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ajgrey9647 · 7 months

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Random Ask: Does Drakkon strike you as someone with a very bland taste preference once he got his coins mashed together and he started slowly decaying from the inside out? Like, he will imbibe in expensive shit of course, but does it hurt him? Can he actually pick up any particular smells and tastes? Does Jason seem like the kind of child that ever had stuffed animals? If so, WHAT KIND? Do you think Kimberly REGRETS that one "date" (still hard for me to call it that) with Skull in GGPR #15? Does Coinless Zack look almost seven feet tall or is that just me? Dan Mora seems to like giving him and Bulk height, whereas it doesn't quiiiiiiiite look like Kim or Trini got much taller. Opinion on Sentry Adam with the eye patch? Yay or nay to presuming that was a temporary thing before they killed him off in New Dawn?

Thanks for these interesting questions. Sorry for the delay in response. September was another heavy month with patient visits so it was hard to do any writing other than charting. :(

Drakkon's tastes? I think it was like suddenly you get everything you've ever wanted, things you never thought you'd have or experience. You believed they would make you happy. But once you start getting them every day or whenever you snap your fingers, they are no longer special.

I think as a teen and in some of his early days as Drakkon, he partook of some 'substances', like alcohol, pills, weed, etc. But he realized that in those instances he was impaired, he would potentially be vulnerable. He might drink some, usually with Red, once he was fully indocterinated.

So all the fancy foods, ehh.... Same old, same old. He does limit some items like his expensive chocolates not because of the cost but because he has to maintain his intimidating physique.

Jason and stuffed animals is interesting. If he did, it would be a secret like one special item. I've read some fanfiction where he was going 'through it' and he had a stuffed T Rex that one of the other Rangers gave him. So probably something like that. He's got a lot of responsibilities (heavy ones too) that other teens wouldn't have. And some stories, his age has ranged from 15 to 17-ish. At my age, I look at him like a baby. Still a little kid.

Kimberly and Skull's date? I think she regrets the reason she did it but its because Skull shows that he is a stand up guy underneath how he presents himself. He's shown important qualities by doing the right thing when what he wanted was being offered. And showed his ability to read other's body language and discern motivations.

The height thing? I would have to go back and consult my comics lol. Physically the one thing that always jumped out at me was the way they drew the muscle on these kids. Like Jason, for example. What 15-17 year old boy is that jacked?? Like no one questioned how he has the physique that it takes grown ass men years and 100% dedication to achieve? Like is taking something or????? LOL I mean I used to do a beauty pageant or two and I lifted. I was already at a disadvantage with more estrogen than testosterone etc but damn, it is not easy!!!

Black Sentry Adam has grown on me since reading your stories involving him and his talents with clothing. Before, I didn't give him much thought. I like the eye patch to be honest. He's been through physical and emotional hell. As far as if he's really been killed off, they always say death is relative in comics. Like Coinless Jason, or Jean Grey in the X men (She's died more times than I count and came back). I hope he keeps the eye patch either way :) It's interesting especially if we get to hear how that came about.

I think that's the thing I love most with fanfiction. When I write my characters and their stories, I'm weaving my own little tapestry of a universe. Most times, the characters take control and tell their own story. Like Drakkon and Red or David and Jamie... in other universe's, things would not look the same or have the same bonds/relationships. But writing these stories, it brings them into existence in a way. I rather enjoy when I sit down to write and you get that feeling that you are somehow zapped into another world where you are invisible and just get to sit back and watch the story unfold. Just getting sucked into your work. (I have to set timers or I will write and write and write like I did when I wrote Darkness and Sunshine. Thank God for a day off).

I also love visiting other people's worlds, like yours because I can easily see the changes and dystopian nature. Like they almost went back in time with how they did things. It adds that extra spice. :)

#boom! comics power rangers #lord drakkon #power rangers #world of the coinless jason #ao3 author #mind games #coinless jason #ao3 fanfic

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lookismaddict · 1 year

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among the characters that aren't crew heads, who do you think has the potential to step it up, and could actually lead a crew? :--)

Those who AREN’T crew heads? 🤔 Hmmm… that’s an interesting question. A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION. 🧐 AND TY JANN FOR ANOTHER WONDERFUL QUESTION!!! 😌💕 I had fun answering these. Going back to your question, I do have a few people in mind.

Here are my potential crew leaders:

Zack Lee: I think Zack is fit to be a leader because he already proved it in the beginning of Lookism. He was kind of a leading figure for Doo Lee and the other two bullies. But in all honesty, he’d be an even better leader due to his character development and how much confidence he has now, that he had grown stronger. And since he got a confidence boost in his own skills, not only can he protect Johan better, but he can protect his other friends as well. He has a firm sense of justice too, so I think Zack has the potential to become a crew leader if he tries.

Warren Chae: I believe his reason is similar to Zack’s, since Max and Derrick of Hostel used to follow him around because of how much they respect him, coming from an orphaned background, such as themselves. They followed him and ended up joining Hostel. And as an important figure in Max and Derrick’s lives, Warren was the one to see them off, which proves their unbreakable bond. Eventually, Warren Chae grew stronger, with the experience he gained from Senior Manager Kim teaching him CQC. And as he stood alongside Eli working for the Workers, he was even acknowledged by Gun saying that he’s no longer “The Gatekeeper”. Many of these factors show how much Warren has the capability to be able to protect others while he decided to trained just to get stronger and to be able to protect the ones he loved. Not to mention, his role as “Uncle” in Hostel B as a “fatherly figure”. While Eli was away, he was able to lead Hostel B in Eli’s absence for a while, opposing Olly and his antics due to their conflicting ideologies. If he was able to take in the role of the head of Hostel B temporarily, then I think he’s able to become a very good crew leader.

Samuel Seo: Ok tbh, this man ain’t ready yet. 💀💀💀 (As confirmed by Gun, I agree with whatever he said about Samuel LMAO) BUT, if he gets the right character development and embraces his own flaws, fixes his past mistakes, and sticks with the right people *coughs* Big Deal *coughs* then he’s able to become a great crew leader someday. “Inferiority complex? Never heard of it.” 😌💅🏽He once ruled in fear, but hopefully he’ll rule with true dignity, confidence, and with the right mindset.

Jerry Kwon: This is a hypothetical scenario, but if Jake possibly dies *knocks on wood* and if he entrusts Jerry to take his place as Big Deal’s leader, then I feel like he’d do the job really well. As Big Deal’s No. 2, he has a trustworthy character and many Big Deal members already respect him. In honor of Jake’s dying wish, Jerry would do anything just to fulfill Jake’s wish because of how much he respects him. And with that, he can use it as motivation to lead Big Deal down the right path, like what Jake intended to do in the first place. In the webtoon, it is also confirmed that Jerry could possibly be stronger than Jake, due to his overpowering physical strength. He is a strong opponent to fight with, and this can be confirmed from Gun who’s surprised by Daniel, who had beaten Jerry Kwon. Plus, not only is his body big, but also his heart too. <3 I think Jerry would be a compassionate leader, and one that also holds strong defense. If he became a crew leader, then he’ll be able to keep the crew together through solidarity and in fortitude.

