The shower scene
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tommykins-1 — 19 years ago(July 04, 2006 12:22 PM)
But wasn't the point of the scene that she couldn't show (by cringing or trying to cover herself with her hands) that she was afraid or embarrassed by the Chief's presence.
Of course she didn't like it, but showing weakness in this way would weaken her position and strengthen the position of people who felt that women were "too weak" to be a SEAL. The Chief knew this. He deliberately was trying to intimidate her and test her (again).
He could have waited until she came out of the shower with a towel. But he wouldn't have waited if it had been a male trainee, so (since she insisted on being treated like the other trainees, "no better and no worse"), he didn't (and shouldn't) show her that consideration.
She did her best to try and show that it didn't intimidate her, and was successful in holding her difficult position as "just another trainee."
For those of you how haven't gone through this type of selection training, it's impossible to complete the course without help and support from your fellow trainees. The course is set up that way. O'Neill knew this, and that's why she refused the "special consideration" and requested that she be allowed to go through the training "just like the other trainees."
When she convinced the other trainees (in SERE training) that she could take it, and convinced the instructors she could not only take it, but lead, she finally had gotten to the real position of "just another trainee."
"Friends help you move. Real friends help you move
bodies
." -
batgrlforever — 19 years ago(July 07, 2006 09:02 AM)
Good points Tommykins-1. I actually wondered about that scene too because I would have been wierded out.then again since it was Viggo then I wouldn't mind showing off the goods.
"You're not paid to think" -
tommykins-1 — 19 years ago(July 07, 2006 11:37 PM)
Yeah, he was charming, wasn't he. But it's nice to have a woman verify what I assumed (about his charisma as the Chief).
But in the real world, the Chief would just be some muscle-bound thug who was making your (her) life hell. That's what she had to deal with.
"Friends help you move. Real friends help you move
bodies
." -
whitespirit26 — 19 years ago(July 26, 2006 06:04 PM)
Cute as Viggo is, he had no right to show her that disrespect; there are other ways of "testing" trainees. If I were in her position, I would've tried to turn away from him without appearing "weak", but I wouldn't have showed off "the goods". If it wouldn't have gotten me kicked out of the military, I would have said something along the lines of "So is this how you get your sex gratification, by peeping at the trainees? I wonder if the men like that".
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bgreenfl — 19 years ago(August 21, 2006 01:17 PM)
I think tommykins-1 is right on the money - the chief was trying intimidation, and it didn't work.
A couple of "minor" points, that is, minor if you haven't been in the service! SEALS are navy personnel, not marines. In addition, - GI Joe is primarily slang for army types, so its distaff usage in the title is a misnomer. I'm sure the producers thought it was catchy, which is far more important than accuracy. -
Gingerella — 18 years ago(December 31, 2007 12:56 PM)
By treating her exactly the way he would treat a male soldier, the MC expected Jordan to become uncomfortable and maybe cover up; when she didn't, he became uncomfortable. The scene represents a temporary power shift he is forced to respond to her (via the involuntary reaction of staring) as an attractive woman, which gives her a very basic sort of power over him. Her query to him about whether the conversation has ended (so she can put on some clothes) has the slightest hint of a taunt.
It's been a while since I saw this film, so I'm not 100% of the chronology, but I believe that this exchange is one of the reasons why he was so hell-bent to torture her in the training exercise toward the end first because she got him to show "weakness," and second because her femininity was going to be used to demoralize and break her fellow soldiers. -
MillionMonkeys — 19 years ago(September 24, 2006 09:27 AM)
I guess they both understood the importance of this sort of situation during her training. The Master Chief was quite a pr*ck to the trainees, but I believe he had their best interests in mind.
Imagine if a female SEAL were captured during wartime. I think being leered at while showering would be the least of her worries, as things could get rather brutal, don't you think? So the Master Chief is testing O'Neil, and she knows it, so they both go through with the socially awkward situation without blinking.