live action Super Hero shows seem to have a curse of... FAILING! Especially the 1997 low-budget "Night Man" series, it even had a crossover episode with "Manimal."
This is the tip of the dissapointing Superhero shows iceberg, Spider-man had a live action show in 70's, I've never heard of anyone who liked it. There was also a generic Live-Action show about the "The Flash." Can you think about reviewing them?
Frankly they should have used The Bird's True foes: Savant, Creote, Pistolera and the Twelve Brothers in Silk. Not Batman's foes (That includes Harl Quinn) if this was a show about Birds of Prey only...
@262Lamar I finally did hear the original song after uploading the second copy of this review. While I understand why the DVD release changed songs I would argue that replacing it with that number further shows they really didn't know who this show was for. Still, I admit that this is not my best review. If you didn't see it on it's original post day - well, you don't want to know the problems I had with it.
@rowdycmoore I'm not sure why they replaced the song. I'm glad i kept my tapes where i recorded it. I prefer the original song myself. I may still pick up the dvd set at walmart for 15 bucks. I agree after your review that they weren't sure who they were aiming for. I often wonder had the show gone on would it had gotten better. I think Mia Sara was awesome as Harley Quinn. It's just a shame the show never got a chance.
@262Lamar Definitely - as I said, Mia Sara and Dina Meyer knew their characters, and if we'd had more of Lori Loughlin's Black Canary (yes, she was played by Rebecca from Full House), the show might have been a lot better. Supposedly, she wold have been revealed to still be alive if there had been a second season.
Respond to this video... As far as replacing the song, it has to do with copyright law and royalty issues being different between using songs for original broadcast and reproduction for DVD. It's complicated; check out the TV Tropes entry "Keep Circulating The Tapes" for an explanation.
As you know, WB Films was at the time trying to re-start the Batman film franchise and they were VERY protective of those icons way before Nolan came along and brought Batman Begins and Dark Knight.
Blame the Bat-Embargo, according to Producer/Writer Hans Tobeason, there was a considerable amount of "discussion" between Tollin/Robbins and Warner Bros Television on the one hand, and Warner Bros Films and DC Comics on the other. What you saw on the show was the limit of what they were allowed to use of Batman, Catwoman, The Joker, etc.
@rowdycmoore Birds of Prey is still considered the worst show ever made next to Joel Schumacher's Batman and Robin and Halle Berry's Catwoman (shudders), It failed to live up to the source material, had no real credible logic, plot or character development and could've been much better executed.
@TheJunket9 I did subscribe to his YouTube channel a few days ago. Whether or not he looked over my channel after receiving the message, I don't know. And yes, I'm aware that he just reviewed ASBaR #3, which also ruined Black Canary.
Just a few tid bits. Regarding why Barbara Gordon is not in Batman Begins or Dark Knight. The films are based on Frank Millers work, and in his books, there is no young Barbara, but there is a James Gordon, his son.
BOP, the series, was so badly recieved, it actually affected the comics. Gail Simone, then a rookie writer, was given the book to write because nobody wanted it after the show. It was THAT bad. She brought it back from the brink, and the book is still one of the faves from DC.
@yellowcougar18 So there is at least a silver lining in Simone reviving the books. But right now, I really wish Simone was still writing Wonder Woman, because this Odyssey garbage that JMS came up with - let's just say I hope Linkara will review it sooner than later. And yes, I have a feeling I may end up reviewing the new Wonder Woman series slated to come out this fall; it may be the newest show I'll ever review.
The Dark Knight Trilogy is set during Batman's early years as a crime fighter. Barbara would not have been old enough at the time to be Batgirl, as she was still a very young child.
@JayDee284 Well, admittedly the show was supposed to focus on these characters, and especially Helena's separation from Bruce Wayne; yes, it may have helped to have a guest appearance at least once, and maybe they would have had one had it lasted another year. Then again, Batman's never appeared in Smallville supposedly due to licensing issues. The last episode did end with Alfred talking to Bruce over the phone; that's as close as they got.
Cmore, the reason why the producers make "realistic" superheros (without the classic costumes) is that if they DID make a super serious show with masked heroes and villains, it could easily toe the line to unintentionally cheesy. Take our dearly departed friend "The Cape." Ok, it had no mythos behind it like Batman, but it did have everything you said you wanted in a superhero show and still got canceled after only 10 episodes. (9 of which were seen on TV!)
@vampman87 It's definitely a difficult task to do. I didn't have a problem with it being "realistic" - the mask was a minor issue - but it just felt off that they felt they had to throw in a teenage character and add teen drama. All that having been said, I will say this was admittedly one of the better shows among those I've reviewed. I'll likely be taking on some of the points you brought up when I review the live-action Tick.
