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CS Weekly Archive > DVD > 7/25/08
Up a Wall Without a Batarang
by scott castle
Birds of Prey: The Complete Series
Adam Armus, Kay Foster, David H. Goodman, Julie Hess, Adam Horowitz, Laeta Kalogridis, Edward Kitsis, Melissa Rosenberg and Hans Tobeason
Developed for television by Laeta Kalogridis
Based on DC Comics
 
 
Boasting abysmal dialogue such as, “No use of super powers to settle domestic disputes,” Birds of Prey represents the nadir of DC comics adaptations. Set in a future where paralyzed ex-Batgirl Barbara Gordon (Dina Meyer) runs tech support for Batman and Catwoman’s super-powered daughter Huntress (Ashley Scott), the plots harken back to the freak-of-the-week tales that pervaded earlier seasons of Smallville, but lack the strong characterization and well-defined take on the material that made that series a success. Even more damning, the unaired pilot included alongside the 13 produced episodes is significantly stronger than the finished product, which ignores the screenwriting motto of “show, don’t tell” by opening with tedious Gotham City history lesson narrated by Batman’s butler Alfred Pennyworth (Ian Abercrombie). Though the show does a good job of developing the machinations of arch-villain Harley Quinn (Mia Sara) across the season, the failure to deliver compellingly crafted leading characters totally undermines the endeavor. Gotham Girls, a Flash-animated cartoon focused on the ladies of the Batman comics and featured as an extra, is a far wittier take on the material.
 Birds of Prey: The Complete Series
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Not rated; 737 min.
$39.98
Buy it now
Scott Castle
is one thesis shy of a master's degree in film. He's written two short films, four television scripts, and a handful of short stories. He lives in Los Angeles.
Birds of Prey: The Complete Series courtesy Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
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