Don't listen to the Critics

Rating: 9/10 (13 February 2015)

The critics are not the targeted audience. This movie was intended for the fans and it delivered. I went to the movie last night, one day before the actual premiere and I must say I enjoyed it immensely. The audience was 98% women, no surprise. (If men were smart they'd be at the movie theater;) since it was all women.) Every one of us left the movie giggling, talking about how awesome it was and that we just can't wait a year to see part 2. I read all the books and it was definitely true to the books. I'm sure the fact that E.L.James was a co- producer helped. The casting was brilliant. All of the actors embodied the characters so well. The general consensus at the theater was that Dakota Johnson was surprisingly really good in her role of Anastasia Steele and Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey, well he was just perfection personified. Another surprise was that there were some quite funny & witty moments.There were also some intense moments where you could literally hear a pin drop. I would personally like to thank E.L.James for choosing those amazing jeans Christian wears, Omg, sexy doesn't even describe it! I disagree wholeheartedly with the critics who say there is only 20 minutes of sexy scenes. The entire movie has undertones of sensuality and the scenes that do include steaminess are beyond spectacular and fulfilling and honestly quite racy. Dakota is absolutely stunning in her unabashed nakedness and Jamie, hold on... pause for breath, Jamie is simply GLORIOUS. With regards to the boardroom meeting, critics have said it was laughable and that there was no actual sex. I completely disagree; subtlety and the use of words can be one of the most enticing and erotic things one can experience. It gently guides the imagination to explore the unseen. It's one of the reasons readers enjoy books because it's not all there in front of you, it allows you to interpret it on a more personal level. One of my favorite scenes was the first time they have sex, Wow,wow, wow. That was so hot! Jamie, I was in love with you before, now I'm obsessed ;)
Of course the Red room scenes were pretty sensual as well. If I were rating this movie solely based on entertainment value, I would have given it a 10+. I gave the movie a 9 out of 10 mostly for technical reasons. I am no expert, but I would have enjoyed a few more things. I would have liked the music (which is brilliant by the way) to have been louder, more intrinsic to the movie. I know the movie has "shades of gray", maybe that was intentional, but I would have liked more color. The screen lacked a bit of luster, color & vividness which I think would have brought out the scenes more.I also would have enjoyed the famous quotes of the movie like "laters baby & you are mine" to have been more pronounced, more audible, instead they were whispered. However the audience was looking for those phrases, most of us sighing when we heard them. I also wish the pace wasn't quite as hurried, but then again it is a movie and there are time restrictions. I guess in the end it all felt like it went so fast because we were all glued to the screen. With that said, if you are a fan of E.L.James' books, Run to the theater. It was definitely worth the wait!