Part of my DCEU Rewatch. First Watch? No.
Wonder Woman remains a delightful movie — hopeful and brave where Man of Steel is fearful and reserved, graceful and loving where Batman vs Superman is brutal and distrusting.
It’s not without flaws. The battle with the BBEG feels too unreal, and reuses too many moves, and ultimately David Thewlis makes a much better Sir Patrick than CGI-enhanced Ares.
But that said, there’s very fine stuff going on. Gail Godot nails Diana’s passion, confidence, determination, and strange blend of sophistication and naivete. She is a warrior — but, ultimately, like the Amazons, she is even more a protector. She punches, she stabs, but even more she shields. The more she learns that, the greater she becomes.
But we also get a great supporting cast for Diana: an overprotective Mom (no, really, lying about stuff to shield your child from what is inevitably going to come rarely works out well) and a so-very-buff extended family; Chris Pine’s noble, knowing, naïve (complementing these traits in Diana) Steve Trevor; the three amigos, demonstrating men aren’t all bad (and can be, in fact, victims as well); and indeed pretty much everyone in the cast who, with good writing by Allan Heinberg and excellent direction from Patty Jenkins, make for a much richer and enjoyable experience than any of its DCEU predecessors.
The fight choreography is amazing (except when it gets a scosh too CG), the period placement is excellent, and the Horror of War aspect is properly played. This is one of the only DCEU films I’d put in the Top Ten of super-hero flicks I’ve seen to date.
Do you want to know more?
- This review was in an earlier form posted on LetterBoxd.
- Also on LetterBoxd, my previous two viewing reviews.
- Wonder Woman (2017) – IMDb
- Wonder Woman (2017 film) – Wikipedia