MovieChat Forums > Gina Carano Discussion > Why Isn’t Gina Carano A Big Star?

Why Isn’t Gina Carano A Big Star?

posted 5 years ago by R_Kane (15828)
23 replies | jump to latest

I’ve been binging on her movies. Whether the products of big directors and studios (Haywire, Deadpool, Fast and Furious 6), or progeny of crap, she stands out and shines. She is charismatic, hot, clearly has a brain, lovely tantamount to beautiful (hot is sex appeal, whereas this is an esthetic assessment) and knows how to kick ass. She would snap Jennifer Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson, Milla Jovovich, Kate Beckinsale and Charlize Theron in half, without breaking a sweat. In this age of female empowerment, why is she not more visible? Because her acting skills are weak? So were Bruce Lee’s and Jackie Chan’s; and Dolph Lundgren, much as I love him, was and is nothing to write home about in the acting department; but Dolph and Gina have common ground in that they are physical and fighting GODS who are exceptionally likable and personally accessible. This woman has skills and sparkle. Is the action genre so dead that she can’t bestride Fame and make it her bitch?

PS I just realized that every direct-to-video Gina Carano film I’ve seen has been better than it probably had a right to be (e.g., Scorched Earth), and I thought of a comparison. My father was a professional musician. I learned that when a band is playing with a gifted lead singer, her talent makes the supporting band exceed their capabilities. Gina may not be much of a conventional actress, but she seems to pull each production she’s in up notches above where it would otherwise be. Hollywood: give her a vehicle. Make her the female Punisher/Conan/Superwoman. She does not need CGI. All Gina needs is visibility.

[–] thenewnexus (1905) 5 years ago

Its weird she occasionally does big budget movies but does a lot of lower budget movies, kinda like character actor status. Her acting is getting a little better I thought she was ok in daughter of the wolf and scorched earth. I disagree about Jackie and Dolph,both are good actors especially Jackie in his Hong Kong films. I do hate how Hollywood casts women who are not believable as action heroes especially Scar Jo(Shes a horrible Black Widow),lots of those actresses you mention can act aren't believable in action roles or as heroes.

Marvel Considered her for Gamora for Guardians of the Galaxy(Saldana miscast Imo). I wanted her as Wonder Woman(Gal Gadot is miscast as well,too skinny,heavy accent and can't act)

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

I think you misunderstood what I meant, nexus. I was not putting Dolph or Jackie down. I anticipate counter arguments to statements I make and proactively defuse them. Someone could very easily say, “She’s not a big star because she’s not a good actress,” so I provided examples of other action stars who also are not Shakespeareans but are still Movie Stars. And I thought Dolph was really good as the Street Preacher in Johnny Pneumonic. Many, many Big Stars basically just play themselves in their acting. Gina held her own with Name stars like Michael Douglas in Haywire. She has star quality, and she would have ROCKED in Guardians of the Galaxy. I didn’t know she was up for the part. What a mistake not to have cast her!

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I haven't watch a lot of things she has been in, so I'm just going off her acting in Mandalorian, and its pretty bad. And yes action stars have a notorious habit of being bad actors, like Steven Segal... But then the movies those bad action star make aren't really watched for any acting rather they are consumed by people wanting to watch the action. Gina might be able to do that type of movie, but mainstream movies without lots of action sequences need someone that can act better than what I've seen from her... Also her body type isn't what Hollywood wants in a actress. Yes I know the ridiculousness of the typical Hollywood actress that is cast in an action movie where you 115 pound woman is throwing 200 pound guys around like limp rags is totally ridiculous... but for some twisted ass reason the casting directors in Hollywood still seem to think it sells better than having a woman with a Ronda Rousey type body.

[–] Aries (762) 4 years ago

I love her! If it had been up to me, I would've cast her for Wonder Woman (even though I like Gal G and her version of WW) - she has the perfect look and muscle tone to pull off the role IMO.

Gina is a more believable asskicker than skinny women like Charlize Theron or Kate Beckinsale (whom I also like very much and did a great job in the Underworld series)

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

You do know that all the best people are Aries, right? April 17 for me.

[–] Aries (762) 4 years ago

Hell yeah, love being an Aries!

[–] Aries (762) 4 years ago

BTW, your thread prompted me to get Haywire, which I very much liked when I watched it around the time it came out. But I haven't seen it since, so looking forward to watching it again. Can only remember a couple of scenes, so I know it'll be a blast!

