Fifty Shades of Grey ($569,651,467)

When E.L. James published her mega-selling 2011 erotic novel “Fifty Shades of Grey,” she introduced bondage to the mainstream with her love story about kinky businessman Christian Grey who seduces a college virgin named Anastasia Steele.

On Friday, Universal Pictures will finally unveil the much-hyped movie adaptation, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The tentpole Valentine’s release has for months generated buzz about the steamy love scenes between its two leads, played by Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson.

But how realistic is the sex in “Fifty Shades?” To help answer that question, I took along an expert to an early screening in New York this week. Lena Marquise, who goes by the stage name “Mistress Lady Wednesday,” has worked as a dominatrix for a decade (she charges up to $500 an hour). Here’s what the 29-year-old had to say about the movie.

I noticed you kept laughing during the spanking scenes.
He didn’t really flog her. There’s flogging, and there’s letting leather bits drop on someone’s body. I think he spanked her correctly once the whole time, which is with the hand up, complete impact with a thud. It’s all in the hand. And you don’t hit someone’s stomach.

Christian makes Anastasia sign an S&M contract. Is that something you’ve encountered?
No, and there’s an inaccuracy. In the contract, the word submissive was capitalized. It’s always supposed to be lowercase. That was an oversight.

What about the harnesses?
That was basic. The way he tied her with his tie, that’s close to “Shibari,” which is Japanese rope bondage. But he didn’t tie her to anything. He didn’t fully commit! And when he finally committed with the ropes to the rings, that was the quick slip-knot method. To me, that’s dangerous. She doesn’t know what she’s doing, so she’s going to be pulling against them, which can damage your nerves. When you know someone is pulling, you want to make sure it’s not tight, so you don’t cut off circulation.

He kept his jeans on during most of the love scenes.
That’s so Cinemax. I liked it, because it was a leather-daddy fantasy — like, “I’m not even going to bother taking my pants off, because this is so quick and dirty.” The one time he did fully commit is when he was taking her virginity, which is the best sex scene.

Should there have been more nudity?
We do see his butt twice. That was a lot. There were a lot of boobs in the movie too. Both actors were fairly unattractive. The guy reminded me of my controlling ex.

You didn’t think the movie was sexy?
I think portions were, like, “softcore sexy.” It was pretty, but it wasn’t kinky or hot.

How could they have improved it?
According to me, I think he could have dribbled a little more wine down her face or into her mouth. He could have pried her mouth open with more fingers—that’s not explicit. There were no gags. People are really adverse to gags for some reason.

Christian refuses to sleep in bed with Anastasia. Is that normal?
It’s personal. I wouldn’t want to sleep in the same bed as someone I just spent 36 hours playing with.

Is the movie better than the book?
I think because of the comedic relief, it was better. They focused on comedy, because I think the writers knew a lot of people would have a negative reaction to the film. If you have any experience in the world of BDSM or kink or fetishism, generally you’re a more balanced person and you don’t have all the hangups the characters have.

How would you rate Jamie Dornan’s performance?
I’d give him a four or five out of 10. I thought he was blank. All he did was check email and play the piano.

What about Dakota Johnson?
I think she was more of a 6. She was definitely curious. She was willing to explore. She was also more confident and quirky.

Do you think they had good chemistry?
No, they had tension, but they didn’t have chemistry. The chemistry was created by camera angles. They didn’t hold the shots long enough, and it seemed like there was last-minute editing.

A Professional Dominatrix’s Grade for “Fifty Shades”: B-/C+
“I was engaged because it was funny. Aesthetically, it was pleasing. I’m a huge sucker for production design.”

ForeverBlu wrote:Why didn't they hire a real Dominatrix as a Consultant?

ForeverBlu wrote:It's been rumored that Dorman and Johnson can't stand  each other.

UltimateMarvel wrote:My sister is going to check it out though and she's read the book too.

Tyger wrote:So you're saying your sister is kinda kinky? Is she single?

UltimateMarvel wrote:

Tyger wrote:So you're saying your sister is kinda kinky? Is she single?

LOL! That's what you took away from that, is it? She's none of your business is what she is.

WyldeMan wrote:I'm already more interested in Abe's sister than I am in this movie. So Abe, tell us about your sister anyways, what's her favorite chapter?

UltimateMarvel wrote:Wow! I expected as much though honestly. The hype alone guaranteed this result no matter who was cast. It's insane! Now they're starting to talk sequels. I thought this movie would cover all the books.

Universal is reporting Fifty Shades of Grey with a three-day weekend of $81.67M and a projected four-day of $90.658M at 3,646 playdates. Quite clearly, Fifty Shades holds the best Presidents Day weekend opening record of all-time. Among February bows, Fifty Shades ranks a close second behind Passion of the Christ which has the top FSS for the month and top R-rated opening with $83.8M. Fifty Shades earned $8.6M in Thursday previews which was counted in its $30.3M Friday. In terms of whether Valentine’s Day would spike the B.O. for Fifty Shades or if its first day grosses were front-loaded, Fifty Shades saw a 21% uptick yesterday with $36.679M.  Per screen for FSS is $22,400 and that should rise to $24,865 over FSSM.

