110.
Wonder Woman
9.5/10
The long awaited Wonder Woman entry into the DC universe has dropped and everyone is in high anticipation to whether it'll be a success or not. With Justice League nearly upon us, it was time to be introduced to Gal Gadot as the main feature rather than just the flashes and saving grace, in my opinion, of Batman Vs Superman. Between the music in that film being carried into this one, even the trailer gave me tingles. I was really looking forward going into this as I love a good gritty DC but this seemed to be a bit lighter. With a cast including Chris Pine as the main guy, side kick if you will, and some interesting fight scenes within the many trailers, it was time to settle down with my popcorn.
First of all we are treated to a nowaday scene as Diana, Wonder Woman's actual name, is in Paris and the Louvre, outside a Wayne Enterpise van pulls up and some guys take a briefcase in to her. Opening it she sees a picture of herself with 4 guys and the picture seems really old, black and white and the fashion sense seems of the early First World War. Along with the picture is a note from Bruce, stating that he would like to hear the story about her sometime. A simple dissolve on Diana's face leads us into history and a young Diana, at 8 years old, running through the streets with everyone calling her name and a massive smile on her face. Soon we know that she is evading her tutor in order to run off and watch the warriors train. She lives on a island filled with Amazons, an all female warrior clan and her mother is the Queen, Queen Hippolyta, who forbids her from any sort of training because she fears she is too young. She takes her daughter and tells her the story of the Gods and how Zeus ruled but looked at mankind favourably. His son Ares was the God of War and looked to corrupt man which in turn lead them to tear each other apart. The other Gods sought to fight Ares and were killed but with his dying moments, Zeus created a weapon for man to use to destroy Ares once and for all. He gave the Amazons their home and hid it away from the rest of the world. Once Diana learns of this weapon, naturally she asks to see it and a powerful sword known as the God Killer sits in a stand. The Queen hopes that there will never be a time that Diana will need to use it, along with anyone else.
The General and also Diana's auntie Antiope convinces the Queen to let Diana train in order for her to be ready in case there is an event. The Queen's main problem is that she believes the more that Diana trains, the sooner Ares will find her. Through the years, Diana is treated to some pretty harsh training shown to us in the usual montage, different ages and different techniques, until adulthood where Diana is training to be as fierce as the other Amazons. One session we see some sword play where Diana believes she has won, only for Antiope to take advantage while her eyes are elsewhere, Diana ends up defending herself with her gauntlets which causes the General to fly away and hurt herself in the landing. Finally we see a bit of power that she actually possesses. Although Diana shows plenty of remorse and leaves ashamed, the General is far from disappointed and you can see some pride in her face. By now Diana has run over to a cliff in a scene that looks straight out of Moana and looks to the horizon wondering what else is out there until a plane comes through the barrier and crashes into the ocean. Diana swims to save the pilot who is played by Chris Pine. Taking him to the shore, she discovers that he is a man, something she has never seen before but more important matters come to frame when he's being followed by Germans. As they are ready to come ashore, the Amazons are on the Cliffside ready to attack with arrows. Bullets flying, bodies dropping from both sides, the Germans are taken out easily even though they have superior weapons, showcasing the strength of these women. Some slow motion fighting and special effects show a great first but short fight scene and promises more to come. One gun is aimed at Diana until Antiope jumps in the way of the bullet and with her last breath tells Diana that it is her time to wield the sword. It doesn't look good for Steve, Pine's character, after this death.
Steve is questioned by using the Lasso of Truth and confesses that he is a spy and has stolen a book from the Germans that is a formula for a secret gas that they plan on using in the War to end all Wars. Diana guesses that they must work for Ares and wants to stop this before it gets worse. Steve is allowed to have a wash until Diana walks in and see him nude and with some sexual innuendos she discovers what a watch is, but is still confused by something so small controlling someone's life. After being denied leave, Steve still seeks to escape but in the mean time Diana is thinking the same. She decides to test her jumping power over a cavern to where the sword is stored. Landing her jump by gripping onto a ledge, it gives way but she catches herself by punching through the wall showing some immense strength. She takes the God Killer, Lasso, shield and as she walks out, something catches her eye. We only see a glimpse of it in the corner of the screen but its enough to see that it's her famous armour. Making a deal to help Steve if he takes her to Ares they set to leave and reach a boat until the Queen and a few Amazons come to confront her. Diana knows that she is leaving either way and gives this impression so after a tearful embrace and a farewell, the Queen watches her daughter leave, stating that she couldn't tell Diana who she really is or Ares will find her faster.
