The extent of my knowledge of Wonder Woman comes from vague memories of the TV show with Lynda Carter in the 70s and the Super Friends cartoon in the early 80s. So I knew she was an Amazon princess from Paradise Island who flew an invisible plane. I may have been Wonder Woman for Halloween back when you stuck your arms through a plastic sheet with Wonder Woman’s torso painted on it, that tied at the neck like a cheap, hospital gown, with a mask with eyes cutout and a mouth you really couldn’t breathe through. So really, I knew OF her, but I never really actually knew much about Wonder Woman.
Fast forward some 40 years later and I’m in a theater learning Diana is the fiercely spirited daughter of Queen Hippolyta who sculpted her from clay and was brought to life by Zeus. Wait. What? Tell me more! She’s raised on the secluded island of Themyscira where, thanks to her aunt Antiope’s training, Diana develops extraordinary skill in combat.
Those skills come in handy when Steve Trevor somehow crashes through the protective barrier surrounding Themyscira, while trying to escape from the Germans. Suddenly made aware of an outside world, Diana decides to leave Themyscira with Trevor for war-torn Europe believing she must help stop the great war.
Gal Gadot portrays Wonder Woman as a strong-willed, worldly but still naïve force to reckon with. Chris Pine plays a wiley American spy who isn’t immune to Diana’s beauty but remains respectful of the innocence he can see behind her conviction. Together they team up with a motley crew of unlikely heroes to bring down a horrific German, whom Diana believes is Ares, the God of War, reborn.
I wasn’t sure what kept me more riveted, the storyline, the chemistry between Gadot and Pine,or Wonder Woman’s physical beauty and prowess. I can tell you that I never heard a screener audience cheer for Batman or Superman like they did for Wonder Woman, just at the sight of the determined superhero slowly walking towards battle, prompted in part by the pounding opening wails of Wonder Woman’s theme music.
Wonder Woman is an origin story well-told, something I really can’t say for the previous Justice League movies. Where Man of Steel, Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad have left me “meh” for future DC movies, Wonder Woman left me hopeful for Justice League and future DC Extended Universe movies. I hope the directors of DCEU movies take some lessons from Wonder Woman’s director, Patty Jenkins. Simply put, we want to root for a multi-dimensional superhero with a story we can easily follow and get behind. In other words, be like Wonder Woman.
4 stars out of 5
Second review by Tracey Barrientos
In 1941, All Star comics #8 brought to life a woman who was “As lovely as Aphrodite — as wise as Athena — with the speed of Mercury and the strength of Hercules — she is known only as Wonder Woman.” After just a short snippet of her backstory she landed a series of her own comics which then brought other successful series’s such as Cathy Lee Crosby and Linda Carter’s renditions of Wonder Woman to living rooms across the world. Seventy-five years after her first appearance in a comic book by William Moulton Marston, we finally have an amazing rendition of Wonder Woman all thanks to Director Patty Jenkins.
The origin story opens on a beautiful island known as Paradise Island with a young Princess of the Amazons who wants to train like the other much older women. Princess Diana (Gal Gadot) whom is the daughter of Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen)has a dream of becoming an unconquerable warrior just like those she watched train while growing up. Despite her mothers wishes she trains and I mean hard. Not realizing that not only does she have outstanding strength and the best training, she also has something far more powerful within making her the strongest woman on the island.
In the midst of finding this out, she witnesses a plane crash into the ocean at the foot of Paradise Island and saves the man who had been piloting the aircraft. Steve (Chris Pine) had been sought after by the Germans and they are closing in. A fight ensues between the women of the Amazon’s and the German’s. After one of the bloodiest fights Diana had seen and being the strongest warrior on the island, she feels that she must leave the only place she has ever known to help fight the war to end all wars to keep her people and the innocent lives of those that are being affected by the war.
Gal Gadot did an excellent job at bringing Wonder a woman to life. I can’t compare her and Lynda Carter as both of these women have done wonderful portrayals of the character. Pine and Gadot had great chemistry on screen and played off of each other in the comedic moments as if it were a natural thing. I couldn’t even imagine how long Gadot had to train for all those fighting and training scenes.
The film was not shot in 3D originally, it was converted and I screened it without the option and enjoyed it nonetheless. Wonder Woman is not my favorite superhero of all time however I am a big fan and after screening this film, she is giving all of my other favorites a run for their money. When Wonder Woman’s comic books came out, she brought hope to people in tImes of need. What a perfect time to release a movie like this when our world could use a glimpse of hope. I certainly can’t wait to see what Gadot brings us in The Justice League. I 100% recommend this film to lovers and novices alike. As a woman leaving the theater I felt empowered to do anything. Perhaps you might as well.
5 out of 5 stars!
