Film Review: Fly Me To The Moon

 

Sexuality/Nudity Mature

Violence Acceptable

Vulgarity Acceptable

Anti-Catholic Philosophy Acceptable

Scarlett Johansson is a movie star.

I don't mean that she is a famous actress.  Those are actually a dime-a-dozen.  What I mean is that she is a star.  She is an excellent actress with amazing charisma that draws you in and makes her shine.  She is the type of person that can elevate the material she is in.  And that is the case with Fly Me To The Moon.

The movie is about the Apollo moon mission.  Kelly Jones (Johansson) is a public relations expert who is approached by the mysterious Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson) to help promote the space program to the public.  This puts her at loggerheads with the mission leader Cole Davis (Channing Tatum), who feels that her overly slick and stylized campaign gives the American people a watered-down and dishonest view of the program.  And in classic romantic comedy stylings, opposites attract even as they are repelled by each other's methods.

Fly Me To The Moon is not a groundbreaking piece of filmmaking, but it is certainly entertaining.  The production value is excellent and it is incredibly transportive to that era.  It has a slick, shiny style that reminds me of the setting and costumes from Catch Me If You Can.  From our point of view, we accept the historic grandeur of the moon landing.  But this movie lets us in on the behind-the-scenes nitty gritty involved.  It also touchingly pays tribute to those who lost their lives in pursuit of this goal.

But the real draw of the movie is Johansson.  This movie solidified for me that she is a movie star in the sense that her presence alone can carry a film.  Every scene she is in, she draws the audience in.  This is not simple comment about her relative attractiveness.  She projects charm and intelligence.  I've always found Tatum to be a passable actor, but he is continually outshined in every scene.  If they had gotten someone else who could have matched her charisma like Ryan Gosling or Vince Vaughn, then the sparks would have been more electric.

The rest of the supporting cast is decent.  Ray Romano plays one of the beligured engineers, but his talent doesn't seem to be fully realized.  Harrelson does a good job as the playful but menacing Berkus.  He presents enough of a threat to be a good antagonist, but his presence is not heavy enough to drag down the comedic tone.

I like that the movie explores themes about truth.  Kelly is willing to bend and twist the truth to get what she wants while Cole finds anything that is not completley straightforward to be noxious.  The moral crux of the movie comes when Kelly is asked to perprate a lie so big that even her cynical edge falters.  Johansson admirable shows the internal struggle of her emerging conscience and the movie takes the time to show why honesty is so important (in a way towards the end that I will not spoil).  I was also pleasently surprised that the movie did not take any pot-shots against Christiantity.  There is a scene where Kelly and Cole have to convince a devoutly Christian senator to help fund NASA.  The scene was set up to be a typical dig at Christians as ignorant and anti-science.  Instead, there was a pleasent discussion about of God is glorified in the natural world.  

As I said before, Fly Me To The Moon is not revolutionary cinema, but it is a fun, pleasent romantic comedy to enjoy for a couple of hours of your day.

Trailer Time - Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

To me, Christopher Reeve will always be Superman.  While we have had some very good actors in the part, none will ever embody the character like him again.

His story is one that cuts right to the heart that is both tragic and inspiring.  As a Catholic, I strongly disagreed with some of the things he said about our Church.  And I opposed his support for embryonic stem cell research.  

But at the same time, I can understand where he was coming from and I can still see the pain and the courage of his life.  

This trailer was incredibly moving and it makes me remember how Reeve inspired me as a child.

Thoughts?

New Evangelizers Post: “I Have Only On Thing To Do Today.”

 

I have a new article up at NewEvangelizers.com.  

We are busy.

I do not know when you are reading this, but I imagine that you are in between your many important activities of this day. From the moment we wake until we fall asleep, our lives are filled with activity.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. The old aphorism has some truth that says “The devil finds work for idle hands.” A lazy and empty day can be the near occasion of sin in many of us. But we can also go too far in the other extreme. Sometimes we are so busy with the things of life that we barely notice our lives passing before our eyes. Each new project comes before us and we bear down and try to power through it until the next project.

Even as I write this, I am in between many beginning-of-the-school-year projects. Between lesson plans, seating charts, gradebooks, in-services, and all the other activities of a teacher, I am beginning my second year of Diaconate formation which includes more classes and this year I am being assigned to a parish. It seems as though the work keeps piling up.

