Film Greta Gerwig's BARBIE (Margot Robbie/Ryan Gosling)

[horsechoker]

$337m worldwide already

That's nearly one and a bit Mbappes

 

[Cascarino]

I was initially curious about the same thing, but then I remembered that once every couple of years there is always some sort of **** phenomenon that takes over, gets hugely overrated and sends everyone into some sort of tizzy. It becomes a cultural event, more than just a movie or show. People go as whole social groups, get clubs and watch parties going etc. Basically people lose their minds and say there has never been anything like it, it’s a revelation. Then a few years later one looks back, watched it again, and wonders how the feck there was such a massive fuss. It’s the Hamilton syndrome.



See above. Anyone and everyone. While initially I think it was women and their coerced partners, I think it’s taken on such a huge cultural identity, that you’re almost going to be seen as some sort of mentalist if you haven’t seen it. Like you are missing out on the event of the decade. Again, the Hamilton syndrome.

I don’t understand how you can give this opinion when you haven’t seen the film? I get stating that it’s been overhyped as the marketing has been everywhere. And I agree with you when you mentioned that it’s become more than a film, as it has sort of transcended that and become more of a cultural event, especially with the amount of media coverage its got and the memes that have been generated. I can also obviously understand saying you’re not going to watch it and that it doesn’t interest you, but surely to come out with

gets hugely overrated and sends everyone into some sort of tizzy. Basically people lose their minds and say there has never been anything like it, it’s a revelation. Then a few years later one looks back, watched it again, and wonders how the feck there was such a massive fuss.

Surely the bare minimum to have such an opinion requires actually watching it? As a genuine question how have you come to this conclusion? From what you’ve said it sounds like you’ve got what type of film this is a little wrong as well.

This isn’t particularly important, but it feels like there’s been a rise in the amount of people labelling films overrated, or that people only like certain films for superfluous reasons, when they’ve never watched said film, at least when it comes to online discourse anyway. It seems crazy to me.

 

[sullydnl]

I was initially curious about the same thing, but then I remembered that once every couple of years there is always some sort of **** phenomenon that takes over, gets hugely overrated and sends everyone into some sort of tizzy. It becomes a cultural event, more than just a movie or show. People go as whole social groups, get clubs and watch parties going etc. Basically people lose their minds and say there has never been anything like it, it’s a revelation. Then a few years later one looks back, watched it again, and wonders how the feck there was such a massive fuss. It’s the Hamilton syndrome.



See above. Anyone and everyone. While initially I think it was women and their coerced partners, I think it’s taken on such a huge cultural identity, that you’re almost going to be seen as some sort of mentalist if you haven’t seen it. Like you are missing out on the event of the decade. Again, the Hamilton syndrome.

I’m too old to get bothered by any of this any more. If my 8 year old wants to see it, I’ll take her. Otherwise this is a wait for streaming affair.

Just fyi it has a 12A rating in the UK, so depending on your kid you might not want her to see it anyway.

 

[RedSky]

I haven't watched this, but as far as I can tell the synopsis is: Women rule Barbie world and this is amazing. At some point, Barbie goes to the real world and here there is equality which is terrible and all men are inherently bad. Barbie goes back to her own world again where men have taken over because the strong and empowered women just let them, but then the women take over again and the moral of the story is: equality bad. Women in charge good.

Hopefully it's funny or something at least.

Oof.

 

[Rado_N]

Have you seen Hamilton? Because it’s properly brilliant.

I’m saying, no.

 

[RedSky]

I’m saying, no.

Now let's not assume, this is 2023 mate.

 

[simonhch]

Have you seen Hamilton? Because it’s properly brilliant.

Also… this is not a film for your 8 year old daughter.

I have seen it. Thought it was okay. Properly brilliant is not a phrase I would use to describe it. Just a massively overhyped cultural phenomenon in my humble opinion.

