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Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman 1984: Be Careful What You Wish For

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What’s your greatest wish?

Whether it’s world peace, romance or even just ‘more wishes’, everyone has something that they would ask for if given the chance. But what are you willing to sacrifice to get it? 

This is the primary question behind Wonder Woman 1984 (or WW84), the follow-up to Patty Jenkin’s 2017 blockbuster that revived a flagging DC cinematic universe. Once again directed and co-written by Jenkins, WW84 is bombastic blast of colour that never loses the character moments that gives this franchise its heart. While it isn’t as ground-breaking as its predecessor, WW84 is still a thoroughly enjoyable follow-up that continues the journey of the Amazonian princess and solidifies her as one of the great cinematic superheroes of the modern age.

Set amidst the vibrant and sleek 1980s, Wonder Woman 1984 finds Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) keeping a low profile amongst the mortals that she loves so dearly. Working as a museum curator, she only steps into the heroic limelight if she can do so without public acclaim. However, when an ancient artifact with magical abilities draws the attention of the smarmy businessman Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal), Diana must not only face off against a growing evil but her own battle with temptation as well.

Though this is a film that truly does deserve the big screen treatment, it is significant that WW84 followed through with its 2020 release date, even if it must be on demand instead of its planned theatrical rollout. (Honestly, who could’ve expected that this would be the only superhero epic that we got to see this year?) With its bright colours, infectious energy and positive messages, it’s fair to say that this may be the blockbuster that we have been waiting for in 2020. (No offense, Tenet.) While one would be hard pressed to say that this film were gritty or self-reflective in any way (again, read: Nolan, Christopher), WW84 still proves poignant as it emphasizes the importance of living in the truth of the moment as opposed to clinging to false dreams or ‘what-if’ scenarios.

For her second time leading the franchise, Jenkins’ work in WW84 continues to impress. As only her third feature (!!), she understands the sort of character development required to engage the audience without losing the impact of the action sequences. Given the setting, this is a film that leans heavily into nostalgia, even in its set pieces. (In fact, even an early fight scene in the mall feels like a campy throwback to the very earliest of superhero films like Superman: The Movie) Keeping the tone light throughout the film, Jenkins allows the fun to shine brightly yet still manages to give the drama some real emotional stakes. (Heck, she even manages to bring back the deceased Steve Trevor in a way that feels justified within the film.)

With every turn as the character, Gadot grows more confident and comfortable in the role of Diana Prince. What’s more, her onscreen chemistry with co-star Chris Pine continues to ground their characters, as they support and challenge one another in various moments. (In fact, in an interesting twist, WW84 actually flips the dynamic between the two characters from the first film, with Pine’s Trevor as the somewhat naïve soul learning from the more confident and self-aware Diana.) However, the real surprise of the film is Wiig who clearly relishes the opportunity to take on the role of villain. Known for her comedic work, Wiig’s performance feels familiar at the film’s outset as the awkward and self-conscious Barbara Minerva. However, as the film progresses, Wiig truly settles into the role, imbuing Barbara with a dark ambition that makes her a suitable foil for Gadot’s Diana.

Whereas the film’s ‘period setting’ admittedly felt gimmicky when details of the sequel were first announced, it’s extremely appropriate for the film. Set at the height of the ‘Me Generation’, WW84 makes good use of the psychology of self-improvement and selfishness that defined the 80s. Drenching the film in golden colours throughout much of the film, Jenkins leans into this notion of self-indulgence by creating a visual world of luxury that would make King Midas jealous. At a time of financial excess and an obsession with the ‘image’, this was an era that sought to teach us that who we were was never enough and to always reach for more. (“Life is good, but it could be better,” Lord repeats.) 

However, without giving away any spoilers, it’s worth noting that WW84 recognizes the damage of this greediness and its effect on others. For every wish that’s fulfilled, there comes a cost to be paid by the person who makes the request. The more one leans into their own selfishness, the greater the impact on those around them. As such, the film calls for global humility in order to survive and serves as a reminder that self-sacrifice is required by all in order to heal the world. (Again, a much-needed commentary during the current pandemic.)

