the Wonder Woman fail wasn't because of her being a female. it was because it sucked.

Salt, Domino, Azumi, Red Sonja, Aeon Flux, Resident Evil, La Femme Nikita, Alien/s/3/Resurrection, Kill Bill, Xena all argue that female action heroes are just as cool as male action heroes and just as Marketable.

#Catwoman 
#Elektra

Oh, which reminds me, Chocolate. Its a movie released in 2008. Its a kung fu/action movie. Amazing movie, female lead. Great protagonist. She's a genuine and authentic badass in the River Tam mold. I really, really wish Ms Marvel, Janet aka Wasp, or Monica Rambeau, or more female characters were in Avengers, but Joss Whedon directing it at least I know Black Widow and or Maria Hill will get some cool moments. Plus he might lay some ground work so Carol might show up in sequels.

@SC said:

To me, its about not trying to dilute your end product by trying to make the lead female role, appeal to too many different audiences. It sucks when they make a false action girl, aka a lead female character whose appeal is half sex appeal, it ends up making them potentially one dimensional. For one, it doesn't always guarantee success either, two, to paraphrase a famous quote, if a male lead action movie fails, no one will say, it failed because it had a male lead, but if a female action lead movie fails, that will be considered. Actually this is a lot like all media, comics included. Unfortunately it reflects the fans and the fact this all comes down to money. That being said, there are ways to get around these things. People in the movie industry? Speaking of Zoe Bell, look at Quentin Tarantino? Kill Bill was his, and thats why it can be made. Sucker Punch? Zack Snyder would have been a big reason it helped get green lit. Ultimately its not about who is leading, the movie, but about good movies, and good movies that sell. A few things need to line up. Also a lot of foreign cinema movies are aiding as well. Doing well with female lead representation. It helps prove to the countries with bigger movie industries that such movies can be successful. So much so in fact that in last few months we have seen them actually take a few Scandinavian movies and redesign to be made in America lol PS. Zoe Bell is awesome in real life.

Of course I would agree with you on this. haha.

Another thing i was thinking was are the female action stars being watched b/c the female hero is appealing or simply b/c the female hero happens to be extremely attractive and even in an action movie sex appeal is more important then script? 

To me, its about not trying to dilute your end product by trying to make the lead female role, appeal to too many different audiences. It sucks when they make a false action girl, aka a lead female character whose appeal is half sex appeal, it ends up making them potentially one dimensional. For one, it doesn't always guarantee success either, two, to paraphrase a famous quote, if a male lead action movie fails, no one will say, it failed because it had a male lead, but if a female action lead movie fails, that will be considered. Actually this is a lot like all media, comics included. Unfortunately it reflects the fans and the fact this all comes down to money. That being said, there are ways to get around these things. People in the movie industry? Speaking of Zoe Bell, look at Quentin Tarantino? Kill Bill was his, and thats why it can be made. Sucker Punch? Zack Snyder would have been a big reason it helped get green lit. Ultimately its not about who is leading, the movie, but about good movies, and good movies that sell. A few things need to line up. Also a lot of foreign cinema movies are aiding as well. Doing well with female lead representation. It helps prove to the countries with bigger movie industries that such movies can be successful. So much so in fact that in last few months we have seen them actually take a few Scandinavian movies and redesign to be made in America lol 
 
 
PS. Zoe Bell is awesome in real life. 

@King Saturn: But what's better? Being able to do all those stunts, or playing the part of someone who does them? With someone like Zoe though, it shouldn't be too hard for her to make the full transition. 

@King Saturn: She's a professional stunt double. I'm sure you've seen her in Death Proof. 

@King Saturn said:

Zoe Bell would make a Great Female Action Star

She kind of already is. 

Zoe Bell would make a Great Female Action Star

  Coming out of a female I'm glad women are becoming more strong instead of the damsel in distress role however in this day and age I notice it's more about the sex appeal for the men just like what you said about Lara Croft being the big breasted woman who wears short shorts. It would be more nice if the creators of the character or whatever instead of focusing on sex appeal would focus on personality. It would be refreshing to see a happy go lucky strong independent woman with a deep dark past yet stays strong by cracking jokes and keeping everyone happy. I'm not speaking just about movie wise though since I hardly watch movies or anything in general but I also mean in other genres such as video games. There needs to be refreshing female characters that us women can look up to that aren't just about the sex appeal. Plus it's also called role models for young girls becoming women there needs to be more of that.