BvS The Wonder Woman Costume Thread - Part 10

[Jekecy]

No, but you said that x and y were "not the dominating iterations" of Wonder Woman. I presumed you meant that there was another "iteration" (portrayal?) that was more dominant.

Ah, yes I'm referring to the (presumed) mind eye's perception of what a live-action Amazon "should" be. Similar to how Reeve may be pop culture's face for Superman, though most people would still likely envision their own conjured image of Superman as far more built and barrel-chested.

 

[Brawl]

So you're implying that everyone here are being pedophiles for liking Gal Gadot, who is and looks like a fully grown and beautiful adult woman in a Wonder Woman costume, and being okay with her casting and physique?

Wellllll I wouldn't take it that far I was being rather bombastic but my point holds true that Gal is simply not at all a striking visage. I don't think it will sink or harm the movie as the same holds true for BlackWidow in Avengers. I know a lot women who also are upset that they chose the atypical helpless weak looking woman "model" type represent such a strong female figure.

 

[jaymes_e06]

Stop making your silly opinions out to be like they are facts.

 

[scifiwolf]

Wellllll I wouldn't take it that far I was being rather bombastic but my point holds true that Gal is simply not at all a striking visage. I don't think it will sink or harm the movie as the same holds true for BlackWidow in Avengers. I know a lot women who also are upset that they chose the atypical helpless weak looking woman "model" type represent such a strong female figure.

If that's your opinion, then I'm sorry that you're missing out on what a majority seem to see in her. Whether you think she's right for the role, or Scarlett Johannsson is right for Black Widow, I'm not sure how you can say they're not striking. Scarlett in particular is held to be one of the most beautiful women in the world.

 

[John-An]

Too much hate here and it's actually funny because it doesn't make any sense their own statements I doubt they believe what they write...

 

[Spamtron]

I think the boots might be thrwoing some people off. They have nothing to do with neither Wonder Woman nor any kind of ancient reference that people like to associate her with.

Rrrright, because no way those Greaves could've come from anything near her people's origins...

 

[regwec]

There is no more point in blaming Softy for being mindlessly negative than there is in blaming old people for being unwittingly racist.

 

[Spamtron]

Ok with that thought process since superman doesn't ever get winded why not make him a fat slob of a person with no muscle tone.... That's the argument you are making for a petite weak waisted WW. WW like it or not is a superhero and she should look like she can hold her own, if you don't agree and want some. Anime looking school girl in a short skirt then pedo away but for me a Lucy lawless looking woman is the direction I would go.

Have you ever actually looked at Lucy Lawless as Xena? How on earth are you seeing her as being more built and defined than Gal? They look about dead-on an even match to me...

Or am I not seeing some mysterious muscle that you are somewhere?

 

[Majik1387]

Nah, Lucy Lawless definitely had more muscle on her.

Gadot, while not as twiggy as when first cast, is still too much on the thin side.

 

[Dark Raven]

I don't think Lucy had more muscle than Gal. But she was probably bigger boned and generally a larger frame. Her face was also wider, and her boobs a bit larger, giving the overall appearance of looking bigger.

Gal looks fine for WW though, especially now. She certainly doesn't look overly thin for the part.

 

[SofNascimento]

Rrrright, because no way those Greaves could've come from anything near her people's origins...

Those are very different from what Wonder Woman wears. In Diana's case it looks futuristic, not ancient.

 

[Spamtron]

Nah, Lucy Lawless definitely had more muscle on her.

By all means provide some visual proof of this muscle as I have provided pics above showing otherwise...

Lucy is a very beautiful woman and has a great shape, but in no way would I consider her more muscular than Gal is currently in that WW suit... if you have better frame of reference then by all means post it, but anyone making shoddy comparos between Gal's shape and Lucy's needs to actually open their eyes instead of relying on what they recalled watching the show so many years ago when it first aired. It's like saying the number "1" isn't packing nearly as much muscle as the letter "I" and trying to pass that off as an argument to prove your point.

 

[Spamtron]

Those are very different from what Wonder Woman wears. In Diana's case it looks futuristic, not ancient.

so over the course of a millennia or two you don't think maybe the way the fictional Amazons style their greaves might have changed from the originating culture a smidgen? Wow you're really reaching for that blade of grass to cling onto so you don't float away from the earth...
I would think think Amazons tech over hundreds of years would account for a futuristic look to a very old-school design.

 

[Majik1387]

Just watch Xena episodes/snippets(youtube is your friend) and compare them to current pics/interviews of Gadot.

I'm not going to nitpick this minor issue to me.

 

[SofNascimento]

so over the course of a millennia or two you don't think maybe the way the fictional Amazons style their greaves might have changed from the originating culture a smidgen? Wow you're really reaching for that blade of grass to cling onto so you don't float away from the earth...

No, quite the contrary. Actually the boots is one of my favirote parts of the costume. What I said is that it doesn't look neither ancient nor like the boots Wonder Woman is used to wear.

