SpideyDude Reviews the Wonder Woman Pilot!

SpideyDude Reviews the Wonder Woman Pilot!

I have been fortunate to have seen the pilot for NBC's failed Wonder Woman NBC series, head inside to see what I thought and some clips from the pilot too...

Review Opinion
By SpideyDude - Jul 22, 2011 05:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Wonder Woman



Let me start by pointing out that I am not a hardcore Wonder Woman fan, nor have I ever read any wonder Woman comics, so my views on the pilot are from a completely neutral point of view.

By now I'm sure you have all heard about and seen the leaked clips and pictures from the pilot, and like me had probably already dismissed it as looking very poor and cheesy. Well it certainly is cheesy in places, but overall I found myself entertained.

In terms of story, we don't get anything too deep here; the pilot opens with a young man, Willis, finding out he has been accepted into college, when all of a sudden blood starts to appear from his eyes and ears and he is soon rendered unconscious. The opening very much reminded me of how Smallville or Buffy would open, in terms of style, and how it would be a precursor for the story that follows. The main story in the pilot focus' on Veronica Cale, played by Elizabeth Hurley, supplying people with unstable drugs in an attempt to give them super human powers, and how Wonder Woman is desperate to stop her. The story is pretty basic but works fairly well for the pilot without over complicating things.

The cast was a mixed bag, Adrianne Palicki as Diana Prince/Diana Themyscira/Wonder Woman, was easily the best thing about the pilot. Not only did she look the part, physically imposing over almost every other character she shared a scene with, but she also brought a good sincere performance to the role. There were times where she would overact a bit but I often felt these cheesy moments were due to the script more than her performance. However with the exception of Diana's assistant the rest of the cast were very very poor. Cory Elwes portrayal of Henry Johns, Diana's right hand man and CEO of Themyscira Industries, was very over the top and cheesy, as was Elizabeth Hurley's turn as arch nemesis Veronica Cale. However the worst performance of the show has to go to Willis' mother, who only had one important scene, which due to awful delivery and acting was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Much had been made about Justin Bruening's depiction of Steve Trevor, however I felt his small role was convincing if a bit bland.

The pilot had some good direction, and good action scenes which were far more eventful than anything ever seen on Smallville. However I found Wonder Woman killing her adversaries a bit much and surely out of character. One of my favourite scenes was the classic Wonder Woman bullet deflection which was worked in perfectly, but was however slightly soiled with her piercing the shooters throat with a pipe. The now infamous "tits" scene which was recently leaked online, was nowhere near as bad as it seemed once it was in context and really didnt stand out as being bad or out of character.

Did the pilot have problems? yes! Was it cheesy? Yes! However it was also very enjoyable, and I can at least say I was never bored! The dialogue needed work, and the characters needed some more fleshing out, but that could have easily been rectified with some more episodes and a bigger budget. Overall it was fun, and not groundbreaking, and I am a bit upset it didn't get picked up as I would like to have seen where it went next, it could easily have become a fun superhero TV show in the same vein as Lois and Clark.

In my opinion it's unlikely this will get released as there were clearly alot of unfinished scenes, her pants going from shiny to dull, wires in the fights, and even a scene with the subtitle "police cars to be added", and I can't see NBC investing even a little to get this finished. Hopefully for Wonder Woman fans it will leak online so that they can see it, as I think its worth a watch for them.



If you have any questions about the pilot or about anything I have left out please ask them below and I will be happy to answer them...


Footage from failed Wonder Woman TV pilot -... by kahramanlarsinemada
James Gunn Reveals One Element Of WONDER WOMAN He Likely Won't Be Able To Adapt For The DCU
Related:

James Gunn Reveals One Element Of WONDER WOMAN He Likely Won't Be Able To Adapt For The DCU

Connie Nielsen Says It's Crazy That WONDER WOMAN 3 Is Not Moving Forward: I Hope They Change Their Minds
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Connie Nielsen Says It's "Crazy" That WONDER WOMAN 3 Is Not Moving Forward: "I Hope They Change Their Minds"

