The Princess Una (Kate Magowan) gets “tricked into being a witches slave”. She is stuck taking care of things while the witch does whatever she wants.
Victoria (Sienna Miller) is also manipulative. She uses Tristan (Charlie Cox) for what she needs. He would “cross oceans or continents” for her. She makes him help her in the shop and only sees him in the night for what she can get out of it. He even runs off to get her “[her] very own star”. She is catty towards men but not women.
The witches are obviously the cattiest ones. Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer), Mormo (Joanna Scanlan), and Empusa (Sarah Alexander) are all vain. Lamia cheats to get to pursue the fallen star and become beautiful. The others are catty and jealous, especially when she disrobes her beautiful body.
Lamia also has immense power over Ditchwater Sal (Melaine Hill). Instead of exchanging information casually or in a friendly manner, she reacts aggressively when she Sal tries to “steal truth” and prevents her from “see[ing], touch[ing], smell[ing], or hear[ing] [the star], even if it stands before [her]”. No trust amongst wishes.
Yvaine (Claire Danes) is the least catty woman. She is patient and respectful, even when her options are be “murdered by pirates, heart cut out and eaten, [and] meet Victoria”.
Una does try to help Yvaine, too. She takes over the wagon and goes recklessly fast to save her. But it does not really work out in the end.
This leads to the best representation of cattiness in this movie. Ditchwater Sal and Lamia get into a witches battle over the star one of them cannot even see. Ultimately, Lamia wins.
The only time women are shown working together is when Lamia is trying to take advantage of Yvaine. She offers her a bath and massage just to get the chance to cut her heart out.
Even the men get along! Captain Shakespeare (Robert De Niro) and Ferdy the Fence (Ricky Gervais) have some banter. They bicker in negotiations but ultimately are willing to work together.
What can we learn from these women? Cattiness will ultimately get you killed. However, respect and teamwork will save and protect you.
Did you know this was a book too??? Well, as always, the two storylines are comparable.
Unwaveringly, I love the tropes of movies.
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