Sine Qua Non

A little bit of adult content. You have been warned!

For movie night yesterday evening, Herself and the Menfolk watched Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. It's a pleasant, entertaining film.  Not to mention, full of eye candy.

Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft is quite alluring:  clever, self-possessed, athletic, sensual and voluptuous.  Hooty hoo!  Her character is also a bit careless and reckless - not winsome characteristics, but traits which can be momentarily overlooked as we are mesmerized by her curves. Oh, my.

The movie also treats the viewer to the interesting sight of a nearly nude Daniel Craig. There are artfully arranged objects -- shower pipes, a table, Lara Croft's boots -- to prevent us from beholding his Manly Package, but otherwise, there is a great deal of his skin showing.  His character is rather two-dimensional, brash and money-hungry, with little else to round out any projected personality.

Herself thinks back to her contemplation of what makes a man attractive, and realizes that while Daniel Craig is physically a well-formed specimen of man, he's not particularly attractive in the context of the movie. In fact, truth be told:  Herself found Angelina Jolie far more interesting to view than Daniel Craig.  She'd much rather be Angelina Jolie than be with Daniel Craig in Tomb Raider.

Herself wonders whether it's a sign of her age that she does not find beefcake pictures or those types of movies (see, e.g., her assessment of Magic Mike) to be of much interest. Or perhaps it's just her? Is she odd in requiring mental characteristics such as intelligence and humor, as the sine qua non of attractiveness?

When she chats with her ladyfriends as they daydream about which Hollywood star with whom they'd most like to spend Quality Naked Time, Herself has nothing to contribute.  Yes, many of the men are easy on the eyes. They have carefully tended muscles and artful scruff. Still:  unless he's a man with wit and intellect -- and with both a sufficient modesty to be a tad concerned about taking off his clothes, as well as a yearning desire for Herself that renders him brave enough to do so -- he would not be for her.