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Why women (secretly) love action movies
By Sarah Haas
Special to MSN Movies
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I'll let you in on a secret. I tell people my
favorite movie is "When Harry Met Sally." Actually, it's "Cliffhanger." Really. I've seen it countless times, but when
it airs on basic cable, I can't do anything but watch. It's the first film that
comes to mind for rainy day viewing -- and the last one I'll admit to having in
my cinematic collection.
Don't get me wrong -- I adore cinematic masterpieces and I appreciate a chick flick as much as the next gal, but I know I'm not alone in saying that many women love action movies -- and it no longer needs to be a secret.
Ladies and gentlemen, whether you thought you or your partner was alone in this fetish, or if the whole notion is new to you, let me break it down. Here are five reasons why the chicas dig the action.
Yippee-ki-yay indeed!
Action Movies Are Like Exercise ... Without the Sweat
For
the most part, men seem to like physical activity. Women, for the most part,
don't. What we like are the results. And the adrenaline kick!
However, whereas most men invite moments of sporty testosterone expulsions, only the toned females out there prefer a good heart palpitation over a well-mixed cocktail. Yet, we still crave the endorphin rush (even if our thighs do touch while walking). So, although exercise can be a big pain in the backside -- sometimes, literally -- action movies are our way of getting the same intensely racing pulse, only we can scarf popcorn at the same time.
Action movies get our hearts pumping -- or, at least the good ones do. Much like any physical activity, the commotion in an action sequence keeps us engaged in the present, letting our minds take a much-needed rest. When Sarah Conner fought with the menacing metallic skeleton at the end of "Terminator," my focus was so invested in the moment, I forgot to breathe. Usually, the plot points are relatively simple, the happy ending is guaranteed and the scenes take you from a warm-up to great intensity, giving you an outcome that's a rush of adrenaline. (Much like ... well ... another physical activity that both sexes enjoy).
GI Jane Is a Better Role Model Than Barbie Dolls
As the
saying goes, girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice. Meanwhile,
boys are apparently made of some icky random stuff (including puppy dog tails
and mollusks). In a fight to the death, who do you think would come out on top?
(The tails of puppies, anyone? That's hard core.)
Ever since Ripley took on the out-of-this-world namesake in "Alien," women have been kicking butt in movies. The truth is, women like being thought of as strong and like seeing that represented on the big screen. We know we can't be Arnold, but we take pride that we're not the vexingly sissyish Kate Capshaw character in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", either.
Whether playing brawn (Jodie Foster in "The Brave One"), brains (Diane Kruger in the "National Treasure" series) or both (Carrie-Anne Moss in "The Matrix"), in a cinematic world that mostly portrays women as straight love interests and ingénues, action heroines prove that women can be a powerful presence. And as Angelina Jolie so amply demonstrated in "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," women don't have to deny their feminine virtues to break a sweat. We value our femininity, but we also respect someone who respects herself.
They Provide an Escape
Will the hero make the leap from
one building to another? Will the bad guy get away with his devious plan? Can
the predator ever really be stopped? While we can probably safely assume the
outcome, it's fun to let your mind play along.
(Story Continues On Next Page...)
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