For those of you who are parents, I’m sure it seems like it never ends. I once had to take care of my nieces and nephew for about a week while my sister and my brother-in-law were out of state. Having no children of my own, I was struck by how the day doesn’t really start until after work when the kids come home from school. The homework, feeding, bathing, and everything else became a full-time job unto itself. My wife and I barely made it through, but I gained a whole new respect for what parents do and how busy they are.

But while so much of what we do is important, we can sometimes get lost in the business of work and lose sight of the end.

I am a big fan of the series The Chosen. If you do not watch the show, be careful about mentioning this fact to someone who does watch it. We tend to be hyper-enthusiastic in our recommendation for the show to the point where some find it off-putting. I remember that I was late in coming to the show for that very reason. But when I did eventually watch it, I found a profound, dramatic, and spiritual story that not only engaged me, but it has brought me closer to the Lord.

The reason I bring this up is that there was a moment in this past season that struck me deeply. This series depicts the Apostle Matthew as a reformed tax collector. His old bodyguard Gaius finds himself also drawn to Jesus. But Gaius is saddled with many troubles and responsibilities. Because of this, he is reluctant to bring his problems to Jesus. When Gaius encounters Matthew, the Apostle shares that he also used to feel this way. But then Matthew said something that has stayed with me these months later:

“I have only one thing to do today: Follow Him. The rest takes care of itself.”

Some other online writers have pointed out that this is a retelling of our Lord’s words, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

We cannot lose sight of the most important thing we must do today: Follow Him.

That isn’t to say that we should ignore our responsibilities. Very often those responsibilities are how we follow Him today. The lesson plans, seating charts, gradebooks, in-services are all ways that I prepare the missing of following Him and leading others to Him. Parents whose lives are filled with the homework, the feeding, the bathing, and all the rest: this is part of how you live your vocation and follow Him.

But we do not want to focus on the work as if it is the work itself that is the goal. God could get anyone to do the work that you are struggling with now. He could even do it Himself by His miraculous power. He doesn’t need you for your work.

But there is no other YOU in all of the universe. That is what He wants: you. He wants you to follow Him not because you are particularly strong or smart or talented. He wants you to follow Him because He wants to be in relationship to you.

This is why our Lord gently admonishes Martha when she is busy with housework as Mary sits and listens to Him. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10: 41-42)

You can read the whole article here.

Sunday Best: Top 10 High School Teacher Movies

 

(Dear Reader, once again I apologize for the infrequent updates this month.  I have been travelling a bit and I had a number of beginning-of-the-year projects that were dropped into my lap that have been eating up my time.  Thank you for your patience and I hope to get back to a more regularly updated schedule).

As the school year is about to begin and I am about to embark on another year of teaching, I thought I'd share the best movies about teaching high school. (much of this is from a post from  2013)

10. Remember the Titans. 
    
    
    
     Sports take up an important part of the lives of many high schoolers. For many of them it defines their social circles, their focus, and the way they look at life. Denzel Washington's Herman Boone is tough on his players both on and off the field. He understands that building up self-esteem is not his job. When his assistant coach builds up a player that Boone tore down, Boone warns him that by not letting that teen experience failure that he is being crippled for life. Sometimes teachers know that failure is the best teacher.

9.  Mean Girls

There are a lot of problems with Ms. Norbury (Tina Fey), but at least she tries to directly address the cattiness problem rampant among high school girls in a way I have never seen done in any other movie. She tries to show that this path is self destructive and pointless.

8.  Summer School

One of the things that impresses me about this movie is that it allows you to see how badly the teacher played by Marc Harmon does his job. He goes on a slow evolution from self-centeredness to devotion. But his dedication does not suddenly give him magical teaching powers. He succeeds as often as he fails, but he learns to accept the victory.

7.  The Karate Kid

While Miyagi is not a teacher in a high school, he is teaching a high school student. And his teaching method is top notch. I love the way that the movie captures the frustration between teacher and student, especially when students cannot understand why they need educating. I've noticed that when students don't like an activity, they ask “What's the point of this?” But even if an explanation is given, they still will not understand. They have to be shown. So much of what happens in high school is learning not only facts, but skills and habits that will help you in life. Learning how to speak properly, write properly, dress properly, be respectful, etc. are things that will help in later professional life. Miyagi demonstrates that with his “wax on, wax off” style of teacher that builds up the muscles of habit to strengthen the person to the task at hand.