 

[simonhch]

I don’t understand how you can give this opinion when you haven’t seen the film? I get stating that it’s been overhyped as the marketing has been everywhere. And I agree with you when you mentioned that it’s become more than a film, as it has sort of transcended that and become more of a cultural event, especially with the amount of media coverage its got and the memes that have been generated. I can also obviously understand saying you’re not going to watch it and that it doesn’t interest you, but surely to come out with



Surely the bare minimum to have such an opinion requires actually watching it? As a genuine question how have you come to this conclusion? From what you’ve said it sounds like you’ve got what type of film this is a little wrong as well.

This isn’t particularly important, but it feels like there’s been a rise in the amount of people labelling films overrated, or that people only like certain films for superfluous reasons, when they’ve never watched said film, at least when it comes to online discourse anyway. It seems crazy to me.

Yeah, look, I do agree with you to some degree. Of course I can’t actually critique the film, because I haven’t seen it. But in fairness I was responding to a question as to why people would want to see it. I used the examples of overhyped cultural phenomena that come along periodically, because it feels rather apt in this circumstance. It feels like a show I have seen before many times. But of course, as far as review the actually film, I cannot do that. And maybe it isn’t overhyped. I was merely putting out some conjecture based on repeated historical experience, and more so answering the question as to why people wanted to see it, by speculating that part of the appeal is the flock mentality that occurs when something like this comes along. There are a ton of highly rated films with 90% plus scores on RT that tank at the box office, largely because the marketing and hype doesn’t tap into the collective psyche the way this films’ has. That was my point.

 

[RedSky]

I have seen it. Thought it was okay. Properly brilliant is not a phrase I would use to describe it. Just a massively overhyped cultural phenomenon in my humble opinion.

Surely don't comic book films also fall into this category? Majority of those are tripe yet people flock to see those stinking turds.

 

[Jev]

Can we talk more about the cultural phenomenon whereby a bunch of men consider it bizarre that an adult person would watch a well-reviewed movie made by talented people, yet themselves spend a bunch of time bickering about said movie, despite claiming they have zero interest in it? That is way more bizarre.

 

[glazed]

Barbie was very funny in the first half but second half was a tedious half baked self serving feminist barely meta screed of female victimhood and low key misandry. It kept the film so pre-occupied that the makers didn't have time to make it into a satisfying ending to the story, so it became a narrative mess that petered out. Even my female friends thought it botched the landing.

 

[Sarni]

Can we talk more about the cultural phenomenon whereby a bunch of men consider it bizarre that an adult person would watch a well-reviewed movie made by talented people, yet themselves spend a bunch of time bickering about said movie, despite claiming they have zero interest in it? That is way more bizarre.

Yeah I think we need a few more people to come on here to specifically inform us that they are too sophisticated to watch Barbie.

 

[ScholesyTheWise]

A very good friend & colleague of mine (47 y.o woman) watched it with her 10 y.o son.
She spoke so highly of it, and how much she was surprised by the nuances that are there for adults to pick up rather than kids...

and as she speaks so highly of it and almost begs me to watch it [And with me being aware of the reputation of Greta Gerwig],
I can't help but think how shite the movie sounds, going off of my friends' enthusiastic description of it.

Then she shows me the trailer on Youtube, and I realize that Margo Robbie and Ryan Gosling are in it,
and in a split second I'm like "Yeah... I'm probably gonna watch it soon enough on one of my insomniac nights".

I now expect it to be decent, if a little weird.

 

[horsechoker]

Barbie was very funny in the first half but second half was a tedious half baked self serving feminist barely meta screed of female victimhood and low key misandry. It kept the film so pre-occupied that the makers didn't have time to make it into a satisfying ending to the story, so it became a narrative mess that petered out. Even my female friends thought it botched the landing.

This is United in a nutshell

 

[simonhch]

Surely don't comic book films also fall into this category? Majority of those are tripe yet people flock to see those stinking turds.

Absolutely, but I also don’t see many being held up as critical darlings. Although it has happened. Just see Black Panther.

 

[glazed]

This is United in a nutshell

Last season?

 

[Rooney in Paris]

It's amazing how many people are going on rants and having definitive opinions about this film without having seen it, and then criticize the hype as being a cultural phenomenon

I'm sure the irony is lost on them anyway, but it's properly amusing.