It should be known that the "Dawsons Creek" music at the beginning and end of every episode were pretty much standard for any teen show circa 2002. Remember Buffy? Compare the general background music from the earlier high school episodes to the later eps; in the high school episodes, unless they were in the Bronze, the show pretty much had a general background score. Toward the end of the series, however, whenever an episode ended you had one of those "Dawson's Creek" songs playing in the back.
@vampman87 I nearly did mention Buffy and the Sarah MacLaughlin songs it occasionally played at the end.If they were going to make it a teen drama show, I guess it could have been a little understandable. It was just hard to tell if that's what they were going for because they kept throwing in obscure references to Batman's history (like rattling off all those former Robins by name) to make it look like they were trying for the hardcore comic readers.
I was wondering at 6:24-6:30 whether you were aware of Michelle Branch's appearance on the Buffy episode "Tabula Rasa". I was actually hoping for a clip from that episode, followed by your annoyed expression and yelling "WHYYYY?! Oh, let's move on!" Well, that was pretty much my initial reaction when I saw Branch's appearance, and when I first saw the land shark.
@LordNifty I admittedly forgot about Branch on Buffy, but as I mentioned earlier, I almost went back to the Sarah MacLaughlin numbers. I probably wouldn't have done the "Whyyyy?" gag, I more likely would have said something like "Oh, shut up!" because the reveal would make me look like a hypocrite. But given that I now have no idea which songs were in the original and which were edited for DVD, it's probably better that I didn't point out the music more than I did.
Good review though I just have 2 quips: 1)You credited Danny Elfman for the music you used in the end yet, and I might be mistaken, but wasn't that Elliot Goldenthal's score? 2)I'm pretty sure the little girl with blonde hair who was Gordon's daughter was supposed to be Barbara. I find it weird, though, that they would give her such a small role...
@MrAspiringactor From my research, Elfman composed the music for the Tim Burton Batman films; Goldenthal did the music for the Joel Schumacher movies. I believe there is a score in Batman Forever that is very much like The Suite, but the end music on this review is supposed to be from the first film. And yes, I've been told that Gordon had an infant daughter named Barbara in DK, but that just makes even less sense to me. "Where was she" was definitely the wrong way for me to say it.
@rowdycmoore Oh I thought that was the Batman Forever theme. Nevermind. Though I wouldn't call his daughter an "infant" in DK...She looked more like she was 5-6 to me.
this is why you dont make live-action series based-off comics. i recommend justice league or batman the animated series for anyone looking for a good dc tv show
Have you found that live-action Mortal Kombat series I mentioned a while back? It's called Mortal Kombat: Konquest. There was as an animated series titled Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm.
Hi everyone. I just want to say this - I admit this is not my best review at all. I was up all last night updating and re-posting it thanks to my egregious error regarding the final episode, which upon discovering it, actually changed my opinion of the show slightly. Even now, it turns out there are still mistakes because of how the DVD release changed things like the music. Such is the price of going the legal route with Netflix DVDs, but I still take full responsibility that this is a bad one.
oh gah...i hate shows like this, such potential thrown out for that bland teen drama garbage. i will give this show one thing, no bat nipples, credit cards, or an idiot poison ivy, essential while not as good as Bruce Timm, Nolan, or Burton, much much much better then Schumack head. though a poison ivy in this show would have been interesting, especially if they played on the harley/ivy relationship
@Matthew6248 A couple of things: 1. Rowdy himself told me that he well do "Heil Honey I'm Home" in a future episode, and 2. Isn't the third season when Sliders got Pick-uped by Syfy.
There were actually 13 episodes. Harley Quinn did appear in the final episode and she was the main villain for the heroines. She gave herself superpower and was trying to take over the New Gotham City.
@whitelightmoon4ever Scratch that, I see you update video already. Oh yeah, Barbara did appear in "The Dark Knight," she was the infant who only appear with Gordon's wife. I don't know why, but I accept it.
Barbara I think actually was in 'The Dark Knight' If I recall, Grodon's wife, son, and daughter (Barbara) were with Batman, and Two Face in the climax. Anyway, this is why I don't trust TV adaptations of comics unless they're animated because TV shows tend to cut corners to avoid having to spend huge budgets, and do research the properties they adapt.
@Launchpad05 I have heard that an infant Barbara was in those movies, but that just reinforces my own problem. I just look at The Dark Knight's climax and see that if a teenaged Barbara had been present, the setup for Batgirl would have been perfect.
