The Golden Apple Awards: The 2014 Season

        It has been an interesting year for women in film; with stereotypical archetypes being pushed aside in favor of more realistic portrayals of our fictional female characters. No where is this change more apparent than in the Young Adult category- a genre that largely defines the teenage reading experience for young women. So, it should come as no surprise that below you will find two such specimens of that most beloved genre. However, instead of pitting these two Sci-Fi mavens against each other, it was decided to set aside the apple of discord between them in favor of  honoring what makes these fictional females so extraordinary to begin with. Spoiler Alert! You have been warned! 

And the Golden Apple goes to...

The Mockingly: Part I

Release Date: November 21, 2014

Rating: PG-13

     This is not your "average", dystopian YA-inspired movie adaptation. For anyone entering those hollowed, theatre doors expecting a no-holds-barred shoot-out, you must have faced the sort of bone crushing disappointment saved for the latest installment of the Twilight saga. This is a war movie and there is no way around that. Katniss Everdeen is no super hero who dusts herself off after certain destruction to only face off against the stereotypical villain for an epic ass-whooping. She is broken-- left huddled in the fetal position, tucked away within the deepest bowls of District 13.  Peeta is gone-- rather taken-- by the capital to a fate that is unknown to us. Don't worry, fangirls, you will receive glimpses of him on and off throughout this harrowing journey through Capital destruction. The citizens of Panem will rise again behind their figurehead, but as the title of this movie suggests; to what end? How much of herself must Katniss sacrifice before there is nothing left of her? As stated in a previous blog post, Ms. Everdeen's struggles have always far exceeded those within the arena's walls. She has juggled her undying need to be the protector/ provider of her family, all while trying to make sense of her confused emotional ties for Gale and Peeta.

In Mockinjay, her careful balancing act is about to collapse around her. Her very sanity hangs in the balance as the Capital taunts her with visions of Peeta in various forms of tortorous decay.Does she love him? Does she still harbor feelings for old flame Gale? Who cares! At the end of the day, she would much rather trade places with either man than cause them pain. Instead of experiencing this near end to the now infamous trilogy as a grandly epic thrill ride; it remained closer to the subject matter at hand. For those of us that are fans of the text, this is a special treat. The power in each scene lies behind the now tightly knit cast-- and those quietly intimate moments that occur when weapons are set aside and tears are shed. The entire film is moving slowly towards that one, titular moment at the very end.

For those of you that were disappointed with this cinematic gem, expecting more from the battle for Panem's soul-- do not fear. The war will begin promptly with the release of Mockingjay, Part II. 

  Divergent

Release Date: March 21, 2014

Rating: PG-13

      Only receiving a 41% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, even I must admit some mixed feelings about the movie adaptation-- as detailed in this movie review. Yes, there are some similarities between these two femme fatales but this blog post is dedicated to embracing what makes these women stand out. To begin with, Divergent is more a personality-test-on-steroids than a reality show gone amuck.  Tris is forced, very early on, to choose against her family and her station in order to break through the boundaries of what is expected of her. She does not want to follow the line of her Abnegation past, choosing instead to join the Dauntless and forging her own path. The entire movie unfolds as simply a series of physically/mentally demanding tasks that are meant to bring our heroine to the brink of success. It's only in failure that the audience begins to see that Tris is no outstanding woman.

She is just a girl, after all; trying to reconcile all the different facets of herself in an effort to move forward towards an unsure future. There is no love triangle here to distract from the overall story-- her loyalty to Tobias/Four will carry us through two more sequels before it is all over. How refreshing that a young woman should know her own heart well enough to find true love within the first handful of chapters. In the end, Tris teaches us that it is alright to push the envelope of what is expected of us. Sometimes we will succeed, and most likely we will fail. Hell, there will be times that our worst fears are realized (quite literally) and we may have to improvise our way out of that ever-filling water tank of failure. 

In the end, we must stay true to who we are if we ever expect to achieve happiness.  

The Golden Apple Awards: 2013 Season

       No, this is not another Oscar tribute. In fact, the Golden Apple pictured above holds a very special place in feminine history. You see, this glittery fruit got it's start in mythology, most notably in the tale of the Judgement of Paris. Eris, the goddess of discord, was denied an invitation to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. To stir up a bit of drama, she scrawled across a golden apple the now infamous words: "To the Fairest". Three goddess claimed the apple: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite-- with each bearing a different claim towards what that phrase actually meant. With no resolution in sight, these three mavens turned to the judgement of a mortal named Paris... literally causing a war in their wake.

In cinematic history, the Golden Apple held a slightly less controversial role. From 1941 to about the mid-1980's, this small token was awarded in honor of those actors/actresses that were considered easy to work with. The Sour Apple happens to be it's counter-part, of course.

So, what's the point you ask--scratching your head against all this information? Well, the point is simple: to honor female-driven movies that may have been overlooked by the Academy in the wake of the current award season. There is no discord intended here, with each movie listed below bearing equal merit as the one below it.

Here they are, the very first Golden Apple Awards. Spoilers! You have been warned.

Frozen 

There are few studios, I think, that have such an impressive line up of strong female characters, not only in animation, but basically anywhere! But I digress (perhaps I should do a top 10 of female Disney characters in the future). 

