Super Heroine’s: Time for Change?

Just to inform: I am a male blogger, writing this as truthfully and unbiased as I can.

I do not know if it is a prerequisite for all stand alone female lead superhero movies to be awful… But they just are? Catwoman, Elektra, even the planned Wonder Woman TV show was cancelled before its initial release date… Why? How can strong and powerful characters like Black Widow and Silk Spectre have decent back stories developed in a male dominated environment, but not have successful independent movies? Is there not enough traction?

I believe that without female super heroes (or super heroines) the comic book world, either on page or screen, would be considerably dull; it let’s us know, as an audience, that the female presence is absolutely necessary. For men, it is something to look at and most certainly an impressive watch when those much like Mystique and Batgirl can easily best Beast and Batman. For female audiences, I guess it would have the same effect on them as watching Captain America or Superman has on men; an aspiration and mild loathing at how good looking and fit they look. Alternatively, it could be seen as an intrusion; let the men do all the fighting; let them get on with it? I do not know. All I know is, that as it stands, the solo female lead super hero movies have not been received well and I am worried for future ones, I.E Wonder Woman.

I was so excited upon hearing that Warner Bros would make a Catwoman spin-off. One of the great fictional female icons had a film! Starring Halle Berry and Sharon Stone, the film had it’s own origin for the story and was a milestone with the first black Catwoman on the big screen. But… Well, need I say it. It was a flop of epic proportions and Halle Berry supposedly only took up her role of another comic book character, Storm, in X-Men 3: The Last Stand in an attempt to rid the failure of this movie. Awkward.

Following this, a Marvel character would get her own spin-off. Elektra! Jennifer Garner would reprise her ninja character from Daredevil to take up the sai once more. Elektra is my all time favourite female comic book personality, so needless to say, the movie was hotly anticipated. Doing certainly better than Catwoman at the box office, it was still a tremendous disappointment. I still loved both these products of cinema over-enthusiasm, but as I have grown up on them; I can appreciate the more sour taste they leave come the credit roll.

Now, new images have been released from the set of DC’s latest cinematic escapade “Suicide Squad” and these prominently feature the leading lady, Margot Robbie as none other than Joker’s right hand gal: Harley Quinn. This will be her first big screen showing in a live action film. Writing this, I realise I have put “leading lady” and “right hand gal” in the same sentence; no the film is not all about her character; if the film stays true to it, she is more of a side kick. That is a shame; I hope she gets plenty of screen time, as she is certainly one of the more bulshy female antagonists to grace the comic book universe. 

At the moment, the main woman heading up for female comic book characters is undeniably Scarlett Johanson’s Black Widow and I have to hand it to Marvel; despite not having her own spin-off, she certainly is a focal point. Marvel have continued to introduce strong female leads into their films and TV shows such as Cobie Smulder’s Agent Marie Hill and Zoe Saldana’s, Gamora. But, nevertheless, they are supporting characters to the male dominated plot’s in Captain America and Guardians of the Galaxy (where Gamora is the only woman.)

This is the same with Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacey in The Amazing Spiderman 1 & 2. It detracted from the “damsel in distress” and gave her great intellect in comparison to even Peter Parker, which was nice to see… but ultimately, she was a plot device for him; a love interest and her death only made that considerably more focal.

All this makes me fearful as to whether the new Wonder Woman played by Gal Gadot will be successful; to be introduced in Batman VS Superman: Dawn of Justice, this will be the a completely new generation of Wonder Woman; the pinnacle of female superheroes. There was alot of back lash about Gal Gadot being too skinny, which I felt was unjust, but her first promotional image made her look beautiful and formidable. I do no know how audiences will take it, but I just hope we’ll finally see a successful female lead super hero movie! Fingers crossed. So that is my brief summary; controversial as it may seem, this is how it seems and it’s about time we got a great lady hero movie!

Read on and Prosper!

The Batman Begins Again Part 1

With a long awaited trailer for the new DC Superhero mega blockbuster “Batman VS Superman: Dawn of Justice” to make its debut come May 15th, I’ll be shedding a little insight on the Batmen of the past and the future.

