Athletic Women Blog - Wonder Woman

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe is Lilith Reborn in 'Soul Fire Rising'

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:10:00 -0400

So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.¹

I'm guessing that some of you, maybe even most of you, don't know that Adam had a wife before Eve. Her name is Lilith. Unlike Eve, though, Lilith was created the same time Adam was, and in the same fashion.

Except there was a problem; matchmaking can be a dicey business, even for a god. Lilith refused to give up equal status, refused to subdue herself to Adam. She said to Adam, "I will not lie below," and he said, "I will not lie beneath you, but only on top. For you are fit only to be in the bottom position, while I am to be the superior one." Lilith responded, "We are equal to each other inasmuch as we were both created from the earth."

They couldn't reach agreement in this, and so Lilith went away to live alone. But as has happened to many a strong woman since then, Lilith was demonized in the press, so to speak, except quite literally in her case. Myth and folklore since that time, often refracted through patriarchal eyes, has made her into an arch-demon responsible for infant deaths. But isn't she in fact the first heroine?

Lilith's story continues to be a cultural presence down to present-day. Now it is re-imagined in a new web series called Soul Fire Rising. My interest in Soul Fire Rising stirred when I learned that Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, often mentioned to play Wonder Woman (practically a no-brainer if you ask me), would be starring. I had been keeping an eye on the series since, but no O'Keefe and it seemed rather aimless at times. But that all changed recently with Episode 5. The star takes the stage, and it now looks as though things will be picking up—if not outright rocking.

¹ From the TNIV Bible; anyone wanting to scrutinize translations should visit here and here.

Wonder Woman gets a new look

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:03:00 -0400

I never thought I'd be saying this, but apparently it is fashion week at the Athletic Women Blog (not by choice or plan, mind you). Today's post is the result of DC Comics' announcement this week that it is giving Wonder Woman a makeover (see right). Reaction to this news, much of it negative, isn't hard to find, naturally. But the timing and the nature of the makeover have also led some to speculate about what might be planned for the forthcoming movie.

I have mixed feelings about the new look myself. The desire to update her look, to do away with the bustier and star-spangled panties, I completely understand. But to my mind this overreaches. The "urban" look for starters. Is there no room left for the simply mythic?

And the jacket. Well, that just has to go. In an effort, I can only guess, to de-sexualize Wonder Woman, they now have her covered too much. Muscle represents power, not masculine power but power alone, and Wonder Woman should be allowed to flex hers once in a while too.

Enough of my opining, though. What do you think of the new look? Leave a comment or a vote.

Nicolas Winding Refn gives his vision for 'Wonder Woman'

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:37:00 -0400

Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, perhaps best known for Bronson (which, alas, I haven't seen), wants to make Wonder Woman and isn't shy about saying so. And after reading his Movieline interview, I'm inclined to think that he might be the person for the job. He obviously has a passion for it, no small plus. Moreover, his take on how to approach the movie is different, fascinating—and most important, respectful of the character and what she stands for (and against).

Refn's movie, it seems likely, would be very different from the typical Hollywood slant on female heroes; these tantalizing snippets from his interview, for instance:

At the same time there is [something subliminal], because the real origin of Wonder Woman is: What if women were more powerful than men? What would the world be like? That’s a subliminal theme.

The whole idea of a woman who is basically more powerful than any man — and who will always be that, and comes from a society of women who are more powerful than men — is an interesting theme that I think can be very contemporary.

I do hope someone at Warner Bros. is paying attention.

Jennifer Love Hewitt: "I really want to play Wonder Woman"

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:25:00 -0400

I don't know how you feel about a 5'2" Wonder Woman, but Jennifer Love Hewitt, through her publicized entreaty, does lend credence to reporting of late: "I'm fighting so hard. I think Warner Bros. is getting ready to make Wonder Woman and I really want to play Wonder Woman."

Thus we may conclude that something is indeed afoot.

The next (and hopefully final) round of Wonder Woman casting rumors is sure to start soon. We'll have those here, that is, the ones worth commenting on anyway.

A poll is in the works too—consider it the "Official Unofficial Who should be Wonder Woman? Poll"—and suggestions for candidates are now being accepted, so feel free to leave a comment or write in with your nominations. So far there are only two: the first, my nominee, is no surprise, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe. The second, Amelia Cooke, is by request.

It is most likely still a long way off, but the news is exciting nonetheless—a live-action Wonder Woman film is finally on its way to theaters!

Wonder Woman auditions

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:13:00 -0400

We get this update from The Hollywood Reporter. A couple of the women reported to have auditioned might make a passable Wonder Woman, but overall, there is nothing to get too excited about here.

I keep hoping Warner Brothers and JLA director George Miller will focus on getting someone with the physicality the role needs so that Wonder Woman won't be perceived as a pushover compared to the male superheroes. When they were talking to Jessica Biel, it seemed they understood that, but now I'm not so sure.

They want to go with a very young cast (or so the article linked above says), which is fine. But I'm really surprised that they didn't call Missy Peregrym in for this first big round of auditions; outside of Jessica Biel, she is arguably the most athletic young actress currently working in Hollywood. (This photo gives a glimpse of her athletic physique—you can tell that she doesn't have trouble putting on muscle.)

The Good and Welfare Clause

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:38:00 -0400

John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and husband to Monica Conyers, reveals a hitherto unknown clause in the Constitution (I swear, you can't make this stuff up anymore):

Ignorance, arrogance, corruption—the baleful tripod on which our republic now totters. Alas, if only Wonder Woman were here to clean out our festering capital:

A prefiguration of the new Wonder Woman?

nospam@example.com (Rob Mars) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:47:00 -0500

As a rule I don't pay much attention to the photoshopped creations of fanboys. More often than not they look horribly disarranged, as should be expected. This work by "LEEE777" is a striking exception, however. It has a naturalness to it (as long as you don't look too close, that is). Moreover, it captures the essence of Wonder Woman, she standing strong after what was no doubt a great ruckus.

But the credit, I suspect, goes mostly to the star of this digital embellishment. We talked before about Jodi Lyn O'Keefe; her name comes up often when the subject is a live-action Wonder Woman film. Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos seem to have destined O'Keefe to play the mighty Amazon, so ideally suited is she for that role.

We are told that soon we can expect (fingers crossed!) to finally learn of definite plans for a Wonder Woman film. Rumors will fly once the casting frenzy starts, most awful to imagine being true. But Jodi Lyn O'Keefe should not be overlooked, for she is among a select few qualified to assume the mantle of Wonder Woman.