Hello, I'm a girl who likes explosions!

[greenconverses]

Okay, being a female Transformers fan, this sort of generalization kinda pisses me off:

While Bay's movies are best known for their over-the-top action sequences, he is developing a strong following from families, and his growing female audience suggests that for all of the film's leering close-ups of "Transformers" costar Megan Fox's anatomy, ticket buyers enjoy the "Transformers" love story, too. Source.

No. Just...no.

As much as I like the Sam/Mikaela story, that's not my favorite part of the movie nor the most enjoyable aspect of it by far. In fact, I could do without it completely. I know this is nothing new, but I hate, hate, hate the assumption I'm a ~girl~ I must be into epic movies for whatever slight romance the director decides to throw in. NOT SO.

Like any other 20-year-old, geeky fan boy, I went to watch the giant robot death matches, cool CGI, and Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots being generally awesome. Is it so hard for some people (read: entertainment writers, Hollywood exes, and others) to just admit that yes, girls like to watch things go explodey too and aren't at all concerned about a romantic storyline?

Now if that romantic storyline had been Sam/Bumblebee, I would've been all over it.

Comments

[radiocakes.livejournal.com]

Oh what the fuck. Firstly even I were going for the shallow romance plot (which I can assure you, I most certainly am not), I guarantee you I would turn right back around if I had to see that goddamn shot of Mikaela leaning over a motorbike in her denim panties again. Blatant sexism sort of overshadows minimal romance to me.

But hey who cares because I'm going there for badass robots and shit blowing the fuck up. I honestly would really love it if Mikaela would be written out in a horrific manner.

[greenconverses.livejournal.com]

Blatant sexism sort of overshadows minimal romance to me.

Yes this, totally.

I honestly would really love it if Mikaela would be written out in a horrific manner.

I'd want her to be written out, but she just has so much more potential than being the OMG HAWT CHICK MUST OBJECTIFY for the male audience. You see glimmers of her awesome in both movies, but noooo.

[radiocakes.livejournal.com]

Not to mention, are we gonna start rationalising the male portion of the audience at romcoms? Because I could write a whole article on their dead, emotionless faces as they leave the theatre, their girlfriends chattering on their arm, and how I hope for each and every one of them they're getting laid that night for having to endure whatever Gerard Butler's served us up this time.

[greenconverses.livejournal.com]

Hell, I'd like to know why women still go to romcoms. The last one I went to in theatres was 27 Dresses, I think, and I wanted to scream when I walked out of that movie.

[radiocakes.livejournal.com]

Same here. It's honestly completely beyond me. I own one romance movie and the disc is missing. Other than that the most romantic film I own is Red Eye.

[greenconverses.livejournal.com]

I like dramatic romantic movies, just not romantic comedies. I think the only one I own is 10 Things I Hate About You and that's just because it's actually funny.

Besides, my favorite movie of all time (Titanic) is just as much action flick as it is romance. Well, maybe not so much action as, "PRETTY SHIP SINKING WHOO."

[radiocakes.livejournal.com]

!!! How could I forget 10 Things! That and Lose A Guy In 10 Days are my favourite romcoms and/or the only romcoms I like. Dramatic romance... eh. I'm really apathetic to The Notebook which is apparently defining of the genre so. I thought Definitely Maybe was kinda cute.

[greenconverses.livejournal.com]

I own The Notebook, but I think I've like watched it once. I just don't have the patience to sit through it, and I don't know why. Usually I'm all over that sappy sort of stuff.

Oh my GAWD, I loved Definitely Maybe. Mostly because of Ryan Reynolds. All right, completely because of Ryan Reynolds and Isla Fischer.

[comanche-rider.livejournal.com]

YES. In the beginning of ROTF I was practically begging them to actually break up and for Sam to finally admit that he loves Bumblebee more.

[greenconverses.livejournal.com]

See, I think Sam/Mikaela is cute, but mostly because I think fandom!Sam/Mikaela has invaded my brain and is generally more awesome all around than canon!Sam/Mikaela could ever be.

But Sam/Bumblebee is way too awesome. I really wish there had been more of it in the movie, but I totally think the writers had delved into Transformers fandom for ROTF's plot.

[comanche-rider.livejournal.com]

Most likely, though, from my lurking of the fandom, I was more likely to find Sam/Barricade (MY EYES!) then I was to find Sam/Mikaela. Then again, almost all the fics I've found are either self-inserts or hologram slash, so I'll have to look around more. XD

[greenconverses.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, Sam/Mikaela is like the rarest of rare pairings in Transformers fandom. I usually only find good characterizations of them in epic multichaptered fics. I think most of their characterization is my own made up canon where I'm like, "THEY'RE TOTALLY AWESOME AND MIKAELA KICKS ASS ALL THE TIME."

*sigh* I need to write Transformers fic sometime. Especially the Obama and Optimus Prime meeting for the first time plot bunny I had...

[magikcat112.livejournal.com]

Like you, I get a kick out of action movies. I haven't seen this one yet, but I LOVED the first one (I have a feeling if a guy decides to take me to the movies, he won't have much trouble picking one we both like). And yes, while I enjoy a good romance subplot as much as the next girl, if I want to go to a movie for the romance, I'll got to a chick flick.

And like you said, it's sexism at one of its worst to assume that just because we girls go to an action flick, we're going for the romance.

*growls*

[greenconverses.livejournal.com]

Action movie romance usually sucks anyway, so I don't know why any girl would go to an action flick specifically for the romance. In fact, I don't know why anyone would go to an action flick for anything besides the freakin' action - unless they happened to be dragged along like my mother, lol.

If you loved the first one, you're probably going to love this one. MOAR AWESOME ROBOT RAMPAGE YEAH.

[fromelysium.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

The only romance I'm there to see is the romance between myself and Optimus Prime. Or insert any other Autobot, really, I'm not picky when it comes to kickass robots.

[greenconverses.livejournal.com]

LOL.

[tielan]

Is it so hard for some people (read: entertainment writers, Hollywood exes, and others) to just admit that yes, girls like to watch things go explodey too and aren't at all concerned about a romantic storyline?

Yes. Because it might mean that women have thoughts, feelings, opinions, and desires that don't revolve around men.

Totally unacceptable.

[(Anonymous)]

I totally agree with you. I love Transformers (thanks to my 7-year-old brother) but it's not about the love. Sure, it's cute and all, but the whole reason I'm interested is because of Bumblebee, Optimus, and the Fallen and basically, the plot. Just cause I'm a girl doesn't mean I only like the romance. In fact, I'd much rather prefer seeing robots being blown up.