The Old Guard
So I caught this on Netflix because it kept recommending it and I gave in. Well, it has Charlize Theron in it, and I LOVE Aeon Flux (even if people think it's a dud) so I gave it a try. I was really enjoying it because it deals with capitalism, the greed of big pharma and the never ending quest for the meaning of life. What's not to like? And then I ran head on into this bit when one of the pay soldiers who trapped the immortals taints Joe with Nicky being his boyfriend:
“This man is more to me than you can dream. He’s the moon when I’m lost in darkness and warmth when I shiver in cold. And his kiss still thrills me, even after a millennia. His heart overflows with the kindness this world is not worthy of. I love this man beyond measure and reason. He’s not my boyfriend. He’s all and he’s more.”
And I jumped in my chair. Popcorn everywhere. Because yes, I love some love story that has lasted millennia. But also because I'm an unrepentant romantic. I like love storylines when they include a gay couple. And I really like it when the queer character is not killed or dies or is the villain in the movie I'm watching. It was about time that we'd get some kind of queer super heroes. Or that a queer love story would be inserted in the superhero narrative.
And the source is not Marvel or DC, so maybe that's why we got this adaptation of a comic book that does not shy away from depicting a love story between two gay men as matter of fact as any other storyline. You know Disney would have any queer storyline washed out to the point of oblivion. Saw what they did to the sequel to 'Love, Simon'? There's also the idea that Andy (Charlize Theron's character) may have a very deep connection to Quyhn, another of the female immortals. To tell you the truth, I cannot wait for the -hopefully inevitable- sequel. I need more gay love stories. I need more gay characters that are superheroes. I need more gay characters that do not die either in the first half hour or in the last ten minutes of a movie.
So, if you have Netfilx, I strongly recommend The Old Guard. And if you don't have it, check the people in your bubble and have a socially-distant movie night with them! It's worth it.
XOO
P.S. these songs play during the movie and I'm in LOVE!
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have they met and killed each other in the crusades? it means that this movie believes in reincarnation, as I do!
ReplyDeleteYes! They were enemies and killed each other several times. Only to not die. They end up together. I loved it.
DeleteXOXO
I read online that the author of the comic book sold the film rights with an explicit contractual requirement that the gay love scene be included in the movie, verbatim and unchanged, including the passionate kiss which concludes the speech. The film is also getting major kudos for showing the lovers being casually affectionate with each other throughout the film, making it impossible to "edit out" the gay romance when the film is shown in homophobic countries.
ReplyDeleteOF COURSE this is not from Marvel/Disney! If they had any guts, that gay love scene would have been between Steve and Bucky, LOL! Also Marvel/Disney is notorious for carefully compartmentalizing any hint of gayness in their movies precisely so it can be edited out for homophobic countries (like China, etc.).
That is fantastic!
DeleteI think more authors should just say that they won't compromise their artistic vision. That scene was fantastic! I loved it. And yes, they're just a couple. The scene where they are asleep in the train is soooo sweet!
And I would have died if they would have stopped the gaybaiting with Steve and Bucky. It was OBVIOUS, even when they throw in the female 'interest'. They just want the money from homophobic markets, that's right.
XOXO
Oh how I wish I had unlimited income and could afford all of the pay sites I wanted to subscribe to. This definitely looks either finding down the road. I’ll have to add it to a wish list.
ReplyDeleteThanks babe.
XOXO 👨❤️💋👨
Haha
DeleteWell, remember that I don't pay for cable. I stream everything, which means no internet and I'm back to crossword puzzles. Netflix has saved me from extreme boredom during the Pandemic.
XOXO
We watched it. What with Charlize Theron, I mean, of course we watched. She's bad-ass! We liked it. It was something different with the paranormal angle dropped in. When it hit on the gay love story, it wasn't shocking or "in your face" - it just was. Because that's the way it should be. XoXo
ReplyDeleteOhhh you did?
DeleteI love Charlize. I thought at the beginning that it was another of those mercenaries-in-a-black-hawk movies. And THEN they get up. I was hooked.
You are right. The gay love story was just... there. Very well done. When they kiss in that wagon I jumped in the sofa.
XOXO
I'm mentioning this to my other half. He loves this kind of stuff.
ReplyDeleteYes!
DeleteLet us know if you guys like it!
XOXO
I never heard of it and not a huge Charlize fan. Although she was delicious in those Snow White and the Huntsmen movies. I like when she evil in parts better. Mt attention span for tv shows has waned .
ReplyDeleteI like Charlize. She was the best in that Huntsmen movies.
DeleteAnd this is a movie, Maddie! You should give it a try.
XOXO
I can't believe you didn't hear about the gay love story... I thought it was fairly common knowledge.
ReplyDeleteHahaha
DeleteYou're suck a smart Aleck.
XOXO
I think a time is coming soon when gay relationships are treated just like hetero relationships in movies. Not only due to evolving awareness, but due to the plethora of production companies pushing out product. Now... if gay cinema were only to get on board. We stop being treated as 'other' when WE stop treating ourselves as 'other'.
ReplyDeleteI think it's about time.
DeleteAlso, now that things are streaming constantly (everything is VOD an Netflix or Hulu, even Amazon) there's a bigger chance we'll get better stories. And that's my issue with the 'gay' movies you find on the platforms: some are downright bad. Really?? With so many creative queer people you'd think the product they put out is way better....
XOXO