Top 5 Things I Disliked About SW:TLJ

[superchunk]

Nymeria said:

superchunk said:

2. Luke's training in force before he started doing basic stuff was minimal as well. Basically identical where they both were just guided to 'use the force', reach out with feelings, etc. There is nothing crazy here. Her fighting Kylo in the last movie was not force specific, but a whole lot of other items. She demonstrated in that movie that she can fight very well. Anakin's pod racing proves that without training force can be used to greatly improve their reactions. On top of that, as I pointed out above, Kylo is emotionally and mentally unstable. He just killed his father in a significantly powerful emotional action. He also was wounded in such a way that very likely would have killed or at least taken out anyone else. Clearly all of that was a major factor in her ability to very briefly get an edge on him. She is very powerful, just as Yoda was or other past powerful Jedi. There is nothing she's doing that is out of the realm of possibility for her. Just people being narrow-minded and not following the full story. I honestly think that if she was male, there would be less bitching. Damn good to see girl power in this movie. Silly to conclude there could be no super powerful female jedi. Girls need superheros too.

This statement and attitude are insulting to women.  It is not girl power that is the issue, it is bad characterization and lazy writing that undercut Rey.  If all you need to care about a character is a superficial trait that is a narrow minded viewpoint.  I loved Leia, Luke, and Han for their distinct personalities and skills that aided them in their struggles, not race or sex.  

Growing up two of my favorite movie series were Alien and Aliens alongside Terminator 1&2.  Both had women I connected with because it didn't shy from their challenges giving cheap shortcuts.  They were women, and aspects such as motherhood played a role in their stories, but they weren't defined by it.  In real life women have struggles all the time and are not bailed out by being chosen ones who can do anything with ease.  Condescending to us with lesser heroes who can never fail or lose because we're so delicate is off putting.

If you want to understand how patronizing this is, think of the times older people try to be "hip" using internet memes to cringe effect.  You cannot force a character on people, it is the "Poochy Effect".

You highlighted the one part of my comment that was focused on the very first line of the OP #2. My final line was my own postulation that most people's gripes on Rey are more on her being female than the actual character.

The rest of my much larger comment focuses on her characterization and how it makes sense when you take it into context of the rest of the saga.