The double standard of Ten Inch Hero

[agt_spooky]

One thing I forgot to mention the other day in my weekend wrap-up post was that I randomly caught Ten Inch Hero playing on the Movie Channel on Sunday. Haven't watched that in a while so it was a nice surprise.

But then I was reminded why it makes me mad. Now I love Jensen as Priestly. He was awesome. I loved his "screw you" attitude with regards to his appearance. That was who he was. And the underlying theme of the entire movie was that you shouldn't have to change who you are for people to accept you. That was true for Piper and Trucker and Jen and especially slutty Tish. But not Priestly! Oh no, he had to get rid of his mohawk, all his piercings, shave and dress like a stupid preppy in khakis and a button down shirt AND give his real name all for slutty Tish to finally give him the time of day. Really? REALLY? For HER? Sorry, Priestly, but you could have done SO much better. It just makes me so mad that he was the only character that couldn't remain true to himself.

Am I the only one who feels that way? Am I over-reacting?

Comments

[violateraindrop]

YES!

That's the reason I will never be able to watch this movie again. The whole movie was supposed to teach you how you shouldn't have to change and basically do what you want and in the end, the only character who looked completely different because he wanted to look like this all along, changes completely...for a woman who is not interested in him...

I know that many SPN fans have watched this movie, but nobody every brings this up because Jensen and D are such a ~cute~ couple *gag*

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And I couldn’t agree more about the not being interested part. There was way more chemistry between Priestly and Jen. He was so protective of her. I wish that they had ended up together, because you know she accepted him for who he was.

And yeah, I was waiting for someone to attack me for my opinion because of Jensen and Danneel. Sorry, but I’m talking about their characters not them personally.

[antrazi.livejournal.com]

To be honest, Jensen said at a Con that it was planned that Priestly looked like his old self at the ending, that he didn't change permanently but just made her see him. They didn't do that because Jensen was already shaved and they (he) didn't want to go to through the hassle of all that.
So it wouldn't have been as bad as it seems to you

[strgazr04.livejournal.com]

Was just going to say this. My friend told me she once asked Jensen or Danneel about this at a con during autographs and one of them mentioned that there was supposed to be a bit of dialogue between him and Tish where Tish said that he grew up preppy. It basically gave the viewer Boaz's backstory which we never actually got in the movie, but that scene was cut. It would have explained so much. That make-under scene with Priestly is probably the most asked question about this movie unfortunately. So like someone in a comment below said, it seems that the mohawk and everything was actually the facade in the end.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Yeah, see, if you have to depend on a random comment from one of the actors to explain, then the movie failed, IMO. Why that scene was cut is beyond me. So as it stands, I don’t see the mohawk, etc. as the facade, but the other way around.

[strgazr04.livejournal.com]

I totally understand. Personally I could have done without that ridiculous naked Tish scene in favor of Boaz's backstory. He's the only character we don't have a backstory for. Piper tells us about her baby. Jen tells us she's the daughter of a preacher. Tish has her male conquests. Trucker has his high school days with Zo as well as the military story. So the only one we don't know about is Boaz. It sucks. Makes me wish there was at least deleted scenes or something on the DVD. Or they should release the manuscript as a novel.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

That’s just ridiculous that they went against the entire theme of the movie because Jensen couldn’t be bothered to have a fake mohawk and facial hair put on, for ONE scene. Or that the writer/director didn’t insist on it. I mean, that changed everything for me and made me dislike the movie.

All it showed was that he was ready to accept Tish, no matter that she slept with anything that moved, but that she couldn’t see past the tattoos and piercings. Utter fail.

[dolimir-k.livejournal.com]

I wish we had known more of Priestly's background.

My reaction when I first watched the movie was exactly yours. But upon reflection, perhaps the tattoos, mohawk, etc. were a sort of mask for Boaz. As Priestly he could be as outrageous as he wanted to be, he could say what he wanted, act how he wanted.

As Boaz, there's a certain expectation that he should act a certain way because he 'looked' respectable.

