I’m assuming you already know the story but here there are spoilers specific to the movie. So, if you’ve not seen it yet, and don’t want to be spoiled about the bells and whistles, bookmark this page and come back to squee with me when you’ve seen it.
I may have seen this movie a few times now. And, for what it’s worth, I have a few favourite things about it that I wanted to share with you. So, of course, I decided to blog about it.
Ana owning her power
This whole series is (at least, for me) about Ana coming into her own. The series has always been driving towards that and – while we see Ana swanning around the office a lot, and not actually doing that much work – there is a definite power shift in her character in this movie both personally and professionally (externally evidenced by some great clothes. I love the blue dress – if only I was much thinner – but, I digress!).
For me, the real indication of this power, and Ana’s awareness of it, is the last scene. The turn of her head and that little smile, while she’s on her knees, just before the door shuts. Sure, she was topping from the bottom, but there she is. Anastasia Grey.
There are also other scenes. The scene when Ana’s dressing, and tearing shreds of Christian the same time for having his priorities all screwed up (as an aside, that is a pretty cool piece of acting Ms Johnson). The scene where she uses her safeword in the Red Room (#adulting, both of them). The scene with the Ben & Jerry’s in Aspen. There’s also the ‘you may call me Mrs Grey’ moment and the ‘if you can handle her, you can handle this’ moment when Christian tosses her the keys to the R8 which, IMHO, has to be the sexiest car in the world and brings me to—
The car chase
Hot. Hot. Hot. A chick more than competently driving a car (yes, I know it would have been a stunt driver and no one could drive that well that fast first time out but please leave my fantasy alone).
And car sex, so much yes please.
I came home and Googled the Audi R8 and, just so you know, I can’t afford one. Neither can I afford the $300 vibrator that Christian uses in the Red Room ($300!). But I could afford and have already bought—
The Soundtrack
I’ve loved all three of the movie soundtracks but I think, just on sheer number of songs I love, this one comes out on top. Capital Letters. Big Spender. The Wolf. High. Never Tear Us Apart. For You. Heaven. I Got You. And Love Me Like You Do (Squee. Love Me Like You Do and the original helicopter sequence. Yes please, take me to your helicopter, fly me to Seattle and … well, you get the picture!)
Max Martini.
So, first a disclaimer. My name is Kristine and I’m a Dornan-a-holic. I have a serious thing for Jamie Dornan (and his back), funny little walk and all. I even loved him in The Fall when he was channelling a sociopath. Brant Daugherty* is also smokin’ (and OMG, how good is the Hannah line— ‘I might have an opening.’ I’ll just bet you do!) but—
If Max Martini wanted to read me the phonebook while stroking me with a peacock feather, I would NOT say no. Holy shit. That man’s voice. And he can absolutely wear a suit. And…
Crap. Google tells me he too is married. Back to the drawing board. Sigh.
Overall
So, #FWIW, I loved it. I went in there wanting to love it and, I confess, it would have had to be really bad for me to have not loved it. But I think it was a fitting end to a pretty good series.
What would I have liked to see more of? The whole thing. Even though it was about the same length as Darker, this movie felt short. I’d have liked more of the honeymoon. More of the conversation between Christian and Mrs Robinson (because who doesn’t want more Kim Basinger, even when she’s a villain!). More of the fight at the night club in Aspen. More sex (always… yes, I admit I’m a perve #makelovenotwar).
#dreamsforthedvd #directorscut
Now, all we have to wait for is Freed (i.e. the story from Christian’s point of view) which I expect will be out later this year (although I have no insider knowledge or actual facts). And whatever else E. L. James turns her hand to next. Apparently, she is working on another contemporary ‘provocative romance’ so, fingers crossed we don’t have to wait too long. I mean, it’s not like my TBR pile is shrinking but… #youcanneverhavetoomanybooks
Photos are the author’s
wordsbykristinecharles 