DC Live Action Movies

Here are the descriptions and dates of the new DC live-action movies (including Supergirl):

www.dc.com/blog/2023/01/31/the-next-gene..._dcstudioschap1_hero

Shadar

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Considering the track record of other DC films, I am extremely skeptical on any of this. Marvel and Star Wars have had their fair share of duds but they have also proven themselves with solid hits. WB feels like it has been from one misstep to another.

My first thought was, will Melissa be involved in the Supergirl input? My first reaction was she wouldn't be. Then, only to read in the article, that Supergirl is a bit f**ked up in this version. (Not really Melissa's Stronghold in her position and role.) Perhaps Calle can and will bring a new perspective to the character of Supergirl. 

Monty wrote:

My first thought was, will Melissa be involved in the Supergirl input? My first reaction was she wouldn't be. Then, only to read in the article, that Supergirl is a bit f**ked up in this version. (Not really Melissa's Stronghold in her position and role.) Perhaps Calle can and will bring a new perspective to the character of Supergirl. 

From the description, I agree. Probably not much overlap between Melissa's interpretation (nerdy but lovable) and Helen Slater's (little girl lost).

Not when the creative team's only description of their new SG's behavior is that she's f*cked up from having grown up on a shattered chunk of Krypton where everyone else is slowly dying. 

I'm always game for a new interpretation that beats my current high-water mark: LV's SG in Smallville. 

Not sure this will be the one... but ever hopeful. 

Shadar

shadar wrote:

Not when the creative team's only description of their new SG's behavior is that she's f*cked up from having grown up on a shattered chunk of Krypton where everyone else is slowly dying. 

 

This feels like the same mistaken idea that every single superhero needs to have some deep seeded pathos, which is the same BS that got Zack Snyder in trouble with his Superman films. "Oh woe is me, I have the powers of a god and nobody likes me." Not every superhero has to be Batman but film writers seem to believe they do because Batman films consistently make lots of money.

Lately, DC seems to be working overtime on the "Superman is a hero because he had great (foster) parents" theme, and that means they have to paint Kara differently because she wasn't raised by the Kents. 

But Kara only works for me when, despite a troubled background and maybe some rough or broken edges, she's a true hero who follows her heart. She makes more mistakes than her cousin, and can display lapses of judgement, but she always has a heart of gold and she's a true superheroine. 

Nothing I've seen so far precludes that characterization in this movie, although I admit to not having read the foundation books for this version (Woman of Tomorrow). 

If anyone has read those, can you share the flavor of that incarnation of the Girl of Steel?  Are the books worth reading to get my head into an upcoming live action movie that is supposed to be based solely on those books?

Shadar

Well in case u need answers here's someone that got it clear and as a great fan of Kara thst he is and also as someoe that had keep an eye on comics couldn't agreed more:

comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/search/l...oman%20Of%20Tomorrow

shadar wrote:

Nothing I've seen so far precludes that characterization in this movie, although I admit to not having read the foundation books for this version (Woman of Tomorrow). 

 

I have not read the series they are basing this on. However, there is a decent argument that Supergirl comes to Earth very bitter and broken. In just about every origin story for her, she as a teenager sees her family, friends, and entire planet get blown up while Superman was just a baby. She was sent to Earth to help protect and raise Superman, only to arrive to find he is a fully grown adult turned into Earth's greatest superhero. So, there is some interesting pathos to build a story around, but I still question whether general audiences want to see that. There is the tone in the announcement "She is pretty fucked up" rather than "She has had a hard life and is in a dark place." It does not give me a good vibe this is going somewhere that I will like.

Also, not sure if a film is the best place for this. I could see a series working a lot better. First two episodes start with Supergirl on Krypton, sees her whole planet explode, and then has to spend the series rebuilding her life on Earth. The first episodes in that season have her in a dark place. Then she finds her mojo, comes to terms with her now adult cousin Superman, and becomes the hero Supergirl to the world.