“Batman Forever” hit cinemas the year I was born, so I have become accustomed to a more serious Batman. So when I start with the famous and brilliantly campy Adam West Batman, forgive me if I am slightly skeptical. “Shark repellent Batspray… Salt and corrosion; the infamous old enemies of a crime fighter… Let’s leave Robin,but inconspicuously; through the window…” How brilliant. Despite the ridiculous circumstances and over-theatrical nature of the show, the production value for a 1960’s TV show was undeniably impressive. If you want a good laugh and are familiar with the characters, then for sure, give it a watch!

Two decades rolled by before another live action Batman was seen again, this time in the guise of a black rubber suited Michael Keaton, in the 1989 smash “Batman”. Keaton brought a certain nature of seriousness and alongside Jack Nicholson’s outlandishly flamboyant Joker, the two bounced off each other in a way only the famous fictional duo can. Tim Burton’s movies certainly have a Gothic reputation and by this time, with the positive traction it received, worldwide audiences seemed to be ready to accept a more realistic caped crusader, despite keeping some of the less serious aspects of the 1966 Batman series I.E the close-ups and musical flick on the Batarangs.This film explored a darker side to Bruce Wayne, with a love interest in Vicky Vale (Kim Basinger) and still having to come to terms with the loss of his parents at a young age, while battling the psychotic Joker to save Gotham City.

The success of “Batman” of course heralded in a sequel with “Batman Returns”, bringing Keaton and Burton back to the franchise in 1992. Separating the “damsel in distress” theme of previous female leads (most notably Kim Basinger’s “Vicky Vale” in the 1989 “Batman”), Catwoman was born to Gotham, as a strong and powerful antagonist, portrayed by the talented Michelle Pfeiffer. Mixing it up, Burton brought in Danny Devito and his superb portrayal of the Penguin to initially team up with Catwoman in a villainous duo against Keaton’s Dark Knight. Now with Batman dealing with love in and outside the cowl, the Penguin attempts to go all Pied Piper on Gotham’s new born children in a far-fetched scheme of vengeance against Gotham City. I thought this film was much better than the previous, though some would disagree. I think it needed the dynamics of all three of the main characters to diversify the franchise further.

In 1995, came a Keaton and Burton-free portrayal of the rubber-clad avenger in “Batman Forever” with Val Kilmer leading. This is where many people believe that the Batman franchise, which had gained an impressive reputation with Burton’s Batman, began to go south. Joel Schumacher was hired to direct and take the wheel in forwarding Batman with a new batcave, larger and more practical, a new batmobile, sleeker and more agile and a new female lead as Bruce Wayne found himself once again being harassed by beautiful women. This time in the form of never before seen, Dr Chase Meridian played by Nicole Kidman. But apparently, with the two previous films holding Age 15 certificates, Gotham and it’s hero was not appealing enough to a younger audience and the attempts to make this happen are clearly evident in this film. It seemed Adam West’s Batman ways were back with a hilariously (albeit, impressively and entertainingly green pajama wearing) Jim Carrey as the Riddler and noticeably lighter and more insane, Two-Face played by Tommy Lee Jones. The huge stunts, brightly lit sets and over the top nature of this movie left a bad taste in many a critics mouth and it was unclear as what would happen to Batman next.

“Batman and Robin” hit the big screens in 1997 and was very recently voted the Worst Superhero Movie ever… wow; need I say more? George Clooney now donned the cape and cowl, accompanied by Chris O’Donnel’s Robin and Alicia Silverstone’s Batgirl, against the hugely over-dressed, pun spewing but ruthless Mr Freeze played by Arnold Schwarznegger. Mr Freeze embarks on a freezing spree in a noble effort to save his dying wife, but teams up with the stupidly camp and hammy, Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman) and her dim witted muscle, Bane (Jeep Swenson). Much like its predecessor, “Batman and Robin” was poorly written, had little character development for anyone and while the hugely elaborate set pieces, costumes and props looked spectacular, the movie flopped on all other levels. With a follow up film cancelled due to the poor reception of “Batman and Robin”, it seemed the world was beginning to lose patience for Batman and there seemed little hope left for the caped crusader.

That is… up until 2005…