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

Glad to hear it. It’s a real Hollywood movie, so it’s a real test for Gina. She has charisma and star power. So did Brandon Lee, who would have been a superstar had he lived 😢. Give her a script written for her, give her acting coaching, and turn her loose. Yeah, she’s pushing 40. How old is Dolph, Sly, Michael Jai White, Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, Jackie Chan? My Master once told me a story: “In this village there was an old Sword Master. There was a very strong young man who said, ‘He is too old to be The Master. I challenge him to a dual.’ The old Master accepted the challenge. In the days leading up to the duel, the young man trained furiously, hours every day, sweat pouring off of him. The old Master sat meditation. On the day of the combat, the young man strode forth with his Katana sword in his hand. The old Master emerged. He had a rolled-up newspaper in his hand. The young man roared and charged the old Master. The old Master easily side-stepped the ferocious attack and smacked the strong young man atop his head with the newspaper. The young man instantly crumbled to the ground. The villagers rushed to the young man and examined him. They exclaimed, “Master! He is dead! How can this be?” The old Master explained, “When I hit him, he was so shocked, he dropped dead.”

Age is a number. ABILITY is eternal.

[–] Aries (762) 4 years ago

Cool story, dawg.

While I do think JC can make a decent actress at her age, the Hollyweird machine seldom bets on women at that age with something tailor-made to suit her. She could always self produce but it will most likely be a B or C grade movie that won't even get a theatrical release.

It's always a tough gig for sportspeople to cross fields and make it big in the movies (Arnold & the Rock are the only exceptions I can think of) and Gina has the insurmountable problem of being over the hill, at least as far as Hollyweird's standards go. I'd be happy to see her in anything she does, but not gonna hold my breath hoping it will be a blockbuster centered around her - and I won't complain if I'm proven wrong ;)

There was a gif of her from years ago, biting her lower lip and smiling at the camera. Man, she was just stunningly beautiful back then! Edit- found the link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu_js1ZLhmQ

[–] Kowalski (57238) 4 years ago

I LOVE GINA...SHE HAS THE LOOK FOR STARDOM,THATS FOR SURE...THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS..SHE IS A LIMITED ACTRESS.SHE HAS TIME TO IMPROVE THOUGH.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

She's too old at this point. If she was to take some acting classes it could still take her another year or two to get up to speed acting if she can really even improve... at that point she would be 42 and the reality is most women in their 40's aren't picking up big parts they are being put out to pasture by the Hollywood machine.

[–] Kowalski (57238) 4 years ago

I THINK TOUGH AND BUFF BUYS HER A FEW EXTRA YEARS AT LEAST.

[–] TearofLys (2398) 4 years ago

She got a late start because she did MMA first, and now she is approaching 40. She is attractive for an MMAer, but average at best for a Hollywood actress. Finally, I haven't seen everything she has been in, but of what I have seen, she didn't stand out. This is particularly true of the biggest movie she was in (Deadpool)

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

She’s not an actress. She’s an action star. Different category. Like Catheryne Winnick or Michelle Yeoh, her credentials are her physicality, not her emotive chops. I have discussed her as an ACTION star, not as a thespian. We currently have scrawny women hailed as action icons, none of them convincing. Here we have a real fighter, who is ignored. Why? Do not trot out Deadpool to me. That film treated Gina like McDonalds treats what it laughingly calls Black Angus.

Not for nothing, Kate Beckinsale is 46, and the First Lady of Martial Art, Michelle Yeoh, is 57, so you can stuff your age objections re Gina.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Did you see her pics at the Mandalorian premiere she chunked up.

[–] Fonz (632) 4 years ago

From what I heard the producers wanted Gina buff looking for The Mandalorian part Cara Dune.

[–] Bloodworth79 (5555) 4 years ago

In mma she had a wow factor...being a good looking female fighter is super rare.
In Hollyweird she is a dime a dozen or less.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

Quick: name me 1 current good-looking Hollywood female REAL fighter (e.g., Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock) who is not Gina Carano. It’s a fair question.

[–] Bloodworth79 (5555) 4 years ago

Paige van zant,

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

No. Don’t buy it. She has not been in 1 fucking theatrical movie.

And, uh, family names are capitalized.

Kinda wonder how worthy your blood is worth.

[–] Bloodworth79 (5555) 4 years ago

Dont buy what lol?

That paige is not a mma fighter? She has done dancing with the stars.

Blondes know how to have more fun

And I was being liberal with the last names and no capitalization....kinda like a pass to do what ever you want

[–] TheAdlerian (2092) 4 years ago

She has a dull wooden quality.

She seems to have improved in Star Wars.