan take the part? Based on the reviews, it seems he left Dakota Johnson high and dry when she apparently worked hard and succeded at bringing life to Ana. Dornan's an actor. It's not his job to snark on his role. It's his job to make it work. If found the role to objectionable to connect to, he should have refused it. And yes, the casting director's shouldn't have cast him so they share blame, too, but I hate this thing where it seems to be okay for male actors to trash their roles. Pattinson, at least, brought it where it counted (but I can't help thinking about how much heat Kristen Stewart gets for her attitude whereas Pattinson seems to get nothing but admiration). But Dornan supposedly didn't bring it on screen, so he really shouldn't be praised for revealing his distaste for the role in the press junket. That's just him doing a bad job.

[Featherhat]

I don't think it's ok for him to trash the part publicly before the movie is even out, I was making a random Twilight connection based on the fact that it's Twilight fanfiction. And yes I do think you can tell, even though its only a broad outline mostly, but there are certain scenes that I noticed were very similar based on the fact that I have only read Twilight and New moon and only some of this book. Only EL James is a much worse writer than even Meyer. And I really got stuck on the "everyone loves Bella/Ana whilst she thinks everyone hates her and then hates everyone for liking her from the beginning" trope it's not restricted to those characters but it's so obnoxious.

 

Dakota Johnson seems to hate the role just as much but apparently she did put more effort into it. So there's that. Maybe the casting dept will regret not casting the desperate for it Damon from Vampire Diaries since they eventually settled for a TV actor anyway. Rumour has it they wanted a big name at first.

[Ariah]

The thing is - I tried reading the first book and almost suffocated from laughter. I couldn't bring it to climax, so to speak.

A part of me kind of wants to see this film, because i'm wondering how they did it - from technical, cinematic point of view. How far did they trace the line between porn and erotica? Is the film well made technically?

 

But I won't go to the cinema, because the idea of making an obsessive stalker a positive character makes me sick to the stomach.

[galax-arena]

Then why did Jamie Dornan take the part? Based on the reviews, it seems he left Dakota Johnson high and dry when she apparently worked hard and succeded at bringing life to Ana. Dornan's an actor.

I was rolling my eyes in the interviews where he talked about how he had such a haaaaard time because he's married and how he had to take a shower after work before touching his wife and blah blah blah. 

[methodwriter85]

Dakota working her ass off to bring life to Ana while Jamie just stood there and hated the part would explain so much about why they apparently can't stand each other. I would be pretty pissed off if my lead acting partner just phoned it in while an entire franchise depended on us making it work.

Edited February 11, 2015 by methodwriter85

[CaughtOnTape]

I don't think it's any of my business if someone states they want a Mr. Grey in their life.  They are an adult, if that's the type of relationship they covet, that's their choice.  I don't judge.  If I heard a friend of mine state that, I may ask her what she means so I can get an understanding of what she's talking about.  But I hardly think the majority of readers who read the book and made that statement made it in any serious way whatsoever.

I'd be willing to bet that meeting someone like Christian Grey would scare the hell out of most of them.  And they may fantasize about the BDSM aspects of the relationship but that's much different than actually doing it.  

 

I've watched BDSM porn videos.  They do nothing for me.  I don't understand it, it's not erotic to me.  I struggle with understanding how someone gains pleasure out of something when they're crying through it.  

But do I think everything portraying it or playing with the themes of it needs to end?  No.

 

That being said, it occurred to me there's a few male porn stars who probably would've fit the role of Christian Grey pretty well.  Xander Corvus comes to mind (if you google, do it when you're alone, LOL).  

Edited February 11, 2015 by CaughtOnTape

[Unraveled]

I haven't read any of the books (never plant to), but I've read enough articles (with the exact, horrible written quotes from the books) to know that it isn't for me.

 

I still don't understand why they shaved off Jamie Dornan's beard. He was ultra sexy with the beard.

 

Ian Somerhalder was not shy about wanting the role, but the production passed. I've heard rumors that EL James didn't like him and they seemed to be aiming for more of a movie star at first.

 

It would have been amazing, mostly because I imagine him chewing scenery after scenery.

 

I was rolling my eyes in the interviews where he talked about how he had such a haaaaard time because he's married and how he had to take a shower after work before touching his wife and blah blah blah. 

I haven't seen him in anything but "Once Upon a Time," but this gave me the side-eye. He knew what this movie was about. Why would he look so down on the BDSM community? (BTW, this is from having actually visited a BDSM club and viewed an apparently mild BDSM scene. This isn't about him having to take a shower after doing a scene.)