Fun and enthusiastic, Wonder Woman 1984 sparkles with joy. Rather than use the sequel to create a ‘darker’ entry into the franchise, Jenkins continues to allows heart, love and reason to win the day. In essence, WW84 is a film about finding contentment in the moment despite our circumstances and working together to build a brighter future.

And, in 2020, what more could you want?

Wonder Woman 1984 is available in theatres and on HBOMax on Friday, December 25th, 2020.

5.15 The Power of SHAZAM!

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As an orphan, 14-year old Billy Batson struggles to connect with foster families as he bounces from home to home, searching for his mother. When he suddenly receives the limitless power of Shazam, he finds a new calling as a superhero… but can a broken teenager handle this sort of responsibility? What makes him worthy of the challenge? This week, Derek Wong and Mira Ibrahim join us to talk about what sets Billy apart, the dangers of deadly sins and the meaning of power.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

5.15 Shazam!Download

Thanks Derek and Mira for joining us!

4.06 a JUSTICE LEAGUE of our own

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Grab your batarang and 5-pronged trident, because, in this episode, ScreenFish Radio wraps the lasso of truth around JUSTICE LEAGUE, the culminating film of DC cinematic universe. Back from his vacation, Steve is joined by super friends Arnaldo Reyes and Pastor James Harleman (Cinemagogue) to decide if the film leaps tall buildings in a single bound… or falls face first in the kryptonite.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

4.06 Justice League

A very special thanks to Arnaldo and James for joining us!

Justice League: Finding Hope in the Darkness

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Justice League is one of the most anticipated movies of the year, but not because you get a DC team-up film. The anticipation comes because most people were wondering, “Will they finally get these characters right?” That, of course, was the big question going in–so much so that Rotten Tomatoes delayed their Tomatometer for the film because they claimed they wanted to debut a new show and get more in-depth. In reality, they received heat from the studios, complaining that they were ruining the box office numbers (umm, bad films do that–not a Tomatometer). The DCEU has only one good film in its four-film roster, and that one came out earlier this year. They hitched their wagon to Zach Snyder to create this universe; the problem has been that Snyder wanted to make it in his own vision and that doesn’t always work with established characters.

So, with all that said, is Justice League a good film? Well, it’s not bad, but it isn’t great. It is a generically okay film that is hurt by its short run time and average plot. Everything felt rushed and incomplete, so it was hard to actually believe that the team came together so flawlessly. Outside of an argument over an unethical (it really was if you think of it) decision, there was no real tension of strangers who are flawed coming together. However, when the film took its time to slow down (I will assume those were the Whedon reshoots), it gave us a glimpse of what a fleshed out story could give us. Action-wise, it’s nothing new we haven’t seen from Snyder. I do have some problems with the CGI and some other things that will be discussed in a future spoiler-filled podcast.

Ben Affleck is probably on his way out of playing Batman, but I will say that he is a good Bruce Wayne and an above average Batman. He moves slow for the Dark Knight, but then again, he’s portraying a much older and seasoned character, so that could be the reason. What he nails a little is the strategist Batman who is a reluctant leader. Even with a team, he thinks about himself as a solo act, all the while pushing team members to discover themselves.

Gal Gadot is the showstopper once again. Her Wonder Woman is most definitely a beacon of light. She’s the first character in the DCEU that was nailed perfectly first time through. In this film we see her grow as a heroine and see how great she really is. There is one complaint I have…but I won’t spoil it here.

Ezra Miller is the bright humor that the DCEU has been lacking. Besides the flaws in CGI (when they slow down, his running looks very abnormal at times) Flash was well done. If you grew up watching Justice League the Animated Series, Miller personifies this version of Flash.

Jason Mamoa as Aquaman was just meh. In an attempt to make Aquaman look cool and badass, he surprisingly came out very flat. I really didn’t think he meshed well and when he was off-screen, I didn’t miss him.

Ray Fisher as Victor Stone/Cyborg was an interesting character. He and Flash were my two favorites (besides WW, of course), only because they showed the most growth. Even though mostly cybernetic, the human element in him shined and he grew to be the hero of the story.

Ciaran Hinds, as Steppenwolf, was your generic bad guy. Like almost all of Marvel’s villains, he is forgettable. We’ve actually seen him and his story arc before…in Guardians of the Galaxy baddy Ronan the Accuser. They are literally the same character bent on doing the same thing, albeit for different reasons.