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aion-rsa · 3 years

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15 Best Final Fantasy Characters

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While the list of things that Final Fantasy has gifted the gaming world is much longer than the one we’re bringing you today, one of the most consistently incredible aspects of this legendary RPG franchise is the quality of its casts of characters.

Even if you’ve only played one or two Final Fantasy games in your lifetime (or perhaps even just absorbed elements of the series through its prominent place in gaming culture) you likely know and have strong feelings about at least one Final Fantasy character. No matter how fantastical these games get, their heart will always be found in the heroes, villains, and even NPCs that drive some of the greatest adventures in RPG history.

Which Final Fantasy character is the best of them all, though? That’s a question fans will never find a universally approved answer to, but I’m willing to be most personal shortlists include at least a few of these incredible characters that have become icons of this franchise, the genre, and gaming.

15. Bartz Klauser (Final Fantasy 5)

Many Final Fantasy protagonists are tortured souls burdened by destiny and circumstances. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that type of character (we’re actually going to honor a few of those tortured souls later in this list), but too much of that kind of personality can really wear you down.

That’s what makes Bartz Klauser such a breath of fresh air. As a young man just trying to honor his father’s dying wish to go out and explore the world, Bartz didn’t ask to get caught up in an epic battle or grand adventure. Yet, he handles the incredible events that befall him with positivity, humor, and constant support for his friends and allies.

14. Squall Leonhart (Final Fantasy 8)

There was a time when it felt like Squall’s place somewhere at the bottom of any list of Final Fantasy protagonists was all but reserved. There are still more than a few Final Fantasy fans who passionately hate him, and it’s easy to understand why. He’s angsty, he’s sometimes derivative of other characters, and he’s even sometimes cruel to people who should be his closest allies.

Yet, there’s just something about Squall. His looks and gunblade certainly make him memorable from a design perspective, but there’s also something to be said for how we get to watch Squall grow throughout Final Fantasy 8 in a way that few franchise protagonists get to grow across the course of their own adventures. Squall is the surprisingly grounded heart of a Final Fantasy game that reaches all-time high levels of weirdness.

13. Zidane Tribal (Final Fantasy 9)

I’ll always have a soft spot for Final Fantasy 7 and 8’s more somber protagonists, but like many fans at the time, I was more than ready to embrace Final Fantasy 9’s return to medieval fantasy as well as its returns to slightly more upbeat lead characters.

Zidane is a fantastic example of a more lighthearted Final Fantasy protagonist, but he is no mere throwback to a simpler time. There’s plenty of darkness in Zidane’s surprisingly deep backstory, which makes his attempts to become a better person and a better leader (as well as his insistence on enjoying life whenever possible) that much more interesting.

12. Cidolfus Orlandeau (Final Fantasy Tactics)

Some version of Cid pretty much had to be on this list, but which Cid is the best of them all? Well, there’s certainly an argument to be made for Final Fantasy 7’s Cid, Final Fantasy 14’s Cid, and Final Fantasy 9’s Cid, but my vote for the best Cid goes to a somewhat outside the box version of this recurring character.

It’s interesting enough that Final Fantasy Tactics’ Cidolfus Orlandeau is a warrior when so many other versions of Cid are engineers, mentors, or even political leaders, but what makes Orlandeau really stand apart is how powerful he is. This is one of the most overpowered characters in Final Fantasy Tactics in terms of both lore and in-game abilities. Actually, his incredible power kind of feels like a love letter to the entire Cid “lineage.”

11. Zack Fair (Final Fantasy 7)

It may seem like Zack Fair’s popularity only started to grow in more recent years, but the truth of the matter is that many Final Fantasy 7 fans have always loved Zack and just weren’t able to properly share their love for this previously minor character prior to the modern internet age.

Before Zack Fair finally got to star in his own game (the largely underrated PSP title, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII), he won the hearts of millions with his optimism, friendly nature, and unwavering belief that he can fight to make the world a better place. He is, in many ways, what we think of when we think of heroes.

10. Celes Chere (Final Fantasy 6)

Final Fantasy 6 certainly isn’t lacking in memorable protagonists (or villains), which really makes it that much more impressive that Celes Chere has arguably become the game’s unofficial lead all these years later.

Celes initially comes across as a standoffish enemy general who is only helping the player’s party because they’re temporarily united against a common threat. By the time we reach this game’s legendary opera scene, though, we understand who Celes really is and even start to sympathize with what we previously believed were her greatest flaws. Celes was one of the first Final Fantasy characters that properly showcased the storytelling potential of this franchise and gaming.

9. Lightning (Final Fantasy 13)

Final Fantasy 13 honestly deserves a lot of the criticism it regularly receives, but it’s always been a shame that the game’s divisive (often negative) legacy means Lightning is sometimes denied the status she so rightfully deserves.

Lightning’s backstory isn’t the most complicated in Final Fantasy history, but that actually proves to be one of the character’s strongest qualities. Lightning is mostly interested in protecting her sister, which turns out to be all the motivation as she needs to embark upon an epic journey as well as all the motivation we need to sympathize with the incredible things she does along the way. Lightning is fearless, strong, determined, and the kind of person many of us like to think we would become in her situation.

8. Balthier (Final Fantasy 12)

It’s certainly easy to understand why so many Final Fantasy fans have compared Balthier to Han Solo over the years. Balthier is, after all, a sarcastic yet suave sky pirate who gets caught up in a war. You don’t have to break your brain to see the similarities.

However, that doesn’t make Balthier any less of a compelling character. Balthier believes he’s the real protagonist of Final Fantasy 12’s all-time great story, which is honestly hard to argue against when you consider that he’s the most consistently compelling character in the game and one of the most consistently entertaining characters in the history of this franchise.

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7. Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy 7)

What is it about Tifa that’s made her one of the most popular characters in Final Fantasy history? Is it her warmth? Is it her combat abilities? Is it the ways that she’s able to so easily pivot between leader and supporter based on what the situation calls for?

The answer is “yes.” Tifa is capable in ways that the best playable video game characters sometimes need to be, but she’s still vulnerable, conflicted, and sometimes scared in the ways that any of us would be if we were in her situation. She’s a truly well-rounded character who is more than worthy of her fan-favorite status.

6. Auron (Final Fantasy 10)

On the surface, Auron is everything that you’d expect to see in a “cool” Final Fantasy character. With his giant sword, samurai-like philosophies and lifestyle, and mysterious vibes, you could even argue that Auron represents some of the “tropes” we sometimes associate with this franchise’s most notable warriors.