[Athena]

I haven't seen him in anything but "Once Upon a Time," but this gave me the side-eye. He knew what this movie was about. Why would he look so down on the BDSM community? (BTW, this is from having actually visited a BDSM club and viewed an apparently mild BDSM scene. This isn't about him having to take a shower after doing a scene.)

 

I didn't mind Dornan as an actor before this, but this comment about washing himself after going to the club before he touched his newborn and  wife irked me. Dan Savage compared it to when a 1960s heterosexual stage actor did the same thing when he won critical acclaim playing a gay character. They both really tried to "normalize" their real selves i.e. "I'm not like these weirdos at all!" I thought it was not only ignorant of Dornan to say that line, but arrogant and rude to the people of the club.

[Betweenyouandme]

Yes. I understand always washing your hands before interacting with a newborn...but nothing about that needed to be said. He said that to distance himself. Absolutely.

Why did he even take the job?

Edited February 12, 2015 by Betweenyouandme

[Featherhat]

Because like Robert Pattinson before him, he knew it would take him from "working actor" to "gobally known name" and that won out over any objections. Say isn't that like Ana in the books, all objections go by the wayside because he's hot and rich?/sarcasm I have a lot of respect for Charlie Hunnam who apparently said "No way" after reading the script, and this guy isn't generally worried about sexuality on TV because of SOA and having some of the most explicit gay sex on UK broadcast TV ever when he was a very young actor.

 

I admit I did find it funny at first when RPatzz hated on Twilight and a massive majority of the fans simply and totally blanked on it, not excused it but just never acknowledged it existed, but it wasn't amusing in the slightest by the 3rd film. JD has probably sown his own garden of hell since there will be at least 2 sequels, if not part 3 split into 4 (hard to see how they would have the material but I said that about both Mockingjay and Divergent). Dude Christian is abusive. Consensual BDSM play is the exact opposite on purpose. Christian is the worlds worst Dom. If you hated both equally then I sincerely hope you asked to be recast for your own well being. I mean I'm not sad that this terrible book's actors clearly hate it (even if DJ is clearly much superior to EL James Ana) but you just seem like you can't wrap your head around the consensual idea at all and aren't good in the role anyway. By the way you are a convincing serial killer. Think about that.

Edited February 12, 2015 by Featherhat

[BitterApple]

I think that portraying Ana and Bella as Plain Janes was a slick marketing tool by both authors. Let's face it: most of the female population can't relate to being the head cheerleader, homecoming queen or most popular, but they can relate to being the average, ho-hum girl who lusts after the star quarterback. Their fantasies become reality through the books. Frumpy girl lands billionaire mogul. Awkward teenager has two hot guys fighting over her through the course of five movies. It's no wonder both fiction series were so successful.

[Cobalt Stargazer]

It is, but how much of that is there really? Sure people joke about it and someone wrote a Huff Post article, but it's not like there's anything more than anecdote to suggest the typical reader really wants a Mr. Grey in the controlling sense. Also, Christian's ridiculously wealthy, attractive, and drives Ana to intense, multiple orgasms. Those women who say they want a Mr. Grey may just really mean they want to not have money worries and to be more satisfied in bed. 

 

*points at icon*

 

This is from a different fandom, but women saying they'd like a Mr. Grey of their own is no different to me than the female viewers of BTVS who turned on Buffy for not returning Spike's feelings during that whole abusive mess of season six.

 

Edited to add:

 

http://everydayvictimblaming.com/responses-to-media/6386/

Edited February 12, 2015 by Cobalt Stargazer

[methodwriter85]

JD has probably sown his own garden of hell since there will be at least 2 sequels, if not part 3 split into 4 (hard to see how they would have the material but I said that about both Mockingjay and Divergent)

 

      I also though the same thing about Divergent, especially when the movie was just on the right side of profitable, not gangbusters, and they still went ahead and did it. If they manage to gross over 120 million, I bet they'll split part 3 into four. Which will be hilarious.

 

     The budget is low enough on this that they could justify doing 2 sequels if they made 80 million.

 

      In any event, Jamie is 32 years old, not a 22-year old guy in the midst of sudden massive fame. I'm far less inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. I hope he gets over it considering he's locked himself into two more films.

Edited February 12, 2015 by methodwriter85

[xls]

The thing is - I tried reading the first book and almost suffocated from laughter. I couldn't bring it to climax, so to speak.

