Supergirl ( Blu ray review )

If you grew up during the 1980´s as a child, there was a big possibility you were reading some kind of comic book back in those days. Comic books were really loved in many different formats, and in our local comic book store in my Swedish hometown known as Uddevalla we would spend our weekends there checking out different DC Comics, Marvel comic books but also other slightly more science fiction inspired comic books as well. I used to love reading Conan The Barbarian comic books, because this was such a cool character and he was really brutal. It was during this time period that i saw a VHS copy of the 1982 film adaptation of Conan The Barbarian, in my school friend Nicklas home because they loved Arnold Schwarzenegger movies and bought Raw Deal on VHS as well. I remember seeing the sequel Conan The Destroyer as well at Nicklas home. When i got closer to 12 years old i moved on watching more superhero comic books such as Justice League, i even started reading Batman comic books which wasn´t my thing back in 1987. Perhaps it was because i knew that the 1989 film adaptation of Batman was going to be released in cinemas worldwide with actor Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman. Either way during the 1980´s i can definetely clarify that comic book stores was the cool spot for a nerd kid like myself. Of course in my youth i have heard about the Superman movies with actor Christopher Reeve at that time, and i did eventually see both the first film and the second one on VHS tapes. I really enjoyed both films and i still do to this day. The third one i can watch just for nostalgic reasons and Superman IV - A Quest For Peace is plain and simple really awful. Back in 1984 there was also a film adaptation of the comic book character Supergirl where actress Helen Slater was chosen to play this character. A big box office bomb at that time and i can see why.  This film did not have the same charm as the Superman films, or any big budget which caused problems to the special effects. I actually rewatched the 1984 film recently to prepare for my review of latest Supergirl film adaptation. I do like actress Helen Slater in the lead role, too bad that the film suffer from big problems such as awful special effects, even some of the action scenes don´t look that good. I do think legendary actress Faye Dunaway is fun as the evil character Selena, while it is charming seeing legendary actor Peter O´Toole included in the cast as well . This is probably a film only for those who are Die Hard fans of the comic book character Supergirl, or like the similar comic books. So after we had a new Superman film released last year, this summer we had a new Supergirl film adaptation out in cinemas worldwide. I did not see this film on the big sceen, i actually ordered a blu ray copy from the UK instead. So the question is does this new film adaptation of Supergirl work better than the 1984 film version, or is this latest film adapation just a lazy attempt to cash in on the character?

Kara Zor-El ( Milly Alcock ) is cynical and delusioned, tired of her Yellow-sun-granting powers and near-immortality, preferring to hang out under a Red Sun and get into drunken bar fights, her life one long hangover, punctuated by vomiting and breakfast cereal. Celebrating her 23rd birthday by getting just as drunk as ever, her party is about to end when a young woman named Ruthye ( Eva Ridley ), suddenly show up and tell people she is out for revenge by killing a ruthless gang leader in retaliation for the slaughter of her family. She begs Kara-Zor El for help, since she can´t do this on her own. Kara would rather be drunk, but realise that this might give her a chance to deal with her addiction and do something good for once.

How many of you remember the 2008 film Hancock with Will Smith as the super human Hancock, a drunk, ego tripped wreck who didn´t care about humanity anymore, especially now when everyone hates him? That film was actually an interesting take on people with super powers, who have fallen completely and seemed stuck with personal issues. In the latest film adaptation of Supergirl we actually find her living in a similar position, except she is not hated by everyone like Hancock was. So, this brings me to talk about a completely different take on Supergirl than we have seen before. Where she likes to get drunk and party, not take any responsibility for hew own actions. I know there are some people who have complained about the decision to make Supergirl into a drunk, i think it was a good choice and i will tell you why. Far too often we are suppsed to see superheroes to be a good role model in society, so we need to see a different take on comic book characters sometimes to show they may have flaws like everyone else. Just because you have super powers doesn´t make you a better person compared to an ordinary human. I have also heard so many right wing people across American complain about actress Milly Alcock´s physical look, basically that she looks ugly. I think that is very rude attacking her physical looks, i see nothing wrong with her natural beauty and you would think adults would be smarter than that, attacking someone for how they look. Speaking of Milly as Supergirl, i think she gives an interesting performance considering we have never seen this version of Supergirl before. Milly handle both the acting well plus her physical performance. I like her chemistry on the screen with young actress Eve Ridley. Jason Momoa is of course here as the evil character Lobo, who looks like he just came home from a goth metal concert with his outfit. Jason is alright, i wish he could have done something fun and unexpected with his character though. In some ways this almost feels like a Star Wars version of Supergirl with so many different aliens characters. I know a lot of people have complained about this film being influenced by the comic book miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, while not looking anything like it. I can understand if you are expecting this film to look like the comic book, so im just reviewing this film as it is. While there are some fun action scenes we also have some CGI effects scenes that could have looked much better. I would say though as a superhero film and if you like Star Wars influences, then this could work. Nowhere near as good as the classic Superman films, just easy popcorn entertainment if you are in the right mood. Director Craig Gillespie ( who directed the brilliant biographical drama film I, Tonya, a film you simply have to see ) have actually done a better Supergirl film than the 1984 version, at least more enjoyable i would say. Worth picking up on physical media if you especially collect superhero movies in general.

Rating: DDD