MovieChat Forums > Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020) Discussion > Gerry Conway blaming men for this failur...

Gerry Conway blaming men for this failure

posted 5 years ago by [deleted]
18 replies | jump to latest

"I'm so disappointed by "Birds of Prey" box office and what it says about the male audience for superhero films. Here's my controversial take (don't hate me): the movie didn't pull teenage boys because Margot Robbie didn't want Harley Quinn to be sexualized as she was in SS."

https://twitter.com/gerryconway/status/1226556195474788352

"Captain Marvel" and "Wonder Woman" were hits because they provided superhero powers, big special effects, and, yeah, beautiful women who looked good in tight fitting outfits. To her credit, Margot Robbie wanted to challenge the need for any of that."

"Unfortunately what she may have proved (who can say off one movie) is that the male audience for superhero movies isn't as mature as we'd like to hope, and the female audience isn't large enough to compensate."

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1226556200503824384

[–] thenewnexus (1911) 5 years ago

Conway literally created Sexy characters like Powergirl,Star Sapphire and MS Marvel. IDK where any of this BS is coming from.

Does he now regret writing the Night Gwen Stacy Died?

[–] DarthRoger (867) 5 years ago

He's pandering because that's what every artist trying to fit in Hollywood does these days. Look at Jim Starlin and the really stupid comments he made about that Trump political meme. It's a damn meme, Jim. You acted like a total ass-hat over nothing and verbally tore down a great comic book/movie villain that you created.

What a skullnick!

[–] Kowalski (75538) 5 years ago

I DONT NORMALLY JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON WITH THESE COMMENTS....THIS SET OF
COMMENTS HOWEVER ARE STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE WRONG,UGH.

[–] ozzy100 (103) 5 years ago

"the female audience isn't large enough to compensate."

you will tell the box office results of Mama Mia , Twilight and Fifty shades that won't you lol

[–] Guitar King (4893) 5 years ago

Those aren't comic book movies.

[–] TheAdlerian (2092) 5 years ago

That is moronic.

It is because the story diverges too much from the source material.

The character isn't Harley. There is no Batman. Harley isn't a hero and doesn't go on missions, she is an insane psycho killer like Joker.

I'm not going to see a movie where Superman is a bad guy or a mailman. I want to see a movie about Superman. I have been watching the Harley character for over a decade, you can't change it.

I don't understand how Fantastic Four wasn't a lesson. Johnny Storm isn't a black guy, the team has a 50 year old story, that people like, stick with it. They like the characters, the family dynamic, etc. You can't just make up new shit.

[–] B1cKsurN (17430) 5 years ago

I'm pretty sure I was told the movie wasn't made for me.

So I didn't go see it.

What's the fucking problem, Gerry?

[–] keithmovies (627) 5 years ago

Well, Suicide Squad did set up expectations and created this particular interpretation of Harley Quinn. There is no getting away from the fact that the Margot Robbie HQ is a beautiful woman who is provocative mentally and physically. This HQ is into shocking and manipulating people and skimpy outfits is a direct way of doing that. If HQ was of a different mind she would use other tactics. Every character potential reality is different.

In Birds of Prey they do tone the sexual focus down but she is still sexy. As a viewer I appreciate the character regardless, but I would still have welcomed a directly provocative presentation. The movie as whole was a bit weak though and it needed as many innovations as possible to give it energy than it received.

As to the gender attitudes to the character, I think people like what they like and that can't be controlled. People should be free to follow their preferences, and I also think there is more to consider about the actual movie as to why it doesn't appeal to some - eg. direction, dialogue, narrative, camera work, etc.

[–] Kowalski (75538) 5 years ago

I THINK SUICIDE SQUAD AND ITS REPUTATION SOURED THE RELEASE OF HARLEY QUINN...NO MATTER HOW WHITE HOT MARGOT AND OR HER HARLEY CHARACTER BECOME,AT ITS ROOT IT WAS BIRTHED IN A DEEPLY FLAWED BOX OFFICE FLOP THAT IS KNOWN FOR TWO THINGS...HARLEY AND PUNCHLINES...I CAN THINK OF A LOT OF FLICKS THAT FAILED BUT FEATURED CHARACTERS BETTER THAN THEIR MATERIAL.LIFTING THOSE CHARACTERS FROM THEIR FAILURES AND BIRTHING THEM SOLO WOULD PROVIDE THE SAME LACKLUSTER HMMPH FROM THE GENERAL AUDIENCE.

[–] Alex (1503) 5 years ago

I loved every animated iteration of Harley Quinn since Batman TAS, but this film ain't it, chief!

Plus, I don't remember Black Mask ever taking off his mask before, as soon as I saw Ewan prancing around without a mask 24/7, I knew this film would a be boring mess.

The script sucked donkey balls, so even the word of mouth won't save it now.

[–] thenewnexus (1911) 5 years ago

In his comic debut hes seen without his mask then it burns to his face

[–] bozo_500 (13119) 5 years ago

Best response on that twitter thread is 'old man trying to score some woke points' lol

He's partly right. Margot does look abit of a scruff in this..which is abit of a turn off for guys compared to how she was promoted in SS ..and what's wrong with that anyway? Do women want to see hunky male actors looking like crap in their signature roles?

but theres other big reasons too (see "Why Did it Bomb" thread)

[–] Moonglum9 (11275) 5 years ago

the male audience for superhero movies isn't as mature as we'd like to hope

Male audience for superhero movies not mature? HHHHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT?!!!