A part of me kind of wants to see this film, because i'm wondering how they did it - from technical, cinematic point of view. How far did they trace the line between porn and erotica? Is the film well made technically?

 

But I won't go to the cinema, because the idea of making an obsessive stalker a positive character makes me sick to the stomach.

Hey, somebody's got to take one for the team!

[DeLurker]

Oh yeah the email thing was insane. I would not have completed about 85% of my uni courses without having access to an official email account. Hasn't that been mandatory since before 2000 at least?

My daughter's school assigned them a school district email address when she started junior high.

 

*eyebrow*

 

I write creatively as a hobby, and if I ever wrote crap like this, I would certainly never show it to anyone else. At the least, I'd use a pen name, then act as if I had nothing to do with it. It's bad enough the poor actors are going to be tied to it forever now. This is the kind of thing that makes fanfic look so awful.

I hope neither of them have the desire to be taken as a thespian.

[DkNNy79]

Yeah, I only knew JD from OUAT too.  I definitely have lost a little respect for him.  He shouldn't have taken the job if he was that put off about the subject matter and the script.  Whether he did it for financial reasons or if he thought it would open up more opportunities, once he accepted the role he owed it to the folks signing his paycheck and his fellow actors in the movie to be a professional and give it his best effort.

 

If this is why there's a rift between DJ and JD, then I'm team Dakota.

 

I haven't read the books, but I've read similar books and the subject matter is intriguing.  I do love an alpha male in the bedroom, not so much out of it.  Since I haven't read the books, can anyone enlighten me on why Sebastian is considered abusive?  Is he like an alpha male on steroids?

Edited February 12, 2015 by DkNNy79

[CaughtOnTape]

Who's Sebastian?

 

Or do you mean Christian?

 

If you mean Christian, then it's because he was very emotionally abusive and manipulative.  

And he was.  So I get that aspect of why people hate him.  

 

I didn't consider him to be physically abusive at all.  And she wasn't exactly Miss Susie Sunshine.

 

But it's a book about imperfect people who attempt a relationship.  I think saying the book glorifies domestic violence is a stretch, considering it was made very clear that Ana had to consent to everything that he did to her.  She attempted to exercise some of her own viewpoint but always caved to the fact that she was in love with him.  She's hardly the first woman to fall in love with an emotionally abusive dick and let him do things to her that she never would allow anyone else to do.

 

I never, for one second, read this book thinking they were star crossed lovers.  Or that EL James was trying to tell some love story (Though the sequels seemed to me to try that angle...pffft).  They were two fucked up people who became fucked up together. 

Maybe that's where people are having an issue.  Thinking this is someone's screwed up idea of how love is and that the masses will take it as an example.  And I don't think that will happen anymore than I think someone would watch Gone Girl and think that was a story about two people in love.

Edited February 12, 2015 by CaughtOnTape

[Dandesun]

I haven't read the books, but I've read similar books and the subject matter is intriguing.  I do love an alpha male in the bedroom, not so much out of it.  Since I haven't read the books, can anyone enlighten me on why Sebastian is considered abusive?  Is he like an alpha male on steroids?

 

He's manipulative. He starts that almost instantly. He's very stalker-y... showing up at her place of work, tracking her down through her cell phone GPS when she won't tell him where she is. He works to isolate her by insisting that she never speak of their relationship (which is completely new ground for her and deeply confusing for her) to ANYONE. He uses the concept of a BDSM relationship to control every aspect of her life, how much she exercises, what she eats, what she wears, where she sleeps... I'm honestly surprised he doesn't demand a schedule of bowel movements from her on a daily basis but I haven't read the books so, who knows? When she does use the safeword, he gets upset and ignores it.

 

And that's pretty much scratching the surface.

[JustaPerson]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/kristinharris/this-jamie-dornan-shoot-is-more-passionate-than-any-fifty-sh#.ddplgyr0po

 

Caught this article on buzzfeed. It's too bad they couldn't racebend it and cast this korean actress to play the role instead, though the reason this is much better than 50 shades is probably because they actually look happy to be standing next to each other

[Featherhat]

These recaps, which someone posted above are a detailed examination of so much of what is wrong with their relationship.

 

http://jennytrout.com/?p=3208

 

I do think EL James thinks this is a soulmates story. "Humble" ordinary girl Ana bags fucked up, handsome billionaire and really "gets" him and gets him to look past his "kinky fuckery" (that she loathes but does it to keep him) and "changes" (not really) him and helps him learn to love and become a doting father, all in the space of less than a year. She even tries to drag "fate" and "written in the stars" into it. In interviews she refuses to acknowledge why people might think its about abuse. She thinks her characters are so perfect that she can't even let them be wrong 95% of the time, so there's no real narrative. The epilogue to the last book is pure wish fulfilment, it's treacle-ier than the Potter Epilogue and that thing is a cause of diabetes.

