Series Pilot - Wonder Woman (2011)

Wonder Woman [PILOT]

2011

Production Companies:  DC Entertainment & Warner Bros. Television

It's good to be surprised, which is exactly what I was after viewing the leaked pilot episode of the axed-before-release series of Wonder Woman.

It would appear that the writer, David E Kelley, had quite a different take on the Wonder Woman mythos by bringing her into the present day and giving her all the troubles that go along with it.  This is a much darker character than seen before.  Let me state that I don't usually like this kind of thing because writers can easily get carried away and kill off the characters main and basic characterisations, which is what happened in Batman Vs Superman - An old Batman was not very clever and easily lead, while Superman had no problem killing anyone,  However, Kelley actually manages to keep the essence of Wonder Woman.  I even think if this had become a series it may have strengthened the character for an older audience.

In this present day, Diana Prince runs a company that, not only, helps her to fight crime but helps everyday people.  This in itself is a nice take on the Amazonian ethic.  In this story, she's up against Veronica Cale, who is brilliantly portrayed by Elizabeth Hurley (not an actress that I would usually rate - talk about surprise - she's one of the strongest characters in the show).  Cale runs a cosmetic and pharmacy business and one of her products to enhance the human physique may be killing people.  Can Wonder Woman stop her before it kills more people?

Though this sounds like it could be a story out of the '70's series it does lend itself to the present day especially with a number of supplements out there that we can take to increase body mass.  Kelley does an admirable job of making this relevant as well as adding a twist or two, which you, unfortunately, can see coming.

It's the direction which hurts this show though as the story and its execution on screen are very jagged and harsh.  Though I cannot be too harsh as this is not a finished item, there would have been plenty of trimming and cleaning to be done before airing (so a pinch of salt there)  What the director does show in this "Dirty" episode is how good at action he is.  The opening sequence where Wonder Woman is in pursuit of a criminal through the busy streets is fantastic.  Not only do we have running on cars (I always wanted to do that - even now I can't walk down a street of parked cars with out thinking... what if?) but jumping over vehicles and from one car to another.  This also has one of the most believable faster-than-humanly-possible running sequences I've seen.  Then there's the main fight scene towards the end of the show when Wonder Woman takes on a group of enhanced humans.  This is also one of the best-choreographed TV fight scenes.  At the end she actually kills a guard,  I loved this as it adds to her true character, she is an Amazonian Warrior and warriors kill.

However, there are some drawbacks, the main being the characters.  Though Elwes is good as Henry Johns, the character isn't actually needed and feels like a third thumb as all his jobs are also carried out by Etta Candy, played well by Traci Thoms.  Candy also has a stronger and more filled out character.  Then there's Steve Trevor, who Diana left to find herself, when he appears he's married - he didn't wait a year before getting hitched (not such a great bloke then).  These issues would have been addressed and built upon in the series but here they don't work.  What would have been better would be if Wonder Woman had brought Steve Trevor back to Washington in the second World War, as was the case with the '70's series, and he's now on his death bed - because there are a couple of scenes where it's been hinted she's been around for a long while.  This would open up issues of love and her feeling of being alone on a planet of billions.

This wasn't as bad as I'd read it had been.  If you're a DC or Wonder Woman fan then it is definitely worth one watch.  I would have loved to have seen the complete series on this version of the Amazonian Warrior as Adrianne Palicki was perfect for this role.

Fan Created Trailer

Movie Review - All Star Superman

All-Star Superman

2011

DC Entertainment / Warner Bros. Animation / Warner Premiere : Warner Home Video

8 / 10

This is probably the best adaptation of a comic book to date.  Director Sam Liu and writer Dwayne McDuffie take the best elements of Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly's graphic novel from the story, feel, and pace and bring them to the screen expertly with the help of the animators and the vocal talents of the actors.

The animation is up to the high standard of the Warner Bros. Animation but I cannot help but wish that the studio would catch up to the way that the comics are now being rendered in high intensive colours and shading.  This would just add that extra oomph to the movie.  They've done a good job of bringing Quietly's artwork to life.  Their Superman is of the same mountainous physique as Quietly's but it's the subtleties of his artwork that add a depth of warm feeling adding to the reader's enjoyment.

That's about all I could find wrong with it.  James Denton does a wonderful job of adding warmth and feeling to the man of steel in his final days.  While Anthony LaPaglia adds a cool and calculating air to Lex Luthor.  Edward Asner is perfect as Perry White.

The only reason this didn't make a full 10/10 is because it isn't the best Superman story, it's good, though I did have issues with it, such as the Sampson character and his sidekick which turns up.  I found this to be an annoying and pretty irrelevant section and I still feel the same way after seeing it in the movie.  I've never been able to understand why Morrison chose this character when there were so many others to choose from.

If you've read the graphic novel you don't need to see the movie, though you should enjoy it.  If you haven't read the novel then check out the film if you like superheroes or animations, then read the novel, it's better.