Thursday I went and saw Fifty Shades of Grey with my boyfriend! I have read all the books but he had no idea what it was about. My boyfriend and I have been dating for a while so the movie was not awkward but I don’t recommend seeing it with someone you don’t know too well. Although I desperately wanted Matt Bomer to play the part of Christian Grey, Jamie Dornan did a great job. His demeanor for the role was perfect. In some aspects Anastasia Steele was well played by Dakota Johnson but I also felt like in other aspects her personality lacked depth. I enjoyed the movie but it was very slow moving and the ending was cliche. There has been a lot of controversy over the movie. Many people say the movie romanticizes abusive relationships and showcases abusive gender roles. Others say it is a movie about male power. Domestic abusve activists in London protested at the Fifty Shades of Grey premiere there. Some of the protesters held banners that said, “Mr. Grey is a rapist.”
I have read the books but I read them a while back so it was hard for me to compare the books to the movie. But I must say that there were parts where Christian Grey was creepy. Not only did he stalk Anastasia and harass her, he also broke into her house and waited for her to come home. There is nothing wrong with people who enjoy BDSM (Bondage and Discipline (BD), Dominance and Submission (DS), Sadism and Masochism (SM)), but many of Christian Grey’s actions had nothing to do with it. Grey was emotionally manipulating Anastasia throughout the movie and true healthy relaltionships are built on trust, respect, and consent, BDSM or not.
The controversy over the internet is what prompted me to go see the movie and I think people should see the movie for themselves instead of just choosing a side. For more on Fifty Shades of Grey check out the Fifty Shades of Grey tab on the Her Campus homepage!