[hardy har]

I refuse to believe that no one ever told EL James that Anastasia Steel sounds like a 70's porn name. Anyway......

 

So, much like Twilight I could only get through about 1/3 of the book, but I will rent the shit out of this. I was hoping it would be terrible . . . in an entertaining way. Which is how I feel about the TWILIGHT movies. I am a little sad the reviews, even the baaad ones, don't seem to suggest this is a "so bad it's good" movie, but just a boring one. Once Hunam dropped out any chance of me even considering paying to see this in a theater went away with quickness, but was curious to see how Dornan would do since I think he's fantastically creepy in The Fall. After reading some of his comments about making the movie and his thoughts on the project he sounds like an asshat and I'm glad the critics are going after him.

 

Glad Dakota Johnson seems like she'll come away from it at least relatively unscathed. She was so lovely, charming and delightful in Ben & Kate (RIP, show! YOu were too good for FOX anyway!) and I hope she gets a chance to do other stuff.    

[dusang]

Okay... I just saw the film.  I didn't make it all the way through the book, so I didn't know exactly where the story was going and literally screamed "WHAT?!" when the credits rolled -- the absence of plot is astonishing.

 

Dakota did a reasonable job with a thankless role.  Jamie Dornan, who I know exclusively from a Graham Norton interview last year where he appeared delightful and charming, had some problems.  The first and foremost is that he cannot seem to pull off an American accent -- he sounded vaguely Russian.  The second, possibly directly resulting from the first, or poor direction or general hatred of his character, is that he's a big block of (well-carved) wood.  In the total absence of any plot or character development, a slight improvement could be achieved by them just not saying any of the awkward dialogue at all.  It looks pretty good.  Although the contortions DJ did to ensure her crotch is never directly visible do remind you that these had to the be the most awkward, technical sex scenes ever put on film.

 

I have to say, and YMMV, I was surprised at how much sexual content was shown.  It's not graphic, per se, but it is much more graphic than an average wide release.  Also, although I was aware the BDSM community didn't like the book I thought that it was more that it was technically inaccurate and Christian had a bit too much stalker in him.  Watching the movie I realized that it's actually presented as, basically, BDSM is a diagnosable psychiatric disorder than only mentally ill people enjoy.  Which I found reeeeeally offensive.

[Bean421]

 The epilogue to the last book is pure wish fulfilment, it's treacle-ier than the Potter Epilogue and that thing is a cause of diabetes.

 

You aren't kidding about that at all. I actually read the epilogue to Mr. Bean421 last night.  We were both dying at the implication that a

*fetus*

would like sex. What a perfect way to end such a book about an inappropriate relationship. 

[Betweenyouandme]

Did I read the above spoiler right? That's sickening. How in the hell did that pass any publisher and then people bought and read that without burning it in a fire and making a stink all over the Internet and news? Or, have I really missed something? What the ever loving hell? That's disgusting and offensive. I don't get on my high horse too often to this extent, but that's just seriously reprehensible and beyong disturbing. I hope there are no children she's responsible for. I can't express how completely low that it is. I don't even want to know the context. There is no excuse.

[Athena]

 Also, although I was aware the BDSM community didn't like the book I thought that it was more that it was technically inaccurate and Christian had a bit too much stalker in him.  Watching the movie I realized that it's actually presented as, basically, BDSM is a diagnosable psychiatric disorder than only mentally ill people enjoy.  Which I found reeeeeally offensive.

 

This definitely one of thing that bothered me about the books. Christian is a dom because he's got mommy issues basically and is mentally ill. I think James has said so on records saying how weird she really finds the community which just makes things worse. Add onto that Dornan's apparent apathy or distaste for the whole project... what a crap storm.

 

Thanks for the review, dusang.

[coppersin]

I haven't read Twilight or 50 Shades. I've seen a couple of the Twilight movies and read several hilarious recaps of 50 Shades (all, I suspect, much better written than the source material). What surprised me was how many recaps/reviews quickly say something like, "Wow, they weren't kidding. You can see the Twilight all over this."

