By SUSAN WLOSZCZYNA
USA Today
|
|
|
 | |
From left, Jessica Alba in "Fantastic Four," Keira Knightley in "Domino," and Charlize Theron in "Aeon Flux." No actress has been named yet for the part of "Wonder Woman," DC Comics' legendary heroine.
| |
 |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Joss Whedon, the onetime boy wonder who brought TV's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to vibrant life for seven seasons, is out to save comic-book legend Wonder Woman from a fate worse than those tacky star-spangled hot pants from the '70s TV series.
It's a curse that has yanked the cape of many in her super-powered sisterhood. Namely, a crummy movie adaptation.
"I said yes, because in the process of trying to say no, I thought about her character and fell in love with her," says Whedon, who will direct and is writing the adventure based on the lone female equal to Batman and Superman in the DC Comics universe. "She is a warrior in a world of complicity and compromise who will never lay down her sword."
But will moviegoers lay down good money to watch her? Several films brave the genre's pitfalls and attempt their own she-heroes this year.
The Invisible Woman in "Fantastic Four," which opened July 8. As the star of TV's "Dark Angel" for two seasons, Jessica Alba had the cool moves to convince as a sci-fi vixen. Now she takes on one of the most revered of Marvel Comics' female characters — Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman.
Sue is a scientist and acts as mother, sister and girlfriend to the rest of the fab Four — namely, Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm (The Thing), Chris Evans as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) and Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic).
Director Tim Story does admit the temptation was great to put Alba in her curve-hugging supersuit every chance he got. But that just wouldn't have been true to down-to-earth Sue.
The main distinction between men and women action heroes, Story says, is one of motivation. "Males go out and start shooting people. People understand that. But with women, you've got to put a real package around them to explain why they are an action hero."
"Domino," Nov. 23. Gorgeous teen model (Keira Knightley) with an aggressive streak, craves a new kind of high and finds it as a bounty hunter. Domino Harvey, daughter of the late British actor Laurence Harvey (the original "Manchurian Candidate"), is the real deal.
Scott says Knightley, who was a gung-ho warrior Guinevere in "King Arthur," is capable of convincingly hunting down Domino's dangerous prey. "She's very sexy, tough and different from anything else she has done. She is this girl."
"Aeon Flux," fall. Shortly after the stunning Charlize Theron won her Oscar last year for getting down and ugly as a man-killer in "Monster," it was announced that she would receive $10 million to play a live-action version of MTV's animated sci-fi assassin who leads a rebellion against an oppressive society. Standing alongside Theron are fellow Academy Award winner Frances McDormand ("Fargo") and nominee Sophie Okonedo ("Hotel Rwanda"). As for the plot, Paramount Pictures and the filmmakers are keeping most details undercover.
Most filmmakers can't seem to get a handle on tough women. Consider the cartoony capers of Angelina Jolie as video-game vixen Lara Croft, and Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz as the jiggly gigglers from "Charlie's Angels." Their idea of empowerment? Exploiting their own sexuality. As for Uma Thurman's heartfelt avenger in the "Kill Bill" films, her impact was lost amid showy visuals and carnage.
What's needed to give tough-chick flicks more credibility and appeal is an extreme makeover. Wonder Woman just might be the one to break through. No actress is yet attached, though casting speculation includes Mischa Barton of "The O.C." and Jessica Biel from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