Yet, Auron is so much more than the (admittedly badass) warrior he first seems to be. As we learn Auron’s backstory, we also learn more about the Final Fantasy X universe and this game’s wonderfully weird and surprisingly complicated storyline. Auron is undoubtedly cool, but it’s the sweet and sorrowful details of his backstory that elevate him above some notable competition.

5. Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy 7)

It’s sometimes hard to look at Cloud and not see a collection of what we now think of as cliches for both Final Fantasy protagonists and JRPG characters. Even if you want to push aside the fact that Cloud helped introduce (or at least arguably perfected) some of those cliches, you can still make a compelling argument for the character’s all-time great status on the basis of some of his qualities that don’t get talked about quite as often as they should.

Cloud is a much deeper and more mysterious character than he often gets credit for. Given that we learn more about him as we learn more about Final Fantasy 7’s plot, world, and emotional stakes, he’s also one of the best (if initially less obvious) player surrogates in the history of RPGs.

4. Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7)

Like so many of Final Fantasy’s other great characters, you could make an argument for Sephiroth’s “best” credentials on the basis of his design alone. Any character that looks this cool and has a theme song as incredible as “One-Winged Angel” is destined to steal some hearts.

What’s most impressive about Sephiroth, though, are the ways that the Final Fantasy team has revisited this character and grown him over the years. Sephiroth is a tragic character in many ways, but you won’t find many who are willing to shed a tear for him or the ways he’s used his personal tragedies to internally justify unforgivable acts.

3. Yuna (Final Fantasy 10)

While I don’t hate Tidus as much as some people do, I have to admit that I’ve always seen Yuna as the real protagonist of Final Fantasy 10 as well as one of the series’ best characters ever.

Yuna’s incredible empathy and compassion are appropriate character traits for a summoner who is so willing to complete what is generally considered to be a suicide mission. Yuna believes in the role she plays in this world, but she’s not so committed to her duties that she becomes this one-track protagonist that doesn’t get to develop a personality. Indeed, it’s Yuna’s likability that inspires so many Final Fantasy 10 players to see her complete her quest, whatever the cost may be.

2. Kefka Palazzo (Final Fantasy 6)

When people are praising Kefka as a villain (which is obviously something that happens quite often), the line you’re almost always guaranteed to hear is that Kefka is one of the few villains in any medium who achieves their seemingly absurd plans for world domination. His almost unrivaled success as a villain has rightfully become the defining part of his legacy.

As a character, though, Kefka stands apart through the almost horror movie-like nature of his design (he’s somewhere between Pennywise and the Joker) as well as for the way he goes from court jester to world-destroying diety so convincingly. He is, at the very least, the best Final Fantasy villain ever.

1. Vivi Ornitier (Final Fantasy 9)

Vivi’s short lifespan and the fact he was ignored and dismissed for so many of the few days he had to live should make him one of the most tragic characters in Final Fantasy history. Indeed, many aspects of Vivi’s life are a tragedy and a pretty compelling tragedy at that.

Yet, there’s a reason that simply hearing the name “Vivi” puts a smile on so many Final Fantasy players’ faces. Vivi may discover the sorrowful truth of his existence in Final Fantasy 9, but he also learns the joys of friendship, confidence, and adventure. In many ways, the character’s final words represent how we all feel whenever we have to leave our favorite Final Fantasy characters:

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

“I’m so happy I met everyone… I wish we could’ve gone on more adventures. But I guess we all have to say goodbye someday.”

The post 15 Best Final Fantasy Characters appeared first on Den of Geek.

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shanedakotamuir · 4 years

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The fight to release the Snyder Cut of Justice League (which may not even exist), explained

A still from Zack Snyder’s alleged directors’ cut | Vero/Snyder

Zack Snyder’s fabled cut of Justice League and the corporate conspiracy theory behind it.

The most anticipated Warner Bros. superhero flick is one that might not even exist: the infamous “Snyder Cut” of the movie Justice League. It’s an alleged version of director Zack Snyder’s Justice League that has become something of a myth among fans.

Diehard DC Comics fans will tell you that the fabled Snyder Cut is exactly the Justice League story fans wanted: a darker, more cohesive, and overall better director’s version that completely changes the movie for the better.

Whispers of a possible Snyder Cut began soon after Justice League hit theaters in November 2017. The movie that we got, according to Snyder’s biggest fans, is a twisted, gnarled, ignorant work that was knee-capped by outside forces that suffocated Snyder’s true vision. And since its release, a hashtag movement has simmered, bubbling up with each Warner Bros. premiere with increasing fervor.

This week, coinciding with the two-year anniversary of the Justice League’s theatrical release, the Snyder Cut — which until now has mostly existed as a myth spread by word of mouth among fans — is the closest it’s ever been to a reality.

On November 15, Snyder posted pictures on the social media platform Vero, which fans quickly believed were from the cut itself: a still of Henry Cavill’s Superman in the hero’s trademark uniform, and another of the character in what appears to be a resurrection scene that differs from the one in the original Justice League:

Zack Snyder/Vero

Henry Cavill in a still that’s allegedly from Zack Snyder’s cut of Justice League.

Zack Snyder/Vero

A screenshot of Zack Snyder’s Vero post teasing a potential director’s cut of Justice League.

The shots Snyder posted might seem like typical superhero-movie fare of an actor in costume. But to devoted fans, the stills are evidence that the superior Snyder Cut does exist, and that for some reason, it’s being withheld from the public.

Adding fuel to the fire were tweets from former Batman actor Ben Affleck and Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot on November 17. Affleck, who vacated the Batman post after Justice League, simply tweeted the hashtag #ReleaseTheSnyderCut:

#ReleaseTheSnyderCut

— Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) November 17, 2019

Gadot tweeted a black-and-white image of her character looking wistful, using the same hashtag:

#ReleaseTheSnyderCut pic.twitter.com/wssMmlPqEK

— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) November 17, 2019

For the heroes themselves to be spreading the hashtag has given what’s been dubbed the “Release the Snyder Cut” movement more legitimacy than ever before. It’s one thing to have DC Comics enthusiasts get the hashtag trending, but Gadot and Affleck are actual Justice League members.

If even they want the Snyder Cut released, is the fan-driven movement onto something? Could the Snyder Cut really exist?

Warner Bros. Studio hasn’t officially addressed the campaign, which has expanded beyond tweets and hashtags to include real-life demonstrations and events held by wanting fans. But according to the Hollywood Reporter’s sources at Warner Bros., there’s no imminent plan to release any such cut — nor has the studio confirmed it even exists.

That said, DC Comics fans’ interest in an alternate, higher-quality version of the poorly received team-up movie is natural, especially when stars and the film’s own director say one exists. But the “Release the Snyder Cut” campaign has darker motives too, as it galvanizes the fandom’s toxic sect, which has previously clung to conspiracy theories about film criticism and the business of Hollywood that threaten to damage the reputations of all of the above.