 

So I'm curious: Is book!Edward as awful as Christian? Because in the Twilight movies he was a bit of a creeper and melodramatic ("I just CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM YOU!"), but for the most part I could shrug it off as generic schoolgirl fantasy. Edward is overprotective and hyper-focused; a teen can look at that and see truest love and devotion (until they actually get a guy like that, and have to work for months to get rid of him... Ah, high school memories...). Christian, however, is a straight-up stalker and seems to constantly wave the red flags of abuse. Is Edward that bad in the books? Is that the comparison people are making? Or is it just the damaged-boy-meets-girl-and-SPARKS! storylines that people are comparing?

[CaughtOnTape]

Edward tones it down a lot in the books following Twilight.  When they first started out, he was way stalkerish, but I just took that as he was like you said, hyper-focused.  He flat out leaves her in New Moon and then in Eclipse he kind of has to be protective of her considering what's going on.  And Breaking Dawn she exercises her own decision making skills and decides to have the kid despite his protests and he gets butt hurt and keeps his distance because he believes she wants it that way.  Then she becomes a vampire and has her own secrets.  

 

So I would say no, he's not as bad as Christian.  He still tries to make decisions for her, but it never really works out well for him.  

[Proclone]

This definitely one of thing that bothered me about the books. Christian is a dom because he's got mommy issues basically and is mentally ill. I think James has said so on records saying how weird she really finds the community which just makes things worse. Add onto that Dornan's apparent apathy or distaste for the whole project... what a crap storm.

Thanks for the review, dusang.

Yeah Christian isn't just a guy who's into BDSM, he's got some serious pathology going on. I'm pretty sure that most doms don't pick partners because they resemble their dead mother who abused them (which if I remember correctly is what Grey does). The entire things sounds more like the background of serial killer then the romantic lead of a movie. In fact, slight spolier for the The Fall

it is pretty much the background of Dornan's character in The Fall. He ties up and then murders young dark haired women, it's implied because they resemble his dead mother. You don't exactly have to squint to see the parallels there.

Which actually adds a whole extra layer of creepy to the movie IMO.

As for whether he's abusive, I haven't seen the film (and won't in theaters, I might watch just to see how bad it is when it comes on cable), and I only skimmed the book past the first few chapters, but IMO he's certainly emotionally abusive beyond question (and in many ways that's worse then anything he could do physically) and a lot of it comes way too close to physical abuse for the taste of my inner feminist (my inner goddess was off at her samba lessons). From what I gather in actual BDSM relationships limits are outlined beforehand and despite going on for pages about the stupid contract, Grey just seems to do what he wants to Ana regardless of what she wants or to what she's actually agreed to. You shouldn't ever seriously fear your partner is going to hit you and Ana admits she does fear him several times if I recall correctly. That's not fun play between consenting adults IMO, that's abuse.

Edited February 14, 2015 by Proclone

[portfino]

I saw it last night having not read the books and wasn't impressed even with low expectations. I knew the source material was bad, but good movies have been made from bad books before. I couldn't stand Christian. It's not entirely Dornan's fault but he could have elevated the role. This might have been better if Hunnam stayed in the role. He has a puckishness that could have worked. And his accent is no worse (I think that's impossible).

[Athena]

So I'm curious: Is book!Edward as awful as Christian? Because in the Twilight movies he was a bit of a creeper and melodramatic ("I just CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM YOU!"), but for the most part I could shrug it off as generic schoolgirl fantasy. Edward is overprotective and hyper-focused; a teen can look at that and see truest love and devotion (until they actually get a guy like that, and have to work for months to get rid of him... Ah, high school memories...). Christian, however, is a straight-up stalker and seems to constantly wave the red flags of abuse. Is Edward that bad in the books? Is that the comparison people are making? Or is it just the damaged-boy-meets-girl-and-SPARKS! storylines that people are comparing?

 

Book!Edward is not as bad Christian. As CaughtOnTape says, Edward is overprotective and does make decisions for Bella. He is very emo, but he doesn't have as many issues as Christian who does choose Subs who look like his "crack whore mother" (his words, not mine). Edward is annoying but mostly boring. Christian is just creepy.

[dusang]

I saw it last night having not read the books and wasn't impressed even with low expectations. I knew the source material was bad, but good movies have been made from bad books before. I couldn't stand Christian. It's not entirely Dornan's fault but he could have elevated the role. This might have been better if Hunnam stayed in the role. He has a puckishness that could have worked. And his accent is no worse (I think that's impossible).

