Patty Jenkins (director) has done a great job in releasing the first comic book move lead by a female in 12 years. Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman, Chris Pine hits the comedic and dramatic notes as Steve Trevor, but how really great is Wonder Woman? Let's dig in?...
The Wonder Woman feature film has been in development hell since 1996. It has had different directors attached to it, but I’m thankful Patty Jenkins landed the job.
She takes the fun elements of Indiana Jones and the Christopher Reeves Superman; high adventure, naivety, light humour, and doses them (with restrained measure) with Snyder’s grit, to produce a hybrid of the old sunny DC movies and the new darker version with a definite mainstream feel.
Patty Jenkins is to be commended for doing that. The philosophical introspection/themes do not over powering the story. She delivers a blockbuster that gives something to everybody and the studio bosses would be happy; it has romance, humour, character, action and high concept all wrapped in just under 2 hour running time.
At the heart of this movie is Gal Gadot; some folks hated on her on BvS saying that she is too skinny to be Wonder Woman. In this movie she proves it over and over again why she is the Wonder Woman of our times. As we see her move from the naïve and eager Diana to the Wonder Woman we met in BvS, Gal Gadot never drops a beat.
Yet Wonder Woman lets other ladies shine too. The Amazon women in general are
bad ass as the cool kids say today. Robin Wright as General Antiope will have little boys and girls screaming and jumping in the seats for her just as much as they are supporting Diana.
Then there’s Steve Trevor played with heart and charm by Chris Pine aka some times Captain T Kirk of Star Trek. Pine shows off his comedic timing and dramatic chops in this movie. He has great chemistry with Gadot; whether they are doing dramatic beats, comedic beats or showing how heroic Wonder Woman is. These two work perfectly as a team.
I also loved how diverse the movie is casting wise and the world shows how the first World War was not just a European mans war. The war and action set pieces are filmed extremely well. Whether the action set piece is a classic reference to Superman 1 action sequence, or action sequence showcasing Diana’s bonifide as a hero or should I say shero. Patty Jenkins delivers.
The action is rewarding and moves the story and character development forward. Instead of being there just to blow up computer generated stuff up. There’s a lot to love in this movie. I haven't even touched on the magnificent soundtrack and theme song.
Nor how the film does a great job at showcasing the self destructive nature of human beings that would even make Superman sad without making the film feel heavy. My only gripe with the movie has to do with the genre.
Superhero movies can’t afford to continue to have a major face off /beat up with the main antagonist as the final act round up. It's going to get stale. Although it's handled very well here but I’m starting to wonder how long as audiences can we continue to watch a punch up as a way to resolve the third act conflict.
Other than that Wonder Woman proves that Zack Snyder had a plan all along. Wonder Woman fits in perfectly with Men of Steel and Batman vs Superman. It shows that the main theme that seems to define the DCEU (DC extended cinematic universe to you mortal) thus far is remised on, hope vs despair.
What brings on hope/despair and what takes away hope/despair. Patty Jenkins has translated that idea so well and made this film so accessible I can't wait to see the rest of the Wonder Woman trilogy and Justice League team up come this November
P.S there’s no trailer at the end of the title don’t bother to sit through the credits.
Rating
****
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Index
* Dead on Arrival **Eish , ja nee ***Okay i can dig it ****we cooking with gas *****what are you waiting for book your ticket