With movies like "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent," which feature strong female leads, one would think Hollywood executives realize moviegoers prefer that type of character. The Athena Film Festival is a film festival that celebrates women on film and in real life. They ask the question: Why were there so few opportunities for women in film when movies with female protagonists gross 20 percent more than films about men. Men have been playing the action hero and star of the movie since films were first created. It is time for women to be the hero in their own story, not a secondary character in someone else’s story.
With that being said, audiences really only get to see these types of characters on TV shows. The best female characters are on TV, not on movie screens. Characters like Sydney Bristow, Buffy Summers, Katherine Beckett, Kate Austen, Olivia Pope, Emily Thorne, Daenerys Targaryen, Olivia Benson and many others are strong female characters.
Now, let’s look at some of the top movies (so far) of 2015. Potential spoilers may follow.
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
The movie features women holding their own instead of allowing themselves to be just a commodity. Imperator Furiosa is a strong female action heroine and brought feminist themes to a franchise that was male dominated. She teams up with the movie’s hero, Max Rockatansky, to drive the Five Wives to a safe enviroment for themselves and their kids. The Five Wives even help out Furiosa and Max, being equally as dominating as Furiosa.
"It Follows"
This movie is considered the best horror film in a while. The only way to get rid of “It” the curse has to be passed on to someone else through sex. The film uses sex as its villain. “It” also has no gender, by taking on any male or female form. In this way, Jay, the protagonist, is targeted and attacked, and yet is not the victim. She uses her sexuality to survive by passing “It” on. Jay is the Final Girl, but the Final Girl is never supposed to have sex, yet Jay has to in order to survive.
"Ex Machina"
Ava, the star of the movie, is an A.I. (which means artificial intelligence). In the movie, she bests the men who were going to trick her by trying to manipulate them into releasing her. She however, does trick them by gaining the upper hand, killing one of them and imprisoning the other in a room. She then escapes to the real world.
"Avengers: Age of Ultron"
In this movie, Marvel’s only female character, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow has been drastically downgraded from her once badass super heroine. In the Marvel universe, most of their female characters are repeatedly exploited — and utterly wasted — just to prop up the men around them. The strong female co-leads have only appeared in larger ensemble team-ups, primarily as lethal and emotionally impenetrable femme fatales who double as love interests for the male members. In this film, Black Widow is seen flirting with her male co leads, complaining about being sterile and longing for a family. The other members of the Avengers do not want families, but because she is a woman, she must want a family. Saving the world will never be enough.
"The Boy Next Door"
This film is the rare thriller that lets the middle-aged heroine objectify a man for a change. In so many films, women are objectified. They wear skimpier outfits for male audience members to ogle at. It is nice to see the scenario flipped for a change.
"Pitch Perfect 2"
Like it’s predecessor, this movie was THE movie for women of all ages. The sequel featured the same group of women as the first one, with this one focused more heavily on their musical journey. Audiences were able to see their journey throughout the film, with very little scenes featuring the male a cappella group from the first film.
Women in film have made strides in recent years. They are becoming stronger and better. There are obviously more male leads in the movies; however, Hollywood executives are starting to realize how great a movie could be with a female badass. I have faith the movie industry will continue with strong female role models for the future generations.
