05:07
Unknown
The Supergirl trailer dropped on Wednesday and it seemed as if the internet exploded. At the very least, the comics corner of the internet did. But with this being a high-end show on a major network, the show got coverage everywhere.
For those who haven't watched it yet, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm46-envrHo
I was floored.
Then yesterday, we saw another trailer which unfortunately has been pulled.
There was so much to love about the first trailer. It seemed to hit all the right notes. This is a hero at the beginning of a journey. She wants to do good. She wants to embrace the ideals of the House of El. She wants to help people. But she has a life, and friends, and a job. She isn't polished. She is completely adorable.
The whole things simply captured a vibe that said 'Supergirl'.
Perfect.
There was almost too much for me comment on but I thought I would show some screen shots I loved and some other things, marked by time, that I thought were great.
On to the in-depth look. There'll be intermittent screen shots but lots of commentary ... no surprise.
0:13 - Cousin Kal
Much like the Flash opens up with 'My name is Barry Allen and I am the fastest man alive', this trailer opens with 'My name is Kara Zor-El. Twenty-four years my planet was in peril."
It's clear by the shot with two rockets on the runway that Kara and Kal are launched at the same time. We even get a quick shot of baby Kal, spit curl and all!
We even get some Alura dialogue with Laura Benanti talking about how powerful Kara will be on Earth.
Now this 24 year things is tough for me to figure out math wise. The Krypton Kara looks to be about 7 so that would make her 31 now. Since she is younger on Earth than Superman, my assumption is that she took a longer route and was in suspended animation for a while.
But Kal is months old here. That would mean, even if he came to Earth directly, he would only be 24. My guess is this timey-wimey "I'm older but younger" stuff will be explained on the show. And I won't perseverate over the odd math.
My guess is that line is shorthand for letting us know Kara is 24.
I love that Kara's outfit is a white pajama looking thing with the S-shield. Reminded me of the Donner film's Krypton.
But it is clear that when she arrives as a child, Superman is already active. Blink and you'll miss it. But it looks like Superman is walking her to a beachside house.
Hopefully we get some back story here. But this is better than bringing her to an orphanage.
0:30 - Working Girl
That's it for the origin story as we move right to current times where we meet Kara as she bustles to work for CatCo. There is much to digest here.
First off, we see her wearing a red skirt, a sort of foreshadowing to later.
Next, the headline of the newspaper discusses a party but with a sub-headline which says 'Girl can't help it.' Whether the story is discussing Cat or is published by Cat, the word girl there is another bit of foreshadowing, maybe cluing us in to Cat's thoughts on the word.
We also see Kara stumbling a bit, bumping into someone. Is this a Clark-like klutz move, her making herself seem normal? Or is it a way to show us that she isn't perfect already?
0:44 - Winslow Schott intro
1:00 - Cat Grant intro
1: 13 - James Olsen intro
1:40 - Alex Danvers
Over the next minute we quickly get introduced to much of the cast.
Winslow seems like an everyman who asks Kara out. You get the sense that they are friends, laboring under the rule of Cat. When will the descent into Toyman happen? Hopefully not this first season.
Cat shows up like a storm and acts exactly as I imagine she would in the comics. She drips of the Sterling Gates/Jamal Igle Cat, commanding the room, dressed snugly, and condescending to all.
James Olsen comes with a Pulitzer pedigree earned from covering Superman early on. This includes a classic 'first picture' of Superman, introducing him to the public. He seems pretty confident which I like. But the best thing of this interaction is Kara's obvious fangirl fumbling around him, even snorting once. Just endearing. (I wonder if we will hear of Kara's admiration of her cousin on the show.)
Alex Danvers is the sister who sounded a bit ominous in the earliest press releases of the show. But throughout this trailer, she seems like a loving, supportive sister which made me happy. While a heel turn seems inevitable, at least her she is behind her little sister as they act the way sisters would, providing rides to the airport and advice on clothes.
Great acting, especially by Calista Flockhart who acts just the way I think Cat Grant would act.
2:10 - Plane in peril
2:31 - Plane saved
Kara finally is spurred into action when her sister's flight is going down. It is a great sequence evocative of the plane rescue in Superman Returns, the shuttle rescue in Byrne's Superman run, or even the Animated Series premiere (which riffed on Byrne).
I like how she has to learn on the job, figuring out how to fly and barely shoving the plane over a bridge. I especially loved the exasperated 'Come on' as the bridge looks large. This is a complicated rescue, especially for a rookie.
We only see pieces but this whole scene looks great.
2:50 - Otto Binder Bridge
Nice Easter Egg in the crawl, the bridge is Otto Binder bridge. Glad to see some homages for the hardcore fans!