Diana and Steve chat along their boat journey and Diana explains that she was made out of clay and brought alive, being the only child on the Island, she always knew that it wouldn't always be her home. Arriving in London, she sees the ugly side of the world compared to here paradise home. She's taken to find some new clothes as she is way to revealing, meeting Steve's assistant to help her pick out the clothes and this new character quickly becomes the blunt British humour deliverer. Once leaving the shop, the characters are followed by some Germans who are after the diary. Using her gauntlets to stop the bullets, she kicks arse and leaves the men in her wake. They walk into a war room meeting and the other men are speechless by the sight of Diana. Presenting the notebook that he took to Sir Patrick, it's hard to translate until Diana steps in and helps. Discovering that the Generals are sending in their troops to mainly be killed because that's their use, Diana is disgusted and makes her feelings know. Steve wants to stop the new factory creating the bioweapon but is rebuffed, once they leave the meeting he tells Diana that they are going anyway and he lied to his superiors. Along this time we flit back and fore to the Germans creating the new gas with the main General Lundendorff and Maru, the female known as Dr Poison, but mostly failing to make it as disastrous as they would like.
Steve takes Diana to meet his team, only for Sir Patrick to walk in but he's agreed to let them work through his office and that they aren't to tell anyone. With the gang making it to the front, they walk through the trenches and Diana talks to a lady asking for help. She's already seen more stress in a day that she has seen since she has been born. Wanting to help this lady, to get back what was taken from them by the German army, she's dons her Tiara and we are set for a great scene. She steps out onto the battlefield to the astonishment of the team and soldiers, facing the bullets head on. In slow motion she walks across no mans land with the Germans opening fire. Deflecting bullets in the way she knows how, brushing grenades aside with her shield, she jumps into the trenches and beats down the enemy as the team advance alongside her. Super strength sees her topple a tank, jump high into a church tower and end the scene with the villagers applause. That's exactly how I felt, with all the fighting, using all of her equipment, flitting between slow motion and fast paced, this sequence had me on the edge of my seat and I loved it. Bring on the rest!
Steve has found out that Ludendorff is hosting a gala at a castle the next day so the plan is to head over and infiltrate, beyond Sir Patrick's wishes. After explaining what a gala is to Diana, they slow dance to prepare her and then head upstairs, sharing a kiss until the scene fades to black. This is the usual love scene that enters a superhero film I guess. Heading over to the gala in disguise, Steve makes it into the main event, leaving Diana behind because he isn't convinced she won't kill Ludendorff before he finds out what their main plan with the bioweapon is. She instead steals a woman's dress and moves in for the kill before Steve stops her. By now the Germans launch the gas into the town that they had recently saved, much to Diana's distress. Running ahead to save them, she is too late and only arrives to dead bodies. Instantly blaming Steve for not allowing her to kill the General, he sees smoke signals in the distance and that's the rest of the group, Chief is sending a message that he has found Ludendorff. Diana makes it to an air strip filled with Germans and the General is at the top of a look out tower. I think this is coming to a climax now. Beating down the surrounding men, she makes her way up to face 'Ares' as he inhales a tablet that is created for him by Maru to give him extra strength. Putting up a good fight and making it to the roof, he's soon beaten as Diana drives the God Killer through his chest. Surely this isn't the death of a God? As she looks around, the Germans are still going ahead with loading a plane with bombs of gas.
Steve has shown back up after worrying about Diana going ahead by herself. In talking with him, she is confused as to why mankind is still being evil although Ares has been killed. In a great speech about what she doesn't understand about people is that maybe it's not because of a God and people are actually bad. Realising that her mother was right in that mankind don't deserve her help or the help of the Amazons. Feeling defeated, she is ready to leave, Steve on the other hand is to fight on with the gang to stop the plane. Diana looks back inside the tower office to see Sir Patrick, how the hell?! Coming to light that he is actually Ares, he tells Diana that he was behind the ideas for the Germans. She tried to kill him with the sword only for it to shatter and he goes on to reveal to her that she is the actual weapon created by Zeus to stop him. Using the Lasso this time, he creates visions for her showing what the world can be like once mankind has ended, he wants her to join him. Obviously refusing, the main fight is ready to blow me away.