#ReleaseTheSnyderCut is a genius marketing push — if that’s all it is

The origin story of the Snyder Cut starts in May 2017, when Snyder left the Justice League project just before reshoots to deal with the death of his daughter. (There are reports that dispute this and claim Snyder was fired much earlier, however.) Avengers director Joss Whedon was called in to handle the movie’s numerous reshoots. The reshoots with which Snyder was reportedly uninvolved, combined with fan theories that Warner Bros. was rushing the film to meet a year-end release date, led fans to believe the finished product had strayed from Snyder’s original vision.

Perhaps “Release the Snyder Cut” wouldn’t have become such a rallying cry if Justice League had been more successful.

After months of anticipation, Justice League turned out to be a critical and box-office disappointment. The more time that passed, the more fans blamed Snyder’s departure and Warner Bros. for its failure. In response, their hopes for some unannounced director’s cut of the film grew. Snyder fans consider his previous directors’ cuts of 2009’s Watchmen and 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice to be improvements upon the theatrical versions, and that fueled a belief that a similar redux of Justice League would also be much more satisfying.

An online petition by one fan in late 2017 that asked for a director’s cut garnered over 179,000 signatures. That kicked off a full-on movement that, among other things, spurred a site called ForSnyderCut.com, which become a centralized hub for all Snyder Cut news. Then there was a January 2018 “march” on Warner Bros.’s Burbank studio to show how serious fans were, along with YouTube videos (in many languages), letters, and phone calls to Warner Bros. itself.

Oh my gosh, look at this loud, crazy protest! Yeah, lame YouTubers & media reporting misinformation, we were just going 2 take a photo! Thanks 2 Leo 4 taking it & EVERYONE who showed up! ❤#ReleaseTheSnyderCut #ReleaseTheSnyderCutPhoto#ILoveZackSnyder #JusticeLeague #DCEU pic.twitter.com/f7qK53oCKz

— Itzmoe (@itzmoe) January 6, 2018

The Ringer has a good breakdown of the various teases Snyder himself has participated in to further fan the flames. Fans sunk their teeth into every one, culminating in a nearly $27,000 GoFundMe campaign to fly a banner at San Diego Comic-Con 2019. It wasn’t until March 2019 (just prior to the GoFundMe campaign) that Snyder confirmed the existence of his director’s cut to a fan while attending a fundraiser for the ArtCenter College of Design’s Ahmanson Auditorium:

It's done. It's up to them. Tried cleaning up the audio a bit to make what he's saying more discernible@wbpictures #ReleaseTheSnyderCut pic.twitter.com/VUuxqWLK8d

— Charlie (@SnyderCutJL) March 26, 2019

Gadot, the flagship actress of Warner Bros.’s superhero universe, tweeting about the Snyder Cut is another sign of how much this movement has grown — and the possibility that the edit may eventually see the light of day.

But despite the star-studded endorsements and Snyder’s crafty hints, only a few people have said they’ve seen the cut. Most of its existence hinges on the word of Snyder himself or secondhand accounts. And others, like director (and early champion of the “Release the Snyder Cut” movement) Kevin Smith, say they’ve heard the cut isn’t in cinematic shape to actually screen.

“There is a Snyder Cut. For sure. That’s not a mythical beast. It exists. Now, it’s not a finished movie by any stretch of the imagination,” Smith told CinemaBlend earlier this year. “The ‘Snyder Cut’ that, again I haven’t seen, but the one I’ve heard everyone speak of was never a finished film. It was a movie that people in production could watch and fill in the blanks. It was certainly not meant for mass consumption.”

The rumors kept moving closer to home throughout 2019. In August, Aquaman actor Jason Momoa posted on Instagram that Snyder let him see the cut and that it was, in Momoa’s words, “ssssiiicccckkkkkk”:

View this post on Instagram

Well let’s be honest if it wasn’t for this man we wouldn’t have Aquaman I love u Zachary synder. Mahalo for showing me the synder cut. Here is a token of my appreciation. Leica Q2 for inspiring me as an artist through and through @leicacamerausa I wish I was a better actor but I can’t lie. The Snyder cut is ssssiiicccckkkkkk #luckymesucksforu #q2 #leicaforlife @cruelfilms aloha j

A post shared by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on Aug 18, 2019 at 5:41pm PDT

It’s worth keeping in mind that Momoa and Gadot are still playing the heroes they portrayed in Justice League in upcoming standalone sequels. Drumming up interest in Justice League also drums up interest in their upcoming projects; tweeting about the Snyder Cut keeps their names in the news.

Supporting the Snyder Cut shows they also care about what fans want. These actors are essentially saying, without explicitly doing so, that they want the best for their fans. And since Justice League was so universally trashed, Gadot and Momoa aren’t really burning bridges by saying a better version of that movie exists somewhere.

When Wonder Woman 1984 comes out in June 2020, fans will likely remember that Gadot asked for the Snyder Cut to be released. And Gadot will likely be asked about the Snyder Cut again during that press tour.

Even if the Snyder Cut is never released, the Justice League stars who support the movement will have garnered goodwill from fans.

But releasing the Snyder Cut also courts a toxic aspect to this fervent fandom

Gadot and Momoa’s support may be good for them, but it’s not great for those who are less concerned about the Snyder Cut. Despite the motivation or intent behind the Snyder Cut campaign — and regardless of the shape it’s in, if it does exist — it’s worth noting that some of the fans involved have gained a bad reputation. Their demands for the Snyder Cut’s release have grown more intense, and it’s emblematic of how toxic some fandoms have become in the past decade.

The #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement frames the scenario to make it seem like Warner Bros. is keeping fans from the high-quality superhero movie they desire. The movement is not simply about wanting a director’s cut to be made available.

Rather, its supporters actually use the phrase to suggest that Warner Bros. executives like ex-DC Entertainment president Geoff Johns (who takes the brunt of the fans’ blame for Justice League, since it’s theorized he sabotaged Snyder’s vision because it was incongruent with his own); reshoots helmer Joss Whedon; and even Marvel Entertainment, film critics, and many people in between all have it out for Snyder fans. They don’t care whether fans get a good movie out of Justice League, a beloved property many DC Comics fans wanted to see adapted for years. They just care about making money.

This notion continues to send fans on the more paranoid side of the argument into attack mode online:

I really hope Geoff Johns does the right thing and stay far away from #ReleaseTheSnyderCut as he is greatly responsible for what happened with Zack’s departure, Cyborgs story getting cut/redone, hiring the pig that is Joss Whedon. It’s best he stays far far away from this!

