Directed by Patty Jenkins
Starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine
Last year I sat in a packed theater with my wife and a few friends as I saw two comic book juggernauts share the big screen for the first time. The dark and dreary 2 and half hour mess that was Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice had one incredible standout. Gal Gadot as Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman. She was poised, smart, beautiful and was shown to be a very capable fighter in the climax. Hans Zimmer’s composed guitar riff that has become her theme matched her attitude and perfectly. Flash forward to this week as I entered into yet another packed theater with my wife and a good friend but this time with much more excitement than the year before. Wonder Woman has made over $200 million internationally in its first weekend with Patty Jenkins having the most successful US opening ever for a female director. This success is truly warranted.
Gal Gadot is again beautiful, poised, smart and highly capable as an action star. Add to that list caring, inspiring and bold. Gadot’s Wonder Woman is the first that has ever been seen on the big screen and in this historic moment in culture, this origin shines above the dark DCEU (Detective Comics Extended Universe) and the brighter MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Although it suffers from some stereotypical “origin symptoms” Wonder Woman is an emotional, fun and important movie that should not be missed.
From the first shot of Themyscira, Dian’s home, it is clear that this will be a much needed bright beacon in the otherwise dark DCEU. The colors are beautiful and the island paradise and is unlike anything we have seen in the great age of comic book movies. One of my only issues with Wonder Woman comes very early in the form of lengthy exposition. As we dive into the past and learn about Diana’s home and the history of her people, the origin symptoms are clear. I understand comic book movies are attempting to be accessible to a large audience, and this being Wonder Woman’s first big screen adaptation, that lengthy set-up is needed, however; it gets boring fast after having watched about 16 or more origin stories in just about as many years. Luckily Wonder Woman tells its history in a beautiful oil painting art style that really fits the subject matter.
When Diana inevitably leaves Themyscira, we get some really solid action, plot development, and great characters. In particular, the action sequence at about the midpoint has Diana crossing a “no man’s land” to liberate a German occupied village. The action was beautiful. Long takes from far back so the action is clear and easy to follow. The stunts looked incredible and although the use of slow-motion is a little gratuitous this was possibly one of the best superhero action scenes ever. Gal Gadot is extremely believable as a great Amazonian warrior and her acrobatic fight choreography was breathtaking. The third act has a villain reveal that was a little too predictable and the final climax lasted a little too long but it also delivers an incredible emotional punch that really works. That ending catapults Wonder Woman above the generic origin tale because the film has real stakes and consequences the actions of Diana.
Although not perfect Wonder Woman is dang near close. A remarkable director, cast, soundtrack and visual aesthetic put Wonder Woman above the rest. It is a genre moving film, in the vein of Logan and The Dark Knight that is sure to have repercussions on the future of both the DCEU, MCU and female-driven action movies as a whole.
9/10
No comments:
Post a Comment