refrigerators, with spoilers

[mizkit]

Friend of mine over on Twitter accidentally set me off on Women In Refrigerators by asking what it was about Rachel’s death in The Dark Knight that upset me so much. It’s that they fucking killed her. She’s the only woman in the first two movies and they fucking killed her for the angst of the hero(es). I’m the only person on earth who liked Katie

Comments

[deborahblakehps]

You do realize that they didn't actually kill Irene, right? In fact, that bit at the end was so amazing, I kept watching it over and over again.

Although I do get almighty tired of people killing off characters I love just because they can. Joss Whedon, I'm looking at you, dude.

[chrysoula]

To what are you referring, re: Irene Adler?

[burger_eater]

I thought Holmes made a terrific Rachel; I liked her very much in the first movie.

[mizkit]

Okay, so you and I are the only ones who liked her! But it seems like when the second one came out the universal response was "OMG thank god Gyllenhaal is so much better," which left me going, "Did you really dislike Holmes that much or are you retrofitting your opinion because of the whole Tom Cruise thing...?" because I just didn't like Gyllenhaal's Rachel as much.

[burger_eater]

Well, in Gyllenhaal's defense, her whole story in TDK is "Which boy will she pick?" I mean, I've seen the movie twice but I can't remember if she actually does anything crucial to the plot.

Holmes, on the other hand, is the Asst DA at a time when no one can do what's right. The danger is way more acute in the first movie, and Holmes's story is all about her willingness to risk her life for what's right, something that becomes Harvey Dent's plot in movie 2.

Plus, Holmes slaps Bruce's stupid face when he disappoints her. That was a terrific moment and she sold it.

As for Rachel's death, you're 100% right. Unfortunately, I would have to stop watching every action movie ever if I avoided fridged or damseled women.

[mizkit]

I think her only point in that movie is, yeah, Pick A Boy. Whereas, yeah, half the first film hangs on Rachel's decisions. And she slaps Bruce TWICE.

*sigh* Yeah, regarding action movies. (Except Avengers. You could watch that.) I think probably part of the reason Rachel's death in TDK pissed me off so much was that the only reason she was in the movie was to die. Same with Irene Adler in SH:GoS. They did nothing else in those movies, and GHALGLAHGHLGH. Anyway, I didn't realize I was *that* angry about Rachel's death until I watched the movie again and the further I got into it the less willing I was to finish it, because I couldn't stand watching her die again. I didn't even get as far as the Joker blowing up the hospital, which may be one of my favorite reaction shots ever.

[kateelliott]