I thought the 'Legally Blonde' films were quite amusing, but I understood the Elle Woods character to be a comic creation, rather than a role model for how women should be. I imagine if most professional women went around squeaking and squealing and simpering the way she does they would not get very far in real life. Why does 'being feminine' have to mean being an airhead? There is no reason why a woman should have to behave like the Elle Woods character in order to be considered 'feminine'. I couldn't go on like she does in order to save my life, and if that means I'm not 'feminine' then that's all right with me. If 'feminine' means behaving like an idiot, then I'd just as soon not be.

I like Emma Wodehouse, she is an amusing character, though I can't say that I admire her exactly, she does have likeable characterisitics though. Her incredible patience with her tiresome old father is probably her most attractive characterisitc, her tiresome interfering in Harriet's life is reprehensivble, thoiugh she is not entirely to blame for it. If Harriet were not such a fool, she would be able to resist Emma's interference. It isn't entirely the fault of strong people if weak people allow themselves to be led into folly, the weak people who let themselves be led must bear some of the blame.

I haven't seen 'Legend of Zorro' I saw the previous film and didn't like it much, I thought it was too gloomy. Demure and ladylike heroines don't appeal to me much, so if Elena does let rip in this film that's all to the good. I'm not much of a fan of Catherine Zeta-Jones though. Years ago, somebody told me I looked just like the actress who was appearing with her in a mini-series. In this series, Zeta-Jones eventually gets dumped by her husband for the actress who (apparently) looked like me. I regret to say I have regarded Miss Zeta-Jones with a somewhat patronising eye ever since because, poor thing, she got dumped for MY look-alike.

Katherine Hepburn in 'The African Queen'. When they're going down the rapids and Bogart expects her to be terrified and instead she's thrilled "I never dreamed any mere physical experience could be so stimulating!" she says. He's stunned with admiration for her. And again later in the film when he wants to give up the attempt to get to the lake and blow up the German battleship and she makes him go on "Nature, Mr Allnutt is what we are put in this world to rise above" she says.

And Katherine Hepburn again in 'Desk Set' where Spencer Tracy is giving her an intelligence test and she runs rings around him and answere every single question correctly. "Are they goldfish?" she asks him as the answer to one question. "No" he says "They were rare tropical fish - like you". and then later in the film she manages to completely screw up his patent computer and cause it to blow a fuse - I love that bit.

Kahtleen Turner in 'Romancing the Stone' the bit where she's fighting for her life with the villain and they're over the crocodile pool and she suddenly has the brilliant idea of taking his cigar out of his mouth and poking it in his eye, and he falls into the pool and gets eaten by the crocodiles. That's really quick thinking under pressure.

The utterly delectable Sophie Marceau in 'D'artagnan's Daughter' she won't be left to live meekly at the convent, and wears down her father's resitance to let her learn swordfighting and become a musketeer. Trying to take on the baddies before she even has a clue how to use a sword - I admire her for that.

Mulan - I admire her for triumphing over masculine prejudice, succeding as a soldier and saving China. My favourite bit in the film - possibly my favourite bit in any film, is where Captain Shang has told her to go home because she's useless and he'll never make a man out of her, and she figures out how to climb the pole with the weights round her arms, and he comes out of his tent and there she is sitting quietly on top of the pole and she hurls the arrow down at his feet, that's a great moment, invariably brings tears to my eyes no matter how often I see it.

I have to say though that although I enjoyed the 'Legally Blonde' films, I really would be disconcerted if I wanted a lawyer and some girl came wiggling in squealing that she'd broken a fingernail or something. It would not encourage me to want to trust my business to her. If I wanted to hire a lawyer I'd be looking for businesslike rather than girly. 'Everyone is masculine at work' as Dr pat Allen says, and I sort of agree with her, though I would substitute 'Businesslike' for 'masculine'. I wouldn't be inclined to trust either an airhead bimbo or for that matter some macho bloke who came in swaggering about and being very 'alpha'.

The incomparable Mae West in 'She Done Him Wrong'. when the girl tries to kill herself because she's been deceived and abandoned by her lover, and Mae West saves her and gives her smart new clothes and encourages her to get on with her life. when the girl says that no man will want her now because of her past Mae West replies "When women go wrong men go right after them" A magnificent blow against the double standard.

Gosh no, I'm afraid not, I wish I was! I would love to be brave and adventurous and resourceful and clever like they are, but I'm not unfortunately. Not at all.

'Desk Set' is a wonderful film. It's very unusual in that it is about a group of women who work together (in a reference library), and they all like their job and they all like each other and they all get on so well, it's a sort of idyllic picture of women at work such as i've seldom ever seen on film before. There are films about women making their way in careers and outsmarting the male competition, but this film is very rare in presenting an idealised view of women working together. The climax of the film, when they stand there watching happily as the computer that they believe (mistakenly) has been brought in to replace them goes haywire is marvellous. It's my absolute favourite Katherine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy film, though 'Woman of the Year' 'Adam's Rib' and 'Pat and Mike' are all good too.

Your article was a very entertaining read, I enjoyed it very much. I certainly enjoyed the 'Legally Blonde' films, but the heroine is someone I would be a bit startled to encounter in a lawyer's office in real life. I think she belongs on film.

Chocolatetresses said, "I guess this is one area were women excel and men are left dumbfounded– the subtle and not so subtle power plays between women.

Power plays aside – that film Desk Set sounds great. Women can be such great comrades too."

Several years ago, before I met R (my DW), I worked at an elementary school as an interpreter for a hearing impaired child. There were about 50 women... teachers, janitors, admin, lunch ladies. I was the only male staff member on campus. It had been so long since a man had worked there, they had turned the men's room into a storage room :)

I watched the power plays, and I was blown away by some of the stuff that went on. The cliques, the backstabbing, the gossip. I was dumbfounded. The people who they liked though, they would do anything for them. Loyal to the core for their friends.

R is a second grade teacher, and I hear about some of the things that go on at her school. Definately keeps you on your toes!

I have not seen Emma, but I certainly agree with the other two choices :)

I have often said, if I wrote the scripts for movies there would be more spanking scenes...

There have been many times that I have loved the female lead but thought that she could be slightly improved of only she found herself otk of her male lead...

Some of you may be saying "uhg!" or "who?". Well Carrie Bradshaw is the leading character in the TV series and movie, "Sex and the City". I admire her because she is a strong, professional woman who has made mistakes, but keeps going anyway. She is sexy, funny and a good friend. While the TV show doesn't show her as having any overt Taken In Hand inclinations, the undercurrents of what she wants with her favoirte beau sends the signal that she wants to be controled a little by the right man. (I am right there with her!). And when she gets her favorite beau, he "colors outside the lines" & she surrenders to him...It's delicious!

Finally, I think the reason I like this character is because she isn't an air-head & she isn't 20 something or 30 something... I'm in my late 40's and really get tired of watching movies that glamorize youth (20's). While I remember 'young love', I like the fact that this character is more about 'adult relationships/love'

M