Wonder Woman is a movie that has a lot riding on its success. The performance of the last couple of DC films had many people wondering if they could ever rise to the level of success that their rival has seen. Fortunately, Wonder Woman is the just the movie that is needed to correct the course for the DC universe. It is a light-hearted, fun film with great action sequences and lots of heart.
The film begins with a young Diana as she struggles with her desire to train to be a warrior on the Amazonian island of Themyscira. Themyscira is a lush island paradise hidden away from the rest of the world where the Amazon women prepare for the day that humanity will need them. The history of the Amazons is gorgeously told by Queen Hippolyta to young Diana through a living painting. The Amazon warriors are in constant training for fear of an impending war that they will need to take part in. Their acrobatic exercises are both elegant and fierce, and young Diana is adorable. She, of course, eventually receives training from her aunt Antiope who is the most deadly warrior on the island. When Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crashes in the ocean near Themyscira, Diana knows that this is her calling and cannot ignore it.
We won’t give away the rest of the plot, but the story is well written, funny, and well executed. As Diana and Steve recruit a crew to accompany them on their mission, Gal Gadot plays the part of Diana in the real world with a believable innocence. Don’t let the innocence fool you though, she is a very strong person who is not afraid to speak up for what she believes in. Gadot seems to perfectly embody the spirit of Diana.
The action sequences are well choreographed with lots of slow motion sequences to highlight the versatility in her moves. The wartime battle scenes are loud and chaotic, as they should be, with Steve Trevor and crew getting deep into the action as well. As for the villains… even though she is not the leader, Dr. Poison (Elena Anaya) is the highlight of the German military. Her quiet demeanor and raspy voice are a welcome change from the normally verbose egotistical evil doers.
The best thing about the film though, is that it does not focus on superhero egos or their place in our world. The main characters in this film are driven by a deep desire to do what is right for all the world, and that’s something I think we can all use a lot more of these days.
Wonder Woman is a big win for DC… and for women. The film has already surpassed the combined earnings of all other female superhero movies put together, and it set a new record opening weekend for a film directed by a woman (Patty Jenkins). Let’s hope this momentum continues with the release of the Justice League this November.
Have you seen Wonder Woman yet? Let us know what you thought of it below!
