“What do we do?!” wails San Lin – a capable scientist herself. Brooks is suddenly gripped by a surge of authority, and powers the boat toward the survivors, before opening fire on the giant Skullcrusher. San Lin is the embodiment of passivity in a female movie character – having nothing but questions, while the men around her provide the answers. And then, as quickly as she seems to burst into life, San Lin fades into the background once more – overshadowed by the men in the story, who have Lots Of Important And Decisive Things To Say.

There are other women that float into the frame every once in a while. There is a Secretary O’Brien, played by Allyn Rachel, ‘Thug’s Girlfriend’ played by Cynthy Wu, and ‘Marl...

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