6.  Waiting For Superman

While the focus of this documentary was primarily on grade schools, it did point out a few issues regarding high school education, the most important of which was that competition between schools will result in getting the best quality teachers.

5.  Mr. Holland's Opus

The movie is a bit overly sentimental, but I think that it touches on the secret wish that all teachers have to make a difference. We have students for a little while and then they move on. And rarely do we see where life takes them. As the years pass, you begin to wonder what kind of impact you've had and if you've made any real positive difference. Mr. Holland's Opus is a reminder that helping out one soul is better than all the fame and fortune in the world.

4.  Dead Poets Society

The goal of a great teacher is not just to get students to know more but the think more. Robin William's John Keating uses all of tools of entertainment at his disposal to do just this. I have heard some critiques that this movie reduces teaching to simple performance. And to be sure there are some teachers who only entertain without educating. But I've always maintained that keeping a class' attention is half the battle. If I can keep my students from falling asleep, I've done something right. Jokes, impressions, games, etc are all a means to an end. And Dead Poets Society shows what happens, for good or for ill, when teens start becoming men and thinking for themselves.

3.  Lean On Me

Morgan Freeman's performance is outstanding as “Crazy” Joe Clark, the embattled principal of East Side High. He embodies the fatherly qualities of stern disciplinarian and tireless protector. He makes several mistakes along the way, but he is undeterred in making sure his students have a chance to succeed. This movie gets that safety and discipline are a pre-requisite in the classroom if any learning is going to happen. A student once asked me why I am so strict with things like the dress code or tardiness. My honest answer is that the more discipline there is in class, the easier it will be for the students to learn. As I pointed out earlier, many don't see this, but I do. Lean on Me shows taking discipline out of the schools will destroy them. Bringing it back is an act of love.

2.  The Emperor's Club

“What's the good of what you're teaching?” is a question posed to Kevin Kline's Mr. Hundert, the teacher of Classics in The Emperor's Club. The question is trying to glean what are the pragmatic benefits of studying the ancient Greeks and Romans. And while Hundert has a good practical answer, he points to the larger reason: it shapes a child's character. Teaching is not just about facts and figures. It is about helping mold the personality of someone. So much of our personalities solidify during the years of high school and college. A great teacher can influence that. The movie also reminds us that a teacher is not defined by a single success or a solitary failure, but by a whole lifetime of work.

1.  Stand and Deliver

This utterly unsentimental movie is my favorite movie on teaching. Edward James Olmos gives one of his best performances as Jaime Escalante, a teacher who decides to hold calculus classes in an underprivileged urban school. Like Joe Clark, Escalante is tough. He says, “There will be no free rides, no excuses. You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of those two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume that you know less than you do. Math is the great equalizer... When you go for a job, the person giving you that job will not want to hear your problems; ergo, neither do I. You're going to work harder here than you've ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask from you is 'ganas.' 'Desire.'”

But toughness is not enough to be a good teacher. Escalante gives all of his time and talent to his students. At a faculty meeting, despite his crowded schedule, he says “I can do more.” A teacher needs to be present to his students to help them. And it costs Escalante much but he never complains. He knows that by raising the bar high, the students will meet and surpass his expectations. He understands that teaching is an act of faith. You have to believe that your students can excel And you have to believe that you can teach them to do it.

Sunday Best: Top Ten Fox Marvel Movies

 

One of the most unexpectantly touching parts of Deadpool and Wolverine was that it was a love letter to the Fox Marvel films.  While poking fun at those films, there was a real sense of appreciation of those movies that set the stage for the MCU to dominate the movie industry.

With that in mind, I thought I would look at the Top Ten Fox Marvel movies.

Full disclosure, I have not seen X-Men: Apocalypse, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Fant4tastic Four, and The New Mutants, so they are not on this list for that reason.

10.  Fantastic Four

There is a lot that this movie got wrong, especially with Dr. Doom and Sue Storm.  And the ultra-campy tone can sometimes go a bit too far.  But they did get a lot right, especially with Ben, Johnny, and Reed.  The practical effects for the Thing are great and Michael Chiklas embodied the character so well.  This may not be a great movie, but it has a lot of heart and I have a great deal of affection for it.

