'Wonder Woman' Review

It's safe to say that the DC Extended Universe got off to a bit of a rocky start in comparison to its Marvel competitors. From the largely forgettable Man of Steel, to the polarising Batman v Superman, to the purely awful Suicide Squad, fans were beginning to lose hope in the franchise. However, I am happy to report that Wonder Woman marks a turning point for the franchise, making for an exciting and enthralling female-led action flick. Directed by Patty Jenkins, the film stars Gal Gadot, reprising her role as the eponymous Amazon as she sets off from her home world of Themyscira for the very first time during the First World War.

It's hard to believe that this is only the second feature film directed by Patty Jenkins as her direction is akin to that of someone who has made a vast number of films. Her skills are masterful and she brings to life these excellent action sequences throughout the film. There is a battle scene on a beach near the beginning of the film that feels like something right out of one of Homer's epic poems, and Jenkins manages to transport us right into the battlefield making for an engaging experience. Unfortunately, some of the later action sequences are bogged down a bit by excessive CGI and there are a few Zack Snyder-isms that contrast the films overall tone. The final act feels feels like a totally different film altogether due to its CGI-heavy boss battle, but sure look, at least it wasn't another beam-shooting-into-the-sky climax thank god. Regardless, Jenkins' directorial skills still hold up and, along with her fantastic production team, she manages to bring to life these wonderful locations. The island of Themyscira is a beautiful setting, blending these natural locations with CGI really works here to create this entirely otherworldly environment. Jenkins also brings to life familiar locations as well such as war-torn Belgium, London, and the Ottoman Empire, putting her own spin on each of them so that they all feel entirely new. Let's hope she comes back for the sequel.

Once again, Gal Gadot shines as Princess Diana, giving a charming and layered performance throughout. Her character is initially a fish out of water, experiencing our world for the very first time, Gadot brings a sense of innocence and curiosity to the character while also posing questions about various aspects of society during the First World War. However, she is also an optimistic character who is experiencing war for the first time, and watching her develop due to the horrors of war is a fascinating experience. Chris Pine takes on the role of Steve Trevor, a US intelligence agent and Diana's love interest. He brings his signature charismatic wit to the character and shares excellent chemistry with Gadot, if only all comic book movie love interests were treated so fairly. Other highlights include Danny Huston and Elena Anaya as the villainous General Ludendorff and Dr. Poison respectively, they felt like characters ripped straight from a cartoon and shared an interesting dynamic onscreen. There is one scene in particularly where they both give a villainous laugh after gassing a room full of generals which truly embodied that sense of comic book corniness brought in for good measure. David Thewlis also gives a strong performance, however I feel like his character was somewhat underused, perhaps we haven't seen the last of him.

In a world where superhero films are yearning to be more dark and nihilistic, Wonder Woman opts to take a different route, taking pages from Richard Donner's Superman as opposed to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. This was a refreshing change to the usual gloominess found in the DCEU and pits Diana as a symbol of hope instead of a symbol of fear. While the film does display the sheer horrors of war and looks at the dark side of humanity, it also looks at hope and how it can always be found amidst the darkness. Diana is this character who wants to save everybody, and when she realises that she can't, she finds herself questioning everything she believed about humanity. However, instead of turning her back on humanity because of its flaws, she accepts them and aims to bring hope to the people who need it most. It has surprisingly strong themes for a summer blockbuster film, looking at female empowerment, the horrors of warfare, and of course, love. Instead of embracing the darkness, Wonder Woman opposes it and becomes humanities beacon of hope, which was a refreshing change for the superhero genre.

With excellent direction, strong performances, and a thought-provoking story, Wonder Woman brings DC back to form. While it does suffer from a few of the usual pitfalls such as excessive CGI and an underdeveloped villain, it manages to overcome these and shine through strong. It's an interesting period piece that brings a powerful female to a world where females had little power, and seeing her oppose these social constructs in the name of doing what's right is a true pleasure to watch. Not only is this the film that DC desperately needed, but also what the superhero genre as a whole needed as well, and I sincerely hope that it will inspire more female-led superhero films in the future. Wonder Woman is a breath of fresh air for the genre, and I one can only pray that DC are taking note if they want continued success in the future.