— Jason Laboy Photography (@Jason24cf) November 18, 2019

Those motherfuckers Whedon and Johns turned Barry Allen from a badass who was gonna reverse time and stop the motherboxes from destroying planet earth, into a bumbling fucking buffoon who falls on womens tits and pushes a fucking pickup truck. #ReleaseTheSnyderCut

— Dr. Chris Ω VOTE LABOUR! (@vinaldo7) November 12, 2019

The online harassment has grown so fierce that a former DC exec deleted her Twitter in fall 2018 to avoid the rage in her mentions. A year prior, a writer from Pajiba received an avalanche of vitriol for criticizing the campaign online.

The reaction, albeit far more intense than previous Snyder-fan antics, is nothing new. It’s reminiscent of the great conspiracy theory of 2016, when a vocal sect of DC and Warner Bros. fans were convinced that Marvel had paid off critics to trash Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Supplemental to that theory is the narrative pushed by Snyder that his movies are made for fans, not critics.

The Snyder Cut contingent subsist on an “us versus them” mentality, where if you aren’t a fan of these poor movies, you must not be a “real” fan of the heroes themselves. Real fans are the ones who matter, of course. Brushing off negative criticism becomes a lot easier when it’s coming from people who aren’t real fans.

This creates a strange paradox of sorts in that true fans ostensibly should enjoy the Justice League movie no matter what, according to Snyder himself. But Snyder Cut fans will argue that the movie they were served was actually the work of other people — Whedon especially — and that they never got to see Snyder’s vision.

Hating Justice League means hating everything that was tinkered with. The Snyder Cut is what “real” fans should want.

Pitting fans against critics and movie execs reflexively creates an environment in which a silly idea like Marvel paying off the media to trash Warner Bros. takes flight. It also encourages some fans to verbally abuse anyone with a negative opinion of the movie or a Warner Bros. property.

Just prior to the release of October’s Joker, fans sent misogynistic tweets and emails — some that vaguely warned of theater shootings — to critics who saw the movie and gave it a poor review. This behavior continues and, in some ways, is entrenched in modern fandom culture, particularly among fans of DC superhero movies, which have suffered poor reviews over the years.

With stars like Affleck, Gadot, and Momoa urging Warner Bros. to release the Snyder Cut of Justice League, it seems like it would be in Warner Bros.’ best interest to eventually release it — if that edit of the film does exist in some watchable form. There are countless fans who want it and the studio could cash in, especially on the anniversary of the movie. I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing more of Gadot and Momoa superhero-ing.

But there’s also a question of what happens after fans — especially the particularly toxic ones — get what they want. They could very well see the release of a Snyder Cut as something they earned by acting and lashing out, as though Warner Bros. is caving in to their demands or rewarding their bad behavior. And it’s hard to believe that’s the best course of action.

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corneliusreignallen · 4 years

Text

The fight to release the Snyder Cut of Justice League (which may not even exist), explained

A still from Zack Snyder’s alleged directors’ cut | Vero/Snyder

Zack Snyder’s fabled cut of Justice League and the corporate conspiracy theory behind it.

Zack Snyder/Vero

Henry Cavill in a still that’s allegedly from Zack Snyder’s cut of Justice League.

Zack Snyder/Vero

A screenshot of Zack Snyder’s Vero post teasing a potential director’s cut of Justice League.

#ReleaseTheSnyderCut

— Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) November 17, 2019

Gadot tweeted a black-and-white image of her character looking wistful, using the same hashtag:

#ReleaseTheSnyderCut pic.twitter.com/wssMmlPqEK

— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) November 17, 2019

If even they want the Snyder Cut released, is the fan-driven movement onto something? Could the Snyder Cut really exist?

#ReleaseTheSnyderCut is a genius marketing push — if that’s all it is

Perhaps “Release the Snyder Cut” wouldn’t have become such a rallying cry if Justice League had been more successful.

— Itzmoe (@itzmoe) January 6, 2018

It's done. It's up to them. Tried cleaning up the audio a bit to make what he's saying more discernible@wbpictures #ReleaseTheSnyderCut pic.twitter.com/VUuxqWLK8d

— Charlie (@SnyderCutJL) March 26, 2019

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on Aug 18, 2019 at 5:41pm PDT

Even if the Snyder Cut is never released, the Justice League stars who support the movement will have garnered goodwill from fans.

But releasing the Snyder Cut also courts a toxic aspect to this fervent fandom

This notion continues to send fans on the more paranoid side of the argument into attack mode online:

— Jason Laboy Photography (@Jason24cf) November 18, 2019

— Dr. Chris Ω VOTE LABOUR! (@vinaldo7) November 12, 2019

Hating Justice League means hating everything that was tinkered with. The Snyder Cut is what “real” fans should want.

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gracieyvonnehunter · 4 years

Text

The fight to release the Snyder Cut of Justice League (which may not even exist), explained

A still from Zack Snyder’s alleged directors’ cut | Vero/Snyder

Zack Snyder’s fabled cut of Justice League and the corporate conspiracy theory behind it.

Zack Snyder/Vero

Henry Cavill in a still that’s allegedly from Zack Snyder’s cut of Justice League.

Zack Snyder/Vero

A screenshot of Zack Snyder’s Vero post teasing a potential director’s cut of Justice League.

#ReleaseTheSnyderCut

— Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) November 17, 2019

Gadot tweeted a black-and-white image of her character looking wistful, using the same hashtag:

#ReleaseTheSnyderCut pic.twitter.com/wssMmlPqEK

— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) November 17, 2019

If even they want the Snyder Cut released, is the fan-driven movement onto something? Could the Snyder Cut really exist?

#ReleaseTheSnyderCut is a genius marketing push — if that’s all it is

Perhaps “Release the Snyder Cut” wouldn’t have become such a rallying cry if Justice League had been more successful.

— Itzmoe (@itzmoe) January 6, 2018

It's done. It's up to them. Tried cleaning up the audio a bit to make what he's saying more discernible@wbpictures #ReleaseTheSnyderCut pic.twitter.com/VUuxqWLK8d

— Charlie (@SnyderCutJL) March 26, 2019

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on Aug 18, 2019 at 5:41pm PDT

Even if the Snyder Cut is never released, the Justice League stars who support the movement will have garnered goodwill from fans.

But releasing the Snyder Cut also courts a toxic aspect to this fervent fandom

This notion continues to send fans on the more paranoid side of the argument into attack mode online:

— Jason Laboy Photography (@Jason24cf) November 18, 2019

— Dr. Chris Ω VOTE LABOUR! (@vinaldo7) November 12, 2019

Hating Justice League means hating everything that was tinkered with. The Snyder Cut is what “real” fans should want.

from Vox - All https://ift.tt/2OqSU74

#Vox - All

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dweemeister · 7 years

Photo

Wonder Woman (2017)

It might surprise you that DC Comics characters have been appearing in live-action films for over seventy-five years. That tradition began with Republic Pictures’ Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941) – a twelve-part film serial (serials released a new part in cinemas every week or so in a time when moviegoing was a communal, weekly tradition and when a ticket gave you admission to two feature-length movies and whatever serials, shorts, or newsreels in between). Since then, Batman, Superman, and even characters like Swamp Thing and Congorilla/Congo Bill have had their standalone films. One superhero in DC’s trinity had never appeared in her own standalone film.

