Wonder Woman Review

Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen

If you're a diehard fan of the DC Extended Universe (aka Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman, Suicide Squad) you are in the minority. These movies have been torn up by fans and critics alike, and have failed to generate the kind of excitement and revenue Marvel consistently achieves. While Batman v. Superman was a cluttered mess, one light saved the film from being written off as garbage: Gal Gadot. Suddenly everyone was anticipating a Wonder Woman film, and fans desperately needed it to be good. Wonder Woman is the first major film with a female superhero as the lead, while simultaneously directed by a woman. Wonder Woman blew expectations out of the water when it opened with over $100 million and started off with a Rotten Tomatoes score in the high 90s. I've seen the film twice now, and both times it has managed to blow my mind. This film is so different than the cookie-cutter superhero films we are used to. It's artistic. It has vision. Marvel films are great, but this is the kind of quality entertainment action fans deserve. Even this early, I would argue Wonder Woman is possibly the best superhero movie since The Dark Knight in 2008. It isn't without its flaws, but it presents one of the most satisfying, well-crafted, and seemingly perfect action movies I've seen.

Gal Gadot

This has been mentioned numerous times, but I still feel it needs to be said. Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman. She transcends any acting ability and she becomes the character. It doesn't happen very often in superhero movies. By no means does Benedict Cumberbatch "become" Doctor Strange nor does M "become" The Hulk. I'd say the only other examples to compare Gadot to are Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, and Heath Ledger as the Joker. Yes, that is how good she is as this character. She plays every note of Diana Prince's character superbly. From her humble beginnings, to her introduction to the human world, to her self-discovery and her discovery of the true nature of mankind, Gadot nails every emotion. Her facial reactions are powerful. Her physical acting is a spectacle. I believe that anything more is just rambling, so let it be known that Gal Gadot, even beauty aside, is the perfect Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman

Gal Gadot aside, something needs to be said for Wonder Woman and the powers she has. She's a little overpowered, yet she feels authentic. Superman is basically a God, yet he seems alien and un-human. Diana is a Demigoddess, yet somehow she seems human. I'm not certain how immortal she is. I think while regular things can't harm her, bullets can still pierce her skin (Antiope took a bullet for her) and there seems to be actual stakes in her battles. Yet she also can deflect bullets so easily that it's kinda ridiculous how powerful she is. Her sword is pretty cool, yet as powerful as she believes it is, she never uses it casually. It'd make things so much easier. But hey, maybe she's saving it for Ares. Her lasso of truth is so well done. They even gave it an explanation I never asked for.

Chris Pine

Out of all the "Hot Hollywood Chris's",  Pine was my least favorite. Maybe it's because Evans, Hemsworth, and Pratt were at the forefront of Marvel, whereas Pine heads Star Trek (which I don't watch) and he's the love interest of a DC superhero I wasn't particularly interested in. Yet with this performance, he might be the most competent love interest in the history of superhero movies. Maybe it's because he's a man, and that shows a problem with sexism in action movies. But Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Stone, and Gwyneth Paltrow have all created equals to their respective heroes. Yet Steve Trevor feels like the equal to a goddess, and that is a feat. While Diana is so over-powered and so wise beyond her appearance, he stands as her equal. She loves him, but he isn't a side-plot. Their love actually isn't even the forefront and he never feels second-billed. He carves out a great storyline and he holds his own against Wonder Woman, while actually creating a lovable character.

The Love Scene

There is a point in this film where Diana and Steve have sex. Now, we always assume that Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne have sex with their respective others, but there really hasn't been a sex scene. Wonder Woman is also devoid of a sex scene, though it has an immense buildup to a very poignant and tender love scene. Steve teaches Diana how to dance, and she has her first experience with snowfall as they stand close, swaying back and forth. They go upstairs, and the music swells as she looks at him with love. They kiss passionately, and it fades to black. It's very tame, of course, this is a PG-13 film we're talking about. But through their entire dance scene, I felt very strong emotions that built up to this beautiful climax as they went upstairs. The chemistry between Gadot and Pine is just so intense. It was deep, it was moving, and it was a standout of the film. This is the correct way to tastefully include sex in a movie meant to include children and families.

The Action / Slow-Motion

The reception to Wonder Woman's action has been divided. I think the extended slow-motion sequences come off excellent, while some people think they are overdone. It is true that slowing down fight scenes is a large part of director Patty Jenkins' vision for this film, but I think it is not cheesy, nor does it go into "Matrix territory". I think the action is artistic, and it has a unique flair that separates this film from others in the genre. We really get to see the action when it's slowed down. However, there is a scene at the end where there is a large battle, giant explosions and hundreds of casualties. It is as if this film threw away all the artistic visuals and went instead for a typical DC ending like in Batman v Superman or Suicide Squad. It was much more meaningful than those films' endings, and it had its moments, but overall it was a black mark on the film for me.

Feminism

One of the biggest headlines surrounding this film is the feminist angle. This is the first solo female superhero movie. Wonder Woman is a feminist icon. The film is directed by a woman. Yes, this movie is feminist. Diana is a fantastic character with the outwit, outplay, and defeat any opponent that comes her way. She is in no way a stereotype in any form. But it is the kind of feminism that all movies should strive to achieve. It isn't in your face. I'm thrilled that people have accepted this movie because it really is inclusive. It never tries to claim that Diana is above all men, rather, she is above the human race of men. And she is. I hope that other movies can follow Wonder Woman and promote feminism that everyone can get behind, and portray it as positively as this film did.

Ludendorf & Doctor Poison

Without spoiling too much, these two actors turn in very fine performances. Neither one of them is a very complex character, and Doctor Poison is even used later on to show the true wickedness of man to Diana. These people are just pure evil. I enjoyed the contrast of Ludendorf's military and war themes and Doctor Poison's witchcraft, and how those played off of each other. Overall, they didn't end up really doing much for the story as antagonists, and the message of the film didn't really tie into either of their characters. I was much more invested in Diana and Steve. Also, there are multiple scenes where Ludendorf snorts something and it makes him super-powered...I've seen it twice and I'm still not sure what that was. It never gets addressed and it is very unusual and campy.

Comparison to Marvel / Conclusion

I am arguing that this film is better than what Marvel is currently offering. I love Marvel films, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is one of my favorite movies of the year. But they have a formula, they stick to it, and it works. A film like Wonder Woman, that has an artistic vision, themes of war, and a deeper message about pinpointing blame on ourselves instead of a God, really stands out as a breath of fresh air. Not since The Dark Knight trilogy have I seen a superhero film attempt to dive this deep. The Winter Soldier did a great job, but Patty Jenkins proves that an indie filmmakers touch can do wonders. Wonder Woman has flaws with its last act, and it leaves the viewer with a little bit of cheese. But for the entirety of its refreshingly short runtime, Wonder Woman is a massively enthralling experience that even casual moviegoers can enjoy.

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