After maybe one too many posts about life and psychology, let’s get back to the thing that started it all: my love for movies.

The title may intrigue you, no, I didn’t spell Bambi the wrong way, I just wanted to give the whole Barbenheimer movement a personal touch: you see, bomb and Barbie, ain’t I a smart cookie?

So, first of all, I’m a millennial, that means I saw the movies in two separate days. No Gen Z trends for me this time. I have to stretch, maybe even lie down for a couple of minutes after going to the cinema, I miss my home and my cat, so the idea of watching them back to back was out of the question.

Second of all, being a highly educated woman raised by two highly educated parents (insert sarcastic tone here) it was safe to assume that I would appreciate Oppenheimer more because it’s a historical thriller drama depicting the life and work of one of the twentieth century’s most influential scientist (read here with a snobbish sarcastic tone), whereas Barbie is a superficial comedy about a doll. Little did I know…

Luckily enough, I saw Oppenheimer first. Maybe it’s because I expected a sort of A Beautiful Mind or maybe because I like Cillian Murphy oh, so much, but the movie did not live up to my expectations. The story seemed diluted and the characters were impersonal. I figured out, after watching the three hours of Oppenheimer that, in order for me to appreciate a movie deeply, I need to connect with at least one of the characters or one of the plot lines. In the case of Christopher Nolan’s movie, neither happened. Even though they call him Oppie at times, even though Cillian smiles more in those three hours than over the whole Peaky Blinders series, I didn’t grow to care for him, to empathize with his story.

Compensating for these aspects are, in my humble opinion, two elements: the cinematography, the way in which Nolan manages to capture some astonishing views and frames, and Robert Downey Jr. He wonderfully portrays an Oppenheimer-hating senator and succeeds in really building a character, which I cannot say for the other main actors in the movie. I was surprised with his performance and quite frankly amazed by him, maybe even forgiving him a little (I have a personal vendetta, a beef, if you will, with him because of how he quit Ally McBeal, leaving both Ally and myself heartbroken).

On the other side of the spectrum we have Barbie. I went to the cinema very skeptical, waiting to be suffocated by the pink, perfect universe of Barbieland. I fearfully entered the movie theater as it was packed with teenagers. Dreading that they would talk and laugh throughout the whole movie, my skepticism grew even more. Indeed, they were very loud during the commercials and trailers, but then…magic happened. As soon as the movie started, the hall became silent. Although I don’t think they knew that the opening scene was mirroring that of 2001: A Space Odyssey, they were captivated. So was I.

Even though throughout the whole movie I could sense the feminism, it didn’t bother me. Don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate all the privileges I have, but, in the words of Pheobe Buffay I know! I know. We can drive. We can vote. We can work. What more do these women want? meaning that, as much as I appreciate the benefits, I don’t need to see them all over the place for two hours.

But Barbie was something else. The plot twist was good, the writing was witty, the jokes were on point, the songs were catchy and funny, Margot Robbie was surprisingly lovable for such a stereotypical character, Michael Cera was quite amusing and, the cherry on top, Ryan Gosling, the Ken we never knew we needed: cocky, but sensitive, misogynistic, but good at heart. All in all, a great cinematic experience.

This comparison proves, yet again, how movies can surprise us. The lesson I’ve learnt? Leave all preconceptions at the door when you enter a movie theater, be prepared for surprises and just enjoy!