Steve and his team have made it to the German front line in the warehouse and are ready to put up the fight to stop their main mission of bombing London. Going through different ideas, they cannot blow up the plane because it will kill everyone within 50 miles of the strip. As the main fight continues, Ares showing his true power and beating Diana without breaking a sweat, Steve runs over to Diana as she picks herself up from the floor but she cannot hear what he is saying due to the explosions muffling her ears. We are through the point of view of Diana right now and just see miming until he hands her his watch from earlier. It becomes clear to the audience that he's going to take the plane and sacrifice himself for the greater good. Once he is at a safe distance, Diana is trapped on the ground watching her world fall apart. The rest of the gang are cornered, she is trapped by metal crushing her to the tarmac and Steve is flying further away. By now he's ready to shoot the bombs and she screams as the explosion lights up the sky. Breaking free is desperation, and lifting a tank aloft, Ares brings Maru forward and reveals her face as disfigured. Wanting Diana to kill her for creating the gas, she finally recalls what Steve had said. She can save the world. That he loves her. Diana drops the tank and shouts about how Ares is wrong regarding mankind. With him trying to electrocute her, she absorbs the blast in a shot that shows she is at full throttle. He sends metal her way that simple breaks in front of her as she sends the electric blast back his way tenfold, destroying him for good and freeing the soldiers from his corruption.
The film ends as everyone in London is celebrating the end of the war, we see people kissing just like the famous picture from Times Square and we find the team looking at a wall of fallen heroes. Looking at a picture of Steve, the team is all in the same shot from different distances, looking at their leader. Back to the present to totally end this, Diana sends an email to Bruce Wayne thanking him for bringing back the memories of Steve. Her voice over begins and assures everyone that she will always be around to find JUSTICE. Diana leaps across the Paris skyline to continue her hard work as Wonder Woman.
Wow, this is where the DC universe should be at. Simple and effective and it's carrying the universe at the moment. To me there were major likenesses of seeing Captain America: The First Avenger. With the period it was set, the growth of a character and their powers, leading a team that wasn't truly theirs and being a ray of hope for civilians. The main difference between the two is that I can watch this over and over again. The cinematic experience felt so fresh and the slow motion fight scenes along with the musical score impressed to the end. You connected with every character, from the development of the team's members and even Maru to an extent. There was something for everyone and its great to see a female role model on the big screen in the shape of a superhero, and one that will be a big success. With the rise of feminism in society and roles in movies changing over the years to be more female led, this was a true winner. Some have not worked, for example, Ghostbusters, but I have spoken to many men and they didn't have bad thing to say about this movie. It's not new to see women fight in movies as Ripley in Alien led the way. The film created someone for little girls to look up to with such a compassionate character, one that didn't need to fight against men, but with them. The sexiness of Wonder Woman has been apparent in all the other formats and this was kept going with the outfit still capturing the male's gaze. She may have been mostly naked the whole time but this wasn't for objectification but instead to show that she has legs, legs that she can kick arse with rather than cocktail sticks. Later when there are advances to her regarding her looks, she gently pushes the male away and instead wins plaudits from the males by winning a bar fight. Even beyond Gadot herself, one of the main villains is a female which could be the most feminist act in the movie itself throwing out the connotation that men would only be evil throughout this story. The casting worked very well and to learn that Gal Gadot was pregnant during shooting is impressive and fills me with respect for her. This is a ray of light for what's to come and I think this was helped by a female director. I was kept wanting more, emotionally involved and the only thing it didn't have was an after credits to link it to something else. If I had to say anything bad about it, I'd be clutching at straws. Bravo to all involved, this was truly brilliant. Diana has grown up in a world where no one has ever told her she cannot do something because she is a woman, so she only does what she thinks is right. By all means I hope this continues.
