action movies

Films with female leads sometimes end this way. Did she get married or not? Did she have babies or not? The framing makes it clear that the real question is: Does she have a happy ending or no?

On Friday, I saw the Noboru Iguchi, Yoshihiro Nishimura, and Tak Sakagucki-helmed Japanese flick Mutant Girls Squad as part of the Northwest Film Center's Portland International Film Festival (PIFF.) From the synopsis, I expected a girl power-y saga of young women bonding over their new superpowers and fighting off comic book-esque villains at each other's behest... something like X-Men meets D.E.B.S. (the latter of which I will defend until my death, and not just because of name loyalty). Basically, I went into Mutant Girls Squad thinking it would be ridiculous and entertaining. I was half right.

Comments, spoilers and a gruesome trailer after the jump!

Another Bitch podcast ready for your aural consumption! Like the Action issue, this podcast speaks broadly to the theme: Annie Leonard on the big deal with cap and trade, what Lady Gaga has to do with labor unions, and one feminist film buff who loves action movies (and thinks that Judi Dench should be in more of them!) Plus, music by Brooklyn duo Buke and Gass, whose debut full-length album Riposte is due out September 14th from Brassland records. Stream it below, subscribe on iTunes or RSS, or download it! Podcast script and links after the jump!



Transcript (PDF)

If you enjoyed hearing Angelina Anderson, aka Snarky's Machine, talk about Dame Judie Dench starring in her own action movie, listen to this full interview that touches on race in film, James Bond, a remake of Wildcats, and more.
For more Snarky, check out her personal blog, I Fry Mine in Butter, Snarky's Cinemachine on Bitch (including her post on Dame Judi), and for all your office supply needs, Does This Pen Write?.

Transcript

Cinematic depictions of spies devoid of engaging personalities are no novelty. In fact, with the exception of James Bond, more often than not, cinematic spies tend to provide more authenticity when they are not weighed down with personality traits at levels best left to proverbial used car salespeople and late night, television discount electronics peddlers