After avoiding the Fifty Shades movies since it came out, I was finally convinced to watch Fifty Shades Freed last night. The first time I ever consumed anything from this franchise was back in college (around five years ago) when I read all three books out of sheer curiosity. I’ve never went back to it.
The problem with the Fifty Shades franchise have been viewed as anti-feminist and how it’s giving the wrong message on sex and BDSM culture. One positive note on Fifty Shades Freed though is that Anastasia Steele finally found the balls to actually stand up to Christan Grey. It’s alternating the role on who’s dominant in the relationship now and somehow giving the power to the lead woman for a change. Yay, equality!
The movie gives you a glimpse of the Greys as a newly-married couple. They go on a honeymoon, have a lot of sex anywhere (!), and get used to living together not as f*ck buddies. All while evading Jack Hyde’s kidnapping and extortion attempts. Pretty normal except Christian was still abusive and controlling.
During their honeymoon, Ana “defied” Christian’s order to not remove her bikini top while relaxing on a beach bed. He acted as if she is his property and that it was her fault that men will lust over her. Instead of telling Christian off like Ana should, they just had sex in a yacht with her wrists handcuffed to her ankles. “This is what you get for defying me.” Sure, that’s arousing.
When they got home, they talked about having kids and Christian non-verbally expressed his disapproval. By the time Ana did get pregnant, he got mad at her for missing a contraceptive shot and for ruining his plans to “give her the world.” Didn’t they talk about this before tying the knot? Also, apparently he wasn’t ready to “figure things out.” Oh, but he was adamant on proposing to her just a short time of constantly having sex.
There were many instances wherein Christian would excuse his controlling actions as “protection.” He also “punished” his wife in his Red Room for not following orders—not because he wanted to pleasure the woman he loves, but to take unnecessary revenge. When he didn’t get his way, he ran to the older woman he used to have a sexual relationship with. Meanwhile, Ana can tell off her husband but, for some reason, their marital issues were never resolved in the film. They just disappeared the moment they had sex.
That’s not how marriage works, you guys!
Sure, Christian did change by the end of the movie. He finally consented to having kids and live a relatively normal life with his wife. He finally grew up. But I wish this character development happened before Ana got kidnapped and almost killed in a warehouse. (BTW, this felt like a scene from a Filipino teleserye.)
Overall, Fifty Shades Freed had several cringy lines and the protagonists were bland. The transitions felt rushed, as did the sex scenes. I mean, who does foreplay for less than five minutes?! Is that even safe?!
The movie is a fitting end, nonetheless. But just like the book series, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Art by Lara Intong
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