Let’s get this out of the way at the start: I’ve yet to see “Jurassic World,” so I haven’t formed my professional opinion on the below subjects (aka weak female characters in film). But I have had plenty of time to read a few of the pieces teasing Colin Trevorrow, “Jurassic World’s” director, about requesting that Bryce Dallas Howard, the film’s co-star, wear high heels through the action scenes in the movie.

Most of the coverage centers on the whole “are you serious” factor. Jezebel did a “best ofs” quote list that features Howard talking about Trevorrow’s decision to have her in heels throughout the entire film. This quote, pulled from Variety, features Howard explaining that she was against the wardrobe choice at first, but changed her mind down the line:

“At the beginning I was kind of against the idea of wearing them, but then one day while looking at the terrain prior to a shoot, I just looked at Colin and said, ‘I think I’ll keep the shoes on.’”

And the above quote jives with Trevorrow’s telling of the heel story. This was the director’s reaction when the question was posed by io9:

“I know. I mean, look, I had that conversation with her so many times, and she insisted on wearing those heels. They meant something to her personally. She felt like, this is her talking, that those heels were her shield in a certain way as a woman. That’s just how she felt. She felt like surrendering the heels felt like surrendering the femininity of the character, even though women are — I don’t want to say forced to wear heels — but you’re expected to wear heels in certain environments.”

And while I get that idea, I still am left with this thought: But in real life, this woman would have died while running through a muddy jungle in heels.

Sure, heels were used to tell a story about Howard’s pristine, corporate character, but I still think that something could have been done about those heels once Howard ran into the jungle.

And that leads us to probably the best takedown of Howard’s wardrobe yet.

The Dissolve published a great piece that pretty much states that they, too, get why Howard was initially clad in heels. But the director’s choice to allow/make/whatever Howard to continue to wear the heels as the story progressed wasn’t sexist — it was merely bad storytelling:

“It’s one thing to completely ignore an aspect of your story that doesn’t make sense in the real world; streamlining is necessary in screenwriting, and not every little detail can go remarked upon. But it’s another matter to introduce a problem with your character’s wardrobe and then neglect to satisfactorily solve it, as Jurassic World does. The film’s script utilizes Claire’s wardrobe to tell a part of its story—and to make a joke—but it doesn’t go all the way with it.”

Howard’s character sure isn’t the first female lead to be plagued with poor character development, and she definitely won’t be the last. However, it is nice that more and more entertainment outlets are calling directors and screenwriters out for bad storytelling. After all: moviegoers (and female characters) deserve better.

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TV shows come and go, but these fierce quotes from our favorite female characters will never go out of style.

1. “I’m saying, in the spirit of science, what is that little skank’s problem?” -Amy Farrah Fowler
2. “It’s one thing to say you’re gonna let go, it’s another to actually do it – to loosen your grip and let yourself fall.” -Felicity Porter
3. “My gut tells me everything I need to know.” -Olivia Pope
4. “I can be flexible. As long as everything is exactly the way I want it, I’m totally flexible.” -Lorelai Gilmore
5. “You say potato, I say vodka.” -Karen Walker
6. “I guess some people object to powerful depictions of awesome ladies.” -Leslie Knope
7. “I’m an individual. And I feel how I feel when I feel it.” -Hannah Horvath
8. “These men. Constantly building them up, and for what? Dinner and jewelry? Who cares?” -Joan Holloway
9. “You call it crazy. I call it winning.” -Annalise Keating
10. “Eeeewwwww.” -Lucy Ricardo
11. “I am often the statistical deviation.” -Maxine Gray
12. “Fine, judge all you want, but married a lesbian, left a man at the altar, fell in love with a gay ice dancer, threw a girl’s wooden leg in the fire, LIVE IN A BOX.” -Monica Geller
13. “I just need to ride out this minor humiliation until I find my Kanye.” -Mindy Lahiri
14. “Men are such idiots, even the smart ones.” -Virginia Johnson
15. “By all means, attribute my legitimate feelings of sadness to menses.” -Piper Chapman
16. “Ugh, couples.” -Jessica Day
17. “I am laughing, just not externally.” -Cristina Yang
18. “I like irons, but I love fire.” -Claire Underwood
19. “I’m not the one who got it wrong. I’m the only one who got it right.” -Carrie Mathison
20. “I want to live my life so that I’ll be able to read an in-depth biography about myself in later years and not puke.” -Paris Gellar
21. “My vagina waits for no man.” -Samantha Jones
22. “I’m an experienced woman. I’ve been around… Well, all right, I might not’ve been around, but I’ve been… nearby.” -Mary Richards
23. “Why are my arms so weak? It’s like I did that push-up last year for nothing!” -Liz Lemon
24. “Okay, I think this will make more sense if I get more wine.” -Alicia Florrick

Who are your favorite female characters on TV?

