Compare the representations of Women in the Action Hero films James Bond and Tomb Raider

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Compare Representations of Women in Action Hero Films

Throughout the Media, and society, there are many stereotypes of women and of how men think and act. Within this essay I will discuss how modern day action films present these typical representations using three films; James Bond ‘The World is not enough’ (2002), Lara Croft ‘Tomb Raider’ (2002) and the 1960’s James Bond ‘Dr. No’.

      The roles of women within these action films are often presented as subservient and degrading. Throughout both Bond films, ‘Dr. No’ and ‘The World is not enough’, there are women who are often in roles such as maids and secretaries. The audience are given a very negative view of these roles, as if to say only women should fill them.

      In ‘Dr. No’ there are around three to four appearances of women as secretaries and other subservient roles, this may reflect the time period as women in the 1960’s were only just acquiring rights and equality. Also in ‘The World is not enough’ the character Valentin Zukovsky, played by Robbie Coltrane, is seen paying off, or commodifying, women in his acquaintance. ‘Tomb Raider’ does challenge this however as the main character is female, but we are hardly ever shown another woman in a powerful role or position.

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      All of these actions that are shown to the audience may lead them to believe that women should be the only ones that are not in a powerful position, thus leading their views of women in society to be changed.

      Yet another issue raised among the three films is that of how women are treated. The treatment of women within these films is highlighted and slightly different, even though they show some similarities when put together.

      In ‘The World is not enough’ James Bond continually ogles and stares at women and ...

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