 

[Sarni]

It's amazing how many people are going on rants and having definitive opinions on this film without having seen it, and then criticize the hype as being a cultural phenomenon

I'm sure the irony is lost in them anyway, but it's properly amusing.

It’s literally a movie. 1.5 hours of supposed entertainment with perhaps a little moral to the story, or no moral at all. Some will watch it and enjoy it, some will watch it and not enjoy it, some won’t watch it and some will just use the opportunity to remind everyone they are superior to them because they won’t engage in pleb activities like watching a Barbie film.

 

[glazed]

It’s literally a movie. 1.5 hours of supposed entertainment with perhaps a little moral to the story, or no moral at all.

If you think that you haven't seen it or weren't paying attention. The film had an extremely strong ideological feminist plot about patriarchy. You'd have to be blind to have missed it

 

[Cascarino]

Yeah, look, I do agree with you to some degree. Of course I can’t actually critique the film, because I haven’t seen it. But in fairness I was responding to a question as to why people would want to see it. I used the examples of overhyped cultural phenomena that come along periodically, because it feels rather apt in this circumstance. It feels like a show I have seen before many times. But of course, as far as review the actually film, I cannot do that. And maybe it isn’t overhyped. I was merely putting out some conjecture based on repeated historical experience, and more so answering the question as to why people wanted to see it, by speculating that part of the appeal is the flock mentality that occurs when something like this comes along. There are a ton of highly rated films with 90% plus scores on RT that tank at the box office, largely because the marketing and hype doesn’t tap into the collective psyche the way this films’ has. That was my point.

I know what you mean when periodically certain films do some along and then the hype they generate and ubiquitous they become doesn't reflect the quality, but there's a lot of quality behind this one, although I don't when I'll be watching it, and I also have to wait an age for the new Nolan film.

I really want you to watch it now and post a review to see what you'd end up thinking of it, I'm really excited for Pogue's review too

 

[sullydnl]

It’s literally a movie. 1.5 hours of supposed entertainment with perhaps a little moral to the story, or no moral at all. Some will watch it and enjoy it, some will watch it and not enjoy it, some won’t watch it and some will just use the opportunity to remind everyone they are superior to them because they won’t engage in pleb activities like watching a Barbie film.

Nah, that's doing a disservice to the film. It's clearly intended to be a quite clear commentary on some specific social issues.

I just have absolutely no idea how someone could consider it to be misandrist given the conclusion it reaches or the point being made by the societal mirroring throughout.

 

[Moby]

Can we talk more about the cultural phenomenon whereby a bunch of men consider it bizarre that an adult person would watch a well-reviewed movie made by talented people, yet themselves spend a bunch of time bickering about said movie, despite claiming they have zero interest in it? That is way more bizarre.

Exactly but then they're wumming anyway.

 

[Donaldo]

Enjoyable enough, and the meta commentary is common sense for 10 year olds. Getting offended about it says more about the person getting offended than the movie itself.

Ryan Gosling was excellent.

 

[Sarni]

If you think that you haven't seen it or weren't paying attention. The film had an extremely strong ideological feminist plot about patriarchy. You'd have to be blind to have missed it

Nah, that's doing a disservice to the film. It's clearly intended to be a quite clear commentary on some specific social issues.

I just have absolutely no idea how someone could consider it to be misandrist given the conclusion it reaches or the point being made by the societal mirroring throughout.

I did not mean this film in particular, but movies in general. That’s what they are, it is pointless to analyze them as a deeper social phenomenon and look down on people for wanting to see them or engaging in frenzy that surrounds them. End of the day it’s not really that important.

 

[Donaldo]

Everyone assuming Gerwig & Baumbach are going to make the great subversive stealth indie, but at this point the most subversive thing they could do is make a completely straight sell out Barbie movie about a funny little doll…

Landed more on the latter side than anything else.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Landed more on the latter side than anything else.

They didn't though, did they? It wasn't a stealth indie, but it definitely wasn't the latter either.

 

[Reapersoul20]

Jesus this thread has some fecking diabolical takes for a thread about a doll .

