REVIEW: The Force Awakens - Where’s Rey?
Where is the protagonist? Where is the pilot of the falcon? Oh, she wasn't included.
The Force Awakens is brilliant. I didn't enjoy this film out of loyalty, but because it is genuinely and honestly fantastic. It was refreshing to meet a female character who didn't need anyone to hold her hand. Realistically, it would only slow you down. Rey embodied the new woman in a mans galaxy. This is a female character who earned the right to be in this movie. The presentation of a strong leading women mean that I stepped out of the cinema with a smile on my face.
Then it was ruined.
The new Star Wars Monopoly set includes Kylo Ren, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. The problem is that the game includes on dead character (Vader) and it excludes a very important one; Rey. Hasbro argued that removing Rey from the Monopoly game was to prevent spoilers. Though I find that ridiculous. She was featured in the posters, so was evidently in the film. Surely the inclusion of any other character would be a spoiler? Hasbro I don't buy it. This is being rectified an Rey will be restored to her rightful place but she should have been there from the beginning. Was the strong minded female lead merely a people pleaser? Was she not respected or valued enough to be immortalised n plastic? Rey being excluded has caused uproar online and I am happy to see it.
Another offensive decision was to sell a toy of the Millennium Falcon without Rey but with Finn and Chewbacca. Neither of them are pilots, one co-pilot, but no pilots. From what I've heard this isn't being changed, but apart from being upsetting and sexist, it's just plain stupid. Why is the Falcon being sold without it's pilot? Han is dead, we are all very sad about it, though now his beloved ship has been left to an untrained Stormtrooper and a grief stricken Wookiee. As I said, stupid.
The Force Awakens is brilliant. I didn't enjoy this film out of loyalty, but because it is genuinely and honestly fantastic. It was refreshing to meet a female character who didn't need anyone to hold her hand. Realistically, it would only slow you down. Rey embodied the new woman in a mans galaxy. This is a female character who earned the right to be in this movie. The presentation of a strong leading women mean that I stepped out of the cinema with a smile on my face.
Then it was ruined.
The new Star Wars Monopoly set includes Kylo Ren, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. The problem is that the game includes on dead character (Vader) and it excludes a very important one; Rey. Hasbro argued that removing Rey from the Monopoly game was to prevent spoilers. Though I find that ridiculous. She was featured in the posters, so was evidently in the film. Surely the inclusion of any other character would be a spoiler? Hasbro I don't buy it. This is being rectified an Rey will be restored to her rightful place but she should have been there from the beginning. Was the strong minded female lead merely a people pleaser? Was she not respected or valued enough to be immortalised n plastic? Rey being excluded has caused uproar online and I am happy to see it.
Another offensive decision was to sell a toy of the Millennium Falcon without Rey but with Finn and Chewbacca. Neither of them are pilots, one co-pilot, but no pilots. From what I've heard this isn't being changed, but apart from being upsetting and sexist, it's just plain stupid. Why is the Falcon being sold without it's pilot? Han is dead, we are all very sad about it, though now his beloved ship has been left to an untrained Stormtrooper and a grief stricken Wookiee. As I said, stupid.
I hadn't written for a while because nothing had made me angry enough. But this did. This is not about toys. This is a question of equality. Equality for a generation of young children who will grow up with Rey as their role model. With The Force Awakens came Rey and now the franchise has an obligation to present her with equal measure to the male leads.
The force awakened, but so did the sexists.
Comments
Post a Comment