Maybe his lesson was that he could still be Priestly as Boaz. That he didn't need the mask.

*shrugs* Other than that, I got nuffin. :-)

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

You’re not the only one with that opinion but I just don’t see it that way. He looked so incredibly uncomfortable with his new appearance. If he would have walked in with his head held high, just as confident in khaki’s as a kilt, then I’d totally see your point. But he was all like, folding in on himself.

If he would have at least shown up to the beach scene wearing a kilt I’d have been happier, knowing Priestly was still there inside him. But in the end the movie failed me in regards to his character. And that makes me sad.

[abrakadabrah.livejournal.com]

Yep -- way over-reaction cause it was a silly movie.

Anyway, yeah, it's been a long time since I saw it, but the point was Jensen's character was hiding by wearing the mohawk and weird sideburns and uglifying himself. He was rebelling against being a beautiful young man, with all those perks, and the way society sees him and its expectations and being judged merely by his looks. He chose to make himself unattractive as a way to hide from the glare of society and the way that people normally saw him as an escape for a while. He needed to look unattractive/weird/less attractive to escape in plain sight -- but that never seemed like the end of the story, just a stage at that point in time when we are young and playing with our identity and our identity is malleable. Making yourself look freaky only means you are being judged by your looks, but your looks are not aesthetically pleasing, but the opposite. So it is not really a solution to the dilemma, just a rebellion from where he was previously.

[ann-tara.livejournal.com]

... but the point was Jensen's character was hiding by wearing the mohawk and weird sideburns and uglifying himself.

That's the way I saw it too - Priestly was a costume he used to hide behind. The fact that he never used his real name is proof of that. The guy we saw at the end was closer to the real man.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

You’re not the only one with that opinion but I just don’t see it that way. He looked so incredibly uncomfortable with his new appearance. If he would have walked in with his head held high, just as confident in khaki’s as a kilt, then I’d totally see your point. But he was all like, folding in on himself.

[shrug] The movie just failed for me in regards to his character.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

It might have been a silly movie, but it was a movie with an underlying theme that applied to everyone except Priestly, IMO. Why couldn’t Tish accept him for who he was, mohawk and piercings? He was certainly ready to accept her, no matter that she slept with anything that moved. [shakes head]

I just don’t see him as hiding behind Priestly. He looked so incredibly uncomfortable with his new appearance. If he would have walked in with his head held high, just as confident in khaki’s as a kilt, then I’d totally see your point. But he was all like, folding in on himself.

If he would have at least shown up to the beach scene wearing a kilt I’d have been happier, knowing Priestly was still there inside him. But in the end the movie failed me in regards to his character. And that makes me sad.

[abrakadabrah.livejournal.com]

Well that's the whole point. It's easy to present yourself confidently when you are behind a facade. That's the reason people adopt them, especially people who have deep insecurities, the way Priestly does. You can be the person you wish you were instead of being your own awkward self.

The real Priestly is very insecure about himself in various ways, so when he shows the real him to Tish -- who is also insecure about herself and that is the reason she sleeps around with just about anyone -- it's a somewhat uncomfortable position because of how vulnerable it makes him at that moment -- which is heightened because of his deep feelings for her.

So, that's the thing Tish and Priestly have in common - despite their uncommon good looks, they both have deep seated insecurities. He deals with his by masking his appearance and she deals with hers by sleeping around.

[tracys-dream.livejournal.com]

Jensen is awesome in this movie.
I wish that Priestly could have continued wearing / looking the same though.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Why couldn’t Tish have accepted him for who he was? He was certainly ready to accept her, no matter that she slept with anything that moved. [shakes head] I think he should have been paired up with Jen instead. They had way more chemistry, he was really protective of her.

So yeah, utter fail for me when it comes to Priestly, which makes me sad.

[queeberquabbler.livejournal.com]

Nope, that's my exact feeling about the picture. All that talk about staying true to oneself, and then he goes and changes for Tish. Would've been way better if he could've stayed true to HIMself and still got Tish at the end. Bah!

