Skyler Sneathen

Detective Renee Montoya hardly has it easy in Birds of Prey. Historically speaking the character has always come from a place of adversity. Here we have a female, Latina cop mind you. Traditionally, the police are a male dominated career group. Add Latina and gay to this, you have a recipe for trouble for Detective Montoya. Already, Latina women make roughly 60 cents for every dollar a white male is paid. Fall back on gender stereotypes and age-old racism, Latina women do not clean up crime, they clean your house, office and or room. What is Montoya looking for?

Where does Black Canary fit into all of this? Harley Quinn is fighting to take control of her life now as an independent, single woman. Huntress meanwhile battles her bloodlust and thirst for vengeance. On the surface Dinah Lance’s problems do not seem as simple or common. Yet, take a deeper look and we can get a good idea of how Dinah feels she has no control.

Remember a time when Ben Affleck was both writing and directing a Batman film, that he would be starring in? Recall rumors of Deathstroke being in it and even speculation of all the Batman’s rogues appearing? Later on, Matt Reeves signed on to direct or maybe even co-direct. Fans became lost in this development. At first appearance, the idea was Matt Reeves is simply co-directing or directing, regardless, this was still Ben Affleck’s Batman. In time though, this was no longer the case. Reeves threw out the script, Robert Pattinson is cast and Ben Affleck simply retired the cape and cowl. I admit, I am a fan of Batfleck as fans came to call him. However, I personally feel Affleck made the right choice.

As I already discussed with Harley Quinn, the film Birds of Prey does follow a theme of a fight for control. We live in a world where people among various races, classes and especially genders fight for control of their life. Harley Quinn fights for her own independence and status as a single woman. Huntress operates in a role we rarely ever see of women in film, the lone vigilante set-out for vengeance.

Birds of Prey is being read by many as an overly feminist film, deep with a critique on males. Yes, the film was written, produced and directed by women. Sure, the film sports a full female cast receiving top billing over the two male antagonists. People act as if somewhere Gloria Steinem is just gushing over this film. Warner Bros and DC Comics are pushing a politically feminist agenda with this film in today’s age. You can choose to believe this if you are male, overly privileged, ignorant or.... Alex Jones. Truth of the matter is, this film is far from political.

It's out, The Batman costume test with Robert Pattinson. Of course, people are already making their voices heard. You can find plenty of likes and plenty of dislikes. Kevin Smith reportedly loves it. Meanwhile, some are comparing it to Netflix's Daredevil. Let us look beyond pure aesthetic taste. You can like it or hate it, not the case here. Robert Pattinson's costume from this teaser can already tell us about the story and this Batman.