June 2020
Daily post topic for June: kick-ass, uncompromising, stylish, and sometimes sword-wielding women on the big and little screen. These are among my favorites; it’s not intended to be a comprehensive list.
June 1: The Heroic Trio (1993): Hong Kong superheroines Thief Catcher (Maggie Cheung), Wonder Woman (Anita Mui), and Invisible Woman (Michelle Yeoh) take on evil baby-snatching (and flying guillotine wielding) psychopath Anthony Wong, frenetically directed with outlandish effects by Johnnie To.
June 2: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003): Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), aided by her Scooby Gang friends and librarian mentor/Watcher, protects the seemingly idyllic town of Sunnydale (actually positioned over a Hellmouth) from vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness. Buffy is not the only woman kicking ass here: she’s joined by fellow Slayers Kendra and Faith, witches Willow and Tara, and, by the series end, leads an army of empowered women fighting evil.
June 3: Farscape (1999–2003): Sentient starship Moya’s ragtag crew boasts three kick-ass women — renegade Peacekeeper Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), Delvian Priestess Pa’u Zotoh Zhaan (Virginia Hey), and teenage thief and con artist Chiana (Gigi Edgley). Here they are posing with some guys and a puppet. Fun fact: true fans of awesome women on screen will remember Hey from The Road Warrior, filmed almost two decades earlier.
June 4: The Avengers (1961–1969): British Agents Extraordinary Emma Steed (Diana Rigg) and John Steed (Patrick Macnee) fight “extraordinary crimes against the people, and the state” with stylish intelligence, witty repartee, and deadly martial arts skills. The series featured other female agents before and after Peel: Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman) and Tara King (Linda Thorson).
June 5: Duelist (2005): Chosun Dynasty detective Nam-soon (Ha Ji-won), investigating a counterfeit ring consipiracy with her partner, engages in a visual concert of duels with a mysterious swordsman. Well worth watching for this feisty heroine as well as for the impressionistic cinematography and breathtaking stylized fight choreography.
June 6: The X Files: (TV 1993–2002, 2016, 2018; Films 1998, 2008): FBI Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) takes on conspiracy theories, sewer monsters, serial killers, alien abductions, and more, while managing to legitimize her partner Fox Mulder’s obsession with unexplained phenomena by trusting in science.
June 7: Wonder Woman (2017; also 1975–1979 TV series) Gal Gadot gloriously dons the Wonder Woman tiara and joins Lynda Carter (1975–1979 live action TV series), Cathy Lee Crosby (1974 TV movie), and a Amazonian cohort of voice actors from animated depictions of the superheroine. Fighting for truth and justice since her 1941 debut in All Star Comics #8, the demigoddess Princess Diana from the island nation of Themyscira has undergone extensive physical training as a warrior and carries an arsenal of unique weapons, but is characterized by her strong conscience and overwhelming belief in love, empathy, and compassion.
June 8: Come Drink with Me (1966): A bedrock of Chinese kung-fu movies and the gold standard for female ass-kickery, this King Hu wuxia classic stars Cheng Pei-Pei as the talented but mysterious Golden Swallow, dispatched by the government to rescue a kidnapped official. The influence of the balletic choreography (Cheng was trained as a dancer, not a martial artist) can be seen in just about every later film entry in the genre. Western audiences were introduced to her in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (lots of female ass-kickery here!). She’s still at work in her ‘70s with a role in the upcoming live-action Mulan.
June 9: Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998): Danielle de Barbarac (Drew Barrymore) is no traditional Disney princess. She treasures books given to her by her father, schools Prince Henry on the court’s treatment of commoners, stands up to her scheming stepmother and selfish stepsisters, and hangs out with Leonardo di Vinci. Finally, having been (temporarily) rejected by Henry during the masquerade ball, Danielle saves herself from the advances of an icky suitor by threatening him with his own swords. Best. Cinderella. Ever.
June 10: Star Wars (1977): A long time ago … for those of us who sat in awe watching the first Star Wars movie when it first screened in theatres, and for generations of (especially) women over 4+ decades since, Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) was a revelation and an inspiration: smart, sassy, tough, competent, passionate, and caring. As princess, rebel, senator, general, and mentor, she is the heart of the Star Wars universe, and a kick-ass Force-wielding woman who is perfectly capable of saving herself and all of us.
June 11: Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (2012–2015, film 2020): A thoroughly modern woman operating in a man’s world, Phryne Fisher (Essie Davis) solves mysteries as a “lady detective” in 1920s Melbourne. Over three seasons on TV plus a theatrical film (sidelined by the pandemic but available online) Phyrne showcases her talents and style, aided by her companion Dot Williams and socialist firebrand cabbies Bert and Cec, even winning over police detective Jack Robinson with her tenacity and charm. She can handle a sportscar and overpower a thug, speaks several languages, flies a plane, supports progressive social movements, and is always willing to face danger for anyone in trouble or being oppressed.
