Fifty Shades of Grey Film

Initially, I decided not to see this movie, due to its nature. I changed my mind, since there is a huge female discussion surrounding the topic. During my random face-to-face interviews, there are a lot of opinions about this film. Younger females are fascinated by Anastasia and Christian’s world, while older female viewers agree that it is of a consensual nature between adults. Younger male viewers who saw this film said it was okay, content-wise.

Now, having read the first and second novels in the Trilogy series, I can put this movie into perspective for my readers. Please see my other Review for Fifty Shades Darker novel and movie tie-in.

<This is from the back of the QP edition.>

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too – but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family – Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with your forever.

Anastasia Steele, whose friends call her Ana. The book is written from first person POV, with descriptions in third person POV. She is an innocent in Christian’s relationship, also known as the Submissive. A little quirky, but smart. Unsure of herself and her feminity.

Katherine “Kate” Kavanaugh. This is Ana’s best friend since freshman year in college. Kate comes from a wealthy family, but this doesn’t seem to affect their friendship. She is a journalism major. During the first novel, she and Christian’s brother, Elliott, meet and start dating.

Jose Rodriguez is a friend of Ana’s and Kate’s. Having met at college, he and Ana bonded immediately. He definitely wants to take Ana’s friendship to the next level, but she considers him in the “Friends Only” category. She is already smitten by her initial meeting with Christian. Jose is jealous of her relationship with Christian.

Paul Clayton is the son of Mr. Clayton, the owner of Clayton’s Hardware Store. Ana is one of the employees at Clayton’s. Paul is also smitten with Ana, and has been asking her on a perpetual date. When she tells him that she has a date with Christian Grey, he immediately backs off and leaves her alone.

Christian T. Grey, aka Mr. Grey or Sir. He is the Dominant in Ana’s relationship. A multi-millionaire, whose various businesses take him to different parts of the world.

Elliott is Christian’s half-brother, the opposite of Christian in looks and temperament. Perhaps this is why Kate finds him attractive.

Mrs. Grey is Grace T. Grey, or Dr. Grey. She is introduced quite dramatically in the novel, arriving unexpectedly on Christian’s doorstep, while he and Ana have just finished their first night of love making.

Taylor is Christian’s personal assistant, and lives in the same condo. He is always around, although Ana can’t seem to notice he’s there, probably because she’s too enthralled with Christian.

Christian’s employees. At the office, landing field.

Mrs. Jones is Christian’s housekeeper. At the Escala Tower condo.

Carla is Ana’s mom.

Bob is Carla’s fourth husband.

Ray is Ana’s dad, and was Carla’s third husband. Ana’s biological dad was unknown, as she was adopted. Just like Christian.

The story is Ana meets Christian professionally, as she’s covering a pre-set interview for the college newspaper (as Kate has taken ill, Ana is covering for her) at his Seattle office. They are both strongly attracted to one another. Her reason is that he is smoking hot, and his reason is that her behavior is of a perfect submissive.

She leaves their next meeting to chance, as she is an innocent. He doesn’t leave their next meeting to chance, and shows up at her part-time job at Clayton’s hardware store, just shopping for a few items. Which we later find out that he uses purchased items for his Dominant Act.

Their relationship builds up, before he has her sign an NDA, and then he shows her his Playroom, located inside his condo. Now, she fully understands what he is. Although, she doesn’t really know if she can be obedient enough for his desires, or any type of future relationship with a Control Freak.

Several times throughout the novel, she tries leaving him, but he always finds her, and wants to “take care of her and protect her.” Eventually, he considers her as “his.”

As their relationship progresses, she questions his previous relationships with his other submissives. Which is the crux of Novel #2 and Movie #2, Fifty Shades Darker. Which is in theatres on February 10^th.

So, guys, if your lady would like for you to see this film with her, be obliged and see it. Or, if your lady is going with lady friends to have a “Girls Night” event, then grab your guy friends and see “John Wick Chapter 2” at your local theatre! <Hey, the Marketing works>

The book ties in with the first movie by the use of the main characters. Who also re-appear in Movie #2.

Some similarities include the story and on-going plotlines. The movie has condensed Ana’s Book POV, and does a pretty good job of turning Novel #1 into a tasteful, artful film. There are a few scenes that encompass the look and feeling of the book, but the dialogue was changed, for brevity reasons. If you have the opportunity to view the featurette “Behind the Shades,” this behind-the-scenes short film explains how the filmmakers turned a controversial novel into Film #1. Thank you to everyone who was involved in Film #1. I thought it was a tasteful way of showing the BDSM style onto the big screen, for viewers who weren’t familiar with its facets.

Many differences occur, as most of the book’s content couldn’t be entirely filmed and still get the R rating. It would probably be NC-17, if this rating still exists in the MPAA system.

My suggestion is to read the novel first, then go and see Film #1. With that being said, I’m looking forward to the Theatrical viewing of Film #2, Fifty Shades Darker.

You might remember her from How to be Single, where she played Alice, the girlfriend who wanted to leave her hometown, move to New York City, and take a break from her boyfriend because she wanted to see what NYC had to offer.

Some of her upcoming work includes:

• Suspiria – currently filming. She’ll play Susie Bannion.
• Fifty Shades Freed – currently in Post Prod, where she’ll be re-appearing in her role as Ana.
• Forever, Interrrupted – in the role of Elsie and as a Producer.
• The Sound of Metal – which was just announced.

Having wrapped up filming on Fifty Shades Freed (Film #3), he is also working on…

• Untogether – as Nick. This one is in Post Prod, folks.
• Robin Hood – rumored to be playing Will Scarlet.

I had never viewed his work prior to seeing Fifty Shades of Grey, but now I am hooked on his performance style. I didn’t know it, ladies, but he is English. I love his accent. Be sure to watch “Behind the Shades” featurette, where you see his off-camera prescence.

for Fifty Shades Darker and the remainder of the acting cast.