The DCEU has bred an objectively great, crowd-pleasing film with its latest entry, Wonder Woman. The film, from Patty Jenkins (director of the 2003 film which won Charlize Theron an Oscar, Monster), works elegantly to share the backstory of the first live action Wonder Woman appearing on film, as introduced in Zack Snyder‘s 2016 film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, played by Gal Gadot.
It would be remiss to not mention the live action Wonder Woman that introduced the character to generations, TV’s Lynda Carter (recently appearing as the President of the United States on TV’s Supergirl, starring Melissa Benoist). For my generation, the character is embodied by voice actress Susan Eisenberg, whom has brilliantly brought life to the character in the landmark animated television shows, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, as well as other works.
In this film, Gadot shows us a different take on the character that is endearing, gripping, and truly admirable, for girls and boys, young and old alike.
Gal Gadot Goes Above & Beyond
Among the achievements of the screenplay, credited to Allan Heinberg, is the version of Diana/Wonder Woman presented, but this is a version that only a skilled performer could embody, and Gadot goes above and beyond. Key to her portrayal in this film is the fine line the character walks. The line stands between the conventional understanding of Wonder Woman, a powerful, formidable warrior, and the Diana we meet in the opening. She’s innocent, noble, and dreams to be trained to fight, like all the women in her life.
Much of the film’s heart and humor comes from Diana’s perspective and how seemingly effortlessly Gadot pulls us in, making us view the world as she does. This is worthy of recognition, as we are accustomed to war, violence, and treachery – and yet we experience these things for the first time with Diana in the film, and each is heartbreaking as though it’s our first time too. Gadot impressively plays this innocence and turns it into fighting strength, but not fighting for fighting’s sake, fighting with a purpose.
The Land of the Amazons
On the matter of the women in young Diana’s life, the film’s opening is set in the home of the Amazonian warriors, Themyscira. For those unaware of this aspect of the DC Comics mythology, Jenkins efficiently doles out the requisite exposition, not wasting time with it, but giving it its due, as we’ve not seen multiple Wonder Woman origin story depictions on film. Although, I can think of a couple superhero origin stories we’ve seen one too many times…
The island is comprised of only women, all trained in combat. All except for Diana, the island’s only child. Diana’s mother, Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) sculpted Diana out of clay, and the child was given life by the Gods. Hippolyta doesn’t want Diana to fight, as the island is at peace, and hidden from the rest of the world. With no men, there is no war, but also no children. Hippolyta wants Diana to have her childhood, but Diana has eyes for the warriors, and sneaks off to watch them train. In charge of training is a commanding and awesome Antiope (Robin Wright).
The film’s inciting event is the arrival of Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), spy for British Intelligence who was installed undercover with German forces, in the midst of WWI. He obtains information that could change the course of the war, information stolen from Danny Huston (as the German general) and Elena Anaya (Dr. Maru).
Diana is the one to find Trevor, who crashes into the sea in view of the island. The Germans tracking him stumble onto the island, and Hippolyta’s worst nightmare is realized – man, and war, has come to Themyscira. After a loss is suffered, and the Amazonians question Trevor with the lasso of truth, they weigh their options. They could kill him, but secretly, Diana has a great curiosity about him, and man’s world. She decides to defy her mother’s orders, and bring Trevor back. Diana fears that Ares, the God of War, may be feeding the conflict. Based on tales her mother told her, Ares can never be stopped in his quest for power.
Diana hears of the war to end all wars and wants to find Ares and end him with the God killer, a sword kept on Themyscira. She dons the iconic armor, wields the God killer and a shield, and they’re off. What follows is, as mentioned above, Diana’s first exposure to many aspects of the world. The “fish out of water” humor that ensues could have been overplayed, but what is presented works extremely well. It’s not all humorous, as Diana is deeply affected by the horrors of war, and her responses to what she sees are among the film’s most empowering and resonant moments. We don’t have many characters with her idealism leading the charge, and we need it. It’s refreshing and uplifting. The film is enormously sincere, separating it from the pack of much of what is released in the blockbuster space. The film’s director, Jenkins, has stated that it seems to have gone out of vogue to deal in pure emotion, but that’s always been her game, and she does it well here.