As I said above, when Justice League slowed down and gave us meaningful moments, the theme of the film shined: basically, just get over it! It’s a bit harsh to say it like that, but it is a hard truth. We can’t avoid hurt and pain and loss in this world and in our lives. However, we can’t let those things control our present and future. In the midst of all the darkness, we have to search for that glimmer of light, grab it, and let our strength be renewed. Hope isn’t found in a person. It is an ever flowing river that can guide us to be better, do better, and love better. Love and Hope snuffs out darkness, and in the world we live in, Justice League does get that right.

Justice League is definitely better than the 40% rating the Tomatometer shows. I give it a 6/10. It could and should be epic, but it falls short in time, story, and villain but makes up for it in message and some of the characters.

Wonder Woman: 2017’s Best Film?

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Wonder Woman is the film that we need. In fact, in the midst of a depressed box office (good films are harder and harder to find), Wonder Woman stands out as my favorite film of the year with only three months left to go.

Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) is raised by her mother, Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), in the cloaked, royal confines of Themyscira (or Paradise Island). Taught to fight by her aunt and the general of the Amazonian forces, General Antiope (Robin Wright), Diana longs to do battle in the ways her legendary mother did. Lured by the legends of the Greek gods, Diana wants to be a warrior, even while her mother tries to protect her from the “world of men” that exists outside. With these childhood stories, Diana learns about the long-ago defeat of the God of War, Ares, and the ancient battle between the gods that founded the Amazons as defenders of the world of men.

When Captain Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crashes his plane in the waters of Paradise Island, Diana and the Amazons are drawn into the events of World War I as it is drawing toward a peaceful armistice. But in Europe, General Ludendorff (Danny Huston) and his henchwoman, Doctor Poison (Elena Anaya), are developing a poison that would swing the force of the war back into Germany’s favor. Dreading that Diana’s involvement in the affairs of men would attract the attention of Ares who she assumes is involved, Hippolyta forbids Diana from leaving; certain that her training has prepared her for a moment such as this, Diana leaves Themyscira, headed for London and beyond.

Directed by Patty Jenkins with cinematography by Matthew Jensen, the film is lavishly shot – in Italy for the first third of the film taking place on Themyscira and in London’s King’s Cross Station and Trafalgar Square for various scenes in the second and third segments. Painted beautifully in bright colors on Themyscira, the drab grays and greens of London and the battlefield stand in even harsher contrast to the peace the Amazons maintain. These visuals only serve to reinforce the Diana-in-the-world-of-men experience: she’s as much a fish out of water as Captain America post-deep freeze in the present.

By comparison, this is DC’s best superhero film in nearly a decade, with Batman Begins as its most recent DC counterpart, because Wonder Woman is the best superhero film, the best origin story, that DC has told since then. But Captain America: The First Avenger is its closest counterpart because of the tones in which WW and CA paint their heroes as stalwarts of virtue and principle in a world threatening to implode due to violence and hubris.

Into this world rides the naive Diana, bent on fulfilling her people’s obligation to defend the world of men, and Trevor, deeply affected by the evil and violence he has seen as a spy. Together, apparently at first as an aside, Jenkins moves them in closer and closer concentric circles as their love and admiration for each other grows, even as they develop a romance that crosses cultural categories. In the main frame, Trevor recruits the diverse ‘crew’ of Sameer (Said Taghmaoui), Charlie (Ewen Bremner), and Chief (Eugene Brave Rock), to assist Diana in her quest to track down the heart of World War I. [She’s sure that Ares is masquerading as a man, namely Ludendorff.]

Together, this “crack” team of misfits and warriors will stand against the German war machine. It’s incredibly telling in its perspective of mission, justice, peace, and virtue – in a way that too many superhero films have gone away from. Rather than ‘muddying up’ Diana’s virtue, her principles become inspirational – and powerful – because she is true to who she is. In that way, Wonder Woman is the first superhero movie film that truly inspires, because Diana/Wonder Woman is the hero of old, and probably the one that we need. She’s the embodiment of “good” and the bridge between gods and the world of men. It’s what makes Wonder Woman a must-see film, with power and responsibility to inspire.

