Transformers: Misogyny

The older I get, the less inclined I am to laugh off the word 'bitch' as anything but loaded. There's an aggressive, possessive element to the remark that earmarks it as chattel language. It's an ugly word masquerading as minor curse. Cunt for kids. It's also a pretty boring word, lacking in any florid poetry. It's just a barbed click, usually spat at a perceived inferior. With that in mind: does it have any place in a children's film?

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen swaggers with a teen rating, and late-twenties nostalgia, but really its primary purpose is kiddy thrill. Fallen presents a tiny spy-bot called Wheelie as a notional child identifier. I stress notional, I'm sure children will gravitate towards the implacable boy-might of someone like Optimus Prime instead, the intent stands though. Wheelie is small, feeble, smart mouthed, but brave. Key components for Hollywood's idea of cool-kid reflections. He also transforms into a child's toy: a remote control car. Below is what I assume will be Wheelie's introductory sequence. The robot ambling about Megan Fox's garage, prat-falling and swearing before eventually being discovered. A brief battle ensues that ends with Wheelie being imprisoned, but not before he's called Fox a "crazy bitch".



Is that cool? Is it really necessary? Is that an idea that should be exported into fledgling minds? Also, isn't Fox's character marginalised quite enough as a slow-mo fantasy figure? Michael Bay wants little boys to hate women. I'm only half joking.