Wonder Woman - A RM&T Review

Wonder Woman is the latest film set in the DC Extended Universe franchise centered on the origin of Wonder Woman came to be as a hero and the reasons of what motivated her to do so. While Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice has many, many flaws, we can all admit that one of its few good highlights is her appearance in her film, basically being called the film’s saving grace. The film is directed by Patty Jenkins, who at the time is best known for directing the 2003 biographical film Monster along with previously directing episodes of hit TV shows such as Arrested Development and The Killing, making this her first time directing a blockbuster film as well as being the first female director of a superhero film! But at the time, many were showed doubts in Gal Gadot, who reprises her role as the titular character, for several reasons, particularly her physique and acting credentials, including having appeared in the fourth, fifth and sixth Fast & Furious film, along with playing small roles in other films, but I believe she’s proven herself well in Dawn of Justice, but the bigger question remains as to whether she can carry a whole film on her own. But with all that said, has Wonder Woman exceeded expectations of comic book fans, mainstream audiences and all of womanhood? The answer is a definite yes!

Not only is the film is the superior of the DC Extended Universe franchise, but its also one of the best superhero films I’ve ever seen. While the film is another origin story, the way certain elements are done, plus the direction of Patty Jenkins, the whole film feels wonderfully (yes, pun intended) refreshing, as it beautifully brings the island of Themyscira to life, as it shows us a taste of their history, culture, and its people, as the movie beautifully brings the island to life. The story flows well to, from the introduction of Steve Trevor, to his encounter with Diana (our main hero), leading to her journey in saving humanity from the forces of Ares, and growing to become a hero in the process. Some of the franchises biggest issues is the bleak look and difficulty with balancing its tone, but thanks to the direction and writing, the tone feels just right, as it manages to incorporate plenty of lighthearted moments, especially scenes between Diana and Steve, along with other supportive characters she interacts with, using the typical “fish out of water” elements, which could’ve turned sour, but fortunately, hasn’t. The action sequences are also nicely shot with well-paced choreography, particularly Wonder Woman’s stand in No Man’s Land, as the scene felt powerful and emotional, you feel music growing in awe, as you’re witnessing the beauty and strength of a hero who knows her objective and her full determination, as she gives hope to the soldiers to face their enemy head on. But if I do have one critique about some of the action sequences is that it feels that its brief moments of slow-motion tend to ruin the momentum, but other than that, it still looks amazing.

The characters are all standouts as well, all thanks to the writing and the talents of its cast, but all the praise goes to Gal Gadot, who has truly proven that she’s perfect as the character, as she captures her strong heart, her bravery, her fighting spirit, her compassion and her accent adds more charm to the character. Chris Pine, Captain Kirk from the Star Trek Reboot franchise, also gives a great performance as a spy who wants to do the best he can to end the war while also capturing the cocky attitude, and his chemistry with Diana is also a major highlight as it feels genuine, develops and we get plenty of laughs between the two due to how different they from one another. Steve’s assistant, Etta Candy, has some good moments without being an annoying comic relief who’s actually helpful in the mission. Steve’s allies in the mission, while not the most fully developed, all have great chemistry with Steve and Diana and are essential as well, but sadly I have to talk about the film’s main antagonists. Danny Huston’s plays another over-the-top villain who’s obsessed with power, Elena Anaya’s Doctor Poison is the mad scientist character with a weird fascination with death, and do not get me started with a moment between the two that suddenly became a Saturday Morning cartoon, and then there’s Ares, the God of War. While his motivation is very clear, sadly his grand battle with Wonder Woman was visually bleak as its too heavy with CGI and his design doesn’t look grand and intimidating, making all this feel like every other superhero final battle.

Wonder Woman, despite its few flaws, is a truly great superhero film as it delivered on the character, her world, her motivations, all while giving us incredible action sequences, well balanced tone with lighthearted humor, a memorable group of characters, stunning cinematography, and powerful music. With Justice League coming to theaters, perhaps Warner Bros. has learned their lesson with letting directors have creative control, right? Right?? Oh God…

Story: 4 / 5

Characters: 4 / 5

Production: 4 / 5

Final Rating: 4 / 5