Why Do Some Ponder Realism in Movie Action Scenes But Not In Others?

It depends really. No one has a problem with the likes of Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch, Black Widow, or any of the other modern movie femme fatales beating up the fellas. That's because they're already powerful beings. Contrast that with a petite 110lb woman beating up burly 200lb men with ease. Subconsciously, we know that's fantasy because it's rooted closer to reality.

However, that doesn't mean we don't cheer for our non-superpowered heroines. Aliens, for instance, features Sigourney Weaver's Ripley watching in horror as an elite team of Colonial Marines are slaughtered at the hands of the XX121 Xenomorphs, only to single-handedly destroy an entire alien colony, kill the Xenomorph queen, and save Newt, a badly damaged Bishop, and Corporal Hicks.

Heroes and Heroines in Action Films

Think about Linda Hamilton from the Terminator franchise. She more than proves herself to be a tough-as-nails woman facing off with the various incarnations of the Terminator. There are countless other brave and heroic women who have graced the silver screen.

Take, for example, Halle Berry opposite Keanu Reeves in John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum. The fight choreography is that good; I could watch a spin-off movie with Ms. Berry and those two German Shepherds kick butt for 90 minutes.

Case Studies in Female Action Heroes

Death Proof is another film in which the gals kick butt. It's an excellent film if you're into grindhouse-style films of the 60's and 70's.

Frankly, I think the biggest problem some have is that many of the new female heroines lack sufficiently developed characters. Flaws and failures are what connect the audience with the hero/heroine. It seems that modern cinema portrays these tough female leads more to make a statement about “smashing the patriarchy” or in some way making sure we see the “grrl power” rather than telling a good story by playing to the strengths of a well-written character. Many of the new heroines are “Mary Sues,” characters that are instantly powerful with little to no training or that never fail. Personally, I think the only creator who manages to do this and still tell a compelling story is the artist ONE, creator of One Punch Man, a hero who—as you may have guessed—can defeat anyone or thing with a single punch. Even so, the hero got tossed around before he became an invincible superhero.

Male Action Heroes and Realism

Don't think this is limited to female characters. Have you seen any of the later Fast and Furious movies? What went from wayward street racers with hearts of gold banding together to take out criminal elements turned into death-and-physics-defying stunts that made even men who are the primary consumers of action flicks roll their eyes and say “yeah right.” No one—I repeat, no one—is jumping a high-end supercar from skyscraper to skyscraper and living to tell about it.

Personal Perspective on Fantasy Films

Personally, being an artist, it doesn't bother me to see tiny gals beating up big ol' guys because I know it's fantasy. Bitch Slap!, for example, is one of my favorite films where three femme fatales kick tons of guys' butts throughout the entire movie, culminating in a final fight between each other. James Bond and John Wick most certainly do amazing things, sure, but you take an average guy, and he wouldn't make it through the first day in either hero's shoes.

Realism in Movies vs. Escape

When everything's said and done, movies are just fantasy. Anyone complaining about women beating up men in a film is just looking for something to complain about—because they don't have to watch the movie in the first place. After all, the greatest form of voting is with one's dollar and one's feet.

The next time someone complains that some woman on screen is fighting against waves of cybernetically enhanced ninjas and winning, tell 'em to put a cork in it. Pass the popcorn and enjoy the movie because life is serious enough…which is why we watch films in the first place—to escape reality for a moment.

Be well.