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Why couldn’t Tish have accepted him for who he was? He was certainly ready to accept her, no matter that she slept with anything that moved. [shakes head] I think he should have been paired up with Jen instead. They had way more chemistry, he was really protective of her.

So yeah, utter fail for me when it comes to Priestly, which makes me sad.

[adelheide.livejournal.com]

I didn't mind that Priestly and Tish liked each other. I got where both their characters were coming from. I did mind that Priestly felt the need to change so dramatically to get her attention. The theme of the movie was being true to yourself. Priestly didn't even like the way he looked.

It didn't piss me off but it sure irritated me.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Glad I’m not the only one not happy with Priestly selling himself out to get the girl. I mean, like we both mentioned, the entire point of the movie was to NOT change and people will like you for who you are or they won’t. But don’t go trying to be someone you’re not. Yet that’s exactly what they did with Priestly and it made no sense to me.

[raloria.livejournal.com]

I know I'm rare in my opinion about this movie, but I've always thought that Priestly was actually hiding his true self under the mohawk and the eyeliner and the crazy clothes. What he presented to Tish at the end was who he truly was.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

No, you’re not the only one with that opinion but I just don’t see it that way. He looked so incredibly uncomfortable with his new appearance. If he would have walked in with his head held high, just as confident in khaki’s as a kilt, then I’d totally see your point. But he was all like, folding in on himself.

[shrug] The movie just failed for me in regards to his character.

[country_bee.livejournal.com]

Forget Priestly and Tish, I still think they should have paired Priestly up with Jen. *nods*

but back to the point on hand...I feel the same way. I get that they were trying to show us that Priestly might have been just a cover for Boaz...but the way they went about it failed. So it looks like Priestly gave up himself for Tish...which is so wrong! Especeially with what the movie is trying to say. I think it would have been better if Priestly showed up as Boaz and Tish showed up all punkish and then they both realize they're being silly and go back to being themselves. Just a cute 2 minute scene! LOL. But yeah I have serious issues with it taking Priestly to morph into Boaz to even turn Tish's head.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Forget Priestly and Tish, I still think they should have paired Priestly up with Jen. *nods*

OMG, yes! They had way more chemistry than him and Tish. He was so protective of her. I just never saw any attraction, especially on Tish’s part.

But yeah I have serious issues with it taking Priestly to morph into Boaz to even turn Tish's head.

I’m glad it’s not just me who feels this way. I just felt that Priestly was selling himself out to get a girl who wasn’t even worthy of him. And that went against the entire theme of the movie. If he would have at least shown up to the beach scene wearing a kilt I’d have been happier, knowing Priestly was still there inside him. But in the end the movie failed me in regards to his character. And that makes me sad.

[airealataiel.livejournal.com]

That was my initial reaction (and, I think, a lot of fans' reactions) but I have come to see it differently now.

I think that Priestly covered himself in tattoos, cut and colored his hair in wild ways, had lots of piercings, and wore witty clothing to mask who he was. By the end, we find out that Priestly is a very intelligent, emotionally deep guy. But in American society, males are expected to be tough, suave, emotionally distant, and cool. Priestly isn't that kind of "macho" guy, but I think that he didn't feel confident about showing his softer side, so instead he decided to portray himself as loud and rebellious.

The fact that he changed in the end shows that he is able to accept himself for who he is internally, and that he's stable enough to portray that acceptance outwardly as well. I think Tish helped him take the first step, but it was through her support rather than her demand that he was able to come out of his protective shell.

Also, I wish I had the link to it, but I read once an interview that Jensen did and he was asked that question or something similar, about whether or not he thought it was hypocritical. I think he had a good answer, so if I ever find it, I'll put it here. :)

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Hmm....I just don’t see it that way. He looked so incredibly uncomfortable with his new appearance. If he would have walked in with his head held high, just as confident in khaki’s as a kilt, then I’d totally see your point. But he was all like, folding in on himself. And he did show his softer side by getting Jen and Fuzzy together.

