A Potential Wonder Woman Movie

‘Wonder Woman’ is in the news again.  There is tremendous speculation about Diana appearing in the ‘Man of Steel’ sequel featuring Batman and Superman.  Additionally, actress Jaimie Alexander potentially could play the Amazing Amazon.

I would absolutely love to see Wonder Woman in the movies or in a TV series!  A successful movie or TV series should include two important elements.  First, the story of Wonder Woman is heavily influenced by Greek mythology.  Any Wonder Woman story should incorporate the Greek gods and mythological creatures.

Second, Wonder Woman’s fellow sisters-the Amazons- should feature in the story.  The culture of the Amazons is a huge part of Diana’s world view, her powers, and her skills.  Additionally, the ‘Wonder Woman’ comics and 2009 animated movie feature many cool Amazons for Diana to interact with.  George Perez, for example, created Phillipus.  Greg Rucka developed Io.  And Gail Simone/ Michael Jelenic originated Alexa.

Obviously, I’m a huge fan of George Perez’s, Phil Jimenez’s, Greg Rucka’s, and Gail Simone’s work on ‘Wonder Woman’.  Wonder Woman and her world is a rich tapestry for writers to draw upon when creating a story.  Julia and Vanessa Kapatelis, Diana’s Embassy staff, the Amazons, and Greek mythology should all be a part of a Wonder Woman movie.  I’m optimistic a Wonder Woman movie can succeed.  I would counsel the producers and actress who plays Diana: Stay true to Wonder Woman’s origins.  Stay true to the spirit of the character. 

Finally, I’d like to share two videos featuring the magnificent ladies who have portrayed Wonder Woman: Lynda Carter and Keri Russell!  Their enthusiasm for the character is contagious.    

1980s 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'

‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ continues to be an enduring part in the lives of millions of people.  In my own experience, I love the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ program from the late 80s and early 90s.  The show’s concept of four mutated turtles with ninja skills is pretty irresistible!  But the real power of the turtles is that Leonard, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, Splinter, and April are a family.  Together they are unbeatable. 

The series introduced me to mottoes like “Turtles fight with honor!”, “Turtle power!”, “Go green machine!”, and “Let’s kick some shell!”

I tried pizza for the first time due to the show.

Finally, I just want to share four of my favorite April O’Neil quotes from the series:

1. Season 1, episode 5 ‘Shredder and Splintered’

During an argument with Burne Thompson, April puts her turtle communicator to good use:

“It’s a hyper turtle death ray!  Now order me a news crew or I’ll turn this whole place into a flaming rubble! … Whew, the things I have to do to get a story.”

2. Season 4, episode 12 ‘Super Hero for a Day’

The turtles inform April the power plant generator is going to blow up, and she can’t turn it off:

“Never say can’t to a reporter!”  She then un-plugs the generators, and saves the turtles.

3. Season 4, episode 34 ‘Splinter Vanishes’

April enters Leatherhead’s and the Rat King’s hideout:

“Don’t these villains ever get tired of using an abandoned warehouse as their hideout?  I know I do.”

4. Season 5, episode 10 ‘Donatello’s Duplicate’

April after encountering Donatello’s (in reality the duplicate) with Pinky McFingers:

“If Donatello’s gone bad, then there’s no hope for the world.”

A Review of Supergirl Movie

Supergirl is a delightful movie, which stars Helen Slater in the lead role as the heroine.  The basic plot is that Kara Zor-El and her mentor Zaltar lose Argo City’s Omegahedron power source.  Kara decides to go to Earth to retrieve the Omegahedron, and she gains super powers like her cousin Kal-El/Superman.  Meanwhile, Selena, a witch, possesses the Omegahedron, and uses it for wicked purposes.  The stage is set for a showdown between Supergirl and Selena over the fate of the Omegahedron, Argo City, and the Earth.  Eventually, Supergirl triumphs over Selena, and returns the Omegahedron to Argo City.

Movie Positives:

Helen Slater’s Kara Zor-El is a genuinely likeable character!  She exudes heroism, strength, and gracefulness.  For example, Supergirl tells Selena, “I don’t scare easily.”  Also, Slater’s Supergirl uses a lamp post charged with electricity to defeat an invisible monster.  Finally, Kara is pretty charming as she navigates new Earth customs like correctly entering rooms, typing a letter of recommendation to gain admittance to the Midvale School, and kissing.

The flying scenes are absolutely brilliant! I love how Helen Slater expresses Kara’s enjoyment of flying around.

Jerry Goldsmith’s music for the film enhances moments in the film like Selena’s magical creations raining down destruction on Midvale, the desolation of the Phantom Zone, or Supergirl searching for the Omegahedron around the vicinity of Midvale.  Of course, the absence of music in a film can be appropriate too.  The quietness as Kara searches Selena’s fortress in her attempt to save Ethan is pretty spooky and suspenseful.     

Kara finding inspiration for a last name from a framed picture of Robert E. Lee: “On Earth I’m Lee… Linda Lee.”

Faye Dunaway’s Selena and Brenda Vaccaro’s Bianca are very funny and campy together.  Dunaway and Vaccaro really boost each other’s performances as evil witches.

Movie Negatives:

The Ethan character and his relationship with Linda Lee did not work for me.  I wish the film contained more moments of Linda trying to stop Ethan’s advances: Ethan: “Hello.” Linda: “Oh, no.  Not now.”  Or the filmmakers could have changed the Linda and Ethan relationship to being friends.  Supergirl could have uncovered that Ethan was magically drugged.  Afterwards, Ethan could have totally been embarrassed, but then help Kara find Selena’s abandoned amusement park.  An Ethan and Linda friendship or team-up would have worked better.

Lucy Lane telling Linda, “…don’t go showing it off (Linda’s math skills) because nobody’s going to like you.”  It is a pretty poor message to send women: that they should not be true to themselves, or show their intelligence.  Still, Linda being pleased with herself about correctly solving a sixth dimensional geometry question (“I don’t know.  Sixth dimensional geometry.  I never could do it before!”), and her confused look over Lucy’s comment (it makes sense since math knowledge appears to be valued in Argo City) adds some positivity to the Midvale school scene.

Overall, Supergirl is a winsome movie!  The film stays true to many elements of the Supergirl mythology: Supergirl’s Kryptonine parents Zor-El and Alura being alive, Supergirl operating in secret, and the Linda Lee alter ego.  Whenever I watch Supergirl it generates positive feelings, inspires a belief in selfless heroes doing the right thing, and identification with the trials of adapting to a new environment.