@EHH246 I'd like to watch it, but it comes on at the same time as SmackDown. I will start looking at the DVDs at sometime in the future to see what it's like. But yeah, I think I heard that this show was made by the same people.
@NY4Life After checking online video clips, I admit there apparently was another, more upbeat number for the opener in the original run. So yes, my complaint about the music doesn't make sense if it's referring to the originally broadcast episodes (which my reviews are supposed to admittedly be about). Still, if they replaced it with the music mentioned in the review, it would in theory reinforce my claim that the distributors didn't know who their audience was.
I know your a Wonder Woman fan, have seen the horrible 2011 T.V. pilot that never got picked up?
spidermansidekick1 5 months ago
@spidermansidekick1 Heard enough about it. Making her a BOARD ROOM EXEC? And giving her those stupid leather pants that JMS put her in? Ugh.
rowdycmoore 5 months ago
live action Super Hero shows seem to have a curse of... FAILING! Especially the 1997 low-budget "Night Man" series, it even had a crossover episode with "Manimal."
spidermansidekick1 5 months ago
Can anyone think of good live action superhero shows besides the 60's Batman and the 70's Hulk?
FrontAlleyBoys 6 months ago
@FrontAlleyBoys Wonder Woman wasn't that bad.
rowdycmoore 6 months ago
This is the tip of the dissapointing Superhero shows iceberg, Spider-man had a live action show in 70's, I've never heard of anyone who liked it. There was also a generic Live-Action show about the "The Flash." Can you think about reviewing them?
spidermansidekick1 6 months ago
REVIEW SMALLVILE, the terrible acting, the pathetic drama, and the go nowhere stoylines, are even woarse than birds of prey.
spidermansidekick1 9 months ago
Frankly they should have used The Bird's True foes: Savant, Creote, Pistolera and the Twelve Brothers in Silk. Not Batman's foes (That includes Harl Quinn) if this was a show about Birds of Prey only...
Shadowhawk28 10 months ago
That's not the original opening theme song, it was "Revolution" by Aime Allen
262Lamar 10 months ago
@262Lamar I finally did hear the original song after uploading the second copy of this review. While I understand why the DVD release changed songs I would argue that replacing it with that number further shows they really didn't know who this show was for. Still, I admit that this is not my best review. If you didn't see it on it's original post day - well, you don't want to know the problems I had with it.
rowdycmoore 10 months ago
@rowdycmoore I'm not sure why they replaced the song. I'm glad i kept my tapes where i recorded it. I prefer the original song myself. I may still pick up the dvd set at walmart for 15 bucks. I agree after your review that they weren't sure who they were aiming for. I often wonder had the show gone on would it had gotten better. I think Mia Sara was awesome as Harley Quinn. It's just a shame the show never got a chance.
262Lamar 10 months ago
@262Lamar Definitely - as I said, Mia Sara and Dina Meyer knew their characters, and if we'd had more of Lori Loughlin's Black Canary (yes, she was played by Rebecca from Full House), the show might have been a lot better. Supposedly, she wold have been revealed to still be alive if there had been a second season.
rowdycmoore 10 months ago
Respond to this video... As far as replacing the song, it has to do with copyright law and royalty issues being different between using songs for original broadcast and reproduction for DVD. It's complicated; check out the TV Tropes entry "Keep Circulating The Tapes" for an explanation.
rowdycmoore 10 months ago
As you know, WB Films was at the time trying to re-start the Batman film franchise and they were VERY protective of those icons way before Nolan came along and brought Batman Begins and Dark Knight.
Shadowhawk28 10 months ago
Blame the Bat-Embargo, according to Producer/Writer Hans Tobeason, there was a considerable amount of "discussion" between Tollin/Robbins and Warner Bros Television on the one hand, and Warner Bros Films and DC Comics on the other. What you saw on the show was the limit of what they were allowed to use of Batman, Catwoman, The Joker, etc.
Shadowhawk28 10 months ago
@Shadowhawk28 I've heard that's why there's been no Batman on Smallville either.
rowdycmoore 10 months ago
@rowdycmoore Birds of Prey is still considered the worst show ever made next to Joel Schumacher's Batman and Robin and Halle Berry's Catwoman (shudders), It failed to live up to the source material, had no real credible logic, plot or character development and could've been much better executed.
Shadowhawk28 10 months ago
have you thought about sending a link of this review to linkara ?
TheJunket9 11 months ago
@TheJunket9 I did subscribe to his YouTube channel a few days ago. Whether or not he looked over my channel after receiving the message, I don't know. And yes, I'm aware that he just reviewed ASBaR #3, which also ruined Black Canary.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
Sad fact about mark hamill. Batman arkham city will be the last time he will voice the joker, EVER.
jm7940 11 months ago
@jm7940 until he needs more money
JayDee284 10 months ago
Just a few tid bits. Regarding why Barbara Gordon is not in Batman Begins or Dark Knight. The films are based on Frank Millers work, and in his books, there is no young Barbara, but there is a James Gordon, his son.
