Like everyone else, I was impressed by the immense publicity that preceded and accompanied the movie “Barbie.” I read many articles about its writer and about the media sensation it became, worldwide. I was not able to see it until September because the last movie theater closed on the North Fork of Long Island, where I spend a lot of time.
We bought it to watch on home TV, and I was eager to see what turned the film into a blockbuster.
Without reviewing the film, I will simply say that I thought it was a silly, vacuous movie. I felt that I was watching a show written for teen girls. Others told me it was a feminist film, but feminist films are not exactly an innovative idea.
If you like cartoon ideas, cartoon people, and adolescent imagery, you’ll love the show.
Maybe I reacted the way I did because I never had a Barbie doll. Or maybe it is a silly movie.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I recommend Oppenheimer instead. Although it is very long.
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Good morning Diane and everyone,
I haven’t seen Barbie yet but I will at some point. Have you seen Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret? I thought that movie was very well done. Even my husband and brother-in-law thought it was good. It provoked some interesting questions adults might ask themselves in terms of teaching kids about religion. 🙂
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Or Chelsea Handler’s Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea
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On of my favorite stories ever, “The Conversion of the Jews,” by Philip Roth
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Click to access RothConversionoftheJews.pdf
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Spoken like an adult, Diane!
I feel the same way about all the freaking films based on comic book superheroes. Yes, there was a time when I was interested in such crap. I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD THEN.
I’m with Martin Scorsese, who wrote,
“I was asked a question about Marvel movies. I answered it. I said that I’ve tried to watch a few of them and that they’re not for me, that they seem to me to be closer to theme parks than they are to movies as I’ve known and loved them throughout my life, and that in the end, I don’t think they’re cinema.”
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Definitely agree. I just find them all so unbearably boring. Same with anything Star Wars — I loved those original movies when I was 7-12 years old, but enough already.
Intrigued about Scorsese’s latest movie — every movie is a gift at his age — but I’m concerned my knees can’t make it through three and a half hours in a theater.
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Good morning, Diane. I loved Barbie, it was a 2 hour fun fest. I went into the movie believing it was for teen girls, and it didn’t disappoint. It was a lot of just plain fun, seeing Ryan Gosling become more than “just Ken”, while watching Barbie become self-aware. I think one has to lighten up when watching a movie like this and have fewer expectations of deeper meaning. America Ferraras monolog was spot on, especially for moms of young girls. And seeing perfect Barbie as less perfect, fit right into the theme. The movie isn’t for everyone, but it was an opportunity for moms and daughters to enjoy a film without Disney in the title. And it is silly! Can’t argue with that.
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My wife and I went to see it with our 21 y.o. daughter. I thought it was a fun and entertaining film. The best part was that we had great discussions about gender roles in society for the next week.
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My brother saw it and loved it, and he was quite angry with me because I said I wasn’t interested. Here, some films actually worth watching:
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Great list, Bob! I also am bored to tears at the Marvel movies, dumb, formulaic plots.
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Let’s see. Evil (aliens, robots, monsters, whatever) threaten the earth, but a bunch of superheroes put aside their personal feuds and band together and in a climactic battle, they all freaking die and there are no more of them to make stupid movies about.
Ça a fini
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Thanks, RT!!!
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Have either of you seen Black Panther? Not all Marvel Movies are good, but some are quite entertaining with a pretty decent message. I think the reason for their popularity is that compared to the decades of superhero movies, there is a bit more philosophical ideas to chew on with most marvel movies. But obviously the purpose is entertainment.
Until I watched the movies, I didn’t understand why anyone but a young kid would care who Stan Lee was. Apparently he was invited to speak at college campuses in the 1960s and 1970s!
But then, I also liked Barbie. Moved me enough to make me cry.
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I loved “Black Panther.”
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Hated it. Hate all these comic book movies.
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Fun list, Bob. And, quite a course outline.
Not much movie viewing here this summer…
Didn’t see Barbie. Did see Oppenheimer. (Which made me seek out books about Einstein, who was the gravitational center of that film -pun intended.)
