Action-Adventure Fantasies

       I have always been fascinated with action-adventure stories. Nowadays we have vampires and werewolves, but when I was a kid, it was all about secret agents. For me, it all started with Spy Kids. When the first  movie came out, I would beg my mother to take me to McDonald's so I could collect all the cool spy gadget toys they gave in the Happy Meals. I used to fantasize about being a spy, begging my mom for walkie-talkies( never got them -_-) and  pretending  I was in hot pursuit of a villainous mastermind when I played by myself. This went on until middle school, when I would do things like sign papers with my undercover name( Kimberly Kerr AKA Janet Sparks) and flatten my back against the lockers while singing the James Bond theme song when I wanted to creep up on a friend.

       Even though I still think it would be pretty cool to be a hardcore, femme fatale, secret agent, my adventure-y fascinations have evolved. I don't know how to classify it, but I'm noticing that there is a new trend where a lot of  recent movies feature a leading lady who can expertly wield some sort of medieval weapon. I LOVE these kind of movies. I think my obsession started when I started reading the Hunger Games. I was so intrigued by Katniss Everdeen and her ability to hunt to provide for her family, her ability  pierce a squirrel between the eyes with her bow and arrow. I loved how fierce she was. And I loved that the author didn't make her out to be hardcore for a girl, she was just hardcore, period. Ever since the Hunger Games movie came out, I have been obsessing over medieval type combat and weapons. I even started looking up bows and arrows to purchase, and when I found them to be too expensive I researched how to make them on Youtube. I think it's safe to say, I have a new obsession.

       I love females in leading action roles, especially in movies like where the weapons are more rustic. I still enjoy movies akin to Tomb Raider where the lead female is an expert gunwoman/ martial artist, but there is something special about movies like The Hunger Games, Snow White and the Huntsman, and Disney Pixar's Brave. Even though the women in these films are objects of some man's affection, they are not presented as hypersexualized objects. They don't have to seduce men to achieve their mission.They are able to titillate and capture the audience without skin-tight leather body suits with deeply scooped necklines and high heels. They are adventurous and fearless and still maintain an air of innocence and softness. They are, for me, prime examples of the kind of woman I hope to become.