Wonder Woman - directed by Patty Jenkins
If this movie isn't embraced by the DC naysayers then there is simply no hope for the current slate of DC movies in terms of turning their dislike around.
I don't buy into the hate that "Man Of Steel", "Suicide Squad" and particularly "Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice" got - I liked all of them - specially the two Superman ones.
But I understand the complaints and the DC movies don't bear up next to the best Marvel movies - I would be the first to admit.
Until now.
"Wonder Woman" stands tall not only amongst those previous DC movies but it easily goes boot to boot and Shield to S.H.I.E.L.D against anything that Marvel has produced.
For the record I still think that "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is the high point of the comic book superhero movie genre but Patty Jenkins "Wonder Woman" absolutely deserves to be uttered in the same sentence.
The signs are good early on with this one.
The film zips along at a merry pace without once feeling rushed.
It is an origin story of sorts for sure but given that we have already met Wonder Woman / Diana Prince previously in "Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice" the amount of time spent on the young Diana on the hidden island of Themyscira is justifiably quite brief.
But while there everything we are shown is terrific.
Connie Nielsen as Diana's Mother Hippolyta and Robin Wright as her combat mentor and Aunty Antiope make the most of their screen time and deliver strong performances.
They certainly look the part as fierce, disciplined Amazonian warriors.
The training scenes here serve as action scenes very well and further aid in keeping things zipping along.
Soon enough though the outside world intrudes with the arrival of World War 1 super spy Steve Trevor closely followed by a whole mess of German soldiers.
We have had hints at director Jenkins prowess with action thanks to those training scenes that precede the ensuing battle but it is during the beach dust-up between the Amazon warriors and the German Army that she first really shows what a fine choice she was for this film.
And it is merely the start.
So "Wonder Woman" is a marvellously well written and directed comic book flick for sure but it brings something else along that honestly caught me completely by surprise.
Emotion.
This film packs a wallop.
By the time the final scene arrived I was pleasantly exhausted as one tends to be when you have been taken on a wild ride with characters you care about and stakes that feel important but there was an extra element.
I want to be careful what I say here because you need to see this film cold - spoiler free- but I will say that thanks to the natural chemistry of Gadot and Pine and the very steady hand of Jenkins this film stays just the right side of melodrama and it will get to you - I promise.
It is impossible to write about "Wonder Woman" without at least touching on the screen presence of Gal Gadot.
Yes, obviously she is a stunningly lovely woman - we've seen that in the previous DC movies and in the likes of Fast and Furious 5 and 6.
But here she has found another gear.
Not just in her physical appeal which frankly probably counts as the most beautiful thing or person I have seen projected on a screen but in the amazing work she does in bringing the title character to life.
Diana is a young woman learning about the world and her place in it and Gadot does wonders with the role.
She will learn that much of what she had assumed is not necessarily true and Gadot brilliantly shows a character whose entire beliefs are being shaken up.
The stunning scene in which Wonder Woman emerges from the World War 1 trenches revealing the incredible costume for the first time is a jaw dropper in every way as she advances towards a hail of German bullets but the impact is all the greater for the beautiful work Gadot does leading up to it as she witnesses the harsh and horrific realities of war.
This is the very definition of a star-making performance.
I can't find anything bad to say about "Wonder Woman".
Gadot's performance stands very, very tall and I am now very definitely a Wonder Woman fan.
She is truly an amazing creation in this iteration.
The efficient script - very definitely NOT a backhanded compliment - subtly packs in a host of themes none of which are used to whack the viewer over the head.
They are there if you want them.
Credit also to Danny Huston as nasty German tyrant Ludendorff who deftly avoids every stereotypical trap in playing a villain of this ilk and also to the beautifully expressive work from Spanish actress Elena Anaya as his sidekick Dr Maru (aka Dr Poison) who finds humanity despite wearing half a face worth of makeup.
This is also a very funny film largely courtesy of that Gadot / Pine chemistry and the wonderful Lucy Davis as Pine's secretary.
Some cute little nods to previous iterations (most obviously the Lynda Carter tv show) are slipped in too... glasses!
The action climax has been pinged for being a little bit too standard - a bit samey, a bit been there done that.
I don't disagree but given that the big punch up finale does so much in the service of the big emotional tug that the film delivers in its final moments it is clearly working regardless of any cookie cutter-ness to it.
I honestly loved this film and although I am booked in to see it again on another huge screen on Saturday there is the distinct possibility that I will still sneak in another look on Friday night also.
I want to revel in the performances, the action and the pure skill of all involved in making this amazing, hugely entertaining film.
RATING: 90 / 100
CONCLUSION: As terrific as this movie is as a pure piece of comic book entertainment it proves to be every bit as adept as the finest of Marvel's flicks at showing how much more there can be to the kapow, blammy comic book film. Gadot is incredible, Pine perfect and their work is suitably showcased in a movie that I could not have liked more.
Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, Lucy Davis, Ewen Bremner, David Thewlis, Eugene Brave Rock, Danny Huston, Saïd Taghmaoui, Elena Anaya, James Cosmo, Wolf Kahler, Doutzen Kroes
Screenplay: Allan Heinberg
Music Score by: Rupert Gregson-Williams
Cinematography: Matthew Jensen
Edited by: Martin Walsh
Running Time: 141 minutes
Language: English
Rated: M - Violence, some pretty intense war scenes (not Saving private Ryan but still grim)
Running Time: 141 minutes
Language: English
Rated: M - Violence, some pretty intense war scenes (not Saving private Ryan but still grim)
If this movie isn't embraced by the DC naysayers then there is simply no hope for the current slate of DC movies in terms of turning their dislike around.
I don't buy into the hate that "Man Of Steel", "Suicide Squad" and particularly "Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice" got - I liked all of them - specially the two Superman ones.
But I understand the complaints and the DC movies don't bear up next to the best Marvel movies - I would be the first to admit.
Until now.
"Wonder Woman" stands tall not only amongst those previous DC movies but it easily goes boot to boot and Shield to S.H.I.E.L.D against anything that Marvel has produced.
For the record I still think that "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is the high point of the comic book superhero movie genre but Patty Jenkins "Wonder Woman" absolutely deserves to be uttered in the same sentence.
The signs are good early on with this one.
The film zips along at a merry pace without once feeling rushed.
It is an origin story of sorts for sure but given that we have already met Wonder Woman / Diana Prince previously in "Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice" the amount of time spent on the young Diana on the hidden island of Themyscira is justifiably quite brief.
But while there everything we are shown is terrific.
Connie Nielsen as Diana's Mother Hippolyta and Robin Wright as her combat mentor and Aunty Antiope make the most of their screen time and deliver strong performances.
They certainly look the part as fierce, disciplined Amazonian warriors.
The training scenes here serve as action scenes very well and further aid in keeping things zipping along.
Soon enough though the outside world intrudes with the arrival of World War 1 super spy Steve Trevor closely followed by a whole mess of German soldiers.
We have had hints at director Jenkins prowess with action thanks to those training scenes that precede the ensuing battle but it is during the beach dust-up between the Amazon warriors and the German Army that she first really shows what a fine choice she was for this film.
And it is merely the start.
So "Wonder Woman" is a marvellously well written and directed comic book flick for sure but it brings something else along that honestly caught me completely by surprise.
Emotion.
This film packs a wallop.
By the time the final scene arrived I was pleasantly exhausted as one tends to be when you have been taken on a wild ride with characters you care about and stakes that feel important but there was an extra element.
I want to be careful what I say here because you need to see this film cold - spoiler free- but I will say that thanks to the natural chemistry of Gadot and Pine and the very steady hand of Jenkins this film stays just the right side of melodrama and it will get to you - I promise.
It is impossible to write about "Wonder Woman" without at least touching on the screen presence of Gal Gadot.
Yes, obviously she is a stunningly lovely woman - we've seen that in the previous DC movies and in the likes of Fast and Furious 5 and 6.
But here she has found another gear.
Not just in her physical appeal which frankly probably counts as the most beautiful thing or person I have seen projected on a screen but in the amazing work she does in bringing the title character to life.
Diana is a young woman learning about the world and her place in it and Gadot does wonders with the role.
She will learn that much of what she had assumed is not necessarily true and Gadot brilliantly shows a character whose entire beliefs are being shaken up.
The stunning scene in which Wonder Woman emerges from the World War 1 trenches revealing the incredible costume for the first time is a jaw dropper in every way as she advances towards a hail of German bullets but the impact is all the greater for the beautiful work Gadot does leading up to it as she witnesses the harsh and horrific realities of war.
This is the very definition of a star-making performance.
I can't find anything bad to say about "Wonder Woman".
Gadot's performance stands very, very tall and I am now very definitely a Wonder Woman fan.
She is truly an amazing creation in this iteration.
The efficient script - very definitely NOT a backhanded compliment - subtly packs in a host of themes none of which are used to whack the viewer over the head.
They are there if you want them.
Credit also to Danny Huston as nasty German tyrant Ludendorff who deftly avoids every stereotypical trap in playing a villain of this ilk and also to the beautifully expressive work from Spanish actress Elena Anaya as his sidekick Dr Maru (aka Dr Poison) who finds humanity despite wearing half a face worth of makeup.
This is also a very funny film largely courtesy of that Gadot / Pine chemistry and the wonderful Lucy Davis as Pine's secretary.
Some cute little nods to previous iterations (most obviously the Lynda Carter tv show) are slipped in too... glasses!
The action climax has been pinged for being a little bit too standard - a bit samey, a bit been there done that.
I don't disagree but given that the big punch up finale does so much in the service of the big emotional tug that the film delivers in its final moments it is clearly working regardless of any cookie cutter-ness to it.
I honestly loved this film and although I am booked in to see it again on another huge screen on Saturday there is the distinct possibility that I will still sneak in another look on Friday night also.
I want to revel in the performances, the action and the pure skill of all involved in making this amazing, hugely entertaining film.
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