As she rides off with Harley at the end of the film, and away from her abusive foster parents, I couldn’t help but wonder about her biological parents. Nor should the fact that the film leaves room for elements of Cass’ origins to be introduced in the future. While this change is sure to vex some fans, the decision by a Chinese-American filmmaker and screenwriter of Taiwanese descent to give their Asian-American character a voice should not be dismissed simply for not being comic accurate. The originally mute, and super-serious assassin who redeems herself and becomes the second Batgirl, is depicted in the film as a pick-pocketing foster kid, with a sense of humor and no problem speaking for herself. The most drastic departure in Birds of Prey in terms of comic to film is the characterization of Cassandra Cain. And there’s plenty of road set up in this film for those future stories to travel. It’s the kind of visionary film I hope to see a lot more of in the future. Written by Christina Hodson, who’s also penning scripts for Batgirl and The Flash, Birds of Prey utilizes elements from the comics, particularly the heartfelt and goofy earnestness of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, alongside the grit and crime of cult classics like The Warriors (1979), and Streets of Fire (1984), to present a unique vision of Gotham City that balances comic faithfulness with artistic vision. It’s a lightning bolt of energy, one that blends pop-punk aesthetics with Looney Tunes-esque cartoonishness, and bone-crunching ultraviolence in a film with a surprising amount of heart. Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey is yet another burst of fresh air in the ever-growing comic book movie market. The latest film in the DC film universe has arrived and with it comes new possibilities for the future of the franchise.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |