Poor Things (2023)★ 7.9/10

Feminist Steampunk Frankenporn.

Weird, explicit, strange and wild. But unique, lovely and toxic in a good way. I love it!

It not only shows the struggles and challenges women faced in the late Victorian era but also highlights their courage and strength in seeking self-realization and liberation. Through its fantastical story and profound content, the film presents a magnificent tableau of female awakening, prompting deep reflection and appreciation.

The film’s exploration of its premise is quite successful, with Emma Stone’s performance adding significant impact. The costumes, music, and sets all serve the theme well, and the characters' names are intriguing. For a moment, I thought the plot was to transplant Godwin's brain into Alfie's body, but I admit I was being shallow. The ending was fantastic—reconstruction, growth, awakening, and rebirth.

It's intriguing and odd but still enjoyable. I can appreciate a girl's gradual self-awareness and growing understanding of the world; it's just that this creation is somewhat unique. It's sci-fi but not too out there, with a mix of self-reflection and a worldview. Overall, it's worth checking out.

Personally, I thought it was pretty decent. The visuals and soundtrack were impressive, and the story kept me engaged. The movie didn't shove any opinions or emotions down my throat, but the ending felt a bit off-balance and didn't quite hit the spot. Plus, it seemed like the complexity of sexuality was being used as a convenient tool to present different themes and topics, which I wasn't too thrilled about.

It's like a dark fairy tale, but I gotta say, that's not really my jam. The director's trying to send many messages, but they come off slightly on the surface. It feels like they're going overboard with the feminist themes and using those wide-angle and fisheye lenses, which kind of feels gimmicky. The mother-daughter dual role could've made for a better script, but it feels more like a flubdub in this film.

Went to the movies alone to see Poor Things, which I've been wanting to watch for a long time. The eerie and peculiar narrative tells the story of a woman's awakening. Witnessing an unruly and unconventional woman who's unbridled by societal norms, curious, adventurous, and with a gentle and vast inner world, is to witness the true essence of the soul within her. Ultimately, all experiences are but part of her journey of self-exploration.

The color palette, costumes, filming techniques, and the acting of Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo are all worth seeing. It's indeed an 18+ film; I've never seen such directness in a movie theater before. At times, it left me speechless. Emma's character views the so-called adult world through the lens of a child in an adult's body. This adventure also allows Bella to complete her journey of self-discovery. At least she took that first step to experiencing the real world. Becoming Bella helped her re-understand the world and decide what kind of person she wanted to be. Many scenes use a childlike expression to satirize some modern expectations that confine women to certain roles. This is truly a feminist film. Those who consider the brothel scene as insulting to women may not have realized that women can choose to be anyone as long as they are themselves.

It’s a stunning production featuring amazing costume design, a gorgeous color palette, and a perfect score. However, I think anyone looking for a feminist tale is going to be disappointed (male director, male writer, original book written by a man, you get the gist). But despite the simplification of womanhood, there’s still lots to love. It’s like how this movie takes a positive attitude towards life and relationships and infuses it with Roald Dahl-esque fantasy. Emma Stone did her best performance to date. I had a blast watching it.

POOR THINGS is the most technically dazzling film Yorgos Lanthimos has constructed. A sexually liberating, imaginative tale of reawakening and discovery, featuring Emma Stone’s best performance yet. Mark Ruffalo has never been funnier. The production and costume design is exemplary while Tony McNamara’s screenplay contains so much foul-mouthed and ingenious wordplay. I want to watch it again to ensure I don't miss any hysterically funny lines. A sensational triumph all around.

I don't know how I would rate this film even though I kinda enjoyed it. It still very much feels like a man’s idea of women’s sexuality and liberation, which still keeps women as objects despite so desperately wanting to show them as the “master of their own ship”. A real conundrum.