Wonder Woman is an epic film, building mythos and theology, full of spirit and heart, with lessons for today about heroism, sacrifice, belief, and responsibility. Finally, DC has delivered its first win in a decade, while pushing a woman to the front of the pantheon and crowning her queen.

****For more …. read below the break… but be aware SPOILERS ENSUE!****

Wonder Woman presents a Greek mythology, tinted by the Judeo-Christian worldview. While she grows up believing she is an “Adam,” shaped by Hippolyta out of clay, she is in fact incarnational – god among people. In that twist, from ‘old school’ comics to New 52 stuff, Diana’s purpose, responsibility, and connection to the divine/greater universe, broadens with that knowledge, instantaneously. In the process, she’s wrestling with Trevor, a man who wants to know he can be redeemed but who wonders if he’s lied, killed, and stolen his way into judgment. Diana becomes the physical embodiment of grace – because of who she is and because of what she does.

The innate goodness Diana possesses – leaving the island because it’s her duty to concern herself with the lives of men, tackling a trench worth of German snipers to save a village, refusing to bow to the presence and lures of Ares – permeates and inspires Trevor in his final mission. But his love, sacrifice, and desire for redemption proves the love that ultimately serves as the thesis for the film. The two of them ultimately end up believing in each other. In the final articulated argument between Ares and Diana, Diana “chooses love,” believing in the innate goodness of people to choose justice and sacrifice, when she is tempted to use her powers to obliterate men for their inclination to war.

The gods’ argument over the souls of man proves to be a conversation about TULIP and creation in the image of God discussion worthy of contemporary-ish theologians Johns Calvin and Wesley. Is man truly evil, destined by the fall to be fully corrupted? Or is man created good and perfect in the image of God the father, corrupted by original sin, and waiting to be redeemed? Ares wants one to be true, while Diana believes the other; her belief stems from her experience of one such man, Steve Trevor, who proves both saved and savior in his own way.

While Ares is “Satan” to Zeus’ Father God, proposing that people are twisted and evil, Diana comes as the Christ figure who is willing to set aside her place at the god table in Themyscira and serve the very humans who should worship her. By her example, she proves worthy to be worshipped – in the praise of those below the church steeple after she disarms the sniper in the village and again at the end, as the soldiers from both sides praise her – and one even takes a knee.

On the Blu-ray Combo Pack, Warner Bros.’ special features include the extra scene, “Epilogue – Etta’s Mission,” commentary by director Patty Jenkins, extended scenes, and a blooper reel.  The mission to take Wonder Woman back to the screen, the big screen for the first time, gets a look in “Crafting the Wonder” while Jenkins also shows her view of the material in the series of featurettes on Themyscira, the battle between the Amazons and the Nazis on the beach, and more.  There’s also a look at the Amazon army in “Warriors of Wonder Woman” and the stature of Diana next to Superman and Batman in “The Trinity.” There’s also a celebration of the decades of Wonder Woman’s character through the eyes of notable public figures in “Finding the Wonder Woman Within.”

Justice League Trailer – Who is Alfred Talking To?

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On the heels of another Comic-Con come and gone, one of the biggest trailers revealed was the trailer for Justice League. Hoping to keep the momentum of Wonder Woman, the trailer showed a ton of action and, of course, our first look at the villain, Steppenwolf. Still, truth be told, all the action made it look like everything they’ve released before and yet another road down Batman v Superman (with an added humor of the Flash).

The first thing worth noting is thehope that Wonder Woman will continue to be front and center and not cast off to the side among the boys club. With the addition of Joss Whedon to finish the film, hopefully his touch of strong female characters will shines through in this film.

However, as I watched the trailer again, I couldn’t help but start pondering as to who Alfred is talking to at the end. The obvious person is the much anticipated return of Superman. It’s no secret that he plays a pivotal role in the last arc of the film.  But, if that’s the case, why hint in a secretive way? Does Whedon think we haven’t figured out that Superman will be in it, or maybe it is someone else?

Here’s my theory:

The secret character is Green Lantern (which one we won’t find out till then) and the reason to keep him secret is simple, they messed up with him the first time around. The question you may ask is why do I think it is?