The General and also Diana's auntie Antiope convinces the Queen to let Diana train in order for her to be ready in case there is an event. The Queen's main problem is that she believes the more that Diana trains, the sooner Ares will find her. Through the years, Diana is treated to some pretty harsh training shown to us in the usual montage, different ages and different techniques, until adulthood where Diana is training to be as fierce as the other Amazons. One session we see some sword play where Diana believes she has won, only for Antiope to take advantage while her eyes are elsewhere, Diana ends up defending herself with her gauntlets which causes the General to fly away and hurt herself in the landing. Finally we see a bit of power that she actually possesses. Although Diana shows plenty of remorse and leaves ashamed, the General is far from disappointed and you can see some pride in her face. By now Diana has run over to a cliff in a scene that looks straight out of Moana and looks to the horizon wondering what else is out there until a plane comes through the barrier and crashes into the ocean. Diana swims to save the pilot who is played by Chris Pine. Taking him to the shore, she discovers that he is a man, something she has never seen before but more important matters come to frame when he's being followed by Germans. As they are ready to come ashore, the Amazons are on the Cliffside ready to attack with arrows. Bullets flying, bodies dropping from both sides, the Germans are taken out easily even though they have superior weapons, showcasing the strength of these women. Some slow motion fighting and special effects show a great first but short fight scene and promises more to come. One gun is aimed at Diana until Antiope jumps in the way of the bullet and with her last breath tells Diana that it is her time to wield the sword. It doesn't look good for Steve, Pine's character, after this death.
Steve is questioned by using the Lasso of Truth and confesses that he is a spy and has stolen a book from the Germans that is a formula for a secret gas that they plan on using in the War to end all Wars. Diana guesses that they must work for Ares and wants to stop this before it gets worse. Steve is allowed to have a wash until Diana walks in and see him nude and with some sexual innuendos she discovers what a watch is, but is still confused by something so small controlling someone's life. After being denied leave, Steve still seeks to escape but in the mean time Diana is thinking the same. She decides to test her jumping power over a cavern to where the sword is stored. Landing her jump by gripping onto a ledge, it gives way but she catches herself by punching through the wall showing some immense strength. She takes the God Killer, Lasso, shield and as she walks out, something catches her eye. We only see a glimpse of it in the corner of the screen but its enough to see that it's her famous armour. Making a deal to help Steve if he takes her to Ares they set to leave and reach a boat until the Queen and a few Amazons come to confront her. Diana knows that she is leaving either way and gives this impression so after a tearful embrace and a farewell, the Queen watches her daughter leave, stating that she couldn't tell Diana who she really is or Ares will find her faster.
Diana and Steve chat along their boat journey and Diana explains that she was made out of clay and brought alive, being the only child on the Island, she always knew that it wouldn't always be her home. Arriving in London, she sees the ugly side of the world compared to here paradise home. She's taken to find some new clothes as she is way to revealing, meeting Steve's assistant to help her pick out the clothes and this new character quickly becomes the blunt British humour deliverer. Once leaving the shop, the characters are followed by some Germans who are after the diary. Using her gauntlets to stop the bullets, she kicks arse and leaves the men in her wake. They walk into a war room meeting and the other men are speechless by the sight of Diana. Presenting the notebook that he took to Sir Patrick, it's hard to translate until Diana steps in and helps. Discovering that the Generals are sending in their troops to mainly be killed because that's their use, Diana is disgusted and makes her feelings know. Steve wants to stop the new factory creating the bioweapon but is rebuffed, once they leave the meeting he tells Diana that they are going anyway and he lied to his superiors. Along this time we flit back and fore to the Germans creating the new gas with the main General Lundendorff and Maru, the female known as Dr Poison, but mostly failing to make it as disastrous as they would like.
Steve takes Diana to meet his team, only for Sir Patrick to walk in but he's agreed to let them work through his office and that they aren't to tell anyone. With the gang making it to the front, they walk through the trenches and Diana talks to a lady asking for help. She's already seen more stress in a day that she has seen since she has been born. Wanting to help this lady, to get back what was taken from them by the German army, she's dons her Tiara and we are set for a great scene. She steps out onto the battlefield to the astonishment of the team and soldiers, facing the bullets head on. In slow motion she walks across no mans land with the Germans opening fire. Deflecting bullets in the way she knows how, brushing grenades aside with her shield, she jumps into the trenches and beats down the enemy as the team advance alongside her. Super strength sees her topple a tank, jump high into a church tower and end the scene with the villagers applause. That's exactly how I felt, with all the fighting, using all of her equipment, flitting between slow motion and fast paced, this sequence had me on the edge of my seat and I loved it. Bring on the rest!