 

[Spamtron]

got it... I will check out those moving pictures of one to a single still shot of another instead of comparing still shots to still shots.
doesn't bother me any really, there are a few folks making the comparison, so I am just trying to understand their frame of reference since I cannot for the life of me see this huge difference in musculature that Gadot supposedly seems to lack compared to Lawless. They both look like very similar statuesque model builds to me.

 

[Spamtron]

No, quite the contrary. Actually the boots is one of my favirote parts of the costume. What I said is that it doesn't look neither ancient nor like the boots Wonder Woman is used to wear.

okeydokey, my mistake... seemed like you were stating how unWW they were and that there was no basis for her to have them as the character.
I thought they fit the character very well...

 

[Bwahaha!]

Have you ever actually looked at Lucy Lawless as Xena? How on earth are you seeing her as being more built and defined than Gal? They look about dead-on an even match to me...

Or am I not seeing some mysterious muscle that you are somewhere?

Your pic comparisons are accurate. I don't see any more *muscle* on Lucy than Gal, especially Gal's arms seem more toned and athletic than Lucy's. That said, Lucy does have a larger frame. Lucy's legs aren't muscled but just naturally bigger than Gal's. Who cares, though? WW's powers come from magic not muscles. Plus Gal has done an incredible job with her workouts. These slams against her get more tedious and petty by the day...

 

[haephestus]

Re: Gal Gadot vs. Lucy Lawless

Lucy Lawless' body shape changed dramatically over the course of the series.

Season 1:

http://www.farfarawaysite.com/section/xena/gallery1/hires/12.jpg

http://www.farfarawaysite.com/section/xena/gallery1/hires/10.jpg

Season 2:

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44284#top_display_media

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44348#top_display_media

Season 3:

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44630#top_display_media

http://www.farfarawaysite.com/section/xena/gallery1/hires/20.jpg

Season 4:

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44463#top_display_media

Season 5:

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44519#top_display_media

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44520#top_display_media

Season 6:

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44465#top_display_media

http://www.farfarawaysite.com/section/xena/gallery2/hires/12.jpg

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44274#top_display_media

During season 1, Lucy Lawless was a full-figured woman, in part because she wasn't eating well during her marriage breakdown (which started around the time she was first cast in Hercules and then continued for the first season).

Towards the end of season 1 and the start of season 2, Lucy Lawless entered into a strict fitness regime to, by her own admission, look more like a "warrior princess" (or rather, her idea of a "warrior princess"), but she suffered multiple injuries, notably a broken hip when she was filming a skit on a horse for a US talk show. Lucy Lawless also suffered a recurring back injury.

So, for late season 2, season 3 and season 4, Lucy Lawless' training was more moderate. Also, in comparison to Gal Gadot, Lucy Lawless' training had to occur outside of the 12 or more hours she spent on set every day filming.

In season 5, Lucy Lawless was pregnant and then dropped an astounding amount of weight very quickly. I think it was around this time that Lucy Lawless decided that pilates was her preferred fitness regime, so her figure in late season 5 and season 6 was probably the slimmest it had ever been during the series.

Also, I think people aren't giving enough credit to the costume. The "Xena" costume starts with undergarments which give "Xena" her impressive bust (and space to hide her breast dagger). The basic costume itself is rather thick leather and the style and cut (including the "V" shaped stitching in the corset) help to emphasise and build upon her womanly figure.

A rather large and cumbersome breast-plate (which includes back-armour) is then worn on top of the leather "mini-dress" which adds further bulk to Xena's frame. On top of that, there is the shoulder armour (again, thick leather and metal) and the upper and lower arm bands (also thick leather and metal). Even the boots have a degree of "thickness" about them as they're made to be practical (i.e. they're a pair of Nikes wrapped in leather) and then topped with more "bulk" adding knee pads.

All of that bulk is added to Lucy Lawless' basic frame, which irrespective of the season, is arguably a little broader (and possibly taller) than Gal Gadot. Also, Gal Gadot was a model prior to being cast, which required her to be extremely slim. Lucy Lawless, while a working actress, was first cast back in the 90s when all actors, whether male or female, were generally in more "standard" and healthy shape (as opposed to being stick-thin or overly muscled).

Finally, I have to wonder whether Gal Gadot's costume reveal wasn't photoshopped to ... highlight the purported "bulk" around the upper arms and thighs. It may just be the costume giving that impression, but there are no other photos which seem to indicate that Gal Gadot has quite that level of thickness (at this stage). It's probably what they're working towards, but I'm not sure she is quite there yet.

 

[haephestus]

Also, forgot to mention that is was clear from the short-listed actors for the role of Wonder Woman that Snyder (or WB/DC) were looking for someone relatively slim (even for an actor) for the role.

This is possibly because they plan to highlight the "might from magic" and "surprising strength" aspects of Wonder Woman as opposed to Wonder Woman being an obviously physical powerhouse.