3:05 - Embracing her destiny
After seeing herself on the news, after realizing the lives she saves, Kara is giddy in her apartment. I like that she feels a sense of pride in doing what she did. And when Alex warns her that now she is 'out there' and can't go back to being hidden, Kara says she doesn't want to.
How great to see the young hero flushed with happiness on her first win! This is Supergirl.
3:11 - #Supergirl
3:31 - Cat speech
Is the name Supergirl appropriate for a (presumably) 24 year old woman. Even Kara wonders about the moniker given her by Cat Grant.
And then Cat gives a great line. "If you perceive Supergirl as anything less than excellent, maybe that is a problem with you!"
Heh. If I had a nickel for every time I said something like that to a comic fan, I'd be a rich man. So is it meta?
3:50 - Win reveal
In a funny scene, Kara reveals herself to Winslow, again showing how close she feels to him. I like her leaping off the roof only to flip around and land emphatically next to Win again. His lines about the reason she rejected his advances is also amusing.
4:11 - Costume montage
Deciding she wants to help people, Kara decides to do some super-heroics. And she asks Win to help her make a costume. I thought is was great that the first costume seems to be a comment on some of the past Supergirl missteps. The high tight shirt with exposed belly. The hot pants. The headband. Ridiculous.
But the ongoing discussion of capes and fashion is fun.
We see Supergirl aiding with a car chase. And then we see her stop a bank robbery, learning first hand she is bulletproof and looking thrilled about it.
This whole sequence of Kara learning to use her powers, that she needed a stronger cape that won't shred ( again a nod to Byrne), to discover her invulnerability, felt true.
4:54 - My family's coat of arms
That's right! It isn't a symbol for hope! It is the crest of the House of El. And this addition seems like the final embrace of her heritage, her heroic mission.
How iconic is this pose of hands on hips, bright S-shield, red skirt, cand cape? I love it.
And I suppose it is wishful thinking that this is a foreshadow for BizarroGirl
Alex knows she's Supergirl, obviously. Winslow knows she's Supergirl.
Now we see Kara join the DEO, a black ops group defending the world from aliens. Their boss Hank Henshaw now knows Kara is Supergirl. Do all these agents know too? Is it a 'sorta secret' identity?
But check out the aliens on the screen. The purple guy Could be the Parasite. Maybe Despero? Don't know who the white-haired guy is. The upper left has a Kanjar Ro feel to him. Is that a Martian in the lower right screen of the smaller inset 4 screens? Any other guesses?
We also see the Lumberjack land, grabbing a high-tech axe.
5:20 - Soulful music
Okay, this is a bit schmaltzy as Henshaw sends her away as inexperienced leading to Kara doubting herself. There have been complaints about this trailer and I wonder if people are thinking about this sentimental moment.
I did love how Alex tells Kara she needs to do this, to fly because the world needs her to. I thought Alex would be a frenemy. Glad that, at least for now, she is just a friend.
5:30 - Smiling
A DC superhero flying and smiling.
Nothing more to say.
Perfect.
And then the classic 'rip off the shirt to expose the S-shield'.
More perfect!
More action as we see a determined Supergirl busting trucks, landing kicks, and battling the Lumberjack.
The complaints about this looking like a silly romantic comedy, a goofy Devil Wears Prada rip-off, must be ignoring all the action in this trailer. I mean, a truck explodes behind her as she calmly walks to pound on the Lumberjack some more.
You could make a 6 minute trailer of the Flash, of Agents of Shield, of Gotham were you only plucked the relationship stuff about Barry/Iris/Linda/Eddie, Ward/Daisy/Mae, Gordon/Barbara/Leslie and make those shows look like Rom-Coms.
6:03 - It's Supergirl
'It's not a bird. It's not a plane. It's not a man. It's Supergirl'
Excellent tag line.
6:15 - Jimmy and the cape
The trailer ends with Jimmy revealing he was sent to National City by Superman. And with Supergirl choosing for herself to be a hero, Jimmy bestows upon her Kal's blanket, what he wears as an indestructible cape. I assume we will get some explanation for Superman not being around. I am guessing it will be the 'deep space mission' excuse.
Whew! Just a tremendous opening volley hitting on all the right notes. The acting seems spot on, especially Benoist who is endearing and believable. But from top to bottom, the snippets we see show great acting.
As for the second trailer, it hit on many of the same beats as the first. We hear Kara say she 'has always felt the need to help people'. She seems to doubt herself much more here, crying and saying she 'can't do it.' She's a rookie and as long as this isn't a long running or major theme, I'm okay with it. And there is a lot more of the Lumberjack battle. Blue heat vision! Cool!Make sure you check that one out too!
Nothing but good feelings here.
Incredible time to be a Supergirl fan!
Posted in: Reviews
0 comments:
Post a Comment