June 12: Black Panther (2018): The film’s titular character may be male (for now), but the real strength of Wakanda is female. Four well-developed and strong black women play crucial roles in the story: Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), mother and wise counsellor to the young king T’Challa; Shuri (Letitia Wright), younger sister, scientist, and inventor of cool technology; Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), an elite espionage agent whose dedication to safeguarding her country conflicts with her personal relationship with its king; Okoye (Danai Gurira), head of the Dora Milaje, Wakanda’s all-female elite warrior cadre. There are definitely no damsels in distress in this culture.
June 13: The Lion in Winter (1968): Heiress, regent, Crusader, wife and mother of kings and queens, Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the most powerful women in medieval Europe. She was a savvy politician, a well-educated patron of the arts, a competent ruler (of both her Duchy on the Continent and of England as regent when Richard was away on Crusade), and, ultimately, a survivor. Finally, as portrayed in this film by Katharine Hepburn, she has all of the best lines.
June 14: So Close (2003): In this high octane film — featuring guns, swords, and stiletto heels — from HK director Corey Yuan, sisters Lynn (Shu Qi) and Sue (Zhao Wei) are expert computer hackers, assassins, and espionage specialists employing their late father’s satellite technology. After they kill the chairman of a top security company, police inspector Kong Yat-hung (Karen Mok) is assigned to investigate the case. A double cross ends in Kong being framed for murder, and the women team up to take on a particularly nasty katana-wielding thug. (Fun fact: like most Chinese film stars, all three actresses also have music careers. Mok’s cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is a favorite of mine.)
June 15: The Terminator (1984): This low budget first film in the ongoing series, which first introduces robot-destroying Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and her protector-from-the-future Kyle Reese, is my favorite, although her fighting and survival skills are honed during the following decade and more fully demonstrated in T2 (Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 1991). There have been a ton of later franchise stories (TV, film, comics) since the day Arnold Schwarzenegger’s killer cyborg dropped into LA, but Sarah is the Real Deal and the heart of this story. (Fun fact: in 2008, The Terminator was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.)
July 16: Xena Warrior Princess (1995–2001): Over six seasons of TV ass-kicking, Xena (Lucy Lawless) attempts to atone for her warlord past by employing her skills with sword and chakram to fight for the greater good, with the help of her companion and soulmate Gabrielle (Renee O’Connor). The series takes place mainly in ancient Greece, but eventually expands as the heroines travel to Rome, India, Chin, Egypt, Britain and — seemingly unfazed by death and rebirth — a multitude of afterlife locations spanning several mythologies. (Fun fact: back in the day, being published in Whoosh! was a major thing; I still flaunt it in my CV synopsis, along with my article in Elysian Fields Quarterly. I was pleased to find that the original Journal of Xena Studies is still going strong online. Amazons Rule!)
June 17: Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2 (2003–2004): Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman), a former assassin referred to throughout the first film only as “the Bride” wreaks vengeance on the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad after they try to kill her and her unborn child at her wedding rehearsal. This wildly inventive but not-for-the-squeamish Quentin Tarantino homage to grindhouse cinema, including martial arts films, samurai cinema, blaxploitation films, and spaghetti Westerns, features a cast of kick-ass women — O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu), Vernita Green (Vivica A. Fox), and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) are also members of the Viper squad — much more lethal than their male compatriots.
June 18: Lady Snowblood (1973): Before the Bride, there was Lady Snowblood. Based on a popular manga series written by Kazuo Koike of Lone Wolf and Cub fame, this film, along with its 1974 sequel Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance, follows Yuki (Meiko Kaji), born in prison and trained as an assassin to avenge the rape of her mother and murder of her father and brother by a quartet of criminals. Non-linear and audacious, the film interlaces multiple layers of mythic representation, striking visuals, heartrending overtones, political commentary, Buddhist fatalism, and pulp absurdities. Its plot and style were a major influence on Tarantino’s Kill Bill (which also uses Lady Snowblood‘s memorable theme song, “The Flower of Carnage,” sung by its leading actress).
June 19: Jackie Brown (1997): An adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel Rum Punch, this is Tarantino’s valentine to Pam Grier and her career — in the director’s assertion, the first female action star — as a leading actress in several seminal ‘70s “blaxsploitation” films (most importantly Coffy and Foxy Brown). With Leonard’s enthusiastic approval of the treatment of his novel, positive critical reviews, and box office success, the film rejuvenated the careers of Grier and her co-star Robert Forster. Grier’s performance in Jackie Brown as a desperate but smart woman trying to navigate her precarious existence is three-dimensional and boldly feminist.
June 20: Firefly (2002–2003, film 2005): The ragtag crew of Serenity boasts a quartet of spirited and diverse women: Kaylee Frye (Jewel Stait), an expert mechanic and the voice of reason and moral compassion, Inara Serra (Morena Baccarin), a licensed courtesan who can combine negotiation with combat skills, Zoë Washburn (Gina Torres), the fiery and fearless second-in-command, and River Tam (Summer Glau), fragile, damaged, and completely lethal when triggered. Together they make more than a formidable addition to the ship’s crew, matching if not outshining the men in tenacity and intelligence.