9. X-Men

This movie is credited with starting the main era of super hero films after the disaster of Batman and Robin, and rightly so.  It took the genre seriously and created some of the most iconic pairings of actors and characters with Hugh Jackman/Wolverine, Patrick Stewart/Professor X, and Ian McKellen/Magneto.  

8. X2: X-Men United

This movie adds to the established lore and pushes our characters to the breaking point.  I love the fact that they make Magneto so complex.  His escape scene is one of my favorites in any comic book movie.  But the movie was smart enough to remind us that just because he was tortured by bad guys, he is not a good guy.  I also love that they got Nightcrawler exactly right as a character.

7. The Wolverine

This is a B-Movie action film in the guise of a super-hero movie, and I mean that as a compliment.  I love the action in this movie and the treatment of Wolverine as a character, dealing with trauma of killing the love of his life.  This movie doesn't try and re-invent the wheel, but seeks only to give you a thrilling adventure, which it does.

6. X-Men: The Last Stand

This is probably my most controversial pick.  There are some who hate this movie and I can understand why.  One of my friends in particular hates how they treated Cyclops and I completely understand.  But this movie brings a lot of intersting complexity with the question of the mutant "cure" and the implications it could have.  Kelsey Grammar as Beast was a fantastic piece of casting that I never could have predicted.  

5. Daredevil

One of the things that makes this movie work so well is that you see how Daredevil's power is also his curse.  For me, the movie is only okay until the scene where he comes home for the night.  The movie shows how Matt has to self-medicate and then seal himself off from the world just to survive.  I think Affleck is excellent in this, as well as Colin Farrell and Michael Clark Duncan.  Garner also does a very good job as Elektra.  The Unrated version of the movie is actually better than the theatrical in most ways (with some exceptions).

4. Deadpool

This movie is so audacious, funny, and shocking that it had to be a big hit.  But beyond that, one of the things that makes it so good is that it does the nearly impossible thing of being a parody of super-hero films while still being a super-hero film.  The scenes where Wade is being horribly tortured are disturbing and serious in a way that grounds the film's drama no matter how insanly silly the rest of the movie is.  I can't think of any other movie franchise that can do this as well.

3. X-Men: Days of Future Past

I thought that this was the best send off to the original X-Men cast.  It adapted the most enduring storyline from the comics in a way that could blend the original and First Class timelines.  It has some fantastic sequences (Quicksilver's kitchen scene being one), but it also hinges on some great character work, particularly between Charles and Mystique.  Of all the movies with X-Men in the title, this is my favorite.

2. Deadpool and Wolverine

It is still fresh on my mind, but I have a great deal of love for this movie.  After seeing it a second time, I understood that this movie was meant to be a real crowd-pleaser, a film specifically for the fans.  There is such an appreciation for all things Marvel here, even when they are making fun of it.  The chemistry between the two leads is off the charts and it creates one of the most fun superhero films ever made.

1. Logan

As I wrote in my original review: "There isn't another super hero movie like Logan.  This movie is sober, contemplative, visceral, and heartbreaking in a way I haven't seen in this genre before."  And to this day, I have not seen a movie match it in the same way.  Over time Logan has only become a stronger film: a story about a strong man at the end of his strength, wondering what his life has been about.  This story is existential in a good way.  It raises the question why we would even consider some like Logan to be a hero in the first place.  A lot of people point out that this is a deconstruction of the superhero.  But just like Deadpool paradoxically mocks and embraces the genre, Logan tears down and builds it up too.  It strips Logan of everything to reveal who he is at his core.  And it is fantastic to watch.

Thoughts?

New Evangelizers Post: Three Types of Atheist Arguments

                                                                          

My apologies for the lack of updates.  We had storms come through our state and we were without connections to the internet for serveral days.  And even after it came back, it is still spotty, dropping out without warning.  I'm sorry for the lack of content these last few weeks and I am hoping that things have stabilized enough to get back to normal.

 

I have a new article up at NewEvangelizers.com.  

There are few American Catholic writers that I have read more than Dr. Peter Kreeft. I even wrote him a fan letter calling him “an American CS Lewis.” In my years as a teacher, I have found his wisdom, holiness, and insight invaluable in explaining God’s truth.

In a world where the believer is constantly bombarded with the atheist message, sometimes it is helpful to break down the different types of arguments that the unbeliever has against the faith. Dr. Kreeft noted that there are three types of arguments against the existence of God. What is fascinating is that almost all of them fail at what they claim to do: disprove God.

1. PSYCHOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS

These arguments claim that the believer’s faith is based on bad psychological reasons. Betrand Russell said that all belief is based upon a fear of death. Human beings are terrified that they could cease to exist, so we have invented a wish-fulfillment fantasy called “God” who gives us an afterlife if we are good. Karl Marx claimed that we use religious belief as the “opium of the masses.” This means that we use religion as a type of narcotic. The pain and suffering of this world is unbearable. To take away the sting of existence, we ease ourselves with the lie that there is a God who has a plan and will reward the righteous and punish the wicked.

Arguments of this type tend to disturb a number of believers. I had a former student who came and spoke to me after his first semester of college. He told me he had an encounter with an atheist at school. This atheist said that my student’s faith was only motivated by his desire to go to heaven. Shaken, my student said to me, “I didn’t know what to say, because I do want to go to heaven. So is what he said true?”

I responded, “I want to believe that my wife loves me. It is a belief that gives me great comfort. But does that belief have any bearing whatsoever on whether or not she actually loves me in reality.” He replied, “No.”

It might be true that I believe in God from a selfish motivation. Regardless, it has no bearing on whether or not God exists. You may not want to believe in God because of all of His moral laws. I may want to believe in God from a desire to go to heaven. Neither your belief or my belief have any bearing on the reality of God’s existence. If we flip a coin and cover it before either sees it, you may say it is heads and I may say tails. But neither one of our beliefs can affect the reality on whether it is heads or tails. So the atheist fails to prove that a bad psychological reason disproves God.

A final note on this: a desire to go to heaven is not necessarily a selfish one. CS Lewis said that a man who wants to marry the woman he loves is not motivated by selfishness. He simply desires the subject of his love. In the same way, if we love God, it is natural that we should want to share eternal life with Him.

2. SCIENTIFIC ARGUMENTS

These arguments take on two forms. The first is to point out that you cannot prove God scientifically. There is no test you can perform in a lab that will demonstrate the existence of the Supreme Being. Since He cannot be proved scientifically, He is not real.

The second is that in the last few centuries, humanity has made amazing leaps and bounds in science. In less than 70 years we went from our first flight to landing on the moon. Science has unlocked so many of the mysteries of the universe that there are many that think that science will unlock ALL the mysteries of the universe. This includes the mystery of God.

The arguments claim that all the things that we used to attribute to supernatural forces were simply natural forces that we did not yet understand. The ancient Greeks thought that thunder and lightning were caused by Zeus’ wrath. Now we know that it has to do with the build-up of electrons in the atmosphere. Many see Darwin’s theory of evolution as a scientific way to replace the creation of humanity by God. The scientific arguments for atheism claims that science will one day debunk all religious beliefs.

Regarding the first part, just because something cannot be proven scientifically, it does not mean that it is not provable. Not everything is science. The great source humor for shows like The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon is that the main character tries to look at human life purely in scientific terms. This results in a lot of humor because we all know that this is inherently ridiculous. Science cannot establish that your life has innate value or that courage is better than cowardice. And yet the things that make life worth living, like the love we have for our family and friends, is beyond the scope of science. Science is limited. It cannot disprove God because God is beyond the scope of science. Science could no more disprove God than it could disprove love, friendship, or beauty.

Regarding the claim that science will one day disprove God is a problematic position for the atheist. They claim that belief in God does not pass scientific muster because it is a scientifically unproven belief. But the belief that science will one day disprove God is itself a scientifically unproven belief. There is no way for the atheist to claim this belief with scientific certainty, and so it contradicts itself.

3. LOGICAL ARGUMENTS

These are arguments that claim that logic and reason can either disprove God or show that there is a better explanation for the way things are other than God. Of the three types of arguments, this is the one that the believer should take the most seriously in terms of arguments. While the psychological arguments can be more personal and disturbing to the individual believer, we have established that they have no real logical power.

But the laws of logic and reason were given to us by God. They are means to the truth. The God who wrote the Bible is also the one who wrote the laws of reason, therefore reason and faith cannot contradict each other.

First, it should be noted that there is nothing wrong if an atheist disproves a bad argument for God’s existence. Not all logical arguments for God’s existence are good ones. If I were to say, “I love things that exist and I love God, therefore God exists,” you would be correct to point out that this a bad argument for God. But notice that while you may debunk the argument, you do not debunk God Himself

You can read the whole article here.

