Three movies in, DC's cinematic universe was in trouble. While the box office proceeds were high (if slightly beneath expectations), public reception of Man of Steel, Batman V. Superman, and Suicide Squad was mixed at best. Warner Brothers and DC needed a hit to simply save their troubled movie line let alone compete with Disney's ever expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. Having finally seen DC's newest film Wonder Woman, I can say that overall the film was a giant step in the right direction.
My exposure to Wonder Woman as a character is primarily from my exposure to the Justice League Animated Series as I never saw Lynda Carter's live action portrayal. Outside of some television backstory, she was literally a blank slate. I was intrigued by her Greek mythical background but never followed her comics either. Compared to prior films, I went into DC's Wonder Woman just expecting a good time.
Wonder Woman starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot as the title character with Chris Pine of Star Trek fame portraying spy Steve Trevor in a supporting role and is set primarily in World War I Europe. Young Diana (the future Wonder Woman) is being raised by her protective mother on the all female island of Themyscira learning the ways of the Amazon warriors. As a child, she is told the Amazons are on guard for the return of Ares the God of War who swore vengeance millennia ago. Diana grows up and is trained by the Amazon warriors and become a formidable force in her own right while seeking her mother, Queen Hippolyta's approval.
Everything changes when Diana spots Steve Trevor's plane crashing in the ocean near the island. She rescues him however he was followed by Germans who were tailing Trevor's plane. Following a fight between the Amazons and the German soldiers, Steve tells Diana of the War to End All Wars which is currently devastating the world. Filled with resolve, Diana is convinced that the War is the work of Ares and his influence corrupting men's hearts. She joins Steve to Europe with aims of finding and stopping Ares with Mr. Trevor playing along while hiding a growing attraction to the Amazon warrior.
Despite being set in the middle of a World War, Wonder Woman is the most lighthearted and fun DC Extended Universe film thus far. It was not obsessed with setting up sequel films nor bathed in the dour light of MOS of BvS. There was actually humor in this film and two leads that had actually chemistry unlike Henry Cavill's Superman and Amy Adams' Lois Lane. Both Chris Pine and Gal Gadot shined in their roles with Gadot earning the title Wonder Woman. The action was great without being overwhelming and the film only barely felt overlong. I believe that Wonder Woman is a Breath of Fresh Air that hasn't been seen in major DC films since Batman Begins,
The film is not with without flaws. I found Diana's naivete grating at times and the final battle was tainted by overuse of CGI in the final Ares vs. Wonder Woman fight. The film would have done better the develop Steve Trevor's team whom have a decent amount of screen time but no defined character arcs. I believe there was some potential left on the floor in that regard. My main problem with Wonder Woman was not even with the film itself rather how it fits among DC's movie universe. The tone of the film and overall vibe seem so divorced from that of the previous three films that it doesn't feel that Wonder Woman belongs there. I would more sooner believe Wonder Woman's connection to Superman Returns than to Batman vs. Superman despite her appearance in said film.
My exposure to Wonder Woman as a character is primarily from my exposure to the Justice League Animated Series as I never saw Lynda Carter's live action portrayal. Outside of some television backstory, she was literally a blank slate. I was intrigued by her Greek mythical background but never followed her comics either. Compared to prior films, I went into DC's Wonder Woman just expecting a good time.
Wonder Woman starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot as the title character with Chris Pine of Star Trek fame portraying spy Steve Trevor in a supporting role and is set primarily in World War I Europe. Young Diana (the future Wonder Woman) is being raised by her protective mother on the all female island of Themyscira learning the ways of the Amazon warriors. As a child, she is told the Amazons are on guard for the return of Ares the God of War who swore vengeance millennia ago. Diana grows up and is trained by the Amazon warriors and become a formidable force in her own right while seeking her mother, Queen Hippolyta's approval.
Everything changes when Diana spots Steve Trevor's plane crashing in the ocean near the island. She rescues him however he was followed by Germans who were tailing Trevor's plane. Following a fight between the Amazons and the German soldiers, Steve tells Diana of the War to End All Wars which is currently devastating the world. Filled with resolve, Diana is convinced that the War is the work of Ares and his influence corrupting men's hearts. She joins Steve to Europe with aims of finding and stopping Ares with Mr. Trevor playing along while hiding a growing attraction to the Amazon warrior.
Despite being set in the middle of a World War, Wonder Woman is the most lighthearted and fun DC Extended Universe film thus far. It was not obsessed with setting up sequel films nor bathed in the dour light of MOS of BvS. There was actually humor in this film and two leads that had actually chemistry unlike Henry Cavill's Superman and Amy Adams' Lois Lane. Both Chris Pine and Gal Gadot shined in their roles with Gadot earning the title Wonder Woman. The action was great without being overwhelming and the film only barely felt overlong. I believe that Wonder Woman is a Breath of Fresh Air that hasn't been seen in major DC films since Batman Begins,
The film is not with without flaws. I found Diana's naivete grating at times and the final battle was tainted by overuse of CGI in the final Ares vs. Wonder Woman fight. The film would have done better the develop Steve Trevor's team whom have a decent amount of screen time but no defined character arcs. I believe there was some potential left on the floor in that regard. My main problem with Wonder Woman was not even with the film itself rather how it fits among DC's movie universe. The tone of the film and overall vibe seem so divorced from that of the previous three films that it doesn't feel that Wonder Woman belongs there. I would more sooner believe Wonder Woman's connection to Superman Returns than to Batman vs. Superman despite her appearance in said film.
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