I am soooo happy to say that the Wonder Woman movie was good and enjoyable. Waiting for this movie to come out and seeing all the hype I was really hoping that this would be alright, especially with all of the dragged out recent DC movies that I thought it could easily have gone really, really bad. If you like superhero movies, this one is worth watching and I like that it isnt a superhero (superheroine?) movie with way too many other superheroes to let any of them shin. This is absolutely a Wonder Woman movie, there are not other big deal characters put in to add (or usually subtract) from the movie and what is going on. It is worth going to see on the big screen and a must see if you like these type of big blockbuster or superhero films.
Women Woman is about Diana Price, played by Gal Gadot, who is the Princess of Amazons, a race of women created by Zeus to fight Ares and battle to save mankind from war. Diana has been raised on a protected island where she wants to become a warrior like the other Amazons. She is trained to become the best of them all. Once day, she sees a plain crash and saves the pilot Steve Trevor, played by Chris Pine (I still don't get how he made it to the protected island but hey the plot needs to move forward). Through Steve she discovers that there is a horrible war that is the "war to end all wars" and decides to leave her protected home to fight to save man kind and seek out Ares, who she believes is influencing men. She works with Steve who is trying to stop the Germanys from releasing a new horrible gas while she is seeking to find and kill Ares. Also starting: Connie Nielson as Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons and Diana's mother; Robin Wright as Antiope, Diana's aunt and trainer; Danny Hudson as Ludendorff, the main baddy of the Germans; Elena Anaya as Dr. Maru, the German chemist working to create the deadly gas; Lucy Davis as Etta, Steve's secrary (and who I would have liked to see more of); David Thewlis as Sir Patrick, a superior to Steve; and Steve's rag tag crew Sammeer, played by Said Taghmaioui; Charlie, played by Ewen Bremner; and The Chief, played by Eugene Brave Rock.
I think that everyone was really well cast and that the interactions between them were good. Even thought some of the characters didn't have much development or were just supporting I became attached to them and what they were doing. The only character I don't think really added much was Dr. Maru as she could have easily been removed from the movie with only minor changes. Also I think the addition of the gas she gave to Ludendorff was unnecessary. I can see how it might have played a larger role in earlier version of the script but with how the end story came out these components could have easily not been there and nothing would have been missed. I get the point of having the horrible gas as a motivation for Steve to care and to give him a mission.
I could have done without some of the obvious, trying to force sexual whatevers between Diana and Steve during their early interacts. It would have been better if it was played more subtlety. I was worried for a while that the movie would keep this tone but it improved and but the end I had bought where they ended up and how they interacted with each other.
The big complaint that I have is about the editing. There are so many quick cuts and close up shots that it was just a mess at times. I have said it before and I will continue to say it as long as it is what movies are doing, I do not like close up fight sequences (especially hand to hand) that rely on switching angles and constant cuts to make it seem exciting. The sequences were good and could have used a little space and a chance to see what was going on to better enjoy them. Also there were some obvious CGI moments. For some of them it was fine but the end battle it was just at overdone. I saw this in 3D so it could have been made worse by this but I would have preferred Diana's opponent to not look so CGI. They could have better used the 3D effects to incorporate my favorite thing which is stuff falling and floating, they had snow at one point but it didn't come out into the audience like I always want it to when I am watching a movie in 3D.
I will give this movie some credit, I liked that it didn't start with a big battle sequences right off the gate. It actually built into the action and story which I really appreciate. The action sequences were different enough to keep me entertained and the last sequences, where although it had the DC over the top everything is CGI it wasn't too long and had other things going on besides just the main two people going at it while destroying everything in sight. I didn't get bored or think "it is over yet" with the end climax so am very happy with it.
Overall, Wonder Woman was very well done and I am looking forward to seeing more with this characters. Gal Gadot is well cast. I find her interesting, beautiful, and strong, everything that I want Wonder Woman to be. She is empowered and dedicated (at times she doesn't listen or consider others but this could be more black or white thinking and part of her character growth) but also she struggles to adjust to the path she has decided to take. This movie is worth seeing and I hope I enjoy it as much as I did the first time when I see it again.
My Rating: 3