  1. Whedon made sure to include the Lanterns in the narration of Steppenwolf. “No Lanterns, no Kryptonian” I don’t believe it is a simple easter egg to promote the Lantern Corps movie they will be working on. This was done with a purpose.
  2. One of the biggest mistakes Snyder did with BvS is that he failed to make Batman the great detective that we know he is. His lack of knowledge on Clark and Krypton (in the comics, Batman would have figured that out on his own) leads us to believe that it doesn’t make sense that Batman would know that Superman would come back. Now he could have done some work, but the fact that the only other dead Kryptonian they had as evidence needed to be resurrected into some monster would leave us to believe that there is nothing in what Lex discovered about Kryptonians (Batman’s source to kryptonite) would have yielded him the information to know that Superman wasn’t dead.
  3. We know that Batman discovered and did is research on the upcoming threat from Darkseid and Apokolips. In that research, it is safe to assume that he came across information about the Lanterns as strong opponents to Darkseid’s forces. In that research, he may have also discovered of a recent dead alien and kept in a government research facility with a lantern symbol. Through this, he could find a way to send a message to Oa and alert the Lanterns of the danger coming to Earth.
  4. Lastly, the early promotions for Justice League was “Unite the Seven” and we only see five in the trailer. We know Superman is for sure number six….so who’s number seven? The obvious choice is a Lantern.

Obviously, this is just a theory, but it is one to make you think. Hopefully, the reveal remains hidden until the actual film comes out.

Here’s the trailer again, give it a look and let us know if you agree, disagree or what theories you may have?

3.22 Celebrating WONDER WOMAN

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This week, Steve welcomes actor Amanda Jane Smith and pastor Judith McCartney to enter into the battle with Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman.  While the film has scored with both critics and fans, there seems to be something much more significant about this particular moment.  Is it true that Diana’s story provides a proper role model for young women?  Does the strength of her character really create something unique or is there a veiled sexism at the hands of the male gaze?  In a lively discussion, they dialogue about equality, feminine identity and the nature of evil.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

3.22 Wonder Woman

A special thanks to Amanda and Judith for joining us on the show!

Comic-Con International

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comic-con-2016It used to be that when you mentioned Comic-Con, it was only referencing San Diego. However, in the past decade, pop culture has evolved and, with so many “comic-con’s”, one has to be more specific.

Comic-Con International is THE Comic-Con.

There isn’t any that actually comes close to the massive convention that takes over San Diego, CA every year. As the gaming industry and Hollywood have jumped on board, the Con has developed and now focuses on more than just comics making it a behomoth of a convention. In fact, Comic-Con International has grown so large that the San Diego Convention Center can no longer contain it, spilling into the streets and nearby hotels in downtown San Diego (even the San Diego Public Library has panels this year!).

Since we all know how big it’s become, let’s get to what we can expect this year. Due to personal reasons, I can’t make it to the event this time (my nice Walking Dead press badge is sitting on my kitchen table), but I am more than happy to share what I know and what to expect each day.

Outside of Twitter and Facebook, you can follow live from Comic-Con from the likes of ScreenJunkies Central (YouTube), Marvel.com/sdcc2016, twitch.tv/skybound, and comic-conhq.com. Some will be comics related, others movies and shows, and some breaking news as they come.

Whether you are attending Comic-Con, or following from afar, here is what you can keep an eye out for this weekend when it comes to movies and TV.

Thursday:

luke-cageExpect news and chatter from CBS Tevlevision presentation early in the day. However, even with Dreamworks presenting on the first day, I expect most of the news and conversation will be from Netflix/Marvel Luke Cage series. That panel is near the end of the day, so expect news, descriptions of footage and how the series can stack up next to Daredevil and Jessica Jones.

Friday:

Marvel’s Agents of Shield will be on hand discussing what happened in Season 3 and also what to expect in Season 4 (perhaps a fiery skull faced motorcycle rider?)

As great as that news might be, the big guns of TV will take center stage on Friday as The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones will be the talk of Hall H.