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CrossOver
CrossOver - 7/22/2011, 5:16 AM
I want it to leak out soon, id like to watch it.
Im not much of a WW fan either, so idk what to expect out of it. I wouldnt expect her to kill her enemies either, its DC we're talking about. hahaha
hodnasse
hodnasse - 7/22/2011, 6:26 AM
This is the best review about the pilot on the net. I have also seen it and enjoyed it and I am a casual hardcore Wonder Woman fan.
SpideyDude
SpideyDude - 7/22/2011, 6:30 AM
@hodnasse, cheers mate, its my first review
cyclopstb
cyclopstb - 7/22/2011, 6:38 AM
I want to see the whole pilot !
SpideyDude
SpideyDude - 7/22/2011, 6:52 AM
the boobs were the best part - i should prob edit the review
Oxion
Oxion - 7/22/2011, 7:08 AM
I agree, after watching the footage myself, I can say in confidence that the show had potential but instead of letting the fans judge, they again cut us out. It needed alot, ALOT, of work but wasn't so far out that it wasn't watchable. Maybe we should protest?
SpideyDude
SpideyDude - 7/22/2011, 7:13 AM
I agree nexthero, hell the pilots of some of my fav shows I normally find awful! it could have easily been improved and actually been a good show
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 7/22/2011, 7:54 AM
SpideyDude @ Awesome fella, thumbs up!

Damn shame but then again if we get a big budget movie instead, not so much!

Hated the tiara tho, gr8 review man! ; )
jaycr
jaycr - 7/22/2011, 8:29 AM
Based on the clips online this TV series had it all wrong. It´s really hard to fit Wonder Woman in our Modern World because of all the fantasy elements around her. If you try to make Wonder Woman "realistic", you must depower her or try to adapt that mythological world to our own.

I rather see a tv show in Paradise Island, showing a bunch of hot women kicking mythological ass. If you want you may try to pull out some Fables kind of story, bringing a bunch of greek gods and monsters to modern USA. A hero is as good as her villians and Wonder Woman NEEDS good villians.
aaronite1999
aaronite1999 - 7/22/2011, 8:30 AM
They should never have put out those cheesy looking pics, and it's a shame that early knee-jerk fan assumptions ("she doesn't have powers, she's a vigilante/lawyer like Ally McBeal" etc etc) based on early script "highlights" mislead everybody else.

This looked okay, and I think it would have only gotten better. Hope they finish the pilot and put it out there.
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 7/22/2011, 8:40 AM
Nice Spidey! :D

@N The truth is Adrianne Palicki rocks. She was a perfect fit for Diana. I suppose you want some skinny-ass short chick who can't act to play her? - sure the costume isn't great, but she looks great in it.

sheebz
sheebz - 7/22/2011, 8:45 AM
@cherrybomb -- palicki is a skinny ass chick..with fake tits to boot. Diana is a princess she's gotta know how to be sexy and look like she can break ur ass.

She was a horrible choice and judging by these horrible leaks, no wonder the show never got approved. The leaks made her look like just some angry bitch in a wonder woman costume.

Wonderwoman needs to be buff, there are a ton of good actresses out in hollywood to play this part and who can train to look the part too, this is still a major fail!
C0nan
C0nan - 7/22/2011, 8:55 AM
She's a tall drink of water, that one.
ThaMessenger07
ThaMessenger07 - 7/22/2011, 8:55 AM
I want a Wonder Woman Movie!!!

ThaMessenger07
ThaMessenger07 - 7/22/2011, 9:00 AM
Wonder Woman is Rarely Drawn as "Buff" she needs to have a Capable, athletic, fighter physique, but with boobs. Not look like Female Body Builder or flabby slim. Adrianne was okay casting but still not right.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 7/22/2011, 9:06 AM
Logan X once took a helicopter ride and asked them to turn the fan off.

Good job Spideydude, I have heard from quite a few people that this wasn't quite as bad as we were led to believe, I'd give it a watch anyway.

sheebz
sheebz - 7/22/2011, 9:07 AM
ok mayb not buff, but ur right, she's gotta look like she's been trained to handle herself and boobies are also important.

I kno most guys don't care cuz they're boobs but palickis r too far apart and clearly fake.
SpideyDude
SpideyDude - 7/22/2011, 9:15 AM
oh and i think i forgot to mention - the costume didnt even look that bad in the show - and I really didnt like the costume before
VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 7/22/2011, 9:35 AM
Adrianne Palicki was good racing after the thief, i really liked it. of course it needs fixing, but this could´ve actually worked!(did i said that correctly?) my english sucks!
ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 7/22/2011, 9:48 AM
That clip is the first thing I've seen of this. Despite it being clearly unfinished I thought it was pretty good! People say it's too violent and while killing that shooter was ott I thought it was in keeping with how Diana would start off in "man's world". She's a warrior who has been raised through battle. It would have been good having her relish fighting, like you could see in the "one of you, twenty of us" scene but gradually mellow over the series as she adjusts to her new life. That kill was too much though. The pipe could have just pinned him to the wall through his shoulder or even just spin and knock him out rather than pierce his throat!

