"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Remake Update #2
Don't hit this lady.
Blog Exclusive!
Leading up to the December 21st release of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Matthew R. Reis will offer up his insights regarding what should make the final cut and what should be left for the blooper reel in the American adaption of the literary sensation.
Lately there has been some controversy over the depiction of Lisbeth Salander (played by Rooney Mara) the heroine of the Millennium Trilogy. The controversy stems from a recently released poster for "Tattoo" that includes a nude Rooney Mara being tightly embraced by a weathered Daniel Craig. Reading about Salander's love for rough sex is quite a normal, popular thing to do. Just look at the NYT's bestseller list over the past year or so. But depicting these thematic events visually is a no go apparently. This doesn't make sense because...
Reading about sex isn't a whole lot different then viewing a sexy image that simulates a sexual act or features a provocative pose! Apparently the people drumming up this controversy want you and me to believe that viewing a sexy image is something to be ashamed of and that's only marginally tolerated in private residences. It only makes sense then to ban Maxim magazine from its pedestal, store shelves across America!
I personally believe that the human mind is a whole lot dirtier than people want to let on. We think dark thoughts and have many secrets that we would never want to share. These tainted thoughts are then watered down and cultivated into more sensible ideas. Perhaps this process happened to the creators of "Tattoo's" marketing campaign (and this poster in particular)! I'd wager that they photographed even grittier, in your face pictures for the poster that truly crossed the line and were tossed aside. The content we see here won't harm anyone. It's watered down just enough to still be relevant and prompt discussion while targeting the largest possible audience.
Most likely director David Fincher and his ego care very little about the controversy his poster inevitably brought. He probably doesn't even care that his version of “Tattoo” is a remake that is being released just two years after Niels Arden Oplev’s original Swedish take on things. Nor does he probably care that many of my friends are tired of Hollywood remakes. The most ironic thing about this post is that David Fincher most definitely doesn't care about what I have to say.
So what type of nudity is shown in this ad? Buttocks? No. Breasts? Yes. What about pussy?
Fincher doesn't go that far. Most likely he's reserving that big reveal for December 21st. Though I'm not a woman I strongly believe that this poster doesn't demean women. Why's that? Forcing Mara to hide underneath clothes would disrespect the character she plays. In a strictly professional sense I really hope the finished movie features Mara baring all, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn't excited about seeing Mara in the buff for a more obvious reason. She is a gorgeous, ravishing beauty.
The overall goal of this poster is to give prospective moviegoers a glimpse into the lives of two dynamic personalities, Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. It’s Salander’s nature not give a fuck. Why should Mara and Fincher give a fuck too?
Instead of debating the necessity of the firestorm this poster set off it is indeed very appropriate when we consider Lisbeth Salander's Wild West lifestyle and the themes present in the "Tattoo" novel. Salander's hard-boiled persona and tech-savvy nature make her an interesting character study. She an atypical women, but is it fair to call her a post-Feminist women? She is by no means a prude like some male-eating feminists out in the real word, but she doesn’t tolerate guys with drifting eyeballs either.
It is certain that Salander would despise being labeled something or other. Her goings about are sacred to her. For example she has sex with both men and women, but doesn’t think of herself as a bisexual. In the "Tattoo" book she has bareback sex with Blomkvist just because she wants to. She acts decidedly non-masculine during her romp, but don’t tell her she isn’t in control. She almost always is. Salander doesn’t even worry about getting pregnant because she’ll pop a pill the next morning and go on with her life.
So when did society stop admiring female nudity? Did this appreciation fall off after the Renaissance? After all one of the most feminine and beautiful parts of a women's body are her nipples and they were regularly painted with care by the master artists of the time. Has society become so politically correctly oriented that a female body can’t be admired outright? It should be a women's right to showcase, celebrate and be conscious of her own body? I guess women now have to dress like men and pay for dinner when out on a date.
Out with the old… in with the bland.
There is a major contradiction in society that needs to be noted. Sexually suggestive advertising is becoming the norm while meaningful, artistic nudity is being punished. Just look at the images the hip fashion retailer American Apparel uses to promote their brand. They are WAY more sexual than the “Tattoo” poster. And yet because AA's ads don't center on something as small and as innocent as a nipple they are doing the right thing. Good grief. Who else exploits the youthful, vibrant bodies of 15 year old model more regularly?
Model age aside a lot of men and women lust over ad campaigns. After all people are drawn to the risqué. After seeing a certain ad you may want to sleep with a Victoria's Secret Angel or become the face of American Apparel. Yet no one is lusting over this poster. It has more of a purpose than to satisfy horny teens and lonely, middle-aged folks.
If Mara's one nipple (by the way it's pierced. Shocker!) wasn’t in plain view than I would never have sat down and written this post. All in all Lisbeth is the strongest character I have ever had the pleasure to come across other than the conservative, yet fiery Hermione Granger of "Harry Potter" fame. Salander's legacy will surely outlive this episode and despite the controversy mentioned above the movie poster is more appealing than appalling.
I appreciate any comments you may have regarding this controversial topic.
Cheers!
P.S. For more info. on "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" check out http://www.dragontattoo.com
Checkout the chilly trailer below featuring 007:
As always thanks for reading!
©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.
Blog Exclusive!