Sunday Best: Top Ten Female Superheroes

 

The superhero genre is predominantly male, both in content and in audience.  However, there have been a number of iconic female superheroes.

Below is my list of the top ten.

Upon reflection I realize that this list is HIGHLY SUBJECTIVE.

I am not judging this by the impact the character has had on the medium and pop culture.  I am not measuring it on sales or who would beat who in a fight.

The metric I am using is the degree to which the character has earned my interest or esteem.  That is why it is so highly subjective.  I have encountered these characters and their arcs that have caused me to either become a fan or have at least brought me to respect who they are.

(forgive the lack of photos, but I want to be sure not to infringe on copyright)

10. Rogue

The classic mutant trope is that their power is also their curse.  She is so powerful and yet she is so alone because she cannot touch anyone.  She was raised wicked, but absorbing Carol Danvers personality made her good.  So is her goodness only transferred or was it an opportunity to be good.  These fascinating questions are at the heart of her character as her old nature always seems to want to win out.

9.  Jean Grey

Few characters have been the source of fascination for so long.  She was at one time the weakest of the X-Men and also the most powerful.  She always seems to be a ticking time-bomb ready to go off with her Phoenix powers, but hoping her humanity keeps them in check.

8. Firestar

I have a soft spot for this character because she was in one of my favorite cartoons growing up.  But in New Warriors, she portrayed the idealistic view of what a young superhero could be.  And I was particularly moved when they had her face the idea that her powers were making her sick and she had to deal with problems beyond super-villains.

7.  Invisible Woman

Susan Richards is every bit the mental match for her husband and she is arguably the most powerful member of the Fantastic Four.  And at the same time, she has more feminine empathy than Reed, so she brings with her maternal warmth and compassion to her children and all the kids that live in the Baxter Building.

6.  Liberty Belle/Jesse Quick.

Being the daughter of two legacy characters is difficult (the original Liberty Belle and Johnny Quick), and she has shifted back and forth in identities honoring either parent.  What makes her so interesting is that she has an intense drive, with or without her powers, that makes her a formidable adversary.  I also love the fact that her marriage to Rick Tyler seems genuinely balanced and happy: a marriage of equals.

5.  Zatanna

Not only is she one of the most powerful magicians, she is one of the most skillful escape artists.  I love the fact that she hides her powers in plain sight.  Despite her power, she limits herself so as to not let her power overwhelm her.  She is of the class of characters I enjoy who seem silly on the outside, but bear the heavy burden of responsibility on the inside.

4.  Wonder Woman

She is THE iconic female superhero.  Although I've never read a run of her book that did complete justice to the character, I love how she tries to live out the contradiction of her mission: peace through violence.  She has to remain completely feminine while remaining a pillar of power.  

3.  Shadowcat

Kitty Pryde is the "Robin" of the X-Men: the younger character that youthful readers can identfy with as they read the adventures of the mutant heroes.  Over the years she has grown up and proven herself over and over again.  The issue where she has to fight the monster all by herself in the X-Mansion is fantastic.  "Kitty Pryde and Wolverine" is one of the best X-Men stories I have ever read. And Joss Whedon's characterization of her in his run cements her as one of the best.

2.  Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)

Even though there have been a number of "Batgirls," Barbara Gordon is the icon.  That is why she was the one chosen for the rebooted New 52.  But her character truly became great after she originally gave up the mantle.  When she was paralyzed by the Joker, she had to come up with a new identity as the computer genius Oracle and the hidden member of the Justice League.  In fact, her stories in Justice League and Birds of Prey show us how her brains outmatch her brawn and that being handicapped does not make you helpless.

1.  Stargirl

Geoff Johns tribute to his deceased sister is my pick for the best female superhero.  One of the things that makes her great is that her character keeps growing.  A lot of comic book heroes remain fairly static.  Stargirl, like her predecessor Starman, begins at a place of immaturity and then grows into heroism.  I also love that there is an innocence to her that I find so lacking in a lot of modern comics.  She is not naive, but she captures all that is best in her precocious character to bring about the best of her peers and mentors.  

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Donnay Troy

Black Canary

Mary Marvel

Layla Miller

Psylocke

Storm

Stephanie Brown

Jessica Cruz