It is definitely bizarre that they molded her character into an even MORE stock objectified/damsely girl than she was in the book and 90s version, in a time that's so hypersensitive to these issues that we have casting decisions like we saw in the Ghostbusters reboot and A Wrinkle in Time being made. The story does hinge on the burgeoning adolescent sexual tension that comes with one girl joining the boys' friend circle, and there's a lot of fairly honest/realistic portrayal of what goes through a boy's mind in the book, where you're kind of asked to put yourself into that perspective. I'm not sure what to think about the way that conveying some of that in the film ends up coming across. It's a film for adults, and there does feel to be a sort of uncomfortable invitation to participate in the preteen lust via the sensuality of the cinematography in scenes like the swimming/diving scene, and in that it's clear steps were taken to make her not just a cute young girl, but a bit adultified and viably enough "hot" to the eyes of an adult. It's a little confusing as to what the intent is, and I do get the sense that whatever mild commentary might be attempting to be hinted at on the subject with something like the pharmacist encounter is a little muddled in what could easily be read as typical popcorn action flick "male gaze" eroticism at the same time. I felt a little bit uncomfortable. Maybe that was intended. I can imagine plenty of pervs watching the movie enjoying her presence a little too much, and then the pharmacist scene popping in to remind them that they're being pervs and it's gross to look at her like that, but then they're given more fodder to feel conflicted about. I'm just not sure what to make of that, because that specific pedo tension isn't something I think of as being a part of this story, either in the book or 90s series. I mean there's the pedo tension with Beverly and her dad of course, but I don't think there's so much of a finger being pointed at the reader/viewer about it... Actually... maybe there is... We are asked to envision an astral child orgy... Yeah idk maybe it's apt... Something about how it comes across in this specific film feels a little off to me though. Anyway I do think this is one of the most important aspects of the story and worth looking at closely.
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femmemuscle (110)
6 years ago
I also was kind of wondering about that scene where she is laid out tanning in front of them while their listening to rap music..
It was almost as if she had no problem hitting those guys over the head with her sexuality. This was kind of surprising to me, because the character in the book just wasn't like that.
But what i found interesting was the comment Richie Tozier made when she asked them to come into her apartment to show them something.
He said: "What? more than what you showed us at the Quarry?" and of course, he's given the old Tozier comeback from his friends: "Shut up, Richie"..
Is the director trying to convey the male psyche toward beautiful women? ..
They will gaze/gawk/stare at you if you're beautiful - yet resent the fact that you flaunted/allowed them to? (Thank gawd the director didn't do a head to toe (face and body) slo-mo panning of the camera as she laid out there.)
Personally? I like the fact that she was beautiful. Many Tom-boys i've met through out the years have always been extremely attractive? But hate being girly. That actress that played the role in this movie was beyond pretty, in my opinion, from every single angle. But making her the damsel in distress gave way to the usual: "Helpless Beauty" we've been fed from the media for decades.
I think, if the director would have had her climb out the bathroom window while her dad was after her and ran like hell, to tell someone like Bill/Ben would have been closer to the character. No time for the clown, man.
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Stringey (260)
6 years ago
The thing is I did not see her as the damsel in distress she was pretty tough. Here are some examples. She was the first to jump off the cliff into the lake. She initiated basically going to help Mike when the bullies were beating him up. Bill stated at one point at the end that penny wise was not able to take or finish Beverly when she was in her hypnotized state because she was not afraid. Well i assumed this to mean not afraid like the others were to that level. She must have been afraid but mentally tougher than the others.
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Batty67 (358)
6 years ago
Agree for the most part. But the way they presented her was at times awkward and inconsistent. I felt the boys got more "consistent treatment." But hey, walk into any U.S. middle school and the boys are often dwarfed by the girls, which often continues into early HS.
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Stringey (260)
6 years ago
I dont remember girls always being taller than boys. There were a few of them out there
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Lootrock (149)
5 years ago
I actually thought that was the one scene that was more true to life. She looked 14 to me when she was only in bra and panties and of course it's normal for those boys to stare at her that way. When she's wearing jeans though she looks much older which is kind of strange, but what makes the scene with the pharmacist creepy is the stark contrast in age and that he's pervish since he knows how old she is, not that she's supposed to be attractive to men of all ages.
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