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Why Did ‘Barbie’ Bomb in South Korea? (www.hollywoodreporter.com)
submitted 3 years ago by to c/moviesandtv@lemmy.film
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A lack of cultural nostalgia attached to the toy and wariness of the film's feminist messaging may have kept the Korean audience away from the Hollywood mega-hit: "There is no real fan base for 'Barbie' in Korea.”

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[–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

Which point is that? That the writers are incapable of subtlety or that the writers believe the viewers are incapable of noticing it? Or is the point that they're saying things that they absolutely don't believe and not that a reversal of roles doesn't constitute an improvement?

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  • [–] 9 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Bro it's that the inequality that the Kens are supposed to accept is just how it is.

    I think we both get that and I think it's a great illustration. It actually hurt to hear that line as a guy.

    But that's the whole point of it. If it hurts to hear that as a man about a fictional character in a movie how much does it hurt to hear that in your real life?

    The movie is not advocating for switching to matriarchy. When Barbie gets liberated she doesn't leave Ken behind and tries to help him in his own liberation. Unfortunately other Barbies don't understand this and are happy to have their power back while doing minor feel good policy changes for the Kens. This is how the world actually works in a lot of instances. The movie is demonstrating quite pointedly how the world is so that we can see and feel it.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Um yes, I saw the movie. That was a point they raised throughout, showing the inequality in both Barbie world and the real world. If you didn't get it before the finale, I don't think one more quip was going to turn the lights on for anyone. So what was the excuse for having the narrator condoning treating the Kens as poorly as women have been treated in the real world?

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  • [–] 5 points 3 years ago

    To demonstrate a point more saliently than intellectually. That line hurt on purpose and it's a good thing. It gets through better.

    I do hope my fellow dudes can handle the tiniesr bit of pain for a learning opportunity.

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