Wonder Woman’s Wondrous Team
Bolstering the film’s sincerity and emotional content is its impressive roster of supporting players, some mentioned above. Each indicate deep commitment to understanding the emotional conundrums of their characters, rendering their performances accordingly. Nielsen as Hippolyta heartbreakingly tries to shy away from conflict, and sees her worst nightmare realized. Wright as Antiope knows that preparing for war is the only move, and the two disagree on this. Pine as Trevor and Gadot as Diana work earnestly to try to understand where the other is coming from. One is a man of war, the other a woman, who knows not war, nor men.
I was pleased to see Danny Huston and Saïd Taghmaoui in the film, both are underrated character actors and do well here, adding texture to the film with their portrayals. The same can be said of the soldiers in Trevor’s band of misfits. Flanking Taghmaoui in the group is Ewen Bremner as a Scottish sharpshooter dealing with trauma from combat, Eugene Brave Rock as a Native American who can get behind enemy lines, and running the mission from the home front is Trevor’s secretary, Etta Candy (Lucy Davis). She injects the film with some of its best humor.
As a lifelong Harry Potter fan, I was delighted to see David Thewlis in the film. Whether playing Professor Lupin or, here, as a speaker for peace on the Imperial War Cabinet, he always brings palpable warmth to his work. On the side of evil, Huston brings the goods, and Anaya, as Dr. Maru, infuses the role with a sinister, unknowable quality. Hers is a character that I wouldn’t mind knowing more about.
The Takeaways
I’ll admit to being an action junkie, and my eyes have become too discerning when it comes to the execution of simple in-camera fights, or CG-laden, sprawling set pieces. This film has both, and they are solid, if on occasion lacking. The same can be said of the VFX, which are at times lackluster. Even though this is problematic, with the film being a blockbuster, it has next to no impact on what the film does best.
The action in the film is not what gripped me most. It was seeing the world through Diana’s eyes, feeling as though she and I were deciding to take action at the same time, and that neither of us were willing to settle for the way everyone else thinks the world (or the war) should be. At the film’s core is a message that audiences of any gender and/or age can benefit from hearing, and I’ll let the film tell it to you, not me.
The film embodies it, but Gadot‘s statement of it in a crucial moment is remarkable. Young Diana is told that being able to fight doesn’t make you a hero. What makes Diana a hero is her empathy, and what makes this film a superhero is what it leaves you with in the end. There is power and security in being able to win a fight with physical strength, but real power comes from empathy, understanding, and love. The best thing about the film is that it teaches its viewers that the best superpower is one they already have the capacity for. It’s a power they can exercise the moment they walk out of the theater.
Jenkins, Gadot and company all worked admirably to bring the first Wonder Woman film out in a grand, exciting way, and that work has not gone to waste. Succeeding most in its sincerity, warmth, and heart, I will take the film down as what will be one of the summer’s best. Gadot‘s Wonder Woman joins the ranks of characters such as Benoist‘s Supergirl, and Daisy Ridley‘s Rey, soon to be seen again in Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi.
These are all female characters that are strong beyond physical strength, each of which is at the center of their respective narratives. They provide an example of female power that the world needs. Both girls and boys need to see women on-screen just as powerful, if not more powerful than men.
While we’ll soon see Gadot back in the role in Justice League, I can’t wait for another Wonder Woman solo outing, and Patty Jenkins is confirmed for a modern-day sequel. Also on the DC side, we have Joss Whedon‘s take on Batgirl in the works, and that’s something I eagerly look forward to seeing.
What are your thoughts about Wonder Woman?
Wonder Woman is in theaters now!
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