 

[Redlambs]

Can we talk more about the cultural phenomenon whereby a bunch of men consider it bizarre that an adult person would watch a well-reviewed movie made by talented people, yet themselves spend a bunch of time bickering about said movie, despite claiming they have zero interest in it? That is way more bizarre.

We could, but they wouldn't get that either.

 

[Mogget]

Barbie was very funny in the first half but second half was a tedious half baked self serving feminist barely meta screed of female victimhood and low key misandry. It kept the film so pre-occupied that the makers didn't have time to make it into a satisfying ending to the story, so it became a narrative mess that petered out. Even my female friends thought it botched the landing.

I must have missed the misandry, can you refresh my memory with some examples?

 

[Big Andy]

I know what you mean when periodically certain films do some along and then the hype they generate and ubiquitous they become doesn't reflect the quality, but there's a lot of quality behind this one, although I don't when I'll be watching it, and I also have to wait an age for the new Nolan film.

I really want you to watch it now and post a review to see what you'd end up thinking of it, I'm really excited for Pogue's review too

What we really need is @Sweet Square's opinion.

 

[glazed]

I just have absolutely no idea how someone could consider it to be misandrist

I must have missed the misandry, can you refresh my memory with some examples?

Spoiler

Because the Kens are portrayed as toxic idiots and the happy ending is returning them to their previous subjugation rather than equality (with a speech telling them to be less needy).

It's too silly a film to worry about but as a message I can see how the manosphere might get its knickers in a twist for clicks. It technically qualifies as misandrist but then stereotypical Barbie is both misogynist and racist so let's not get too stressed about playing the victim. The whole thing is a satire of awful values, past and present.

 

[sullydnl]

Because the Kens are portrayed as toxic idiots and the happy ending is returning them to their previous subjugation rather than equality.

It's too silly a film to worry about but as a message I can see how the manosphere might get its knickers in a twist for clicks. It technically qualifies as misandrist but then stereotypical Barbie is both misogynist and racist so let's not get too stressed about playing the victim. The whole thing is a satire of awful values, past and present.

Think you might have misunderstood something as that very explicitly isn't how the film ends.

 

[glazed]

Think you might have misunderstood something as that very explicitly isn't how the film ends.

Spoiler

Yes it was. The Kens asked for seats on the Supreme Court and were told no, remember? Then the film went off into a long rambling ending full of unearned emotions involving an old jewish lady and a vagina.

 

[sullydnl]

Yes it was. The Kens asked for seats on the Supreme Court and were told no, remember? Then the film went off into a long rambling ending full of unearned emotions involving an old jewish lady and a vagina.

Spoiler

You said they were returned to their previous subjugation, but they very pointedly weren't, as the film is using them as a mirror of the suffrage movement. Instead of returning to their previous status, they were given the beginnings of the very qualified moves towards equality the film is arguing women have recieved the real world, with the narrator noting the Kens "have to start somewhere".

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Going to see it at the weekend with the wife. Quite looking forward to it actually. If it made Ben Shapiro so mad that he literally burned Barbie dolls in a bin, then it's probably going to be at least decent.

 

[arthurka]

Can't remember anything other than Margot Robbie, she was mint.

 

[glazed]

Spoiler

You said they were returned to their previous subjugation, but they very pointedly weren't, as the film is using them as a mirror of the suffrage movement. Instead of returning to their previous status, they were given the beginnings of the very qualified moves towards equality the film is arguing women have recieved the real world, with the narrator noting the Kens "have to start somewhere".

You probably need to think that one through.

 

[Sweet Square]

What we really need is @Sweet Square's opinion.

Depressed south eastern German accent - A tale of plastic barbarity. It’s as if the dolls have projected themselves onto the screen as a cruel humourless joke against humanity bottomless stupidity.

Maybe it is us and not the dolls who are living in the impotent dream that we call life.

 

[sullydnl]

You probably need to think that one through.

Eh? That's literally what happens at the end of the film.

 

[glazed]

Eh? That's literally what happens at the end of the film.

Spoiler

Yes they were returned to their previous subjugated status as I said. A parallel was drawn with women's status in the real world (a false one - in the real world 4 of the 8 Supreme court justices are female).