Why the film Pretty (Stupid) Woman was (is) so popular.
September 10th 2007 20:05
'I've never prostituted myself for money like you tramps on Rodeo Drive!'
Image courtesy of Wickedpedia.
It’s a dramatisation of the ideals ‘encapsulated’ by the American Dream, which modern, western women subscribe to:
Prostituting yourself for money is an honourable goal. It affords you the means to buy off your past, and pretend you never prostituted your body or mind to obtain wealth and fame. You can buy a brand new reputation, along with minders to protect it for you, and spin-doctors to wipe out your past or deflect inquiries into it.
It also perpetuates the lies about how wealth is obtained. (Something for the modern, western man to aspire to while he sits with his girlfriend watching this ultimate chick-flick):
Deep down, rich American tycoons and magnates are hard-working men with upstanding morals and philanthropic hearts (and usually concert pianists with a wealth of cultural knowledge), who deserve every bit of their wealth and fame. Rather than seek a partner within their own circles, they are often on the lookout for white trailer-trash to marry, and another philanthropic cause to splurge on.
Films like Pretty Woman keep the American dream alive for all those women who will never attain it, make men learn the piano, and keep the box office turning over.
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I was going to profess the supremacy of this film. I was going to moan and whimper and scream "You're the best I've ever had!" I was going to earn myself at least seven Adsense cents.
Now you've gone and ruined it. Big mistake. Big. Huge.
Michaelie
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Not only because I did and do not like Roberts and Gere...2 very self indulgent actors, which may sound like tautology but... it stays....but also because of all the reasons you cite here.
I saw these 2 scenes:
1. low Gere's character catches Robert's character doing something clandestine in the bathroom prior to them doing something supposedly illegal anyway. Turns out she was flossing.
Flossing!
2. I think they have sex...because all of a sudden he's in the shower...it's a 'dark' scene for a supposedly light movie about prostitution and societal judgement and slippery little suckers...
I saw the previews okay??...and i did like the soundtrack and loved the fact that Roberts body on the poster (and supposedly the opening credits) is actually that of the female lead in JAG, who used to be a body double before she became a character sponge.
Have I gone on and on?
Sorry. Also sorry I haven't been around much sugah. didn't even say Bon Voyage to Tracy...
Hope you're well...
Dusk
ps. MO MIA???
Comment by David
I wouldn't worry too much about it. Writing a 180 degree angle post to this one on Pretty Woman would have a larger reading audience.
It's probably compulsory viewing at Amway meetings.
I can't incorporate lines from the film into my comment. It's a long time since I had the misfortune of seeing it.
David ...
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by David
You haven't missed anything by not seeing the film in its entirety.
I love the term:
I think I lost complete interest (okay vomited) when Roberts' character describes her 'princess dream' of being rescued by a knight on a white horse.
Maybe in Pretty Woman II they could get Harry Potter to rescue Julia from evil Richard on a pelican?
MO is on long service leave. Whether or not MO returns to work or retires will depend on the holiday.
David ...
Comment by David
Stay tuned (and maybe buy some incontinence pads). I'll be giving my twisted, warped version of a few US films while Tracy is on a break. (Unless I get sacked, that is).
David ...
Comment by Damo
Damn I feel so diry now.
So,so dirty.
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Oh snap! As someone who has actually worked on Rodeo drive (not as a prostitute however), the accuracy of your post sends me reeling.
Mis
Comment by David
I can only suggest you wear surgical gloves next time you tinkle the ivories and ebonies.
I feel a Paul McCartney song coming on. La la la...
Comment by David
Now come on! In what capacity were you working on Rodeo Drive? Poodle sex counsellor?
Damn. I've probably given someone a great new business idea.
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
No sir I was a model for a cosmetic company as well as a hanger for a well known upscale retailer!
Mis
Poodle counselor? HAHAHAHA
Comment by David
I'll eventually get all the information out of you. Come on! Name the cosmetic company, and the retailer, and a bit of goss on the shit and bitch fights!
I'll turn Tracy's blog into a celebrity gossip column while she's away. She won't mind. I'm sure. She'll be having this lovely holiday in the US. I'll have to ask her if she's going near Texas. The two of you should catch up. Work out a strategy of how to remove me from her blog.
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Comment by David
Thanks for that. I had to go off Googling to work out which part he played.
I can't stand the film. It's like a hotchpotch or pastiche of scenes all revolving around the a thinly veiled central theme of indoctrinating moviegoers (further) into an amoral American Dream philosophy. It's Top Gun meets the instrumental pinao concerto version of Flashdance with a bit of Dirty
BathingDancing thrown in. Just tap into what Americans are into. It's Porky's without the pigs.Hector Elizondo's role just furthers the cause. The 'is he gay or isn't he? hairpiece-wearing' concierge who is tolerant of prostitutes (as long as they're the pretty type he'd like to bang himself in his non-sexually confused moments, who give him the chance to lick arse with the hotel's most valued employer and move up the brown-nosing ladder of American society).
The film promotes nearly everything that is wrong with American Society. It is films like this from which the Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohans are
bornvomited forth from Deliverance land. Or women who marry Lyle Lovett and decide moving back to their hick upbringing wasn't the greatest career move. That's my main problem with the film. It makes Hilter's propraganda machine look quite limp. At least the Nazis killed a nation they didn't like rather than murder the souls of their own children.But yeah I enjoyed it too. I'm disappointed it wasn't Julia's body though in the nude scenes. I feel like I've been deceived. Oh well. A wank is a wank.
David ...
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Even as a barely-adult, I railed and seethed against the total lunacy of this movie. The handsome, kind-hearted john. The hooker who's more girl-next-door than backalley prostitute.
What is it about this movie that made it so popular? That she married a rich man?
Comment by David
Yep.
That's the whole plot. The whole reason for the film existing.
If you can keep the masses desiring wealth as a means to solving all of their problems in life, you can do anything you like.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I agree with Kylie about Hector.
And don't knock Top Gun
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by David
Bits of fluff not taken seriously have gotten men into more trouble in the history of the world than anything else.
All I have to say about Top Gun is 'Tom Cruise' is in it.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
And I've never even seen Pretty Woman.
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
I see you're still at it...Gee, can't you come up with something a bit more original?
While I'll admit there are quite a few trashy American films to be sure, using Tracy's blog to air your own perverted feelings towards America as a whole is downright loathsome even for you...
The fact that you actually get off on this sort of vile behavior is one thing, but to drag normally "nice" decent intelligent people along with you is quite another...
Even when other Aussie bloggers call you on your obvious anti-American hype, it may be time to give it a rest, unless of course, it's the only sort of attention you can get...
Then I suppose it's perfectly ok for you to make the rest of your countrymen and women look like complete morons...
Have fun!
LOL
Nick
Comment by David
I can highly recommend it.
Comment by David
Are you suggesting I elevate intelligent decent people such as yourself to the level of LOL-ing? Or double lollol-ing? Or *snigger*-ing?
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Well, SOME off us dont mind completely hating and disrespecting themselves and switching off their brains to enjoy some lovely fantasies.....
We all know, I love neighbors.
I loved this movie. I always believed Id get rescued by a night on the white horse.....Now Im the one on the white horse. I keep running over my knight. Lucky hes well armoured.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I read an article in The Sydney Morning Herald last week that the brothel "A Touch of Class" in Surry Hills has closed down.
Well as I was reading the article one quote struck me as being relevant to this post.
See, Cinderella stories can happen
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis