Share DarkPhoenix's profile
 
Facebook Twitter
 
Back to top
 
 
DarkPhoenix
 
Back to top
 
 
 
DarkPhoenix's stats
 
Reviews
  • Review count
    2
  • Helpfulness votes
    0
  • First review
    April 23, 2008
  • Last review
    January 25, 2009
  • Featured reviews
    0
  • Average rating
    3.5
 
Reviews comments
  • Review comment count
    0
  • Helpfulness votes
    0
  • First review comment
    None
  • Last review comment
    None
  • Featured review comments
    0
 
Questions
  • Question count
    0
  • Helpfulness votes
    0
  • First question
    None
  • Last question
    None
  • Featured questions
    0
 
Answers
  • Answer count
    0
  • Helpfulness votes
    0
  • First answer
    None
  • Last answer
    None
  • Featured answers
    0
  • Best answers
    0
 
 
Back to top
 
DarkPhoenix's Reviews
 
Birds of Prey: The Complete Series [4 Discs] (DVD)
Birds of Prey: The Complete Series [4 Discs] (DVD)
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
very flawed TV spinoff of a good book
on January 25, 2009
Posted by: DarkPhoenix
from Charlottesville, VA
As a long-standing fan (since #1) of the DC series "Birds of Prey", I feel I need to voice my thoughts about the commercially-failed "Birds of Prey" TV show, which seems to be getting some traction in the DVD market. I'll break down my review in three sections: the characters, the acting and the stories.
As far as characters go, the original idea was to group some Batman-related heroines under a bigger umbrella since they could not sustain self-titled series. The show keeps that promise, but save for Barbara Gordon, the rest of the cast has been "stylishly adapted to TV" at best. Huntress used to be the rightful, strong-willed daughter of an Italian mafia boss who sent herself on a rampage as (try to guess) her family was killed in front of her (yes, again!). Now she is the meta-human (what?) daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman. This is all wrong. In the show, she is strong, arrogant and scorching (all these from mom). But why meta-human? Her eyes go feline when she gets excited and she is super-fast and very resistant. Now, part of the charm of both Batman and Catwoman was both were perfectly human, and their achievements were coming from pain invested into training.
Barbara G. is the most similar character to her DC pages' counterpart. But, Dinah, oh Dinah... what did they do to you? In comics, Dinah has arguably the strongest female personality of the DC Universe. She is mature (over 30), opinionated, very competent when it comes hand to hand (Barbara told her once that she would not be surprised if she could take Batman down), not intimidated by either guys or other gals, charming, and yes... meta-human. She can shriek and blow your eardrums out of your ears. And yes, she wears ridiculous fishnets that would never work in TV. Now enter the new Dinah Lance. She is a teenager! And the type who goes to a lonesome Gotham alley because some dude who she just met told her to! And moans all the time! And clingy! In summary, they butchered a worthwhile character just to appease a potential teenager fan-base. Anyway, I would be ready to overlook all these and enjoy this show as an What-If/ Elseworlds type if not for other major flaws (see below).
Other characters include Alfred Pennyworth, who's adequately portrayed, and Dr. Harlene Quinzel (later Harley Quinn), a psychotic psychiatrist who treated the Joker and ended up as his girlfriend/aide. She is another train wreck. In comics, she was clingy and co-dependent of Mr. J., and utterly incapable of devising a grand scheme to dominate Gotham, especially because she would never be interested in something so pedestrian.
Ashley Scott plays Helena Kyle (Huntress). Make up and character makes her a crossover between Rhona Mitra in Doomsday and Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider, which is not necessarily bad. (Did I mention she is scorching?) Her acting is okay and she does what she can with a flawed character. Dina Meyer is dead-on perfect; I would recast her as Barbara G. in a motion picture, should she be appearing in one. As for Rachel Skarsten (Dinah), well, it is not her fault, but on top of everything, she is pouty, cheeky and does not add anything to a horrible character. Mia Sara is intriguing as Harley Quinn, and the rest of the cast is okay.
The show storylines are quite unappealing despite having very good starting material. Run of the mill villains and uninspired dialogues, overall. But they say the devil is in the details, and they are right. The show is marred by stupid continuity and logical mistakes. Just two examples from the pilot: Helena (Huntress), who works as a waitress in a nightclub (whatever!) and Barbara discuss openly about a case in front of 100+ people; In addition, she is not only barefaced (and her picture taken by the police already for reckless driving, but that's only an add-on), but breaks into places barehanded! Supposedly, Barbara trained with Batman and is all familiar with procedure (jeez!). But my favourite, Barbara sends Dinah on an Eastern egg hunt and provides her with infrared gear. Then she enters a tunnel, and what does she do? Turns on a flashlight! I am a bit sick of all these details going unnoticed and uncensored in movies and TV shows under the "low budget" excuse. It only takes people that think, but obviously this is no longer necessary to make movies.
In summary, this show is rather disappointing, although sometimes fun to watch. Even accepting the major liberties taken with respect to the original DC comics, the stories are rather pedestrian and the attention to detail non-existent. What really ticks me is that I wanted to like this show, and what destroys its credibility was not all that hard to fix.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
Facebook Digg DelIcioUs
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Back to Basics: Live and Down Under [DVD]
Back to Basics: Live and Down Under [DVD]
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great DVD
on April 23, 2008
Posted by: DarkPhoenix
from Charlottesville, VA
Excellent show, image is crisp, band and dancers top-notch. Even w/o being a big fan of Christina, this DVD is great, fun and sassy. Highly recommended!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
Facebook Digg DelIcioUs
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Back to top
 
DarkPhoenix's Review Comments
 
DarkPhoenix has not submitted comments on any reviews.
 
Back to top
 
DarkPhoenix's Questions
 
DarkPhoenix has not submitted any questions.
 
Back to top
 
DarkPhoenix's Answers
 
DarkPhoenix has not submitted any answers.
 
Back to top