A Look Back at 50 Shades of Grey
December 10, 2020 • Written by Adrian Troung
I’m sure we’re all well aware of the infamous “50 Shades of Grey” movie trilogy. Well, five years after the first debut, I watched all 3 movies in a matter of a day and a half, so let’s look back on my eye-opening experience, and more specifically why and how these movies captured everyone’s attention. For reference, I didn’t watch these when they initially came out, so this was my first time experiencing the hype. I’ll begin my review by stating: I was not impressed. As a disclaimer, I would like to remind you that this article is strictly opinion-based, and of course, we all have different tastes and likings.
Personally, I did not find Mr. Christian Grey charming or captivating at all. The unspoken creepy stalker tendencies, the lack of chemistry and humor, and the surface-level dry conversation was boring, to say the least. He explicitly objectifies the female main character, Anastasia Steele, as he picks her up, tosses her, and bosses her around as if she were his dog. I found his dominance to be extremely corny and unrealistic, given the words and catchphrases Grey would use to seduce her and vice versa. Not to mention Anastasia Steele’s “subtly” seductive moments were atrocious to watch. Her cringe-worthy lip-biting, the small notions to her mouth, and the random moments of submissiveness was all too much for me.
The storyline of events and progression of love felt too rushed, so as an audience member, I did not feel their love or passion whatsoever. I would love to say that Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dorman are both incredibly talented actors, but this performance has my doubts because this was one of the worst showcases of these so to speak talents. Also, Rita Ora? Her appearances were brief and added nothing to the plot. She was just another face in the crowd, just like all the other disposable side characters that had no development.
Enough about my dislikes, let’s move on to some of my likings.
As an avid reader of Wattpad during its prime back in 2014 and 2015, I definitely thought that I would have enjoyed this movie. As a young closeted 13-year-old, the fantasy of having a man so attracted to you, to the point that he’s obsessed with you, and fell in love at first sight was definitely at the forefront of my mind. As a 19-year-old, this fantasy is no longer as prevalent. I believe that because this film plays into such a fantasy, it’s what makes the plot so captivating, then and now. I think secretly, some of us have this Stockholm Syndrome-like fantasy of having a handsome, rich, strong man essentially kidnap us because they’re in love with us. Even just the thought of being flattered with gifts, sex, and other unnecessary commodities could be alluring to some. Despite being disgusted while watching this movie, I found myself wishing I was Anastasia Steele and imagining what I would do if I were in these peculiar, unrealistic, and oddly specific situations. For that reason, the aspect of fantasy and making the audience wish they were in Anastasia’s place, is where the movie succeeds.
The music soundtrack was also something I enjoyed very much. Being reminded of Ellie Goulding’s presence, listening to the Weeknd’s beautiful vocal tone, and being blessed by Beyonce’s sultry sexiness was amazing. It brought me back to a time in middle school that was so much simpler and nostalgic.
I could continue to go on and on about the specifics of this movie, but this article is already much too long. In conclusion, “50 Shades of Grey” is a Wattpad fictional BDSM fantasy based on unrealistic situations for those who want to escape the troubles and hardships of this world and re-imagine their life as a submissive independent BDSM queen.
TLDR: “50 Shades of Grey” is a corny piece of fantasy art.
