Tag: Female Action Heroes

Female Characters, Personal Essays, Women in Film

Women in Action: 5 Fight Scene Tropes That Need To Die

Fight scenes are about visual spectacle, power dynamics, adding thrills and tension. They change the stakes quickly and move a film forward. When women are put in this environment they add something different…  often a touch of unnecessary sexuality and silly recurring tropes.

Thankfully these tropes seem to be fading with the introduction of more well-rounded female action heroes whose power and skill is more important than how their body looks. Continue reading Women in Action: 5 Fight Scene Tropes That Need To Die

CazLeave a comment
Female Characters, Film Reviews, Uncategorized, World Cinema

Retrospective Review: Mulan: Legendary Warrior

One of the tentpole releases of 2020 is going to be Disney’s live action remake of it’s popular 1998 Animated musical feature “Mulan”, one of the highlights of the Disney Renaissance of the 1990s. Of course COVID-19 has seriously disrupted the schedule, and I’m not going to discuss the merits of it (at the time of writing) being shifted to on online release via the Disney + platform. What I do want to bring your attention to is to the 2009 Chinese live-action version of the story bought to the screen by Hong Kong director Jingle Ma Cho Sing, starring Zhao Wei (aka Vicki Zhao), and along the way tell you a little something about the origins of the character herself. Continue reading Retrospective Review: Mulan: Legendary Warrior

StephenLeave a comment
Female Characters, Spotlight, Women in Film

#WomeninAction: ‘Birds of Prey’, Glitter Bombs, and the Importance of a Hair Tie

The chaotic plot narrated by Quinn (who often breaks the fourth wall and dazzles the audience) is well-crafted and entertaining. But what makes it even more exciting are multiple fighting sequences and phenomenal stunts. Continue reading #WomeninAction: ‘Birds of Prey’, Glitter Bombs, and the Importance of a Hair Tie

Zofia WijaszkaLeave a comment
Female Characters, Retrospect Reviews, Women in Film, World Cinema

Stray Cat Rock: A Groovy Retrospective

In the month of August, we at In Their Own League are focusing on Women in Action; female-led films in the action genre. For my contribution, this retrospective will be focusing on the Japanese cult classic franchise of “Stray Cat Rock” (1970 – 1971) ; consisting of five films with a very simple yet enticing premise. Continue reading Stray Cat Rock: A Groovy Retrospective

Harris Dang1 Comment
Acting, History, Spotlight

Spotlight: Helen Gibson, Hollywood’s First Professional Stunt Woman

In the month of August, we at In Their Own League are focusing on Women in Action; female-led films in the action genre. For this piece I’ll be looking back at the work of Helen Gibson, a truly amazing woman from the silent film era who is dubbed “Hollywood’s First Professional Stunt Woman”. Continue reading Spotlight: Helen Gibson, Hollywood’s First Professional Stunt Woman

jmamennLeave a comment
Female Characters, Retrospect Reviews

A Love Letter to The Long Kiss Goodnight’s Acerbic Heroine on Ice

It’s an ice-cold Christmas Eve in an idyllic American town. While the denizens busy themselves with festive celebrations at the church, CIA bastards aim to kill a local housewife and are kidnapping her young daughter to do so. Thing is, said housewife is Geena Davis, and she’s skating across a lake full-pelt while firing a very big gun. And she’s written by the ultimate Yuletide filmmaker: Shane Black; a winning combination that led to one of the all-time great female action heroes for “The Long Kiss Goodnight” (1996). Continue reading A Love Letter to The Long Kiss Goodnight’s Acerbic Heroine on Ice

James CainLeave a comment