It is like where I thought the Batman vs. Superman film failed. There is an interesting story where Batman has been fighting crime so long that he has become incredibly jaded. He isn't just arresting criminals but turned into this brutal hardcore vigilante practically crippling people. He has not (yet) killed anyone but comes closer ever night. Then Superman destroys Metropolis from the Man of Steel film and Batman sees Superman as a threat to be eliminated. The rest of the film could have been this cat and mouse game between Superman and Batman. Batman trying to figure out Superman's weaknesses while Superman tries to discover who Batman really is. Fun stuff where Batman plays the detective like setting up traps for Superman that help Bruce learn Superman's x-ray vision cannot see through lead but constantly doing so from the shadows or remotely. In the end of their epic fight, Superman's optimism is able to bring Bruce away from that dark ledge he was standing on. Superman lives up to the ideal that he is a symbol of hope for humanity.

There could be a way around Melissa playing the Evil Supergirl. She was excellent when her character Kara took a turn after being poisoned by radioactive kryptonite in the episode 'Falling'. Perhaps Lex would get word of her weakness and expose Kara to her weakness? A possible clash with superman could result with a stand-off. A 90 minute film version of 'Falling' with Melissa would be Damn Spectacular!    

The Red Daughter episodes with the second Lex/Russia trained supergirl were interesting

"This feels like the same mistaken idea that every single superhero needs to have some deep seeded pathos, which is the same BS that got Zack Snyder in trouble with his Superman films. "Oh woe is me, I have the powers of a god and nobody likes me." Not every superhero has to be Batman but film writers seem to believe they do because Batman films consistently make lots of money."

They just don't get it, do they? People go to see superhero movies because, first and foremost, they expect them to be fun. At their best (and there have been some clunkers), the Marvel movies have delivered that. If I want to see an Ingmar Bergman-type film about the misery of the human condition, then I'll watch an old Bergman film online. Just once, can't we have a superhero (better still, a superheroine) who's comfortable with their life and with their powers and isn't tormented by inner demons?

John

I agree with the batman scenario. Michael Keaton helped with his acting to earn hundreds of millions of dollars for the production company. I just never did get or understand the premise of the movies.

slim36 wrote:

The Red Daughter episodes with the second Lex/Russia trained supergirl were interesting

I wonder what DC is thinking relative to actors.

I suspect, if a script is underway, that the producers and writers have some ideas of who they want, but things are way too early to actually cast. If the Superman movie is set for 2025 (late in the year I think) then the SG movie has to be 2026 or later.

I suspect lots of casting rumors/wishes will be floating around for years before someone actually gets cast.

One thing that was mentioned -- that she lived on that errant chunk of Krypton for 14 years, suggests they are doing another origin story with a young SG. Which would say their actress will probably be in their late teens when they start shooting. Slater was 18 when cast.

Which further says the actress they ultimately choose is likely in her mid-teens now. If they want your traumas from Krypton to be fresh and real, they are going to have to start with a portrayal that is younger than Melissa's character in the pilot.

Unless they want to redo the idea of her living on Earth for years and hiding herself. That was a big stretch for the TV show. A Kryptonian who forgot how to fly?  That was the hardest part for me to get past on the show. 

Shadar

 

I see what you mean as Helen Slater playing Supergirl with a young 'naivety'. It maybe didn't work in the 1984 film. But Helen Slater looked so good as Supergirl, her acting abilities didn't really come into question. If you want a Supergirl, you would want a SuperModel, and Ms. Slater ticked all the boxes in that department.    

Monty wrote:

I see what you mean as Helen Slater playing Supergirl with a young 'naivety'. It maybe didn't work in the 1984 film. But Helen Slater looked so good as Supergirl, her acting abilities didn't really come into question. If you want a Supergirl, you would want a SuperModel, and Ms. Slater ticked all the boxes in that department.

Agree... Slater had the look and the acting chops to pull it off, IMHO. But without a decent script and the show pandering toward screen time for established but disconnected actors who detracted more than added to the movie, and a male love interest that was stupid (literally and figuratively -- a clueless gardener of all things), the writing and other casting was insufferable. 

But Slater could have done wonders with a great script and producers. But that can be said for most movies of this genre. We aren't running out of actors, but we seem to be running out of capable writers, at least the light-weights they hire for comics-inspired shows/movies. Likely has to do with age and growing up with social media and very limited experience with long-form fiction.

There are good writers, but they don't work on these kinds of movies/shows, apparently. 

