The visual aesthetic and stylized cinematography are notably similar to the recent DC titles -- for the sake of brand consistency, that likely won't change in any subsequent outings -- but the tone here is nowhere near as bleak or as gritty. "Wonder Woman" puts the brain and the heart back into the genre, reflecting the values of comic books' patriotic and humanitarian roots. The movie itself is something of a wonder. It achieves that elusive but ideal balance of entertainment and edification: action-packed but not repetitive, funny but not corny, and touching but not sappy. By placing its story and its characters ahead of the special effects and the battle sequences (don't worry, there are still plenty of both), this movie succeeds where its DC predecessors and other contemporary franchises have failed. "Wonder Woman" is the unwavering hero (and film) that the world needs right now.
Diana, the princess of the mythical Amazons who is destined to become Wonder Woman, leaves the sanctuary of her peaceful island kingdom when she discovers the horrors of World War I that are raging outside her paradise. This mingling of Greek mythology and historical fiction provides a ripe setting for Diana to flourish as a person of substance as well as a symbol of noble duty. The philosophical core of the film is her struggle to reconcile the nature of good and evil among mankind without sacrificing her message of hope. As Diana, Gal Gadot's fleeting minutes of screen time in "Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice" easily stole the show from its titular heroes, thanks to her magnetic confidence and commanding screen presence. "Wonder Woman" is unquestionable proof that she is capable of carrying an entire film.
Gadot infuses Diana with a perfect blend of intelligence, empathy, and courage that transcends her physical prowess. At no point does she become secondary to her male co-star (Chris Pine, finally showing some dramatic range). This is Diana's story through and through, aimed directly at all of the people in the audience -- men and women alike -- who cheered and applauded as she honorably vanquished her foes. Pay attention, Hollywood: viewers are overdue for positive representation of this magnitude. In an industry plagued by sexism, the merits and the success of "Wonder Woman" have the potential to turn the tide in generating more female-oriented mainstream filmmaking.
Thankfully, my biggest fear about the movie ended up being unfounded. Under the watchful eye of competent writer Allan Heinberg and assured director Patty Jenkins, Diana's body and abilities are never exploited or fetishized. The full reveal of the Wonder Woman costume takes its time to arrive, but it isn't a sexualized moment; rather, it's an empowering one that gave me genuine goosebumps. The thematic statement, as she dons this armor to defend her core beliefs on the front lines of a literal war zone, is undeniably profound. You won't find this level of emotional resonance in woman-fronted but ultimately lifeless (pun intended) action series like "Resident Evil" or "Underworld."
With the ensemble opus "Justice League" due in November, I sincerely hope that Wonder Woman doesn't get swept back under the rug among the glut of other characters and subplots. She offers more than enough integrity and inspiration to warrant future standalone adventures. If nothing else, at least she can fall back on her memorable instrumental motif, which was first utilized in "Batman v Superman" and also gets woven into this film's original score. By upgrading from the campy disco fantasia of her '70s TV theme song to a thrilling composition that manages to be both regal and primal, we know this isn't the Wonder Woman of yesteryear... but that's probably for the best. In this epic, big-screen iteration of the character, Diana is more believably poised to triumph over any kind of adversity.
Ironically, some of the film's finest moments involve Diana's introduction to "modern" society and its dated principles. This juxtaposition cleverly mirrors how much our culture still has left to learn, and how much we need heroes like Wonder Woman to teach us.
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