Also, Friday evening is the world premiere of WB/DC Animated Batman: The Killing Joke that sees the return of Mark Hamill as The Joker, Kevin Conroy as Batman, and Tara Strong as Batgirl/Barbara Gordon. This title remains a very popular comic book that many fans have been clamoring for, and one of the few Joker origin stories that many refer back to. Batman: The Killing Joke will also have a one-time theatrical debut on Monday July 25 or, if you don’t have tickets, you can also wait until it comes out on digital or Blu-ray.

Saturday:

wwssAs the biggest day of the event. If you are in San Diego, this has to be the one day where you looked at the schedule and channeled your inner Luke Skywalker “NOOOOOOOOOO”. For TV shows, the day features: Once Upon a Time; Supergirl; Flash; Arrow; Vampire Diaries; Grimm; DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. That is one heck of a lineup all in Ballroom 20. So expect announcements and confirmations all throughout the day. One thing I’m looking out for with these, are the rumors true that Batwoman and Oracle will be debuting on season 2 of Supergirl? We shall see!

Well, the TV shows are just the appetizer. Saturday is the big Hall H day as well. Warner Bros. will start the day off with a monstrous 3 hour slot that includes Wonder Woman, Suicide Squad, Lego Batman, King Arthur and Kong: Skull Island. One film that’s surprisingly missing though is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. One would think that bringing back the world of Harry Potter would be a no brainer, but the film does not appear on their schedule. Either way, Wonder Bros. is sure to have the talk of the day.

Star Trek, which had their premiere Wednesday evening, has the unfortunate task of following Warner Bros. After them, it’s a 30th anniversay panel of Aliens, and one of the most recent popular additions is Entertainment Weekly’s Women who Kick Ass.

strange-1However, the final big presentation of the day belongs to Marvel Studios. We are for certain that Dr. Strange and Guardians of the Galaxy 2 will be shown. Fans can also expect something from Thor: Ragnarok, as well as possible details on Black Panther film and of course, Spiderman: Homecoming. Marvel never dissappoints, so stay tuned Saturday night as I’m sure social media will be on a frenzy over what happened at the Marvel Studios presentation.

Sunday:

This is the “Get the last deals before you leave” day… but contrary to popular belief, there are still panels.

Hungover from his Marvel Studios Dr. Strange panel the night before, Benedict Cumberbatch will be on hand for Sherlock, followed by Supernatural. And well, actually, that’s it, so maybe Sunday is deals day!

Well, there you have it, what to expect this weekend. Follow ScreenFish on Facebook as we will try to share any breaking news we hear.

 

 

 

DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year

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SHG_HOTY_SD_OSLV_2D_1000598409If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch, or didn’t have any clue that they existed, the DC Super Hero Girls franchise has had a series of shorts on YouTube dating back to last year. With recent pushes in merchandise, DC is making the cautious effort to bring these superheroes to young girls, and they are doing a good job at it, for the most part. I feel they would have a bigger impact if the episodes were not just limited to three to five minutes (think My Little Pony). Maybe all that will change with a full length straight to DVD movie. Hopefully, this opens the door to more exposure for the young girls who haven’t found them on YouTube while video surfing through blind bag openings and people playing with toys (as my five year old only seems to watch).

Here’s the official trailer, and the official press release below. Are you excited about this announcement?

WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL FEMALE

SUPER HEROES NAVIGATE THE

TWISTS AND TURNS OF HIGH SCHOOL AS

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

RELEASES

DC SUPER HERO GIRLS:

HERO OF THE YEAR

ON DVD AUGUST 23, 2016

BURBANK, CA (June 9, 2016) – Where can you find the most powerful and prominent Super

Teens in the galaxy? Super Hero High of course! Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Harley

Quinn, Bumblebee, Poison Ivy and Katana band together to navigate the twists and turns of high

school in DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and

DC Entertainment, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE)

on August 9 on Digital HD and August 23, 2016 on DVD (SRP $19.98).

These young Super Heroes discover unique abilities, develop powers, and combat an abundance

of overwhelming, exciting and awkward moments to master the fundamentals of being a hero –

one day at a time! The group includes:

Wonder Woman was raised on Themyscira, a paradise island overflowing with female

leaders. This natural born leader has super strength, the power of flight and a magic lasso

that forces anyone to tell the truth.