BOP, the series, was so badly recieved, it actually affected the comics. Gail Simone, then a rookie writer, was given the book to write because nobody wanted it after the show. It was THAT bad. She brought it back from the brink, and the book is still one of the faves from DC.
yellowcougar18 11 months ago
@yellowcougar18 So there is at least a silver lining in Simone reviving the books. But right now, I really wish Simone was still writing Wonder Woman, because this Odyssey garbage that JMS came up with - let's just say I hope Linkara will review it sooner than later. And yes, I have a feeling I may end up reviewing the new Wonder Woman series slated to come out this fall; it may be the newest show I'll ever review.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
@rowdycmoore It doesn't look good, does it? Bet she won't even fly either.
yellowcougar18 11 months ago
The Dark Knight Trilogy is set during Batman's early years as a crime fighter. Barbara would not have been old enough at the time to be Batgirl, as she was still a very young child.
Bauglir100 11 months ago
were the hell was Batman Nightwing and Robin in this show
JayDee284 11 months ago
@JayDee284 Well, admittedly the show was supposed to focus on these characters, and especially Helena's separation from Bruce Wayne; yes, it may have helped to have a guest appearance at least once, and maybe they would have had one had it lasted another year. Then again, Batman's never appeared in Smallville supposedly due to licensing issues. The last episode did end with Alfred talking to Bruce over the phone; that's as close as they got.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
Cmore, the reason why the producers make "realistic" superheros (without the classic costumes) is that if they DID make a super serious show with masked heroes and villains, it could easily toe the line to unintentionally cheesy. Take our dearly departed friend "The Cape." Ok, it had no mythos behind it like Batman, but it did have everything you said you wanted in a superhero show and still got canceled after only 10 episodes. (9 of which were seen on TV!)
vampman87 11 months ago
@vampman87 It's definitely a difficult task to do. I didn't have a problem with it being "realistic" - the mask was a minor issue - but it just felt off that they felt they had to throw in a teenage character and add teen drama. All that having been said, I will say this was admittedly one of the better shows among those I've reviewed. I'll likely be taking on some of the points you brought up when I review the live-action Tick.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
@vampman87 I would take the The Cape over this shit any day
JayDee284 11 months ago
It should be known that the "Dawsons Creek" music at the beginning and end of every episode were pretty much standard for any teen show circa 2002. Remember Buffy? Compare the general background music from the earlier high school episodes to the later eps; in the high school episodes, unless they were in the Bronze, the show pretty much had a general background score. Toward the end of the series, however, whenever an episode ended you had one of those "Dawson's Creek" songs playing in the back.
vampman87 11 months ago
@vampman87 I nearly did mention Buffy and the Sarah MacLaughlin songs it occasionally played at the end.If they were going to make it a teen drama show, I guess it could have been a little understandable. It was just hard to tell if that's what they were going for because they kept throwing in obscure references to Batman's history (like rattling off all those former Robins by name) to make it look like they were trying for the hardcore comic readers.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
@rowdycmoore
I was wondering at 6:24-6:30 whether you were aware of Michelle Branch's appearance on the Buffy episode "Tabula Rasa". I was actually hoping for a clip from that episode, followed by your annoyed expression and yelling "WHYYYY?! Oh, let's move on!" Well, that was pretty much my initial reaction when I saw Branch's appearance, and when I first saw the land shark.
LordNifty 11 months ago
@LordNifty I admittedly forgot about Branch on Buffy, but as I mentioned earlier, I almost went back to the Sarah MacLaughlin numbers. I probably wouldn't have done the "Whyyyy?" gag, I more likely would have said something like "Oh, shut up!" because the reveal would make me look like a hypocrite. But given that I now have no idea which songs were in the original and which were edited for DVD, it's probably better that I didn't point out the music more than I did.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
Good review though I just have 2 quips: 1)You credited Danny Elfman for the music you used in the end yet, and I might be mistaken, but wasn't that Elliot Goldenthal's score? 2)I'm pretty sure the little girl with blonde hair who was Gordon's daughter was supposed to be Barbara. I find it weird, though, that they would give her such a small role...
