Over-hyped and Average... But Not As Bad As People Say It Is.

Rating: 7/10 (31 December 2015)

Finally, I saw this movie last night. I've read so many dreadful reviews that I was prepared for the worst. For starters, I have not read the book so I'm oblivious to the source material, but since so many reviewers regard it as trash also, I really didn't bother reading it.
Fifty Shades Of Grade had many problems when it hit theaters. Its main problem was the over-hype, and it goes both ways: people hating it, and people (ladies in particular) loving it, or at least, being less harsher with their appraisal of the movie.
It all boils down to this: it's a dark, romantic drama. Had it been named something else, like "The Rich Psycho" or "Charming Sadomasochist" perhaps it would have fared better with reviewers, because I understand it was a big box office hit.
It's the story of Anasthasia Steele, a student in her final year in College, living with a friend, Kate, and both studying something related to journalism and English literature. Kate has an appointment to interview Christian Grey, the local millionaire impresario, who also happens to be a young, handsome looking bachelor. When Kate can'y make it to the interview, she sends her roommate Anasthasia to do the job. Knowing very little about Mr. Grey, Anasthasia agrees to interview him, but has virtually no interviewing skills (she even forgets to bring a pen or pencil to write down things). When Anasthasia and Christian Grey meet something happens to both of them: they like each other. Ana, as she prefers to be called, is shy, good looking and in her very early twenties. Christian must be at least 8 to 10 years older (mid thirties probably), with an athletic built and a bit of an expressionless face (he rarely smiles. Ana is obviously smitten by Mr. Grey, as usually rich and powerful people don't always translate into handsome. But unlike other women, she seems genuinely interested in him, and not his wealth, and I think this point was pulled out rather well in the film. It's easy to write off Ana as a "money hungry" woman, but the meeting of the two is well played out. Christian as well feels something odd about Ana: he obviously is also smitten by her, unlike all the women he's met or had before, and a guy of his wealth could have virtually anyone and anything. Ultimately the two admit that they like each other a lot, but there's one problem: Grey's past, which we learn in little bits throughout the film but we don't get to know the guy well enough, just like Ana. It seems Mr.Grey is fond of some sadomasochistic kinkiness and Ana is his new prey, but one she cares for a lot to be just "another one". Grey's character (portrayed by Jamie Dornan) was often criticized for being dull, but I think that's exactly what his portrayal wanted to be. We have a man who is haunted by a less than pleasant past and sees in Ana as a way to escape from that past, yet he finds it hard to let go of a lifestyle he has completely submerged in.
Reviewers find it hard to believe a woman willing to be hit with whips, tied to a bed with ropes and such, yet women like these actually exist: in households with husbands that hit and mistreat them. A lot of them endure the pain because they have nowhere else to go but others, and they might be a minority, endure it because they truly love their partners in spite of them, and still have hopes that someday they might change. One of those believers in Ana, who herself becomes obsessed with Christian Grey as to why he won't have a "normal" relationship. As to why he won't "sleep" with her like a normal couple. As to why he has to make a contract for their relationship. Ana falls madly in love with Grey, and Grey is obviously madly in love with her, but he can't let go of that past that still haunts him. All the power and money he has achieved at his young age can't compensate for the turmoil in his head. He is in dire need of psychiatric help. So in real life, stuff like this DOES happen, and it goes both ways: women with hidden traumas and guys with unresolved childhood issues. It just happens that, for Hollywood's sake, the psycho here happens to be a well looking millionaire.
There are bits and pieces here and there that might look illogical. When Ana found out Christian was into kinky, sadomasochistic stuff, why didn't she go away? Again, she fell deeply in love with this guy.
The movie is definitely not the worst movie ever. All those reviewers really need to see some BAD movies. Was it an over-hyped movie? I'll hand that to you. Was it the best? Certainly not. Was it overtly sex filled? Basic Instict was far more explicit. Is it OK to watch it with your girlfriend or spouse on a rainy Friday afternoon? You bet!