Finally…
FINALLY
DC has made a good movie. A *great* movie. It’s not perfect…but Gal is. Good Lordy is she the embodiment of Diana. And Chris Pine is flubbin perfection…though, let’s be real, it’s all about Gal.
I can sit here and tell you that the movie has unfortunately under-developed villains, particularly when it comes to their relationship with Diana, who must vanquish them…and I could tell you that the last act of the movie stumbles a bit here and there…but to be honest, I didn’t care. I really didn’t. Because I’d completely fallen head over heels (yes, that’s Ira wearing heels, you’re welcome) with Wonder Woman and her friends. Completely.
Finally we have a director that understands that the spectacle only matters when we actually make a connection with our heroes. I was in on this movie. 1000%. And even the irksome weak-sauce-ness of the villains was dissmissable because the REAL villain of this movie was war itself…the ideas this movie grappled with were powerful, relevant, and for the most part wonderfully handled. Who are we as humans? Why do we fight? Why are we so so dark, and so so light all in one package? Who is to blame for that?
The movie didn’t beat you over the head with that shit either – they really only addressed it directly in the very last act, when Diana is faced with the literal god of war…and then having that kind of grand discussion seems rather appropriate, don’t you think?
This movie reached an emotional level, particularly between Diana and Steve -Chris Pine’s character- that even the Marvel movies haven’t quite reached yet. This was the first time we had a love story that I actually bought. That’s rather remarkable. Even in the Batman trilogy from Nolan we didn’t have that.
And the adventures and misadventures with our little band of misfits…well, let’s just say that is my faaaavvooorrriiittteeee kind of story-telling. I know this about myself know. And that’s what we got.
I really, really liked this movie. I’m not sure it’s a masterpiece…but it IS really, really, really good, and you should go and see it. You will not be disappointed. You will cheer outloud with a bunch of strangers when Wonder Woman kicks ass. You will think about the person in your life that you love when Wonder Woman falls for her friend. You will wonder how anyone could ever question that women can be warriors, fierce and strong. And you will think about war from long ago and war happening right now and wonder why nothing has changed in 100 years.
How can the same creatures drink, sing and dance in the town square and then go the next day and murder each other with weapons designed to end as many lives as possible? Who are we?
Finally…a DC movie worth watching. Bravo.