Bookworm

Bookworm reviews a movie

We went to see the new Star Wars movie in the theater!

Two thumbs down. It was awful. Even aside from the ridiculously bad acting (I'm pretty sure Anakin had a fake English accent in the first few scenes, but it quickly evaporated) and the fight scenes that were waaaaay too long (this movie did not need to be 2.5 hours long), I have a major gripe about the way Natalie Portman's character is treated.

It seems that this woman, who had been elected queen of an entire planet, and now is a member of the galactic senate, suddenly becomes nothing the moment she gets pregnant. If the senate finds out she's preggo, she'll have to resign. Huh? And this isn't even debated; everyone, including her, takes it as a given. And the birth? A robot delivers her babies. There's not even a human being present, let alone someone who loves and supports her.

I would just love to see a major mainstream movie that portrays a home birth birthing as an intimate, beautiful event.

posted by Julie on 7/07/2005

12 Comments:

  • Woo-hoo that you made it out to a movie! Sorry that it stank : (

    I must comment on your last statement, which I admit brings up feelings of defensiveness and indignance for me. I understand that your hospital birth experience was deeply negative, which I am very sorry about, but I am uncomfortable once again with your presumption or implication that the only way to achieve a "beautiful, intimate birth" is at home. Both of my medicated, hospital births were profoundly beautiful and intimate to me and my husband. They were without a doubt the emotional highpoints of my life so far. I'm glad that you had such wonderful experiences birthing at home, but please remember that there are many paths to beautiful and intimate birth experiences.

    posted by Anonymous Anonymous on 9:47 AM  

  • Thanks for the review. I haven't seen this one because I was very disappointed with the last two. I'll probably buy it once it comes out on DVD.

    posted by Blogger Fred on 10:18 AM  

  • Julie, I'm sorry. (I've not seen the movie and don't intend to, b/c I"m not a sci-fi fan.)How disappointing for you. :( (This is your blog, so even though I did not choose home birth, I do NOT feel you are pushing that on anyone. YOu were expressing your feelings/opinions which is what your own blog is about!)

    P.S. I don't have an "email subscriber list" thingie so since you've asked, there's a continuation of a post there. I'm highly critical of my writing and just slapped up "shlach!" because I must finish professional preparations before we're w/out power from possible weather effects. Take care!

    posted by Anonymous Anonymous on 11:44 AM  

  • Don't get me started (on birth in the media, that is...not Star Wars, which I haven't followed since Return of the Jedi). Honestly, I think Blue Lagoon had one of the truer births I've seen depicted, at least in terms of her progression through it (o.k. I think it was actually pretty quick; it's been many years since I saw it).

    I have yet to see birth -- whatever the setting -- handled respectfully in a movie. Not as a setup for easy jokes, or as the dramatic climax (remember She's Having a Baby?), but as you describe.

    posted by Blogger Unknown on 12:57 PM  

  • Hi, Silvermoon. Yes, of course it is Bookworm's party and she can and should express her opinions
    and feelings about absolutely whatever she wishes (that's why we all like coming here!), but I don't think that what I wrote contradicts
    that. In part this forum is about the exchange of ideas and so I sought to join the discussion.
    Just because an author has the right to say something, doesn't mean that that statement doesn't have consequences and doesn't mean that others shouldn't be able to identify those consequences.
    Whew, heavy work for a summer's day!

    posted by Anonymous Anonymous on 1:45 PM  

  • The point I was trying to make was NOT that there's only one way to achieve a beautiful birth. Rather, my point was that the media tend to portray birth in a negative way. If the media instead sought to dispel those pervasive stereotypes, I bet more women might choose home birth, or, being aware of alternatives, make a more informed decision to have a hospital birth (as Eva did). Having choices can only be empowering.

    Full disclosure, by the way: Eva is my sister. And Sissy, your comments are ALWAYS welcome!

    posted by Blogger Julie on 3:19 PM  

  • The movies stunk on so many levels. There were inconsistencies in age between Padme and Anakin from teh last movie (she seemed to be late teens, early 20's and he was just a littel boy) - suddenly they're the same age?? And what of Ben's age? Same thing. Anakin seemed to age incredibly compared to those two.

    Padme can't be cured of a broken heart, but with all the electronics adn "feel teh force" - not ONE of them knew she and Ana were an item? Not ONE Jedi figured out there were two babies?

    His turn to the dark side was way too quick also - won't put spoilers in here.

    I just have to agree. I was deeply disappointed in this movie. The hubby, however, disagrees and think it's the next best thing to sliced cheese.

    posted by Blogger Willow on 11:04 PM  

  • Argh yes, birth politics...I'll keep my mouth shut as much as I can here, or I'll tend to get up on my hideous soapbox. But I have to agree with Julie...delivered by ROBOT?!?!?!

    What would our "dream birth" media portrayals look like, I wonder....

    posted by Blogger Mummy/Crit on 8:08 AM  

  • I have successfully avoided the latest three Star Wars movies because really, without Harrison Ford, what is the point?!

    posted by Blogger Susie Sunshine on 10:07 AM  

  • I haven't seen this yet but even in the 2nd movie, Padme's role (in the politics of the Empire) started to slide downhill as she fell in love with that stupid, whiny Anakin. So different from Lea in the first three movies, when love did not make her lose her feistiness.

    posted by Anonymous Anonymous on 2:59 PM  

  • Goob, Melanie, your comments are right on target. Of course Leia didn't lose her feistiness: how could you be anything BUT feisty when you're up against Han Solo?

    Susie, Hick, wish I'd foregone 'em, too. It's hard when you have a 9yo boy living in your house, though.

    Speaking of whom...by accident he saw my blog entry and was crushed. (Yes, he's still young enough that Mommy's opinion matters.) He LOVED this movie. Was all shaken up by the deaths of the little jedis in training, not to mention Somebody's funeral.

    posted by Blogger Julie on 3:59 PM  

  • No kidding about birth being a GOOOOOOOOD THING. Obviously no one in the writers' group of that movie ever had a homebirth or at least any kind of good birth experience. I had wanted to see this movie so much, but after all of the reviews and descriptions since it has been out, and how Natalie Portman (a usually very good actress) is being described, I'll take a pass.

    posted by Blogger Running2Ks on 9:53 PM  

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