Would love to see lists of favorites from Diane and other folks on here.
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Thanks. I was proud of the course outline. I put a LOT of planning into this class.
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I’ve thought that it would be fun to turn this outline into a textbook, but the market is small, and I am working on other projects. Also, if done right, there would be a LOT of permissions for this text–lots of illustrations of the concepts, both in the text and on an accompanying website. We shall see. Any wealthy culture mavens out there want to finance this?
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A little piece about film and propaganda:
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The outline for my Introduction to Film course, which I taught to high-school students:
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I did not go to see Barbie. My wife and 17 year old loved it.
Apparently it had a lot of social commentary, or so they said. I got a long, academic analysis from the daughter, whose view layered comments about male dominance in society with popular stereotypes and Greta’s ability to express the woman’s point of view.
If you would like her commentary, you can request it at my email, and I will pass it on to her when she gets her college entrance stuff done. She would much rather engage in literary discourse than to jump through the hoops set up by the various departments where she seeks admission.
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Any college would be quite lucky to enroll this brilliant young person you’ve raised, Roy!
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Agree, Diane! Kudos for speaking the unpopular truth!
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I found Barbie to be a smart, well written, entertaining movie. Well acted, and with a lot of heart.
I also like Oppenheimer, but, frankly, Barbie is more intellectually honest than Oppenheimer and Christopher Nolan.
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Everyone is entitled to their own opinion
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What did you think was intellectually dishonest about Oppenheimer?
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I saw it as a feminist Garden of Eden story. Barbieland being Eden. Leaving Eden, she loses her innocence, and it is in the fallen world that Barbie is seen as a sex object and exploited by men. Once her innocence is lost, she can’t go back to Eden. She must move forward, and we hope will make a difference for women. The innocence lost theme is also present in the mother/daughter relationship. Girls, in their innocence, are told and believe that they can be and do anything, but once they mature, they realize that the real world is run by men. I thought it was an entertaining, fun movie. Sadly, I think many people just see it as an excuse to wear head-to-toe pink — and certainly Mattel loves it.
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The original Barbie was based by its creator on a sex doll called Bild Lili that she saw in a shop window in Europe. The doll was created for humorous purposes and based on a comic strip about a call girl named Lili.
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I apologize for the sexist terminology. It’s time to scrap the term “call girl” and replace it with “outcall sex worker,” ofc.
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Bild Lily (the name came from the tabloid, Bild, in which the Lili comics ran) is sometimes referred to as “Barbie’s sexy grandmother.” LOL
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I haven’t seen the film, but I did have the original doll. I remember the black and white bathing suit. What I remember the most was that my amazing mother, an expert seamstress, tailor made a tiny wardrobe for this plastic creature. Yes, Barbie had the dimensions of a sex doll, but I enjoyed the ensembles.
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You had the original with the black and white bathing suit!!!!! OMG. Too bad this is not still with you!!!!
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Since I allow myself about an hour or a little more a day to watch a movie or a TV series episode, Barbie will probably NEVER end up on my list of what I want to see.
I am currently watching AMC’s Dark Winds, Season 2 from executive producers George RR Martin & Robert Redford. Season 1 & 2 are now available on DVDs and the price is lower than most.
This series is based on Tony Hillerman’s Navajo Mysteries. I’ve probably read all of his books and some of the novels in this series that his daughter wrote after her father died.
Dark Winds shows how poor most Navajo are, their culture, how they are discriminated against and treated, their spiritual beliefs, et al.
I think I may go back and start reading all of Hillerman’s Navajo Mysteries again, too.
Dark Winds is being filmed in New Mexico and on the Navajo Nation. The scenery is incredible.
“Navajo Nation is the largest Native American reservation in the United States and spans three states (Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah). According to AMC, 70 percent of Dark Winds was filmed with special permission on tribal lands at Tesuque Pueblo in New Mexico, using their facility Camel Rock Studios.”