 

I just feel so confused about Dornan's Christian.  I really do want to know if the woodeness was a result of the accent, the actor's ability, the actor's level of interest, or deliberate character choices made by the director and horrible on-set author.  From the very beginning I've felt that no actor deserved this terrible thing on their CV and I was really, really sad when Hunnam was announced because I think he's sufficiently established to not have to sell his soul in this manner.  And when I saw Dornan on Graham Norton I was sad for him too but maybe he can use the career boost and whatever and he seems like a good actor so I thought he would be serviceable in the role.  But it's.... pretty bad.  But then could anyone say this dialogue well?  Like how can you possibly measure?  (Personally, I think there was some chemistry there it's just that almost every line he said was like record-scratch awkward.)

[Bean421]

Did I read the above spoiler right? That's sickening. How in the hell did that pass any publisher and then people bought and read that without burning it in a fire and making a stink all over the Internet and news? Or, have I really missed something? What the ever loving hell? That's disgusting and offensive. I don't get on my high horse too often to this extent, but that's just seriously reprehensible and beyong disturbing. I hope there are no children she's responsible for. I can't express how completely low that it is. I don't even want to know the context. There is no excuse.

 

You did read it correctly.  However let me put your mind at ease.

Ana is pregnant and after engaging in some flogging and sex. She and Christian discuss how much the fetus is moving around because she must totes love the sex!

 

[DeLurker]

 

I do think EL James thinks this is a soulmates story. "Humble" ordinary girl Ana bags fucked up, handsome billionaire and really "gets" him and gets him to look past his "kinky fuckery" (that she loathes but does it to keep him) and "changes" (not really) him and helps him learn to love and become a doting father, all in the space of less than a year

I haven't read the book and have no intention of seeing the movie, but couldn't resist reading through the thread here.  And in what world does anyone want to see Grey be a father?  This story - book or movie - is hella fucked up.

[Julia]

Wow. That. Especially since the fetus stands a fair chance of looking even more like his mom.

[Rick Kitchen]

The original source material, Twilight, is based on Mormon theology.  Bella and Edward are soul mates who have been meant to be since the beginning of time.  I don't know how much of that trickles down into 50SoG.

[xls]

These recaps, which someone posted above are a detailed examination of so much of what is wrong with their relationship.

 

http://jennytrout.com/?p=3208

 

I do think EL James thinks this is a soulmates story. "Humble" ordinary girl Ana bags fucked up, handsome billionaire and really "gets" him and gets him to look past his "kinky fuckery" (that she loathes but does it to keep him) and "changes" (not really) him and helps him learn to love and become a doting father, all in the space of less than a year. She even tries to drag "fate" and "written in the stars" into it. In interviews she refuses to acknowledge why people might think its about abuse. She thinks her characters are so perfect that she can't even let them be wrong 95% of the time, so there's no real narrative. The epilogue to the last book is pure wish fulfilment, it's treacle-ier than the Potter Epilogue and that thing is a cause of diabetes.

Know what that just sounds like? A ton of Xena the Conqueror / Gabrielle the Slave S&M fan fiction.

[Chrissytd]

You did read it correctly.  However let me put your mind at ease.

Ana is pregnant and after engaging in some flogging and sex. She and Christian discuss how much the fetus is moving around because she must totes love the sex!

 

That is fucked up.

[methodwriter85]

The awkwardness of Christian actually kind of worked for me. I didn't think the movie was the worst thing that ever happened, but I thought the sex scenes were going to be more graphic.

 

The audience laughed but I was at some cut-rate movie theater that was almost empty, so I didn't get the rousing experience I wanted.

Edited February 14, 2015 by methodwriter85

[Brandi Maxxxx]

I don't normally pay any attention to the Australian version of the Today Show but this review of Fifty Shades of Grey needs to be shared:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqvCXqEFEjA

(Before anyone asks, a choc-top is a kind of ice-cream often sold at cinemas here.)

[FormerMod-a1]

I think that is the best review I have ever seen and heard.

[Dejana]

Box office update:

 

Fifty Shades of Grey is easily seducing the North American box office, grossing a potent $30.2 million Friday for a possible $80 million-plus debut over the long Valentine's Day and Presidents Day weekend.

 

Overseas, the results are even more astounding. The movie is opening to No. 1 in 56 markets for a projected $158.3 million international debut — the highest opening ever for an R-rated film and the second best for Universal after Fast & Furious 6 ($160.3 million). That would put Fifty Shades' global launch north of $235 million.

 

It looks to be just as popular, if not moreso, outside the US. Guess it must be all those expatriate Midwestern soccer moms crowding global theaters...