MrAspiringactor 11 months ago
@MrAspiringactor From my research, Elfman composed the music for the Tim Burton Batman films; Goldenthal did the music for the Joel Schumacher movies. I believe there is a score in Batman Forever that is very much like The Suite, but the end music on this review is supposed to be from the first film. And yes, I've been told that Gordon had an infant daughter named Barbara in DK, but that just makes even less sense to me. "Where was she" was definitely the wrong way for me to say it.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
@rowdycmoore Oh I thought that was the Batman Forever theme. Nevermind. Though I wouldn't call his daughter an "infant" in DK...She looked more like she was 5-6 to me.
MrAspiringactor 11 months ago
this is why you dont make live-action series based-off comics. i recommend justice league or batman the animated series for anyone looking for a good dc tv show
zeldamaster52 11 months ago
@zeldamaster52 I've heard "Brave and the Bold" actually includes the Birds of Prey in it, making me think about checking it out.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
Hey Rowdy,
Have you found that live-action Mortal Kombat series I mentioned a while back? It's called Mortal Kombat: Konquest. There was as an animated series titled Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm.
mungface36 11 months ago
@mungface36 I've had so much else going on, I haven't been able to, but I will try to remember to do so.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
for next installment of tv treasures can you review fillmore?
TheJunket9 11 months ago
@TheJunket9 Well, I already have one show planned for my next TV Treasures review, but I'll still try to find that one and take a look at it.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
Hi everyone. I just want to say this - I admit this is not my best review at all. I was up all last night updating and re-posting it thanks to my egregious error regarding the final episode, which upon discovering it, actually changed my opinion of the show slightly. Even now, it turns out there are still mistakes because of how the DVD release changed things like the music. Such is the price of going the legal route with Netflix DVDs, but I still take full responsibility that this is a bad one.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
oh gah...i hate shows like this, such potential thrown out for that bland teen drama garbage. i will give this show one thing, no bat nipples, credit cards, or an idiot poison ivy, essential while not as good as Bruce Timm, Nolan, or Burton, much much much better then Schumack head. though a poison ivy in this show would have been interesting, especially if they played on the harley/ivy relationship
Tadicuslegion78 11 months ago
Awesome review, do one of then following:
Heroes of Wrestling Pay Per View
Heil Honey I'm Home
Sliders: the third season
Matthew6248 11 months ago
@Matthew6248 A couple of things: 1. Rowdy himself told me that he well do "Heil Honey I'm Home" in a future episode, and 2. Isn't the third season when Sliders got Pick-uped by Syfy.
AlexSpalex1 11 months ago
@AlexSpalex1 the 3rd season of Sliders aired on fox
Matthew6248 11 months ago
This. Is the reason I don't watch live action tv about super heroes..they all get turned into the oc.
Darkgreenpriestess 11 months ago
He he. This sucks. Smallville rules!
MrSkoringo 11 months ago
There were actually 13 episodes. Harley Quinn did appear in the final episode and she was the main villain for the heroines. She gave herself superpower and was trying to take over the New Gotham City.
whitelightmoon4ever 11 months ago
@whitelightmoon4ever Scratch that, I see you update video already. Oh yeah, Barbara did appear in "The Dark Knight," she was the infant who only appear with Gordon's wife. I don't know why, but I accept it.
whitelightmoon4ever 11 months ago
nice review
alagateryandchesnut3 11 months ago
Barbara I think actually was in 'The Dark Knight' If I recall, Grodon's wife, son, and daughter (Barbara) were with Batman, and Two Face in the climax. Anyway, this is why I don't trust TV adaptations of comics unless they're animated because TV shows tend to cut corners to avoid having to spend huge budgets, and do research the properties they adapt.
Launchpad05 11 months ago
@Launchpad05 I have heard that an infant Barbara was in those movies, but that just reinforces my own problem. I just look at The Dark Knight's climax and see that if a teenaged Barbara had been present, the setup for Batgirl would have been perfect.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
Have you ever seen Smallville?
EHH246 11 months ago
@EHH246 I'd like to watch it, but it comes on at the same time as SmackDown. I will start looking at the DVDs at sometime in the future to see what it's like. But yeah, I think I heard that this show was made by the same people.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
Sorry.. Never saw this show.
Did Smallville steal the concept of Watchtower from this show ?
Marvcohen 11 months ago
Your complaint about the music doesn't tread water because they changed the music when they released the series on DVD.
NY4Life 11 months ago
@NY4Life After checking online video clips, I admit there apparently was another, more upbeat number for the opener in the original run. So yes, my complaint about the music doesn't make sense if it's referring to the originally broadcast episodes (which my reviews are supposed to admittedly be about). Still, if they replaced it with the music mentioned in the review, it would in theory reinforce my claim that the distributors didn't know who their audience was.
rowdycmoore 11 months ago
Comment removed
NY4Life 11 months ago