Batgirl is crazy smart – she was accepted to Super Hero High based on her brainpower

alone (she wasn’t born with super powers). But this crime-fighting sleuth may be the

most influential of all! Her unparalleled intellect, expert martial arts skills, photographic

memory and legendary detective skills are a formula for an incredible Super Hero.

Supergirl is the most powerful teen on earth, but also incredibly clumsy. She has super

strength, super hearing and super speed but will need to be sure she doesn’t trip over her

own two feet en route to saving the world.

Harley Quinn is the resident class clown who lives for jokes and over-the- top pranks.

Nonetheless, this quick-witted gymnast is sneaky and full of surprises.

Bumblebee has the ability to shrink, allowing her to sneak around without being spotted.

She makes sure her team is never surprised by any villains or enemies up to no good.

Poison Ivy, got caught up in a botched lab experiment, and now has the ability to control

and summon plants. She’s gradually adapting to her amazing new powers and

blossoming into her new life.

Katana is an artist with an edge – this fearless martial arts fashionista is up for any

crime-fighting test and is never without her sword.

Together, these seven fearless Super Heroes prove that we all have the power to make the world

a better place – even while school is in session!

 

 

SPECIAL FEATURES

 Six Animated Shorts:

o Hero of the Month: Wonder Woman

o Fall into Super Hero High

o Hero of the Month: Bumblebee

o Hero of the Month: Poison Ivy

o Clubbing

o Saving the Day

 

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice: More Wonder Woman, Please

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batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-logoTo say that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was one of the most anticipated films of the year would be a slight understatement. It may very well have been the most anticipated films of the year, but it was also the one with the biggest question marks. Batman and Superman are arguably the most iconic superheroes in our time. Their history spans seventy-five years of heroics. These are two iconic heroes that are polar opposites but who have withstood the test of time over and over again. They have had many adventures together, both in comics and other mediums. However, the one thing they have never shared is a live-action film together.

I remember sitting in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con; Man of Steel had recently came out and for all intensive purposes was a huge success for Warner Bros. Director Zach Snyder surprised the crowd by showing up to give his gratitude and with it, a teaser image to the sequel, the Batman over the Superman logo. The hall erupted with cheers: Batman and Superman in the same film! It was every fanboy’s and fangirl’s dreams come true. As time has passed though, those dreams at times felt like nightmares. The film was pushed back a year and the casting was controversial (Remember ‘Batfleck’?) Add in all these DC superheroes that were slated to be in the film, and it began to sound like a big mess. [Let’s not forget either that the title of the film really didn’t spike any excitement.] Still, whether they either hated or loved the trailers, the fans were going to come out to see this film because the names carry so much power.

So here we are, the time has finally arrived. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the kickoff to a DC Cinematic Universe. I had very low expectations going into the film, but I will say that I thought the film was not bad. However, it wasn’t great either. The film is filled with great CGI and action sequences. The fights were on the large scale as one would expect. My issue with the film is that it was poorly edited. The first part of the film seemed like each act was cut and pasted in. It was a jumbled mess that wasn’t helped by a story with so many subplots that were going nowhere that, at times, it felt boring. There were several dream sequences in the film that were well-intentioned but really did nothing to advance the story. Those sequences would have been better left out of the film, allowing more time for some much needed character development.

The second half of the film picked up and finally started to show some life to it. Overall, parts of the film felt so rushed with a lack of character development that many times you found yourself trying to piece together the missing holes rather than paying attention to the film. That is not to say that there weren’t some great parts in the film. Snyder took some risks that paid off and some that didn’t. There are moments in the film that leave you spellbound in how great and pure they were. Snyder does a great job in feeding the nostalgia of longtime DC fans in between trying to piece together different subplots that are supposed to intertwine. In the end, the cons outweigh the pros, but not by much. But let’s dig a little deeper into some of the characters.

