I WATHCED Wonder Woman this week, and this first female superhero film is a triumph. Feminists should be rejoicing. But actually, there is a divide happening in social media. The controversy surrounding this movie is the choice of the actress, the Israeli beauty Gal Gadot of the Fast and Furious fame.
The conflict here is that Wonder Woman is a champion that protects women and children from wars, but she is played by Gadot who served a mandatory two years in the Israeli army that launched wars against Hezbollah and invaded Gaza that has led to many deaths.
The argument is valid, as we have seen actors and directors espousing advocacies. The recent Oscars had Mexican star Gael Garcia Bernal speaking for Mexican migrant rights, and Iranian director Ashgar Farhadi boycotting the event in protest of Trump's travel ban against seven countries including his country. Leonardo di Caprio also made his best-actor speech championing the indigenous peoples.
But I still feel for Gadot, whose face, screen presence and athleticism endowed the film with the best Wonder Woman of quality of innocence and heroism.
But the argument should not just be about the actress. Superhero films have always centered in America or the west. Wonder Woman was fighting alongside the British Empire, which has a history of colonizing Asian and African countries and now is the second top arms exporter in the world selling 2/3 of their arms of this to the Middle East.
*****
Coincidentally, people are also debating over Wonder Woman's local counterpart, Darna. The tiara of Darna, which has solidified many local stars in the past, will be worn this time by rising star Liza Soberano. But poor Liza is getting flak online who doubt her sweet-image, lackluster acting, and even her Fil-Am accent and tisay-looks may be at her disadvantage.
But the problem is also with the Darna incarnations that veered away from the spirit of the original story from the comics, that of a country girl with disabilities but with the heart to overcome evils in the form of Valentina and other aliens. The past Darna flicks are still enjoyable.
One friend asked, isn't it time to reboot the Darna-inspired gay superhero ZsaZsaZsaturnnah as well? Nah, BB Gandanghari and Zsa-Zsa Padilla made a classic which should be untouched.
***
But speaking of superheroines, there was one Pinoy movie that imitated both Wonder Woman and Darna. That movie was Wander Woman siAko released in 1980. The role was played by Fil-Am beauty Maria Teresa Carlson, who capitalized on her beauty, wackiness and Taglish accent.
Sadly in real life Carlson jumped to her death from the 23rd floor in November 2001, suffering from an abusive relation with her husband, Ilocos Norte representative Rodolfo Fariñas. Fariñas by the way is the majority floor leader who bullied DSWD Secretary and real superwoman Professor Judy Taguiwalo over the DSWD budget.
*****
And in real life, the former Darna actress Angel Locsin is now in Iligan, visiting Marawi evacuees. She has been advocate for peace in Mindanao, having visited Marawi before in 2008 during the post-MOA-AD war.
So much for superheroes, we need heroes and female heroes to champion to fly for our cause in this state of war, and kick macho ass as well.
*****
(tyvelez@gmail.com)