Conference bookie::movies

    
    I have heard critics *label* a movie as a 'man's movie' or a 'women's
    movie' which I think is ridiculous!!!! *Labeling* of any kind creayes
    seperatism and is this case negative seperatism. I feel this is just
    *another* way of someone else deciding what, due soley on the basis of
    our gender, we should like/dislike/relate to/ect. So if I'm a female I
    can't or should I not suppose to like action flicks and the kind or if
    I'm a man should I feel less 'manly' because I enjoy the tear-jerkers? 
    
    What one person may percieve to be more male/female is NOT how everyone
    must percieve it! Perception is an INDIVIDUAL thing!!!! And even *if*
    there was *absolutes* in movies (or anything for that matter) would
    that not be a great opprotunity to *learn* how the other side views
    different things and provide a deeper understanding?  I say that
    because I feel by *labeling* a movie male or female creates a barrier
    that will make some people decide to not see a movie.
    
    Heck, I've seen movies that were *labeled* sci-fiction and felt it was
    more drama or comedy. So even when the intentions are innocent and
    harmless it still comes down to an indiviual perception.
    
    Natalie

    My own unsupported opinion is that a "woman's movie" focuses on character
    development and exploration while a "man's movie" focuses on plot.  My
    wife tends to like character analysis ("Driving Miss Daisy" "Steel
    Magnolias", that sort of thing) while I basically am nuts about any sort 
    of B-movie sci fi.  
    
    Steve

    Perhaps much of the distinction in the labels stems
    from the observation in the epigram:
    
    
    	"Men share experiences; women share confidences."
    
    
    

    re. *both* -2 &-3
    
    That *still* is a *generilized* way of looking at it and does NOT
    neccasarily (sp?) reflect EVERYONE's viewpoint or way of life.

Natalie,

You need to relax a bit.  Epigrammatic remarks
are going to be, by definition (Got a dictionary? 
No, apparently not.) generalizations.

Chris

    You can bet the movie industry internally rates movies as "Mens"
    or "Womens".  This is necessary to allocate promotional monies.
    I don't think you'd ever see an ad for "Howard's End" in the middle of
    a football game, nor an ad for "Die Hard III" during Oprah.
    
    "A River Runs Through It", heavily populated with men, is nevertheless
    a "Woman's movie" since it is heavy on character study and light on plot.
    
    "Thelma and Louise", despite their gender and the movie events, is a
    "Man's movie" since it focuses so heavily on the plot line.  Is it
    _really_ all that different from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"?
    
    As George wisely noted in .0, this is a matter of opinion.  That's mine.
    
      John

I basically agree with Natalie. I find the labeling of films as men's or
women's films to be egrerious and insulting. Does because my favorite film is
_Wuthering Heights_ make me less of a man? Does the fact that I like _Platoon_
make me more of a man? If your personal tastes in art and entertainment are
dictated by your gender then you're really missing out on a lot. I love films
and I enjoy all kinds of well made films, from _An Affair to Remember_ to
_Terminator II_.

This subject was handled with humor in _Sleepless in Seattle_ and that's the
way I prefer to approach it. I don't take the notion seriously for a second. 


Randy

    >Natalie,

>>>>>>>>You need to relax a bit.  Epigrammatic remarks
>>>>>>>>are going to be, by definition (Got a dictionary? 
>>>>>>>>>No, apparently not.) generalizations.

>>>>>Chris
    
    Sure I'm the one who needs to relax?
    
    re.7 
    
    Thanks....maybe you stated it better than I did. :^)

    I read somewhere that movie theatres will be REQUIRED to check ID's to
    make sure only males check in to Men's movies and vice versa.
    
    There will be a rating system so that we will know which is which.
    
    Carl

    1.  Would it not be reasonable to assume that a movie that draws more 
    women than men be called a "Women's movie"?
    
    2. Would it not be resonable to assume that those characteristics that
    are common to movies in 1. are predictors of who a movie will appeal
    to?
    
    Why would anyone have a problem with these concepts???
    
    duh
    
    Carl

    
    re.    Why would anyone have a problem with these concepts???
    
    
    Because it's stereotyping!

    I think there are undoubtedly some movies that appeal more to women
    (romantic comedies, movies with all female leads, movies about women),
    and some movies that appeal more to men (action movies, war movies,
    science fiction).  There are, of course, exceptions to this.  There are
    women who loved Top Gun (maybe...somewhere...:-)...), and men who loved
    Fried Green Tomatoes.  But, in general, I believe more men, than women,
    loved Top Gun, and more women, than men, loved Fried Green Tomatoes.
    
    I don't think it's evil or bad (stereotyping) to admit that this is
    pretty much the way things are.  
    
    Lorna
    

In just last Thursday's USA Today, they had a listing of the Top Ten male
and female movies. 

MEN: Raging Bull, Full Metal Jacket, Donovan's Reef, All The Marbles, King Of
     The Cowboys, Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia, Safe At Home, The 
     Silencers, The Naked Prey, and anything by the Three Stooges.

WOMEN: Now Voyager, A Summer Place, Two For The Road, Georgy Girl, Women In
       Love, Romeo And Juliet, The Way We Were, Mahogany, Ice Castles, and
       anything by Shirley Temple.

alan

    These are my Top Ten Favorite Women's Movies:  
    
    (movies that *I*, at any rate, think of a women's movies)
    
    1. Thelma & Louise
    2. Fried Green Tomatoes
    3. Leaving Normal
    4. Housekeeping
    5. Enchanted April
    6. Desert Hearts
    7. Mystic Pizza
    8. The Cemetary Club
    9. The Color Purple
    10. Steel Magnolias
    
    
    In contrast, these are my Top Ten Favorite Romantic Movies:
    
    (which may, or may not, also be women's movies)
    
    1. When Harry Met Sally
    2. Truly, Madly, Deeply
    3. Crossing Delancy
    4. A Room With A View
    5. L.A. Story
    6. Sleepless In Seattle
    7. Prelude To A Kiss
    8. Love With The Proper Stranger (Natalie Wood & Steve McQueen)
    9. The Long Hot Summer  (Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward)
    10.  Desiree   (Marlon Brando & Jean Simmons)
    
    
    Lorna
      

    re: .14  Glad you liked L.A. Story enough to put in on your list.
    It's one of my favorites too.
    
    Did you forget Casablanca, or really not think it that romantic?
    
      John

    re .15, Casablanca is a guy's movie.  :-)
    
    Lorna
    

    RE a few back...
    
    There is nothing wrong with stereotyping, unless it is done to
    denigrate a group of people because of their race, religion,
    nationality, etc.  
    
    Carl
    

    I just hate denigrators ...
    
    Steve  ;^)

    And yet, when someone refers to a "woman's movie" they do it in
    derogation.  Apparently feelings and, dare I say it, relationships, are
    the realm of the inferior.  Only the important things like car crashes,
    buildings exploding, and destruction in general, and don't forget those
    large-breasted women, are for men.  Because only they understand real
    life.  That other stuff is silly and therefore the realm of women.

    
    	Now that we're all in agreement, can we carry on?