“This look is elegant and dangerous, which is pretty much the ultimate display of girl power”, writes Delaney Strunk.
I think:
– Elegant – for sure.
– Ultimate display of girl power – what?!
– Dangerous? Maybe – but to me it looks more dangerous for the women themselves, than for any potential villain . . .
But is this fair . . . ?
If you haven’t seen it yet, you might be tempted to dismiss “Moana” as just a fluffy “Disney Princess” movie. But popular children’s stories can express human truths in powerful ways; and the themes this tale explores are very familiar to many of us who train in the martial arts:
– Who am I?
– Is there more to life than what I see around me?
– Am I being selfish to focus so much on my own personal development . . . ?
There are very good reasons why little girls (and grown women) responded so obsessively to this movie. And it’s not about the dresses, or the pretty faces, or the cute snowman and reindeer. It’s more to do with the pure, mesmerising, elegant narrative of self-actualisation and empowerment dripping from every last scene . . .
“I felt my life was two-dimensional and black and white, while I wanted three dimensions and full color. I wanted fun and adventure! The Kung Fu movies of my childhood offered that dream—that escapist experience. So I quit my job … Continued
Training in the martial arts can be incredibly empowering for women. So surely watching movies about female martial arts experts who kick ass must be a truly inspiring and liberating experience? Well, not necessarily . . . I was lucky … Continued
“In the media-congested world of YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix and other digital platforms, it is perhaps surprising that Kung Fury, a 30-minute martial arts action comedy short which pays tribute to the culture of the 1980s, could have raised $630,000 via Kickstarter, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and attracted more than 13 millions views of its trailer […]”