 

[Lencho01]

No, I'm not. I think there's a difference, however small, between the ideal body type for women in general and the ideal body type for women who are physically fit.

Regardless, we're moving away from my original point, which was that a double standard exists between male and female superheroes that has little to do with the accepted differences with the male and female body. If Wonder Woman isn't particularly muscular, it isn't a big deal; her super strength doesn't come from her muscles, it's magic, it's a comic book movie, etc. If Superman was similarly built, you'd see a lot more complaining and a greater emphasis placed on respecting the comic book aesthetic and whatnot.

Agreed.

Even Routh got crap for the type of body he had. Supposedly he was limited by his respective suit. I think if a current Superman actor had a body like Reeve his first go-around, people wouldn't be happy.

 

[SofNascimento]

The difference between Lucy Lawless and Gal Gadot is simple, one proved herself, the other didn't. Therefore, this discussion is just pointless arguments of people who just want to say what they think is right.

Gadot will have her chance.

 

[Mrs. Wayne]

The difference between Lucy Lawless and Gal Gadot is simple, one proved herself, the other didn't. Therefore, this discussion is just pointless arguments of people who just want to say what they think is right.

Gadot will have her chance.

What is this? Sense being made? What madness is this??

Honestly though, Lucy does look good and would have made a fantastic WW, but we're all going by one pic of Gal and she hasn't done much yet. We'll see.

 

[scifiwolf]

Gal was herself a trainer in the Israeli army for the duration of her tour. I'd say she's proven herself, physically.

 

[Bwahaha!]

Re: Gal Gadot vs. Lucy Lawless

Lucy Lawless' body shape changed dramatically over the course of the series.

Season 1:

http://www.farfarawaysite.com/section/xena/gallery1/hires/12.jpg

http://www.farfarawaysite.com/section/xena/gallery1/hires/10.jpg

Season 2:

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44284#top_display_media

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44348#top_display_media

Season 3:

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44630#top_display_media

http://www.farfarawaysite.com/section/xena/gallery1/hires/20.jpg

Season 4:

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44463#top_display_media

Season 5:

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44519#top_display_media

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44520#top_display_media

Season 6:

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44465#top_display_media

http://www.farfarawaysite.com/section/xena/gallery2/hires/12.jpg

http://gallery.xenacentral.net/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=44274#top_display_media

During season 1, Lucy Lawless was a full-figured woman, in part because she wasn't eating well during her marriage breakdown (which started around the time she was first cast in Hercules and then continued for the first season).

Towards the end of season 1 and the start of season 2, Lucy Lawless entered into a strict fitness regime to, by her own admission, look more like a "warrior princess" (or rather, her idea of a "warrior princess"), but she suffered multiple injuries, notably a broken hip when she was filming a skit on a horse for a US talk show. Lucy Lawless also suffered a recurring back injury.

So, for late season 2, season 3 and season 4, Lucy Lawless' training was more moderate. Also, in comparison to Gal Gadot, Lucy Lawless' training had to occur outside of the 12 or more hours she spent on set every day filming.

In season 5, Lucy Lawless was pregnant and then dropped an astounding amount of weight very quickly. I think it was around this time that Lucy Lawless decided that pilates was her preferred fitness regime, so her figure in late season 5 and season 6 was probably the slimmest it had ever been during the series.

Also, I think people aren't giving enough credit to the costume. The "Xena" costume starts with undergarments which give "Xena" her impressive bust (and space to hide her breast dagger). The basic costume itself is rather thick leather and the style and cut (including the "V" shaped stitching in the corset) help to emphasise and build upon her womanly figure.

A rather large and cumberson breast-plate (which includes back-armour) is then worn on top of the leather "mini-dress" which adds further bulk to Xena's frame. On top of that, there is the shoulder armour (again, thick leather and metal) and the upper and lower arm bands (also thick leather and metal). Even the boots have a degree of "thickness" about them as they're made to be practical (i.e. they're a pair of Nikes wrapped in leather) and then topped with more "bulk" adding knee pads.

All of that bulk is added to Lucy Lawless' basic frame, which irrespective of the season, is arguably a little broader (and possibly taller) than Gal Gadot. Also, Gal Gadot was a model prior to being cast, which required her to be extremely slim. Lucy Lawless, while a working actress, was first cast back in the 90s when all actors, whether male or female, were generally in more "standard" and healthy shape (as opposed to being stick-thin or overly muscled).

Finally, I have to wonder whether Gal Gadot's costume reveal wasn't photoshopped to ... highlight the purported "bulk" around the upper arms and thighs. It may just be the costume giving that impression, but there are no other photos which seem to indicate that Gal Gadot has quite that level of thickness (at this stage). It's probably what they're working towards, but I'm not sure she is quite there yet.

Excellent analysis. Really enjoyed reading it. Thanks for writing it!