That changed earlier this month when director Patty Jenkins brought Wonder Woman to theaters. The fourth film of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) – following the suffocating Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and the incompetent Suicide Squad (2016) – Wonder Woman is a much-needed course correction with its earnestness and good intentions (albeit with problems with Wonder Woman’s origins and depiction of World War I). Whether the maligned DCEU reverts to Zack Snyder’s twisted fantasies will be seen later in this year’s Justice League. For now, considering the history of women directors and women-driven superhero movies in Hollywood, Wonder Woman is worth rejoicing over.

Following a brief moment where Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot as an adult, Lilly Aspel and Emily Carey as younger Diana) is gazing on an old photograph, we see Diana and her early years on the island of Themyscira. Themyscira, long protected from the presence of humans, is inhabited by the Amazons – a race of warrior women created by the Ancient Greek gods. In this incarnation of Wonder Woman, all of the gods but Ares, the god of war, have been slain, and the Amazons are wary of any of his attempts to return. When American spy Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crash lands and brings a pursuing German warship with him. Diana and the rest of the Amazons spring into action and defeat the pursuing Germans. Steve informs the Amazons of the Great War, and implores that he be released so that he might thwart a German attempt to engineer a hideous mustard-based gas. Diana, believing that Ares is behind WWI, takes herself, a sword and shield, and Steve away from Themyscira and to Europe. She will soon find herself at the Western Front, later realizing that warfare need not divine intervention to unleash the worst in humanity.

Also starring in Wonder Woman are: Robin Wright as Amazonian General Antiope; Connie Nielsen as Diana’s mother, Queen Hippolyta; Danny Huston as German General Erich Ludendorff; David Thewlis as British PM Patrick Morgan; Elena Anaya as Doctor Poison. Ewen Bremner, Saïd Taghmaoui, Eugene Brave Rock, and Lucy Davis round out the cast as Steve’s partners-in-crime.

When she appeared in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Gal Gadot was one of the few redeeming aspects of that shipwreck of a movie. And she, as Diana, provides a stupendous, complex portrait of her character. From a requisite stiffness at home in Themyscira to her wide-eyed curiosity the first moments she visits London for the first time to a combination of compassion and horror approaching No Man’s Land, Wonder Woman is a demanding role for Gadot and may be as demanding as Hugh Jackman’s final go-around as Wolverine in Logan (2017). But where the seasoned Jackman was acting almost entirely on physical intensity, the relatively inexperienced Gadot rises to the challenge of nailing her physical and verbal acting, along with some sharp comedic moments. If Gadot watched Christopher Reeve’s performance as Clark Kent/Kal-El in Superman (1978) for inspiration and guidance, it would come as no surprise. Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, as she was crafted by creator William Moulton Marston and written for this film by Allan Heinberg, is what humanity could be, rather than what it is now or in 1918.

Nothing encapsulates that more than Wonder Woman’s introduction to humanity. It occurs in a scene somewhere in Belgium as she emerges from the trenches, her iconic costume revealed for the first time. The No Man’s Land scene is one of the most effective superhero introduction sequences one could ask for – from Jenkins’ sense of timing to the stakes involved. Rupert Gregson-Williams’ (an acolyte of Hans Zimmer at Remote Control Productions, but more on Gregson-Williams later; the name of this cue is “No Man’s Land”) score is lacking any discernible secondary themes apart from Junkie XL’s Wonder Woman electric cello-driven action motif that was established in Batman v. Superman and his own Wonder Woman motif, but it accompanies the grimy violence of this moment brilliantly. Here, Wonder Woman is acting on her convictions that something larger, something beyond the pale of even her own mythos, is operating in this nightmarish grove of dead, uprooted trees, mud, and untended corpses. In retrospect, those convictions underestimate the scope of human agency – which will provide greater irony in the film’s concluding act.

World War I is one of the least understood conflicts of the twentieth century. Patty Jenkins, in an interview, notes:

World War I is the first time that civilization as we know it was finding its roots... the way that it was unclear who was in the right of WWI is a really interesting parallel to this time. Then you take a god with a moral compass and a moral belief system, and you drop them into this world, there are questions about women's rights, about a mechanized war where you don't see who you are killing.

And yet Jenkins and Heinberg squander an opportunity to explore those complexities. The world apparently needs evil Germans, it seems, and the one-dimensional portrayal of German soldiers and officers without paying attention to the militarists spurring the war on at the time is contrasted with a mostly rosy view of the Allied Forces. Even when Steve Trevor’s potential deceptions with Diana are hypothesized, there is not even a question that such a dashing blue-eyed American is ever in the wrong. The entire conceit that Allied spies and politicians would pilfer German plans to create an even deadlier mustard gas and choose not to replicate such a chemical weapon is laughable. It is irresponsible, delusional. Though the Central Powers were first to use lethal chemical weapons in 1915 (the French introduced tear gas in 1914), the British, French, Americans, and Russians responded with their own lethal chemical weapons. All sides were culpable in this new form of slaughter we are still reckoning with in contemporary warfare.

What helps the film in this regard is that it does not hide the fact that Steve Trevor is coding Diana’s thinking to make her believe that she is fighting for the “correct” side. But this conflict that arises in the final third of the film is attached to their romantic chemistry. Jenkins and Heinberg seem afraid to complicate the good-versus-evil dichotomy that might be better established in a film taking place during World War II (perhaps they wished to distinguish Wonder Woman’s ethical dilemmas from the straightforward timeline found in 2011′s Captain America: The First Avenger?). All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) it is not, Westfront 1918 (1930, Germany) it is not. Yet Wonder Woman attempted a narrative of the most calamitous war ever seen at that point in history and a sincere commentary on the nature of violence within the confines of a superhero’s story. The filmmakers are responsible for such portrayals, as all too often history is rewritten in reckless fictions.

By film’s end, Diana realizes that though humanity’s capability for violence needs not activation from Olympian gods. Simultaneously, humanity’s capability of love of understanding is in continuous conflict with its darker tendencies, which makes living profound. What struck me – a twentysomething male who does not consume superhero comics, but has seen a share of superhero television and movies – about this depiction of Wonder Woman is that, unlike many recent superhero (male and female) depictions, that this is largely not a tale rooted in some sort of vengeance. Wonder Woman’s motivations for coming into the human world is not a retaliation to violence against her. Yes, the final fight – without venturing into spoilers – has some element of vengeance, but it is not the primary operating emotion. Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, too, is the master of her own future. Too many times female superheroes in today’s movies and television are depicted within the contexts, frameworks, and stories of a male superhero. Of course, Wonder Woman follows Steve Trevor around quite a bit at the Western Front. But she is still there on her own initiative, with motivations that are hers and hers alone (if you don’t count the Amazons, but they are all women, too).