No where is this example more present than in this completely female driven, animated movie. It's a movie about sisters, and for once the romance portion is put on the back burner in favor of showing a positive, if not, complicated relationship between two sisters. The story is uncluttered and easy to follow, the music is outstanding and the visuals are intricate enough to feel real. Not since Beauty and the Beast have I really felt that a movie deserved an Oscar more. (and no, not just for best animated feature) Or, at least a Best Actress in an Animated Movie for Idina Menzel. Mostly, I just loved the overall message, showcased in the flagship song Let it Go, the fact that you should just be who you are and embrace whatever perceived "flaws" you might have…because in reality, there is no sense of normal anyway! I just love the strong female leads, the fact that sisterly bonds can be totally unconditional and fulfilling in their own way. And the fact that there is no clear cut love interest for the title character. Elsa learns to love herself and her gifts; she becomes a great queen and a great big sister. She discovers that's all she really needs in the end. A great message for young girls (and the not so young girls for that matter). 

Gravity

The plot is simple: the ultimate isolation movie, a person lost in space. It's not a new plot by any stretch, being pretty overused in the last five years alone. This one stood out for one big reason;  Sandra Bullock, who made it real for all of us. I, at least, was there with her and found my breathing getting labored as she tumbled aimlessly out into the black abyss of space. 

The metaphors for this movie and the struggles of women in general are endless; just simply the idea of a woman being out in a forum that she is not familiar with, a world or career populated mostly by men only to be left deserted and alone out there with only your fears of failure to keep you company. Then, she eventually calms down and find her way out of the situation feeling both empowered and alive at the same time. Most of all, it transcended the whole, gimmicky 3D thing, to be a really good movie all on it's own. The kind that once your pulse slows down, you just want to go right back in there….just maybe not in 3D this time… that was just too real for me. 

Catching Fire

In a world dominated by adaptations like The Twilight Saga; that basically teaches young girls that it's ok to change your basic biology to fit into the general needs of your dead-eyed boyfriend (and birth his demon spawn), it was a breath of fresh air to enter the world of The Hunger Games. Now I know it's the fan girl in me talking here…in a big way, but I really do feel the story is quite strong. I know it's hard to talk about the movie without going into the book, but the movie itself deserves kudos. Yes some things were added that weren't in the book itself but, seriously, get over it. Jennifer Lawrence is amazing. Period. The cast roundup is a bulls eye in my opinion, with every actor and actress really getting the essence of their characters. 

But beyond all of that, I just think it's about damn time that a woman get credit for being a girl and still kicking some major ass. Katniss is just that; as stated in my pervious post but, hell, I'll just dive in again. She is a woman trapped between two sides of herself, trying to find her way in a  complicated world. Looking out for everyone because she can't just turn her back on her family, or Peeta or Haymitch without feeling that she's failed in some way. She has her own fears and insecurities; as well as a passion to survive and live…not exist but truly live her life. In all it's forms, Catching Fire truly expands on all this subject matter to bring you Katniss; to make us feel for her and root for her because you want her to find out what it is she wants. It's not about whether she chooses Peeta or not (ok fine, it is a little bit) but it's about her finding herself and fighting for her right to exist, for better or for worse. That, in my opinion anyway, is what makes the movies so great. And allowing the general public (not just the reading public) to experience that in the visual feast, which are the essence of the book trilogy. 

Now, these three are my choices. Are there any that I missed? Or anything you'd care to add? Please let me know!  

The "Games" Have Changed

I had originally written this post as a pre-curser to the arrival of Catching Fire. But now I just feel like gushing openly. I know there are many out there who haven't read the books and count on the movies; so I wanted to be careful what was said here, just in case. Now since the movie has come out on the market, I'm going to speak freely.

I am the Spark.

I love the Hunger Games series. You can say it's just the fan girl spirit but it's so much more than that. The books are amazing; it's so rare that I, personally, feel such a close connection to a main character. Usually, I root for the under-dog. Like Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series. I've always liked the ambiguous nature of said characters and watching them develop and grow; not knowing if their going to turn to the dark side…or whether they are trustworthy at all.

But, it is hard to ignore Katniss. When she speaks, she doesn't whisper. She roars. So loudly, in fact, that it's impossible for her to hide under any mask. She refuses to follow the perception that women are "delicate" (no matter how hard Haymitch may try) because she insists on taking care of herself…and other people for that matter. Katniss fears the impending revolution because she's more worried about her own world… to her, it's impossible to save every single person in the outlying districts. She fails to realize the power she holds all throughout the second book/movie. And, from Prim and her mother to Peeta and Haymitch, that feeling to protect and nurture is strong. The thought of losing any of them burns deeper than the fire that envelopes her dress as she twirls. She is a modern female, not trying to fulfill anyone else's standards but her own; railing against the system that makes her feel caged. But yet, she fears losing everything if she attempts to move against it.

Because, let's face it. As women we wear many different hats. We embark on a very delicate tight-rope walk every time we attempt to take a breath. Don't we all feel the, almost daily strain, of having to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders? Then, to top it all off for this Girl on Fire, there is that overwhelming terror of failing those around her, of losing just one more loved one to the Capitol. And most of all, she faces off not only against President Snow but the two men that matter most in her world. Can't she just love both of them in her own way? Both men being so different certainly doesn't merit her having to choose one over the other…but yet they persist none-the-less.

As we gear up for Mockingjay, the last in the series, which finds Katniss finally facing off against the Capitol head on; one thought runs through my head. How is she different from any woman in the real world? Just speaking for myself, I know that fighting for what you believe in isn't always an easy game. The fear of failure, in all it's forms, is always looming over our heads. But, much like Katniss, we have to remember even one voice can spark something big. It can make people think…and talk and even cause a huge blaze that can engulf everyone. Sinner or Saint, Katniss stands for that spark. That spark in all of us. And as I straighten my Mockingjay pin to face the world, I feel validated for my fan girl/obsessive tendencies.

After all, I fangirl with a purpose.