When Gal Gadot first appeared as Wonder Woman in full regalia in Batman v. Superman, complete with her very own awesome theme music, the movie finally became what it was supposed to be all along. The shift in tone was very strange in the context of the movie, which brooded for the most part. It was, however, also welcome, as it allowed these heroes to be who they are in the comic books, complete with some much needed banter and wit.
However, Batman v. Superman was too concerned with being epic to actually care about the characters they featured. In Wonder Woman, it was the opposite, it was obvious from the beginning that the character would be respected, and that she definitely was. Diana of Themyscria was a beloved character in the comics, and it was refreshing to see her equally beloved in the world she occupied. Speaking of that world, changing the setting to set her origin back to World War I was brilliant as it served to contrast her values and beliefs (which we could see in her bright armor, in contrast to the grays and browns of the rest of the film) from the rest of the world. Some others have taken exception to the use of history in the movie, that it wasn’t enough. But then we forget that this is, at its core, still a comic book movie, and superhero comics have never really meshed very well with history.
From Bleeding Cool.com
It was also noteworthy that, impressive as they were, the visuals were not the star of this film; it was the story and the characters. The best moments are not when they are out fighting amidst special effect-heavy scenes, but when they were simply talking about themselves, or each other. Diana’s awakening, both to what she is and to the world around her, was thoughtfully executed to allow the audience to relate, and to appreciate, how the awakening leads to her becoming Wonder Woman. By the way, I appreciate that the term is never mentioned, given how hokey it is.
The acting was likewise impressive. The accents adopted for the amazons explains Gadot’s native accent. Robin Wright is barely recognizable here as Antiope, and she performs admirably as the grizzled general. Credit must be given to lead actor Chris Pine for a charming and surprisingly nuanced performance as Steve Trevor, literally the first man in Diana’s life. Gadot’s acting was also impressive, and her onscreen presence was overwhelming; she takes over a scene whenever she is present. They both played off each other very well, and there was a genuine chemistry between them, which made the third act even more emotional for both audience and characters.
What was most impressive, however, was the portrayal of Diana’s brand of heroism. She, among all the characters so far featured, was the most certain of herself and her values. Where both Superman and Batman were brooding, self-doubting heroes, Diana was not. Instead, she remained consistent with her beliefs, and this makes her the most heroic of the trinity of DC superheroes. It’s an odd twist, that she is even more of a boy scout than Superman is. But it does fit, and if she serves as the moral compass to the other two, then it makes her the most valuable of the three.
Was Wonder Woman a feminist story, as many have lauded it to be? Well, yes and no. In terms of her being a female lead, who is treated as an equal by her fellow soliders, then maybe, yes. But there were still problems with it. Diana does not question the system of the world, despite seeing where women were being being discriminated against. Given all her power, she could have done more, some would argue. Also, it remains the love of a man that drives Diana to decide who she is, implying, of course, a dependence on the man for affirmation and approval. But Wonder Woman was never really a feminist figure to begin with. The film, and its success, does push the idea of strong female characters forward, but as a shining example of feminist discourse, well, it just isn’t. It’s a superhero story, first and foremost, and it still carries the baggage of decades of female stereotyping with it. Does it matter? Yes. Will it change? I do hope so.
From GameSpot.com
For a very long time now, DC has struggled with the iconic nature of their characters, Wonder Woman shows how DC can tell a compelling story without sacrificing those qualities. Wonder Woman succeeded because the character apologetically embraced who she was. The others need to do the same, if they are to retain that iconic nature that they have. If they can move further in this direction, then their films may just overtake Marvel in the long run, since they have plenty of material left to cover. Good job, DC. Now don’t screw it up again.
bleary 