As 2023 draws to a close, the box offices are tallying colossal numbers. Embracing this year symbolizes a return to in-person 'old normal' events like cinema, marking the first full post-pandemic year. It's noteworthy that, in my analyses, considerations related to streaming platforms will be excluded. The foundation of the entertainment industry lies in providing escape and leisure, catering to the audience's passive pursuits. Yet, beneath these impressive figures, subtle subconscious values may be at play. Let's delve into the individuals driving these statistics and the stories they tell.
The Super Mario Bros Movie (Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, 2023): taps into nostalgia, a sentiment deeply rooted in the Western children's experiences with Super Mario since the 1980s. It portrays the Italian-American plumber brothers, Mario and Luigi, along with Princess Peach, as heroes representing the working class and immigrants. While initially depicted as an empowering leader from the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach undergoes a transformation into an active damsel in distress, perpetuating traditional gender roles. This narrative shift prompts reflection, echoing the sentiment of 74 percent of women in Great Britain, as of August 2023, expressing a desire for increased efforts in achieving gender equality, especially in the context of political gender balance.
Elemental (Peter Sohn, 2023): Pixar adaptation of the Shakespearean classic Romeo and Juliet with a contemporary twist. The narrative unfolds as fire elements Bernie and Cinder Lumen immigrate to Element City, encountering xenophobia from other classical elements. Establishing a life, they have a child named Ember and open a convenience shop called 'Fireplace.' When Bernie entrusts Ember with the responsibility of managing the shop independently, she finds herself overwhelmed by customers, leading to a hasty retreat to the basement. In the midst of her frustration, a fiery outburst inadvertently damages a water pipe, causing the basement to flood. This unexpected incident summons Wade Ripple, a water elemental and city inspector, who, with reluctance, proceeds to City Hall. Against the backdrop of the film, the narrative resonates with the real-world struggles faced by immigrants, reflecting the high statistics of immigration and refugees in the United Kingdom during 2023, particularly those escaping conflicts in the Middle East and encountering discrimination in its various forms in their new homes.
Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan, 2023): delves into the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the inventor of the atomic bomb. Nolan, a highly esteemed filmmaker in the contemporary age, grapples with shortcomings in his portrayal of female characters. The film often falls into the 'women in refrigerator' trope, utilizing female characters as plot devices or presenting them as one-dimensional love interests, perpetuating heteronormativity. Nolan's cinematic lens tends to centre on the male point of view, a recurring characteristic in his body of work. While acknowledging that the film is set in a pre-feminist era with limited roles for women, it's crucial to note that in this recent release, the character Kitty Oppenheimer stands out as a deviant figure addressing specific gender challenges. Despite this, both Kitty and Jean Tatlock receive significantly less screen time compared to their male counterparts, underscoring a persistent imbalance in the film's narrative focus.
Barbie (Greta Gerwig, 2023): the box-office leader and a live-action adaptation of the beloved childhood doll, Barbie ventures out of Barbieland. The film depicts a world dominated by the colour pink, showcasing a sorority matriarchy with themes of diversity and equality. In the real world, Barbie embodies the shoes of a contemporary privileged woman. Sixty years after the second wave of feminism, she still grapples with pervasive patriarchy in diverse everyday situations. The impact of Barbie's trajectory extends beyond the screens, where audiences redefine the meaning of pink—from a symbol of femininity to one of women's power. The film leaves some males frustrated upon leaving the movie theatre. However, a noteworthy criticism lies in the perpetuation of plastic feminism. Mattel may have reinvented its doll in the language of empowerment, but the underlying plastic material remains non-biodegradable.
The Little Mermaid (Rob Marshall, 2023): highly anticipated on-screen live-action adaptation faced pre-release criticism for modifications to Disney's beloved animation. Despite the initial reservations, the film introduces alterations to both the music and plot, aligning with contemporary standards. Notably, the narrative adopts a female gaze with point-of-view shots from Princess Ariel. The character remains active, gaining depth as she embraces a wanderlust craving and a desire for freedom. It champions greater diversity, with a Black actress in the leading role and mixed-race characters. However, it grapples with certain problematic themes, romanticizing colonialism and imperialism through Eric's global travels, including scenes discussing cane extraction and malaria curing. A degree of Anglocentrism is portrayed, as characters default to English in interactions. Humans are depicted as villains, briefly addressing environmental issues. The narrative reinforces female rivalry and beauty standards, emphasizing thinness and youth. This is evident in the polar opposition between the protagonist and the villain, both women, and when Ursula disguises herself as a young, thin lady, 2023 marked a significant growth of plastic and cosmetic surgery. The film also intertwines its storyline with real-world climate concerns, noting a significant increase in climate-related events and associated fatalities between 2022 and 2023.
Fast X (Louis Leterrier, 2023), Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One (Christopher McQuarrie, 2023), Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Peyton Reed, 2023), and Guardians of Galaxy Vol. 3 (James Gunn, 2023): represent iconic franchises that graced the big screen. Despite each contributing to a continuing pre-destined journey, these films share striking similarities. They often embrace traditional masculinity, featuring strong, skilled-intellect action heroes and adhering to heteronormativity. While diversity is present, with ethnically-minority characters playing leading or significant roles. Women and other minorities are frequently relegated to secondary positions, serving as love interests, rewards for heroes' sacrifices, or being entirely overlooked.
'The Marvels' (Nia DaCosta, 2023) stands out with its strong, diverse female leads, sorority theme and non-romantic motivations. However, the film faces some constraints, including sexualized tight costumes, stereotyped biotypes, and youth as the beauty standard. In 2023, the cinematic landscape featured genre diversity, but a prevailing gender dominance persisted and (in)visible diversity.
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