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The post 24 Best Quotes From Our Favorite Female Characters on TV appeared first on EcoSalon.

Television is filled with incredibly smart and compassionate female characters these days. We’ve rounded up 6 of our favorite female characters on television who exude intelligence, feminist values, and character.

1. Lorelai Gilmore from “The Gilmore Girls”

Yes, this show is long over, but it was recently added on Netflix, so it’s garnering a lot of attention these days. Lorelai is the mother of Rory, smart-witted teen, and the daughter of Emily, rich, often misguided, but still sweet-in-her-own-way woman. Lorelai is a killer mom and an incredibly strong-willed woman. She is a young mom who raised her daughter on her own, and had enough gumption to learn how to run her own inn, too. Lorelai never lets the men in her life guide her decisions, and she’s a awesome friend to boot. (Her and Sookie, her best friend and the chef at the inn, represent what modern female friendship is all about.)

2. Kristina Braverman from “Parenthood”

Kristina is the wife of Adam Braverman. She and her husband have one of the most realistic marriages I’ve seen depicted on television. Their love for each other, and their kids, is flawless. Over the years, Kristina has fought cancer (and won), helped her son cope with his Asperger’s diagnosis, and accepted her lesbian daughter with loving, open arms.

3. Mindy Lahiri from “The Mindy Project”

Mindy is not perfect. In fact, she’s far from it. But that’s why I love her so much. Sure she says inappropriate things and acts like a child much of the time, but that still doesn’t make her any less successful. She’s a smart and successful OBGYN who may have some issues in her personal life. But she’s still dedicated to the health of her patients and tries (when she has the time) to be a good friend.

4. Joan Holloway from “Mad Men”

Joan is a smart woman who has learned how to be successful – and make a lot of money – in a man’s world. Joan has grown a lot since the beginning of this series. Through the years, she’s survived a rape and a horrible marriage, raised a child on her own, and has kept control of the office in times of crisis. Also: She’s learned how to befriend women and has become an unlikely mentor to other lovely female characters: Peggy Olson and Dawn Chambers.

5. Diane Lockhart from “The Good Wife”

Diane doesn’t take crap from anyone. She helped found one of the most successful firms and Chicago, and then left to help grow a small, indie firm to shake her life up. She hits just as hard as the boys, and has found love without compromising her beliefs, values, or pride. Also: She’s one of the older women on television. She proves that you still can be smart, sexy, and scary after 40.

6. Deputy U.S. Marshal Rachel Brooks from “Justified”

Rachel doesn’t have a lot of screen time on “Justified,” but when she is front-and-center on the show, she shines. She’s smart, wily and one of the only people who can handle Raylan Givens, the mostly uncontrollable U.S. Marshal. She never lets any of the “bad” guys get to her, and handles all their attacks (many of which are racial and gendered) with a sly coolness.

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This week, we bring you 6 streaming movies that have iconic female characters. Girl power!

Sometimes all I want to do is chill and watch a killer chick stick it to some brute. Whenever a strong female character in a film uses her brain, strength or words to persevere, it makes me think, “heck, yeah. That’s a woman to admire.”

Streaming for free on Netflix

1. “Silence of the Lambs”: Clarice Starling may merely be an FBI trainee, but she is tough enough to work with Hannibal Lecter, a psychiatrist turned cannibal. This classic film will make for a creepy evening but will remind you that: Yes, women truly can handle everything that’s thrown at them.

2. “Charade”: Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn), a widower, finds out that her deceased husband was a spy. After she gets this dreadful news she soon finds out that the thing that got him killed is on her person. After discovering this intriguing news, she has to navigate amongst various men who are after what her husband left behind, but who can she trust? Her smarts and wily attitude help her navigate the dangerous landscape in this must-see classic.

Streaming for free on Amazon Prime

3. and 4. “Kill Bill” volumes one and two: “Kill Bill” one and two are filled with amazing female characters who are smart and every bit as dangerous as the boys. Both films follow the Bride, played by Uma Thurman, as she avenges the death of her loved ones. In each film she takes down deadly assassins to get to get to her former boss, Bill.

Streaming on HuluPlus

5. “Guarding Tess“: Tess is a stringent and stubborn former first lady who gets along with no one. Well, almost no one. Tess has taken a strange shine to one of her reluctant bodyguards. Watch as the the duo’s strange friendship blossoms in some very unexpected, but sweet, ways.

Streaming on Vudu

6. “Harold and Maude“: Harold is a young man who is totally over the world and fantasizes about the sweet release of death. Good thing he meets Maude, a much older woman who shows him all the wonderful things that life has to offer. Truth be told, Maude is probably one of the best female characters ever written. This one is a must watch. Rent this beautiful love story for as low as $2.99.

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