[shrug] The movie just failed for me in regards to his character. But if you do ever find Jensen’s answer I’d really like to read it.

[cherrymmm.livejournal.com]

Love both versions of Priestly. Love the movie. The change in appearance doesn't mean that much to me.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

I guess it shouldn’t matter so much to me, either, but they were setting up a theme that seemed to apply to everyone but him, which made no sense to me. But Jensen does look great, no matter if in a kilt or khakis. :-)

[maguie.livejournal.com]

Do I think you are over-reacting?
No, a lot of people are very confused with the ending, I think the movie failed to communicate the key message of the movie, in the ending the majority of the audience is:

What????? What happened with don't change yourself for shallow people?!

At first I was confused too, but then I thought, so it doesn't matter what you wear or your style of dress, what it matters is how you are, your inside,,, so it doesn't matter how Priestly dressed, he is the same person, right?

But then, Jensen in a Con said it was because when they were filming the ending he had already shaved, and he didn't want to do the process of put on a fake beard,etc,
so I was like: What??? so sacrifice the main point of the movie, that $$$$$ and is going to be in your resume, and you kind of ruined the ending for something like wardrobe and make up?,, and the director and writer & producers agreed? really????

So I was more confused.

What I think the movie kind of failed to transmit also is why Priestly changed for her?, People change for the people they love, you know the "sometimes you have to give away in somethings" Did he love her? or just liked her physically? Because in the movie I didn't see the connection between Priestly and Tish,

Well, that's what I think :D

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Maggie! Glad I’m not the only one unhappy with the ending. And I agree, they went against the entire theme of the movie because Jensen shaved?? Sorry, but they could have put fake facial hair and a mohawk on him, no matter what he wanted. And if they were concerned that he was going to have to go back and start shooting SPN again, why not film that last scene FIRST?

Because in the movie I didn't see the connection between Priestly and Tish,

Neither did I! There was way more chemistry between Priestly and Jen. They should have ended up together.

[hunters-retreat.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed the movie but I agree about the ending. I can understand him trying to make a point about changing how he looked to ask Tish out. What I didn't get was him still being all clean cut for the beach scene. Even if he couldn't grow out his hair and all that in time... he could still have dyed it blue or green or striped. He could have been wearing his usual style clothes too and not looked so preppy. I think it was just a bad choice to keep him that way. You can say he was trying to look nice for the last scene, but the others wouldn't have cared what he looked like. In fact, from my POV, the characters would have been harassing him a bit about why he looked like he did.

That's just my opinion though :p

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Yeah, see, now if they would have done exactly as you said, had him with at least colored hair, or even in his kilt, I would have been much happier. It would have shown that he was still Priestly and staying true to himself.

Totally Agree

[incendiere.livejournal.com]

This was really the first thing that came to my mind at the movie's end! I was so annoyed and disappointed, because Priestly was an awesome character, who had to change everything about himself just to get the girl, and while I'm glad Jensen acted in it and got to meet Daneel, I was so annoyed!

Re: Totally Agree

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

I’m so glad it wasn’t just me upset with the ending! It just went against everything the movie was preaching and made no sense. I’ll never understand the writer’s reasoning behind that.

[wilde-moon.livejournal.com]

*waves* Hello!

You are not alone, I really didn't like the ending either, and also haven't watched it in a long time largely for that reason. Although my personal headcanon is that his changing was just to make her sit up and take notice, and that he went back to what he likes. But we really shouldn't have to fix it with headcanon to make the ending work with the movie. Whatever the reasoning, the end of the movie fails.

[agt-spooky.livejournal.com]

Hey you!! So good to see you pop up here! 

Glad I’m not the only one not happy with the ending of TIH. You’re not the only one who tries and rationalizes it, but if it’s not actually IN the movie it doesn’t count, you know? I’d love to know the writers reasoning behind going against everything they were preaching, just in regards to Priestly’s character. Be yourself! Just...not you. WTF?