Leading up to the December 21st release of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Matthew R. Reis will offer up his insights regarding what should make the final cut and what should be left for the blooper reel in the American adaption of the literary sensation.
Lately there has been some controversy over the depiction of Lisbeth Salander (played by Rooney Mara) the heroine of the Millennium Trilogy. The controversy stems from a recently released poster for "Tattoo" that includes a nude Rooney Mara being tightly embraced by a weathered Daniel Craig. Reading about Salander's love for rough sex is quite a normal, popular thing to do. Just look at the NYT's bestseller list over the past year or so. But depicting these thematic events visually is a no go apparently. This doesn't make sense because...
Reading about sex isn't a whole lot different then viewing a sexy image that simulates a sexual act or features a provocative pose! Apparently the people drumming up this controversy want you and me to believe that viewing a sexy image is something to be ashamed of and that's only marginally tolerated in private residences. It only makes sense then to ban Maxim magazine from its pedestal, store shelves across America!
I personally believe that the human mind is a whole lot dirtier than people want to let on. We think dark thoughts and have many secrets that we would never want to share. These tainted thoughts are then watered down and cultivated into more sensible ideas. Perhaps this process happened to the creators of "Tattoo's" marketing campaign (and this poster in particular)! I'd wager that they photographed even grittier, in your face pictures for the poster that truly crossed the line and were tossed aside. The content we see here won't harm anyone. It's watered down just enough to still be relevant and prompt discussion while targeting the largest possible audience.
Most likely director David Fincher and his ego care very little about the controversy his poster inevitably brought. He probably doesn't even care that his version of “Tattoo” is a remake that is being released just two years after Niels Arden Oplev’s original Swedish take on things. Nor does he probably care that many of my friends are tired of Hollywood remakes. The most ironic thing about this post is that David Fincher most definitely doesn't care about what I have to say.
So what type of nudity is shown in this ad? Buttocks? No. Breasts? Yes. What about pussy?
Fincher doesn't go that far. Most likely he's reserving that big reveal for December 21st. Though I'm not a woman I strongly believe that this poster doesn't demean women. Why's that? Forcing Mara to hide underneath clothes would disrespect the character she plays. In a strictly professional sense I really hope the finished movie features Mara baring all, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn't excited about seeing Mara in the buff for a more obvious reason. She is a gorgeous, ravishing beauty.
The overall goal of this poster is to give prospective moviegoers a glimpse into the lives of two dynamic personalities, Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. It’s Salander’s nature not give a fuck. Why should Mara and Fincher give a fuck too?
Instead of debating the necessity of the firestorm this poster set off it is indeed very appropriate when we consider Lisbeth Salander's Wild West lifestyle and the themes present in the "Tattoo" novel. Salander's hard-boiled persona and tech-savvy nature make her an interesting character study. She an atypical women, but is it fair to call her a post-Feminist women? She is by no means a prude like some male-eating feminists out in the real word, but she doesn’t tolerate guys with drifting eyeballs either.
It is certain that Salander would despise being labeled something or other. Her goings about are sacred to her. For example she has sex with both men and women, but doesn’t think of herself as a bisexual. In the "Tattoo" book she has bareback sex with Blomkvist just because she wants to. She acts decidedly non-masculine during her romp, but don’t tell her she isn’t in control. She almost always is. Salander doesn’t even worry about getting pregnant because she’ll pop a pill the next morning and go on with her life.
So when did society stop admiring female nudity? Did this appreciation fall off after the Renaissance? After all one of the most feminine and beautiful parts of a women's body are her nipples and they were regularly painted with care by the master artists of the time. Has society become so politically correctly oriented that a female body can’t be admired outright? It should be a women's right to showcase, celebrate and be conscious of her own body? I guess women now have to dress like men and pay for dinner when out on a date.
Out with the old… in with the bland.
There is a major contradiction in society that needs to be noted. Sexually suggestive advertising is becoming the norm while meaningful, artistic nudity is being punished. Just look at the images the hip fashion retailer American Apparel uses to promote their brand. They are WAY more sexual than the “Tattoo” poster. And yet because AA's ads don't center on something as small and as innocent as a nipple they are doing the right thing. Good grief. Who else exploits the youthful, vibrant bodies of 15 year old model more regularly?
Model age aside a lot of men and women lust over ad campaigns. After all people are drawn to the risqué. After seeing a certain ad you may want to sleep with a Victoria's Secret Angel or become the face of American Apparel. Yet no one is lusting over this poster. It has more of a purpose than to satisfy horny teens and lonely, middle-aged folks.
If Mara's one nipple (by the way it's pierced. Shocker!) wasn’t in plain view than I would never have sat down and written this post. All in all Lisbeth is the strongest character I have ever had the pleasure to come across other than the conservative, yet fiery Hermione Granger of "Harry Potter" fame. Salander's legacy will surely outlive this episode and despite the controversy mentioned above the movie poster is more appealing than appalling.
I appreciate any comments you may have regarding this controversial topic.
Cheers!
P.S. For more info. on "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" check out http://www.dragontattoo.com
Checkout the chilly trailer below featuring 007:
As always thanks for reading!
©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.
He might have given unnaturally overhyped Se7en and "Social Network"...But this one s truly amazing....
ReplyDeleteDefinitely,a collector's item