June 21: Agent Carter (2015–2016):
“I know my value; anyone else’s opinion doesn’t really matter.”
With this iconic quote, the clever, self-reliant post-WW2 female operative Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) crushes the gender stereotypes of the time (even if it does come at the expense of a somewhat naive male clientele). What’s more, as opposed to many of Marvel’s heroes, she has no “super” qualities other than her intellect, courage, and determination, making her an even more awesome female lead. And don’t forget: Peggy trained Captain America (and continued to fight evil and corruption after his icy decades-long hibernation).
June 22: Robin of Sherwood (1984–1986): RoS is simply the best version of the Robin Hood story (I will fight you on this), creatively incorporating the various (and sometimes contradictory) themes and episodes from ballads and folktales within a mythically rich structure. Creator Richard Carpenter also deserves kudos for giving Robin’s love interest back her street cred; Judi Trott’s Lady Marion of Leaford is no damsel in distress, saving herself in various perilous situations, proficient with a longbow, and an integral part of the outlaw band.
June 23: The Matrix (1999): Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) is the coolest person in the future. A talented computer programmer and hacker, a skilled driver of just about any vehicle, and proficient in martial arts, she is tasked with freeing people from the virtual reality prison of the Matrix. Her relationship with Neo is instrumental in shaping his decisions about the future of humanity. Death can’t stop Trinity: she’s on board for the fourth installment of this film series from the cinematically groundbreaking Wachowski siblings.
June 24: Bride with White Hair (1993): HK film goddess Brigitte Lin plays Lien, literally raised by wolves and adopted into the Evil Cult (no subtlety here) to serve as their assassin. After meeting and falling in love, she and Zhou Yi-Hang from the rival Wudang clan decide to leave the martial world behind and start a new life together, but betrayal and mistrust lead to tragedy and carnage. Perhaps director Ronnie Yu’s finest film, with intense action and gorgeous visual design, this “Romeo and Juliet”-themed wuxia obviously will not have a happy ending.
June 25: Aliens (1986): Solidly memorable as the sole survivor in the first Alien film, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) evolves further into a fierce and proactive protector in the sequel. Her courage, compassion, intelligence, and sheer willpower combine to create one of the most iconic kick-ass film heroines of ’80s F/SF genre movies (and to earn Weaver a “Best Actress” Academy Award nomination). One of the first female movie characters not defined by the men around her, or by her relationship to them, Ripley opened the airlock doors for later feminist icons to shine on the screen.
July 26: Captain Marvel (2019): Brie Larson shines as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel in this first female-led movie in the Marvel universe, portraying one of the most powrful superheroes in comics history. The film is both action-packed and quirky, a non-linear origin story that has fun with its 1995 setting and young incarnations of well-loved characters such as Nick Fury and Agent Coulson. Danvers’ quest to recover her past, embrace her humanity, and grow into her superhero role also emphasizes — rather than a romantic pairing — her relationships with other strong women as friends and mentors.
July 27: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): Despite the title of the newest film in George Miller’s post-apocalyptic saga, the real protagonists are Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) and her defiant band of captive “wives” as they engineer a daring escape from the Citadel of the tyrannical Immortan Joe. Forming a feminist guerrilla force with the Vuvalini, a group of older women who band together to fight for a more nurturing future, what starts as an retreat from a broken world ends as an endeavor to fix it. The director’s imaginative discipline eschews dialogue and relies on powerful acting by his cast; Theron’s performance is outstanding and truly memorable.
July 28: Dr. Who (2008–2015): There have been quite a few plucky and resourceful female companions to the Doctor through his many decades of reincarnation, but it’s River Song (Alex Kingston) — the Doctor’s wife — who is the most bad-ass woman in the Whovian universe. Archaeologist, time traveler, mercenary, convicted (and later pardoned) murderer, and possessing Time Lord DNA (having been conceived on the TARDIS), River’s arc is the most complex of all characters in the series, as her adventures with the Doctor occur out of synchronization. Whenever River meets up with the Doctor, chaos ensues, but it’s always a fun ride.
June 29: Crouching Tiger, HIdden Dragon (2000): Director Ang Lee introduced Chinese wuxia to mainstream Western audiences with this gorgeously produced film. Forget Chow Yun Fat; it’s the women who dominate this martial arts landscape. Experienced and road-weary Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeah, who is awesome in everything she does) faces off against the young rebellious Jen (Ziyi Zhang), who in turn has been trained by a vengeance-fueled Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-pei, ageless and iconic). In a symphony of physical grace, these heroes transcend space, gravity, the limitations of the body and the fears of the mind.
June 30: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015): Introduced as an orphaned scavenger on the desert planet Jakku, Rey (Daisy Ridley) is independent, compassionate, adept with machinery and a talented self-trained pilot, but feels rootless and unclear about her future and direction. After first rejecting the lightsaber that her Force sensitivity calls to her in Maz Kanata’s palace, Rey finds a new family among the Resistance and chooses a new path as a Jedi, training with both Luke and Leia and facing down the forces of the First Order.