Because Wonder Woman has not been as widely depicted in film and television as Superman or Batman, her origin story is more susceptible to change. Wonder Woman in the DCEU is a demigod, not just an Amazon. The Amazons, framed as a matriarchal society meant to spread peace among humans, have secluded themselves in paradise. Usually, a contest among Amazons takes place to decide which one of them will accompany Steve Trevor back to the human world; this is not depicted in Jenkins’ film. Though the bonds between Amazons are decently established, this contest’s inclusion could have provided greater emotional linkages to the Amazons at large. Upon departure, Diana, in most incarnations including this film, undertakes a coming-of-age journey to a place which might not accept her. Her vulnerability is most compelling when she arrives as an Amazonian. That feminist resonance is weakened when she is portrayed as a demigod with powers derived from Zeus as this film does or as a disempowered pinup figure or a Goddess of War. At its purest conception, Wonder Woman is an empowering narrative that requires no support from men or gods; this cinematic treatment does not completely fulfill those demands, but it came far closer than many of Wonder Woman’s fans believed it would.

Despite a push to have a female composer score Wonder Woman (female composers are an extreme rarity in Hollywood), Rupert Gregson-Williams of Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions – which is close to monopolizing film scoring among tentpole blockbusters for the major studios, partly resulting in the sameness heard in film scores today – was ultimately tasked to write the music. His score to Wonder Woman is, from the first few minutes, far more orchestral than Zimmer’s percussion-crashing, synthesizer-deafening, one-dimensional superhero scores. Stylistically, Gregson-Williams’ work is more reminiscent of the compositions in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – with their reliance on orchestras grinding away at repetitive ostinatos without harmonic depth or variation – but that is not necessarily a compliment. Where “No Man’s Land” (provided earlier in this write-up) is the score’s pinnacle of action scoring, “Amazons of Themyscira” introduces a motif for Diana (at 2:26, but listen to the whole cue) that did not appear in Batman v. Superman. The rise-and-fall of Diana’s motif – also well-used in “Angel on the Wing” – is layered with brass primarily, with winds and strings providing harmonic texture that is absent almost throughout the score. More of this layering, this attention to harmonies could have resulted in a more memorable film score.

Wonder Woman has taken a circuitous route to reach cinemas. Though the final product is imperfect, the very fact that her standalone big screen debut has finally navigated through the maze that is today’s Hollywood studio politics is a remarkable achievement. In the last several years, superhero films have pounded cynicism – social, political, personal – without respite. Wonder Woman steps back, kicks ass, and inspires. It dares us to wonder. And it’s one of the best superhero films of the last decade.

My rating: 7/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found here.

#Wonder Woman #Patty Jenkins #Gal Gadot #Chris Pine #Robin Wright #Danny Huston #David Thewlis #Connie Nielsen #Elena Anaya #Ewen Bremner #Said Taghmaoui #Eugene Brave Rock #Lucy Davis #Allan Heinberg #William Moulton Marston #Rupert Gregson Williams #My Movie Odyssey

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amazingmovingpictures · 7 years

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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Action-Thriller | 2016 | 151 minutes | PG-13 | Live-Action

Written by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer

Directed by Zack Snyder

Based on the characters from DC Comics

_______________________________________________________________________

In a world not unlike our own, a seemingly invincible alien who calls himself “Superman” (Henry Cavill) has taken it upon himself to police the world using his godlike abilities. Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), another vigilante who goes by the name “Batman”, only sees Superman as a potential threat, and is wracked with fear over what would happen if Superman chose to use his powers against Earth. The stage is set for conflict as an eccentric industrialist named Lex Luther (Jesse Eisenberg) secretly petitions the US Government to help him build a weapon capable of killing Superman. Unlike Bruce, however, Luther’s motives aren’t as altruistic…

Anyways, this movie sucked.

Don’t be fooled by the cool concept. Dawn of Justice toys with a lot of interesting ideas, but never explores them in any meaningful way, instead focusing on its convoluted, nonsensical plot. I cannot remember the last time I saw a blockbuster film with this many bizarre plot contrivances. After two-and-a-half hours of screen time, I’m still not totally clear on what Luthor’s plans or motivations were, and that’s with me really trying to fill in the gaps.

The entire last hour is a mess. Three fight scenes get strung together by the mere husk of a plot. Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), another character from the comics, is painfully shoehorned in with no backstory and barely any personality. I get that the producers wanted to save most of her character for a presumed sequel, but come on! At least give me enough to care!

I think that’s the film’s biggest problem: it’s inhumanity. From the abrupt death of Jimmy Olsen (Michael Cassidy) less than five minutes in, to the infamous “Save Martha” scene (this particular plot point had been spoiled for me and I was STILL surprised at how stupid it was), the film never really tries to have us empathize with our characters. The closest we get is with Bruce, and he’s too unhinged and violent for his brief flashbacks and speeches to help. I may have criticized Suicide Squad a lot, but I’ll give it this: it at least tried to have a compelling, human story inside its low-rent action clothes. Dawn of Justice doesn’t even attempt that, outside of a small handful of scenes, which might as well be mosquitos clinging to this rabid grizzly of a story.

There is some good acting on display here. Ben Affleck and Jeremy Irons do a good job as Batman and Alfred, with their strong performances helping flesh out what is an otherwise clumsy arc for Bruce Wayne. Henry Cavill and Amy Adams as Superman and his girlfriend, Lois Lane, aren’t as good. I have a hard time blaming the actors; they’re supposed to be a young couple in love, but they’re given so few scenes together that I just couldn’t buy into their relationship. Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor… well, I’d call it a movie killing performance if the film wasn’t already dead. To be honest, the trailers made me very excited for what I anticipated to be a fresh take on the classic comic villain. The take may have been new, but it’s about as far from fresh as you can get.

There are some good action scenes. Mind you, there are some bad ones as well - especially the titular showdown, which may be the single most nonsensical scene in this mess of a story - but the sequences of Batman beating up gun-toting minions are entertaining and well choreographed. Even a bizarre dream sequence, despite sticking out like a sore thumb, provides some much needed entertainment near the middle of the film.

Additionally, there are many visually striking moments. I’ll give credit to Zach Snyder. I usually hate his overblown, desaturated visual style, but he’s tempered his approach here and managed to create some gorgeous and powerful shots. I can only hope he continues in this direction.

Overall: This is the worst superhero blockbuster I’ve ever seen.

Rating: 4/10 (bad)

#Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice #batman v superman #dawn of justice #Batman #Superman #Zach Snyder #Ben Affleck #Henry Cavill #Jesse Eisenberg #Lex Luthor #DC #DC Comics #Wonder Woman #Gal Gadot #Film #Movie #Review #DCU

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spryfilm · 7 years

Text

“Wonder Woman” (2017)

Thriller/Action

Running Time: 141 minutes

Written by: Allan Heinberg

Directed by: Patty Jenkins,

Featuring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen and Elena Anaya

Diana Prince: “The gods made the Amazons to restore peace to the world, and it’s what I’m going to do.”