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15017118/
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Schindler’s List was realism at its best. City Lights had the most touching ending of all time. Lawrence of Arabia was an epic. The Godfather was a deep character study. Casablanca nailed everything from cinematography to script to acting to directing…
Barbie? Seriously?
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Doesn’t get much better than The Godfather and Casablanca. American Beauty belongs on that short list. Rocky Horror Picture Show. Siberian Education. Rosemary’s Baby. Taxi Driver.
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I love American Beauty! Very Jungian. Cast Away with Tom Hanks has some really profound ideas and symbols. V for Vendetta is a favorite of mine. I teach it in my Beauty and The Beast course.
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It’s extremely difficult to do a horror movie. Rosemary’s Baby is one of the best.
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I wasn’t even tempted to read a review let alone look at the movie.
But I don’t write a daily blog and don’t have to keep up with such things.
I was glad to read that you thought it silly. Maybe we are just the wrong generation!
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I worry about the future of culture in the age of ready access via the net to pop culture garbage. Only 7 percent of attendees of classical music concerts are under 31.
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Lots of Cardi B. Very little Scriabin and Debussy.
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Not to worry. I sing in an amateur chorus in NYC which requires passing a sight reading audition. We give 2 concerts a year in Carnegie Hall. Most of the newer members are very young, including during covid when proof of the original 2 shots was required and also masks. Carnegie Hall wouldn’t even let us in the stage door without a negative PCR test within 48 hours before. (Same for woodwind and brass orchestra players. The orch. and soloists are always professionals.)
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That’s wonderful, Ms. Eisenberg!!! Do you have a link to a Youtube or other video of a performance? Any particular repertoire?
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In honor of the 75th anniversary of the UN’s Declaration of Universal Human Rights, chorus commissioned a new work which will premiers on 16 Dec. the introduction will be delivered by the UN High Commissioned for Human Rights, Volker Türk. https://ceciliachorusny.org
On the same program will be Ralph Vaughn Williams’s “Dona Nobis Pacem”.
Also this will be in the Playbill. /Users/robertam.eisenberg/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail Downloads/2A7C1943-5890-46B9-ABE6-AE4744009449/CCNY_Playbill_note_from_UN_High_Commissioner_Volker_Türk.docx
I can forward an email with a link to an interview between the High commissioner and our conductor/music director. Write to me directly at ox
bobbi@alumni.nd.edu
I can also supply a discount code which you can use at the box office and at Carnegie Charge.
Thanks,
Bobbi Eisenberg
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Roberta, maybe I’m too old to understand contemporary profundity.
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Diane, we are very close to the same age!
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This melancholy song is the theme of the Barbie movie. Brilliant (in my opinion).
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I rarely go to the movies but I thought Barbie was laugh-out-loud funny. I appreciate that Mattell spoofed themselves in depicting the Board. America Ferrera’s character expressed a dilemma many women sense.
Years ago Anna Quindlen wrote a fine column regarding her concerns about what Barbie represented as her daughter was growing up—and then cited her daughter’s comment, “It’s only a doll.”
I didn’t see Oppenheimer bc I often wonder what was “spun” for the sake of drama—prefer to read a biography.
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Wow, first time I have respectfully disagreed with my hero, Diane! I must be another “Running Granny” because having 7 young granddaughters, it’s so hard to find a light, fun girl movie that also has a powerful message-America’s monologue!!!! And that has no bad language, drug use or free for all sex scenes . My 4 adult daughters also loved this movie. We all had such a fun bonding time!!! Sorry Diane!! (I’m the retired public school teacher from the North Fork of LI!!)
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Joanne, to each our own! Wouldn’t it be boring if we all agreed all the time?
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I thought it was fun, but what was more fascinating was the number of people who would go to Barbie and Oppenheimer on the same day. I saw both, but had I seen them on the same day I think I might have experienced some form of PTSD.
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Most movies nowadays seem to be selling something. Corporations and billionaires pay to hype their products and ideology via Hollywood. Barbie is a prime example, but not the worst example. The worst would have to be Won’t Back Down or Waiting for Superman. Those are some truly heinous films.
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