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Whither Our Superheroines? An Outraged Culture Demands To Know
Posted by Defamer Hollywood at 7:40 AM on April 22, 2008
In all the drama surrounding Edward Norton's Hulk trouble and Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr.'s gloriously checkered past, we've overlooked one of the more conspicuous problems afflicting this summer's superhero glut. To wit: Where are all the women? Are there any comics featuring female heroes whom some studio will take a chance shepherding to the screen? At least one commentator shares our concern at Vulture, and the prognosis isn't looking good:
Historically, in superhero movies, the only way for an actress to get a piece of the action is to be a piece of action. While all these female characters will certainly be smart, capable women, their primary function will still be as the hero's love interest. These perilous roles virtually guarantee that no amount of brains or pluck will be enough for a damsel to save herself from distress; her endangerment serves to ratchet up the tension of the film, which is always nicely resolved with the tender coda of her rescue. ... What does it take to get some superequal rights up in here?
The author does cite the presence of Selma Blair as the "pyrokinetic" romantic interest in Guillermo del Toro's upcoming Hellboy II — essentially the exception that proves the Hollywood rule. Meanwhile, Film Experience proprietor Nathaniel Rogers spent the weekend at New York's Comic-Con, recoiling from the near-second-class citizenry afforded icons like Supergirl and Batgirl while a new Jenna Jameson comic book sold like mad elsewhere in the building. Yes, we know that Elektra and Catwoman tanked, but Halle Berry's folly is no good reason for the long-awaited Wonder Woman movie to eternally inhabit Development Hell — at least not when Marvel will spend $US300 million making The Incredible Hulk twice before throwing a quarter of that into spinning off Ellen Page's Kitty Pryde character from X-Men. We're just saying, boys.
- Where Are the Roles for Superwomen? [Vulture]
- Super Women or Cheap Whores? [Film Experience Blog]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Magister
Posted 6:26 AM 22/4/08
A few days ago, I decided to introduce my daughter to streaming episodes of Wonder Woman and though the pilot was obviously played for camp, all those speeches about "The Sisterhood", "Paradise" being a place without men and the need to respect women was certainly part of the fun.
Now, my kid's a few episodes in and I haven't been watching with her, but I did notice that they carried this theme into the second episode, where I wouldn't want to provide any spoilers, but "The Sisterhood" becomes a major plot point.
It's been a long time since I watched a lot of Wonder Woman; I watched the two-parter with her sister last year via the web, but most of them I haven't seen since they originally aired. Perhaps the producers of all these superhero flicks should go back and get re-indoctrinated, though to be honest, it'd be hard to beat the expression on Lynda Carter's face throughout the original pilot.
Magister
halloweenjack
Posted 6:23 AM 22/4/08
A Pryde and Wisdom movie would be just about the best thing ever; not sure who I'd cast as Pete Wisdom, though.
halloweenjack
Juancho
Posted 6:23 AM 22/4/08
@STV: For all his built-in obsessive fanbase, Joss has a poor track record in getting projects off the ground since he decided he wanted to direct. TV money is where its at, friends.
Juancho
aspiringexpatriate
Posted 6:19 AM 22/4/08
Let Joss write the Kitty Pryde movie. That'd kick major ass.
Though it might require Colossus to have a speaking role.
aspiringexpatriate
STV
Posted 6:16 AM 22/4/08
@Lancer24: @Juancho: Whedon abandoned the project last year. It'll happen sooner or later, but you'll probably have to sit through Spider-Man 4 and 5 before WW is even cast.
STV
Juancho
Posted 6:07 AM 22/4/08
Joel Silver (and now, Joss) have had Wonder Woman tied up for the better part of the past decade. (For the record, I would have rather seen Carrie Anne Moss over Sandra Bullock or Kate Beckinsale).
Now Warner is too busy trying to water down their Batman and Superman franchises with a dumb-assed JLA movie. And you will never see a Supergirl movie again.
Juancho
Lancer24
Posted 6:07 AM 22/4/08
wait, wasnt there supposed to be another wonderwoman coming out?
Lancer24
TryThisAtHome
Posted 6:54 AM 22/4/08
I loved Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman. Gorgeously curvy, smart, and she had that totally cool transparent airplane. And the guy was good-looking too. I think I'll check out the streaming eps. It has to be way better that the poo they're offering up to girls now (previous Defamer reference to Suite Life of Zack and Cody comes to mind.)
TryThisAtHome
Juancho
Posted 7:37 AM 22/4/08
@CakeAndDeath: *cough*vanity project*cough*
Juancho
CakeAndDeath
Posted 7:29 AM 22/4/08
Aw come on -- we're getting Barbarella, aren't we?
CakeAndDeath
Little Mintz Sunshine
Posted 10:35 AM 22/4/08
...besides, she could probably figure out how to do that "include an image" thingy in no time.
Little Mintz Sunshine
Little Mintz Sunshine
Posted 10:34 AM 22/4/08
[en.wikipedia.org]
Isis had like way better jewelry.
Little Mintz Sunshine
Whiteboyfunfark
Posted 9:58 AM 22/4/08
Just for fun:
+ Watch video
+ Watch video
(And she blames Mommie Dearest and Andrew Lloyd Webber....)
Whiteboyfunfark
Whiteboyfunfark
Posted 9:46 AM 22/4/08
@Juancho: Well there went my hopes for a Faye Dunaway/Brenda Vaccaro reunion.
Whiteboyfunfark
raincoaster
Posted 12:56 PM 22/4/08
Somebody, somewhere had better be working on a Huntress movie (and I mean the Huntress who was the spawn of Catwoman and Batman, the ethically ambiguous one).
raincoaster
pkittie
Posted 12:51 PM 22/4/08
Forget WW, check out Promethea...now that's a badass chick. And several people can play her!
pkittie
Whiteboyfunfark
Posted 1:18 PM 22/4/08
@Little Mintz Sunshine: I LOVED Isis as a kid on Saturday mornings! Second only to Electra Woman & Dyna Girl.
[web.utk.edu]
Whiteboyfunfark
CatherineTrammell
Posted 7:04 PM 22/4/08
By the time they get around to shooting WONDER WOMAN, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt will be starring in it.
CatherineTrammell
WasatchMan
Posted 7:22 PM 22/4/08
Make a new "Buffy" movie with Joss Whedon directing and I and millions of other geeks will be there.
WasatchMan
Lala11_7
Posted 10:40 PM 22/4/08
Not to insult "Wonder Woman" fans, but I always thought that superhero could go on my bologna sandwich in between two slices of "Wonder" bread...
It would be great to see "She Hulk" turned into a movies...
Perhaps the special effects departmentt could handle THAT Hulk, because after seeing previews of the latest Hulk movie...
I'm still thinking...
"It's Colorform fun"!!!
Lala11_7
juniperjenny
Posted 2:18 AM 23/4/08
Cough...self-promotion...ahem. I'm working on a superheroine series based on this:
www.myspace.com/silversparrow
www.youtube.com/silversparrowtv
Wonder Woman is boring...something about her being a goddess gives her Superman levels of lameness. And Kitty Pryde doesn't have an interesting enough power or backstory. I'd love to at least see a strong Batgirl arc in a Batman film.
juniperjenny