The International = BAD MOVIE

If you have a fetish for architecture 'The International' is the film for you. Clive Owen and Naomi Watts spend the whole film walking in or out of spectacular buildings. The best sequence, and possibly the only exciting part of the film, is a gun fight shot within New York's famous Guggenheim Museum. Without the handful of stunning visuals present in 'The International' this film will bore your socks off, and leave you questioning WHO the main characters are (in the sense of personality, back story, and personal involvement). Owen and Watts waste there respective acting talents bringing one sided characters to the screen, their characters are only viewed in relation to immediate events. There is no character development, and the film is no 'Syriana.' In the end the story is simple and without twists, while trying to make a larger political point. Unfortunately that point is lost in architecture and bad movie making.

Boyfriends

The new movie 'He's Just Not That Into You', is based on a self help book of the same name, which in turn is based on a single episode of 'Sex and The City'. Television, print, and now film. The film is directed by a man, the book is written by a man (with a female partner), and Sex and The City was created by a man, and written by a man. It seems to me like men really want women to understand that if they aren't calling you, aren't committing to you and are pursuing other women besides yourself, HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU. Wake up ladies, its common sense. Do not dedicate yourself to a man who has not dedicated himself to you. Have some self respect and never prioritize a relationship in your own life that is only one option out of many to someone else. He may be your dream boat, but as another episode of Sex and The City teaches us about men: All men are like traffic lights. You won't make it anywhere with a man who is in a red light frame of mind (ie. someone with commitment issues, phobias, or other priorities besides women, like career). Mr. Big was a red light for a long time, and Carrie recognized that. He was not capable of her level of emotional commitment. She moves on and dates other people (Aiden, a green light, but this time Carrie is the red light) and in the end Big has sorted out his issues and they come together at the exact right moment when both their lights are green and then and only then can they be happy. Sex and The City linked falling in love to something as simple as being ready to fall in love psychologically. You can not force love on someone, they have to be open to it, and ladies if you find yourself making excuses for the bad behaviour of your boyfriend, maybe he's just not that into you....right now. Move on, live YOUR life, and stop waiting by the phone. You may come back together like Carrie and Big, or you might find someone else who is a green light, just like you, but the lesson is you can not make someone go from red to green, they have to get their on their own.

On a side note, Sex and They City is seen to be the essence of femininity, fashion, and all things female. BUT, is it really about women? Or is it about the relationships these 4 women have with men, and how those relationships end up defining who these seemingly smart women are. Miranda, always the strong independent woman, moves to Brooklyn to raise a family, she loves Steve so much she cares for his Elderly Mother, only to be thanked by his cheating. Steve always seemed to love Miranda so much, this is played up in the film, with Miranda's girlfriends telling her to forgive him, which she eventually does. What kind of message is that. Somewhere in that film they convince the viewer Steve is not the bad guy, in fact they convince us Miranda only has issues forgiving her straying husband because society teaches us that it is unacceptable. His 'man' issues excuse his behaviour and everything ends happily ever after. In the same film Big leaves Carrie at the alter, only to be forgiven later. Sex and the City in this way teaches us that men who cheat, or WORSE do not show up to their own wedding, still love you. The complete contradiction to the 'He's Just Not That Into You' episode, which also centered around Miranda's character.

So basically, he's just not that into you today, but maybe tomorrow, and you shouldn't wait for him, but you also shouldn't let the fact that society is telling you he's just not that into you effect your hearts ultimate decision to stay or go. With all these mixed messages no wonder Women think men are confusing. I thought the whole point of the Sex and The City episode they based the self help book on was to illustrate that men do not send mixed messages, but women wrongly give them too much credit. So again its women who are behind the curve on dating. 'He's Just Not That Into You' shows you more of what is wrong with women than men. A movie made by a man, showing women all the mistakes they make in dating. If we could only accept man's nature (which is also not shown to be a great nature), and stop acting so insecure and needy we would be happy? That sounds like a great message that all women should embrace when you say it like that eh?

So is 'He's Just Not That Into You' a good piece of advice? Yes
But is the true meaning, the meaning they are delivering to multiplexes and living rooms around the world? I'd say they would like it to seem that way, but there are a lot more subversive messages in these films and shows that are hiding behind a veil of female empowerment.