Logan Sork Film Reviews
Wonder Woman
Despite my feelings towards the DCEU being more positive than others, I would agree that the franchise needed to change slightly in order to have more widespread success. Both Man of Steel and Batman V Superman divided fans of the genre, and Suicide Squad was just a mess from start to finish. Thankfully in 2017 director Patty Jenkins gave us not only the best entry in the DCEU to date, but one of the best superhero films of all time (yes you read that right). It was a critical and box office hit when it was released and deserved very much so to be. Wonder Woman manages to tell a fantastic tale of a hero who’s struggle to make the world a better place results in a gripping story populated with great characters, excellent action sequences and a universal message that can appeal to just about everyone.
Wonder Woman is directed by Patty Jenkins and is the fourth installment in the DC Extended Universe and is a prequel to Batman V Superman. Gal Gadot reprises her role as Diana, princess of the island of Themyscira, home to the Amazons- a warrior race of immortal women created by the Greek Gods. Their world is put under siege when spy Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crashes his plane near the island, resulting in German soldiers attacking the island. From Trevor, Diana learns that the world is at war, resulting in thousands dying every day. Believing that Ares, the god of war, is behind it, Diana travels with Trevor to the battlegrounds of the Great War to help put a stop to the atrocities being committed by General Ludendorff (Danny Houston) and his right hand, Dr. Poison (Elena Anaya). On her journey, Diana learns what it means to be a hero and that everything that she sees, may not be as simple as she believes it to be.
What I love most about this film is its universal message of what it means to be a hero. It shows that you don’t need super strength or high-tech gadgets to make a difference. You just need to inspire people to do the right thing and good results will follow. Diana doesn’t need to help the human race, she does it because she believes it is the right thing to do. There are moments throughout the film where the humans in this story struggle to get the courage to do something that will make a difference. Diana then shows them tat thy can make a difference not by telling them to do so, but by leading by example. In turn, there are several moments where Diana must struggle to persevere only to have the favor returned by her companions, inspiring her to preserve through the challenges that she faces. The film also makes a bold statement about the human race in general, which further adds to the inner conflict that Diana faces. The overarching messages in the film help to stand apart from the rest of the superhero genre- and may even get people who aren’t interested in the genre interested.
As with all of the other previous DC films, the technical aspects of this film are superb. Being that this was Jenkins’ first big budget action film, I was a little nervous to see how she would do in terms of action sequences- and boy did she prove me wrong. There are so many excellent sequences sprinkled throughout the film, the No Man’s Land sequence in particular is one of the best I’ve ever seen and is the high point of the film. Because of Jenkins' relatively new presence in the action film genre, she also remembers to direct this film like a normal film, resulting in a film that has just as many great character moments as it does action sequences. There’s also Allan Heinberg’s excellent script, which serves up a traditional superhero narrative while also injecting it with some new energy and plenty of humor and dark moments to help make this story perfectly balanced. The cinematography, visual effects and score are also excellent.
The cast is also incredible. Gal Gadot personifies everything there is to Wonder Woman’s character by having a commanding presence of the screen whenever she’s present. Though she does not shy away from making her vulnerable at times, allowing us to look at the character like a normal person and not an invincible god. Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor compliments Gadot’s Wonder Woman perfectly, acting as a guide and moral compass to her. The two have fantastic chemistry together, allowing for this relationship to feel more realistic when compared to other forced relationships in comic book films. The supporting cast is also excellent, with standouts including Robin Wright and Connie Nielson as Diana’s Aunt and Mother respectively. The only cast members that feel out of place are the villains. Danny Houston and Elena Anya feel more like they are in Saturday morning cartoon and not a serious live action superhero drama and while they are fun to watch, they just don’t feel like they belong in this movie.
Despite some small flaws, Wonder Woman is one of the greatest superhero films to date. With Patty Jenkins’ excellent direction, she is able to elevate the action sequences and story to heights rarely seen in the genre. Add to this the fantastic story and great characters and you have got yourself a film that is, in every sense of the word, amazing.
9.5/10