Possibly one of the most anticipated super hero movies in recent history has arrived in the form of the Patty Jenkins directed, Gal Gadot starring “Wonder Woman” (2017), about an Amazonian warrior who after years of training as well as shunning the world of ‘man’ is drawn into World War I by her sometime beau Steve Trevor. If you have been following Wonder Woman’s journey to the big screen you will know that she first appeared in the terrible Zack Snyder directed “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016) where she stole the show with her kick ass attitude as well as the fact she didn’t defer or wait for the boys – she got on with showing off almost all of her tools, the shield, the sword, the lasso, those bracelet’s and of course her battle hardiness. Now as every good super hero as well as possible new franchise needs is an origin story, not just any story but a great one – something Warner Bros./DC has finally learnt from Marvel. As with any good origin story this one is built around a solid character, with some moral unrest as well as a few friends to help out where needed. What also helps is a director that can handle a huge budget as well as the expectations from the studio and audience alike. What we get is a very mixed bag with a film that starts strong then plot contrivances combined a with a very weak as well as confusing third act lets this film down but is still a great ride.

Before she was Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, Diana meets an American pilot (Chris Pine) who tells her about the massive conflict that’s raging in the outside world. Convinced that she can stop the threat, Diana leaves her home for the first time. Fighting alongside men in a war to end all wars, she finally discovers her full powers and true destiny.

For me the first question that had to be answered was all to do with the director, that is, the hiring of a relative newcomer to direct what is potentially the blockbuster of the year as well the re-launching after a much publicized failure (thanks Zack Snyder) in 2016. I am happy to say that Patty Jenkins has done an outstanding job given all the inherent limitations as well as having a huge studio hovering in the background. It has been pretty obvious in the press as well as the marketing that Jenkins and star Gal Gadot have been on the same page right from the jump. Seeing a hero that is based in Greek mythology brought to life in three dimensions as well as it being done so competently is a real gift for audiences, one I hope they embrace with open arms. This film was always going to be directed by a woman, Warner Bros. had to beat Marvel at something and if they are unable to do so with the product or success, they at least could be first at something – having the first female led superhero movie as well as having a woman direct what is probably one of the largest budgeted superhero movie’s is a start. I think it is unfortunate that we do live in an age where this is seen as a step forward but women have been systemically cut out of this process.

The next step to get right was the casting and when Gal Gadot was cast as Wonder Woman for her debut many people had no clue who she was. However with a super strong marketing campaign as well as a few “Fast and Furious” films under her belt the public quickly became aware who was playing the Amazonian Princess – in fact this is a role if handled correctly could be the answer for Warner Bros. to have a face for the DC Universe that is 100% unique as well as being one of the three pillars of the DC Universe – giving those tired old warhorses Batman and Superman a well deserved break – is it me or are those two so last century. Gadot has embraced this character so well that she shines onscreen and even though the story may seem a little rehearsed, overblown and at times just like any other superhero origin, particularly a DC one – how can they still not get their endings right? Have you seen “Guardian’s of the Galaxy: Volume 2” (2017)? She seems above it all and able to handle anything.

The other two standouts for me are Chris Pine (Steve Trevor) and Lucy Davis (Etta Candy) – I was not sure how I would feel about seeing these two characters brought to life but like all great actors Pine and Davis are fully invested. I was invigorated to see Chris Pine take this role, as was it a sidekick role that has the job of showing Diana the ropes, so to speak. But Pine with his own franchise and after his own turn in last years excellent “Hell or High Water” (2016) it is obvious that this role required something special and real, so Pine is your man. After years of playing characters such as Dawn in the original “The Office” (2001 – 2003), Dianne in “Shaun of the Dead” (2004) and Emily in “Maron” (2015 – 2016) it is deserving she play Wonder Woman’s number 2 in the amazing Etta Candy – straight from the comics, she plays her wonderfully and threatens to steal the movie.

It was with some relief when I found the story shifting from Paradise Island to the ‘modern’ world that this was going to be set during World War I. The relief came from the fact that we were not going to be subjected to World War II and all the tropes that go along with it. In my mind it always seems to be a lazy way to move the plot as well as establishing a narrative as almost any fantasy or comic book film will use the Nazis as the ‘bad guys’ thereby negating the need to build three dimensional antagonists. With “Wonder Woman” however there was a need to establish a villain, the standout being Elena Anaya as Dr. Poison who I found to be extremely compelling and original, for a comic book villain that is. Unfortuabltey the same cannot be said of Danny Hustons whose idea of seeming evil is ywllng, a lot, as well as having no clue about what his motivations are, expet he is bad and just has to kill everyone else – really? That’s a villain in 2017, all he was missing was a moustache to twirl. However and no spoilers give it was about to get worse.

Once again we see with these high priced and still overblown superhero movies a massive reliance on CGI, which of course is the case with “Wonder Woman”, the difference with the better films is that this use of special effects is combined with great characters as well as interesting action moments that serve as one scene or moment. It could be with Jenkins background in independent movies, she directed Charlize Theron to a best actress Oscar for her only previous movie the serial killer biography “Monster” (2003), that she is able to take character first building around that to give a complete moment. Of course there are still third act issues with the big showdown that we have come to expect, but it is saved by the Gadot doing what she does best in with the character that is to stand up and not look back.

Unfortunately it has to be said the entire movie is ultimately let down by the ending as well as a final battle which I thought had ended with something akin to previous Marvel film. I also thought it was going to be a smarter ending which was hinted at in regard to the war, our place as humans in conflict and the fact that there is no easy answer. Boy was I ever wrong, it the film took a left turn, and suddenly I felt I was back at the end of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” – what a nightmare, please get me out. It was such a shame to see a film let me down this much.

I will not go into any real plot details as this movie is better left as a surprise even though the trailers have given away a few of the key points which is par for the course these days but this is a movie definitely worth seeing on the big screen and for my mind without a second watch is still in the top 15 comic book films produced to date. It is a true relasation of a property (again with a painful third act) that has gone through some turmoil over the past ten years with issues from medium, to directors, to writers to who would play the main part. But “Wonder Woman” is a fantastic watch for all ages and both genders, you should go and see. We should be thankful to have a Wonder Woman finally come to life.

“Wonder Woman” is out now only in cinemas.

Film review: “Wonder Woman” (2017) “Wonder Woman” (2017) Thriller/Action Running Time: 141 minutes Written by: Allan Heinberg Directed by: Patty Jenkins,

#chris pine #dc comics #dceu #film #Film review #film reviews #gal gadot #patty jenkins #Review #Reviews #wonder woman

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