Said Universal domestic distribution president, Nicholas Carpou, “Universal is absolutely celebrating the weekend’s results. We couldn’t be happier. Several teams at Universal deserve credit on making this film a huge success.  The production team worked hard to make the film accessible to the widest audience possible. The marketing team pushed great results with its release date strategy change and designing a campaign that expanded the amount of people that would come to this film.”

ForeverBlu wrote:Well,there's millions of sexually starved/neglected women out there.

Universal just announced that Fifty Shades Of Grey sequel Fifty Shades Darker will be released on February 10, 2017 and the third installment, Fifty Shades Freed will bow on February 9, 2018.

UltimateMarvel wrote:Don't get me started on the leather belt scene, I watched it alone but it made me SO UNCOMFORTABLE! I can't imagine watching this with someone else let alone in the theaters. I was like, "The fuck is wrong with this guy?" And the movie ended with a cliff hanger too which I won't lie made me curious to see what happens next. I asked my sis and she said you'll know more about Christian and why he's fucked up in the other two books/movies.

I liked the sex scenes but........that's about it folks.

WyldeMan wrote:The fact that the girl I watched it with didn't even seem phased by that abusive sequence kind of took me aback a bit to be honest. I was feeling really uncomfortable watching that sequence,  she's bent over, crying and being smacked hard with a metal studded leather belt while he's trying not to blow his load in his pants listening to her cry, how the fuck is that erotic? I really had no idea what the books were about beyond some bondage play but I had absolutely no idea what a massive piece of shit that guy is and since they never bothered to give us backstory other than that he was banging a cougar when he was 15 and that he's a sadist I really didn't have much to form an opinion of the guy. I myself not the least bit into hurting women, it's just not my bag and it's kind of sad to see that this insanely popular story is about nothing more than a fucked up individual hurting sweet girls cause he had a shitty childhood and no desire for conventional therapy methods. I don't know, just found the sex scenes pretty boring and for a movie that's all about getting off, I was a bit bothered that she never actually got off, not once, in the entire movie.

UltimateMarvel wrote:I agree. What we need is someone who liked the movie to tell us whatever it is that we seem to be not understanding.. lol!

Anna was never into the whole thing and it's obvious from the start but she went along with it because she liked him. Everything she did in the movie I understood but everything Christian did and how he acted towards her even though he loved her, that I did not get. If he's so into it, he should have been on that table while she did that to him.

This movie taught me one thing......how not to treat woman. But if you meet a woman who is into this type of thing then get ready for pain. lol!

WyldeMan wrote:I understand the Dom/Sub scene, it's just that there was so little story here that they never told us why he was such a piece of shit. It's one thing to play the games but he was pretty much a dick to her all the time, she was a fuck toy and I never thought he really cared much for her. He just kept pouting and throwing tantrums like a child when she'd touch him or ask to sleep next to him. That guy is a dick so of course women would love him, they always do, it's in their programming.

UltimateMarvel wrote:

WyldeMan wrote:I understand the Dom/Sub scene, it's just that there was so little story here that they never told us why he was such a piece of shit. It's one thing to play the games but he was pretty much a dick to her all the time, she was a fuck toy and I never thought he really cared much for her. He just kept pouting and throwing tantrums like a child when she'd touch him or ask to sleep next to him. That guy is a dick so of course women would love him, they always do, it's in their programming.

Yeah, he kept his distance emotionally for sure and at the same time sent mixed messages to the poor girl. Backstory on him would have helped make sense of the situation. I think the older woman he mentioned messed him up and it's probably why he can't have a relationship.....a healthy one anyway. I do wonder if his family or his brother know about the red room, didn't seem like it.

WyldeMan wrote:Seemed to me like they just saved their story for the sequels which in my opinion is a terrible way to do business. Stop worrying about franchises and just focus on the first movie.

That poor 15 year old boy, traumatized by becoming the willing sex slave of a controlling older woman.....poor him. Now I understand why he likes to hurt women.

WyldeMan wrote:Joey's girl Caitlin Stasey called her ass out! LOL. It's all true though, I kept thinking how insanely fucked up that guy was and any woman he finds him to be her ideal match needs to dedicate the rest of their life to intense psycho therapy.

GrooThePerverted wrote:I much preferred THIS which was a fanstastic, if a bit disturbing, movie.  Also love the little dig in the updated poster art. lol

ForeverBlu wrote:This is Twilight for sexually frustrated Soccer moms.

Tyger wrote:I'm assuming that's a fan made poster for Secretary, which has no business being compared to 50 Shades.

Tyger wrote:Sad.