Shadar

 

Yes, Helen Slater performed her best with a poor script as an upcoming young actress.​​​​​ Peter O'Toole (great actor although he was), and Faye Dunaway were mis-cast and under-directed.

Monty wrote:

Yes, Helen Slater performed her best with a poor script as an upcoming young actress.​​​​​ Peter O'Toole (great actor although he was), and Faye Dunaway were mis-cast and under-directed.

Comic-book inspired movies/shows are not right for accomplished actors with a history. No respect beyond Batman movies with have enough noir to be interesting. 

Such movies are perfect, however, for new and upcoming talent who might become wonderful.

Uma is always embarrassed and won't talk about My Super-Ex if someone brings it up (which they don't anymore). 

Same with Charlize on Hancock, which I thought was a much better movie. Charlize needed a paycheck, but she at least put in the work.

Studios probably think names will bring the audience, but it usually doesn't work for these movies. 

Comicbook inspired movies/shows are best for hungry young talent, for young, new writers (my big regret) and for B-level actors like Laura V. Much as I love LV, she's not a Charlize or even an Uma, but she loves the SciFi/Fantasy genre. Good for her because she's good at it and has the looks for it.

Shadar

 

Sasha Calle may still play SG in the film. If Flash  does well and she's  well liked in the role,  there  will be pressure  not to recast  the role.

andyf wrote:

Sasha Calle may still play SG in the film. If Flash  does well and she's  well liked in the role,  there  will be pressure  not to recast  the role.

She's already 28. Would likely be 30+ before shooting begins on SG Movie. That won't work if they intend to portray an origin story with a teenage Kara. 

Remember the reference to 14 years old when she escapes her Krypt colony and presumably comes to Earth. Someone 18 can convincingly play a mid-teen, maybe even up to 20 for some actors. But not 30+. 

Unless they pull a Melissa type of delay where she hangs out invisible for ten years or so on Earth before revealing herself.
 
Shadar

I put Uma's embarrassment of 'My Super-Ex' down to Ivan Reitman's poor directing. It was a good, interesting concept, but Reitman let the team down with his style of writing. Uma even said on the behind-the-scenes parts on the DVD, how much she enjoyed working on the movie.
I guess money talks, but I can't imagine anyone other than Uma as playing My Super-Ex.
Also, Anna Farris, as Hannah who inherited her very own amazing Super Powers did her best in her role.  

shadar wrote:

Comic-book inspired movies/shows are not right for accomplished actors with a history. No respect beyond Batman movies with have enough noir to be interesting. 


 

A friend who works in film industry once told me "The Dark Knight was NOT a superhero film. It was crime thriller with sci-fi elements." I think they are correct especially given the new The Batman film that came out. You could replace Batman with a hard-boiled private eye and have roughly the same movie. Just replace some of the more tech gadget focused scenes with "specialists with particular skills." That is why they work so well and broadly compared to other superhero films, IMHO. They transcend the genre.

In my friend's mind, The Dark Knight was the equivalent of watching something like Heat.

Monty wrote:

I put Uma's embarrassment of 'My Super-Ex' down to Ivan Reitman's poor directing. It was a good, interesting concept, but Reitman let the team down with his style of writing. Uma even said on the behind-the-scenes parts on the DVD, how much she enjoyed working on the movie.
I guess money talks, but I can't imagine anyone other than Uma as playing My Super-Ex.
Also, Anna Farris, as Hannah who inherited her very own amazing Super Powers did her best in her role.  

Actors will always say what best promotes the movie at the time its made. Money in their pocket.  But I came across something a few years ago where she candidly disavowed the movie and said she didn't want to talk about it. But she's quite willing to bask in fan attention with regards to Kill Bill.

And Anna responds the strongest to fans of The House Bunny, which she really enjoyed making.

She also won't talk about Super-Ex either other than to talk about how Director Ivan Reitman was extremely abusive during filming. She claimed last year that she was still working through it. Maybe that applies to Uma too. So maybe that's why. 

And yeah, Uma and Anna made that movie work. I thought it was entertaining as hell. 

As far as Charlize in Hancock, I don't think anyone f*cks with Charlize. She's very close to her mother, who always travels with her, and her mother knows how to handle abusive people in a very final way. 

BTW... Anna was in her best shape ever when she did House Bunny. Here's a production pict, just for grins...

 

Shadar