Kink, BDSM and Fifty Shades of Grey: Global release and reviews and criticism

The release of Fifty Shades of Grey is a global phenomenon. The film, adopted from British writer E.L. James’s steamy novel, opened this week in 57 international markets. While the film is not released in many countries, it has been declared suitable for anyone older than 12 years of age in France.

Fifty Shades of Grey is the first volume in a trilogy and the three novels have sold more than 100 million copies in 52 languages. The movie films around a kinky relationship between a wealthy Mr. Grey and a beautiful college girl and includes BDSM scenes that depict the alternative sexual plays like blindfold, bondage and whipping.

Given the controversial issues surrounding the movie, it is unclear whether the film will be screened in India or throughout the Middle East. At the film’s London premiere, James said that even her novel was banned in a few countries.

Theoden Janes, who writes about entertainment for the Charlotte Observer, mentioned that the movie had plenty of what the audience expects to see including steamy sex scenes in blindfolds, neckties, chairs, bathtubs and Christian Grey’s “Red Room of Pain.”

Stephen Rebello writes for playboy.com that Dakota Johnson makes the movie worth seeing with her “ferociously” brave scenes. However, Jamie Dornan doesn’t bring much to the story except his torso and S&M toys. Rebello says the movie is more about power than about sex.

Vox reviewer describes Fifty Shades of Grey as brilliantly hilarious and Dakota Johnson as comedic genius.

While the movie is released in Canada, a Conservative Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul, Manitoba, Joy Smith is calling to boycott it. She feels that the film is about degradation, humiliation and the abuse of women by men. The movie might convey to women that abuse can be romantic and to men that women love to be “controlled and assaulted.”