It's a shame it didn't get the chance to develop, looks like it had potential.
ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 7/22/2011, 9:53 AM
@ VictorHugo - "did I say that correctly?" depends what you were trying to say. If you wanted to say that you enjoy back, sack and crack waxing, you failed but I think you put what you wanted perfectly.
EarOne
EarOne - 7/22/2011, 9:56 AM
man..WW's one badass chick warrior. the fight scenes show that a WW big screen adaptation IS possible AND could actually work. Adrianne...NOT my first choice for Diana, but she did a commendable job here, at least in the action stuff i got to look at. and she's SEXY as hell...but, i knew that when i saw her in those Friday Night Lights series. but, i gotta say, i prefer her as a blonde.

i just wish, Marvel would nab her, while she's free. how about Carol Danvers?? that part's still available, right?
aaronite1999
aaronite1999 - 7/22/2011, 10:44 AM
Just watched it also, and I liked it - the pros far outweigh the cons. Adrianne Palicki was fine.

They were right to hold off on the Amazon Island stuff - a magical island full of american-accented warrior women is a tough sell to non-comic fans. Plus it doesn't really make much sense. (I suppose if they're from a different dimension it could work, linked maybe to the bermuda triangle?)

Giving her a private life also made sense, as the usual "fish out of water" schtick (a la Thor) can get old pretty fast, especially on a TV show.

The "vicous attacks" she makes on various "enhanced" goons also makes sense in the proper context. Would have made a good "episode 2".

Throw in a decent ongoing story arc invlolving a major villain from the comics and this could have been a pretty decent show.
aaronite1999
aaronite1999 - 7/22/2011, 10:47 AM
(PS: My last comments were after watching the whole pilot)
SpideyDude
SpideyDude - 7/22/2011, 11:21 AM
@censorshipisfreedom im not really sure what you are suggesting mate, i can take some screengrabs from the dvd if you dont believe I have it (most of the editors know im well connected so can prob verify that I wouldnt lie about having it) Having a quick read of theirs, ye they agree with me on alot of points, they must have felt the same about me, I would like to point out they didnt even get the all the characters names right though even though they were named in the pilot itself
Shunt
Shunt - 7/22/2011, 11:22 AM
For anyone who says Wonderwoman cant or wont work on the Big Screen, they are wrong.. With the right treatment from a respectable Director & producer, a good fight Choreographer and a Creditable Writer, it can be done..

The script and guidelines of "Wonder Woman' 2009 Animated Movie" is proof that you can a have a great story for her, It stays true to her origin and it was written, drawn edited and voice acted just like a movie script when you actually watch this cartoon..

Now as for this TV series Pilot, cheesiness aside, when it comes down to the fight scene with Wonder Woman fighting those gay Jack Lalanne/Richard Simmons spankex wearing muscle heads, That fight scene was really good and also proves that Wonder Woman can be done in Live Action.. That fight scene had some decent fight choreography with some good gimmicks that showed her all her powers & ability all in a 2 minute clip.. She used her strength kicking a trailer, she used her lasso and she used her indestructible bracelets all in good fashion..

If that fight scene was actually touched up with a top of the line movie fight Choreographer(similar to Black Widows fight scenes from Ironman2), good movie quality Special Effects and WAY cooler looking bad guys, that fight scene and many others can be translated into great Wonder Woman action scenes on the Silver Screen..

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.. Us DC Fans are desperate..
SpideyDude
SpideyDude - 7/22/2011, 11:24 AM
@shadowvoyd - obviously I am working from A leak, but I had this before it went online (Ive been out for a few hours so dont know where it is online) its possible the person I got it from shared it with a few too many (untrustworthy) people and one of them has now put it online - considering the time frame from when I acquired it to it being on the net (after I put up this review it seems) that would be the most likely case
SpiderFan35
SpiderFan35 - 7/22/2011, 11:25 AM
She's too skinny and yeah fake boobs = fail. Oh and lose the pants.
Blackvoid
Blackvoid - 7/22/2011, 11:27 AM
am i missing something, why didn't she just fly to him, instead of run....
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