*Warning, some of this may be spoilery*

loisandclarkWe’ve already seen Henry Cavill and Amy Adams in their respective roles. They carry themselves the same way as before, this time as a couple. The film tries to bring about their love story, but is too busy giving us other plots that it really never takes off and by the time it really blossoms, the film is over. However, I want to delve into the other three main characters of the film, Batman, Lex Luthor and Wonder Woman.

bvsjokerBen Affleck, with all my fear that he would repeat his Daredevil act, was not a bad Bruce Wayne or Batman. He was an older and more angry Batman, but he handled the cowl better than expected. As a Batman fan, I do have to complain about the character on film. Batman has two rules: no guns and no killing.

I mean, this film has a clear easter egg seen in the trailers that shows hints at when Joker killed Jason Todd (Robin). Batman here has no issues with killing: from dragging a car with his Batmobile and clearly killing the occupants, not to mention the ones he threw the car into, to his daring rescue where he kills several bad guys. This isn’t what Batman does. Sure, he’s a lunatic that would beat someone to near death, but he would never cross that line. And his branding of criminals, what was that about? These two aspects should turn any Batman fan off, at least for me it did. Subtract those aspects and Ben Affleck did a passable job as Batman.

bvspaintingJesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor was nothing short of annoying. This was probably the most puzzling rendition of a Lex Luthor I have ever seen. The stories attempt to make everything in the film somehow connect, and all lead back to a plan set forth by Lex Luthor himself, was again out done by bad editing and frankly bad storytelling.

Lex is a character that has a God complex that is challenged with Superman. His goal is to never be inferior to anyone on the planet (or the universe for that matter). He is a psychopath that is smart, cunning, ruthless, and best of all, the biggest conman in comics. For all the evil he is, he carries himself to the general public as this great businessman and philanthropist. Eisenberg brings in the main story of being the puppetmaster in the quest to have Batman or Superman eliminate the other for him, but he does a horrible job in depicting the character.

He delivers a performance of a crazy Lex that is both campy and annoying. He was more Jim Carrey’s Riddler (that bad) than Lex Luthor. With all that said, what Eisenberg did capture is how far Lex is willing to go to make someone superior become inferior to him. From threatening to kill a loved one of Superman, to the creation of Doomsday to destroy Superman, the well thought out plan is everything Luthor would do, without the other annoying stuff.

Wonder WomanWith all my reservations on the casting of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, she was actually the best part of the film. In every scene she was in (not enough, which was a shame), she stole the movie away from the main characters. Whenever she was on screen she had this presence that represented the soul and essence of Diana Prince. Finally Wonder Woman hits the big screen – but it’s in a film where she’s nothing more than a vehicle used for the purpose of telling us there is a bigger universe. Still, she is the one shining light in the film that was great. And all that was before she even donned her iconic outfit.

When she does finally appear in battle gear, it is quite a performance. You believed that she was a powerful warrior as she takes on a monster that was wiping the floor with Superman. My favorite part was when she did get hit pretty hard, she turns and gives a smirk as if saying “finally, a monster worthy of a fight”. In this new DC Cinematic Universe, I can now say that there is no film I look forward to more than Wonder Woman.

With a character like Superman, one would expect a heavy dose of theological parallels. He is always viewed as a Christlike figure. This film is heavy in it on so many different levels. Lex Luthor quotes scriptures to fit his psychotic needs and is fueled by his attempt at disproving that God can be both all good and all powerful. He went out to prove that Superman cannot be that, and in some ways he did. But Superman is not God, and that is why he isn’t without his flaws.

Both Superman and Batman show us that even as heroes, they are filled with flaws. They also can reach a point of losing faith and hope, and need to be reminded of the greater purpose. The enemy plots and schemes against us constantly, and his greatest achievement is when he can bring down the person that seems to have it all together. But it’s not about the fall, but more about the rise. This film showed us the fall of heroes. It is funny that it is released Easter weekend because it plays heavily on that parallel of our savior having those who loved Him turn on Him. Those who would be friends become enemies. And in the end, our savior could have walked away and let us die to our own sins, but He gave it all and sacrificed Himself for everyone.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a film that you should love if you loved Man of Steel. It is not a bad film, but it is a film with many flaws. If I were to rate it, I’d say overall it is a 6 out of 10; just slightly above average. Snyder and Warner Bros. had a real opportunity here to do something great and iconic, and unfortunately they missed. I think they took too many risks and tried to fit several different comic book stories into one film, that it just didn’t quite work as well as one would hope.