Title:Â Wonder Woman
Release Date: Â 06/2/2017
Studi0:Â Warner Bros. Pictures
Director:Â Patty Jenkins
Release Format: Theatrical
When I first heard that Wonder Woman was going to be getting her own solo film, I was skeptical. She’s no doubt an iconic character but could a film be based solely on her work? While I do like what Marvel has done in terms of their films, I’m a DC fan at heart so I wanted a Wonder Woman film to work. If you’ll remember, about four months ago an article came out quoting a DC insider, saying Wonder Woman was a disjointed disaster. With the other films in the DC Universe receiving a lukewarm reception at best thus far, my enthusiasm for a solid Wonder Woman film began to dissipate. I was, however, hopeful when early reactions were very positive. Last night, thanks to a special invitation from Wizard World, I was able to see Wonder Woman for the first time before its release on June 2nd. I’m happy to say, this film is definitely not a disjointed disaster. Furthermore, I agree with the statement that this is the best DC film in the line so far.
Looking back quickly at Batman V Superman, you may remember a scene in which Bruce Wayne comes across a WWI era photo showing Diana. This is how Wonder Woman opens, with Diana looking back on that photo with the film essentially being a flashback. Now, I thankfully got to see this film with the lovely Laura Riordan who is also a fan of Wonder Woman. I decided to include her input so it’s not just me telling you about the film. Still, we did feel very much the same regarding the film.
Laura Riordan:
My favorite movies are those that combine a lot of action and adventure, an intriguing storyline and strong character development, and a touch of comedy and romance. The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies of all time and the recent Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy movies also succeed on those points. We had the opportunity to attend a pre-screening of Wonder Woman last night and I was hoping that it would meet or exceed my expectations in those areas and it did not disappoint. We got an in-depth view of Diana’s backstory along with intense training and fighting scenes with the Amazon women. The story line follows some of the real storyline of World War I with its own twists to add superpowers to the sides of both evil and good. There were moments when everyone in the audience was laughing and a few victorious moments that the audience was cheering and clapping. There’s also a tentative love story that slowly unfurls. The action scenes and music were awesome, energizing and intense and the movie kept it moving. There weren’t any points that dragged on that I felt my mind wandering.
As Laura mentioned, the flow and pacing of the film were superb. It was engaging throughout with no dull areas. I have read some reviews that talk about the third act as a bit of a mess in terms of the final battle. One individual had stated the battle looked like something out of a video game. While the final battle is CGI heavy, keep in mind, this is a superhero movie. The goal here is entertainment and that is what is provided. A fun fact about this film is that is was shot entirely on film and not digital.
I was also a big fan of the supporting cast. There was a great dynamic between Chris Pine and Gal Gadot that offered both emotion and humor throughout. Robin Wright and Connie Nealson also make an appearance as Diana’s Aunt and mother. Both characters struck me as fierce from the get-go in their own way. Wright was leaned more toward being battle hardened with Nealson slightly more elegant in her rule as Queen. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman was a fantastic choice for this role. In my opinion, she looked the part, brought the fierceness of the Amazonian women and the innocence of an individual who has been sheltered from the outside world. She is also, for the most part, a true hero in this film. There’s no real grim back story of parents being murdered and some horrific abuse. Diana is trying to do the right thing and save mankind from Ares. It’s a refreshing take from the recent dark background that has come from the characters within DC.
Wonder Woman comes into theaters June 2nd and has already been making headlines for a number of reasons. You’ll have no doubt heard of the women-only screenings of the film in Texas which have caused a number of debates about equality. In my opinion, it has been a fantastic marketing campaign and has worked out well for the theater. It’s nothing to get worked up over. Wonder Woman has also been banned in Lebanon due to Gal Gadot having Israeli ties. In other words, don’t go to Lebanon, despite the hot spot it might be.
The bottom line is Wonder Woman is the best DC film to date and definitely worth your time. Have you seen Wonder Woman? If so, what did you think? What did you like about the film and what did you dislike? Â Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
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