Steve has found out that Ludendorff is hosting a gala at a castle the next day so the plan is to head over and infiltrate, beyond Sir Patrick's wishes. After explaining what a gala is to Diana, they slow dance to prepare her and then head upstairs, sharing a kiss until the scene fades to black. This is the usual love scene that enters a superhero film I guess. Heading over to the gala in disguise, Steve makes it into the main event, leaving Diana behind because he isn't convinced she won't kill Ludendorff before he finds out what their main plan with the bioweapon is. She instead steals a woman's dress and moves in for the kill before Steve stops her. By now the Germans launch the gas into the town that they had recently saved, much to Diana's distress. Running ahead to save them, she is too late and only arrives to dead bodies. Instantly blaming Steve for not allowing her to kill the General, he sees smoke signals in the distance and that's the rest of the group, Chief is sending a message that he has found Ludendorff. Diana makes it to an air strip filled with Germans and the General is at the top of a look out tower. I think this is coming to a climax now. Beating down the surrounding men, she makes her way up to face 'Ares' as he inhales a tablet that is created for him by Maru to give him extra strength. Putting up a good fight and making it to the roof, he's soon beaten as Diana drives the God Killer through his chest. Surely this isn't the death of a God? As she looks around, the Germans are still going ahead with loading a plane with bombs of gas.
Steve has shown back up after worrying about Diana going ahead by herself. In talking with him, she is confused as to why mankind is still being evil although Ares has been killed. In a great speech about what she doesn't understand about people is that maybe it's not because of a God and people are actually bad. Realising that her mother was right in that mankind don't deserve her help or the help of the Amazons. Feeling defeated, she is ready to leave, Steve on the other hand is to fight on with the gang to stop the plane. Diana looks back inside the tower office to see Sir Patrick, how the hell?! Coming to light that he is actually Ares, he tells Diana that he was behind the ideas for the Germans. She tried to kill him with the sword only for it to shatter and he goes on to reveal to her that she is the actual weapon created by Zeus to stop him. Using the Lasso this time, he creates visions for her showing what the world can be like once mankind has ended, he wants her to join him. Obviously refusing, the main fight is ready to blow me away.
Steve and his team have made it to the German front line in the warehouse and are ready to put up the fight to stop their main mission of bombing London. Going through different ideas, they cannot blow up the plane because it will kill everyone within 50 miles of the strip. As the main fight continues, Ares showing his true power and beating Diana without breaking a sweat, Steve runs over to Diana as she picks herself up from the floor but she cannot hear what he is saying due to the explosions muffling her ears. We are through the point of view of Diana right now and just see miming until he hands her his watch from earlier. It becomes clear to the audience that he's going to take the plane and sacrifice himself for the greater good. Once he is at a safe distance, Diana is trapped on the ground watching her world fall apart. The rest of the gang are cornered, she is trapped by metal crushing her to the tarmac and Steve is flying further away. By now he's ready to shoot the bombs and she screams as the explosion lights up the sky. Breaking free is desperation, and lifting a tank aloft, Ares brings Maru forward and reveals her face as disfigured. Wanting Diana to kill her for creating the gas, she finally recalls what Steve had said. She can save the world. That he loves her. Diana drops the tank and shouts about how Ares is wrong regarding mankind. With him trying to electrocute her, she absorbs the blast in a shot that shows she is at full throttle. He sends metal her way that simple breaks in front of her as she sends the electric blast back his way tenfold, destroying him for good and freeing the soldiers from his corruption.
The film ends as everyone in London is celebrating the end of the war, we see people kissing just like the famous picture from Times Square and we find the team looking at a wall of fallen heroes. Looking at a picture of Steve, the team is all in the same shot from different distances, looking at their leader. Back to the present to totally end this, Diana sends an email to Bruce Wayne thanking him for bringing back the memories of Steve. Her voice over begins and assures everyone that she will always be around to find JUSTICE. Diana leaps across the Paris skyline to continue her hard work as Wonder Woman.
Wow, this is where the DC universe should be at. Simple and effective and it's carrying the universe at the moment. To me there were major likenesses of seeing Captain America: The First Avenger. With the period it was set, the growth of a character and their powers, leading a team that wasn't truly theirs and being a ray of hope for civilians. The main difference between the two is that I can watch this over and over again. The cinematic experience felt so fresh and the slow motion fight scenes along with the musical score impressed to the end. You connected with every character, from the development of the team's members and even Maru to an extent. There was something for everyone and its great to see a female role model on the big screen in the shape of a superhero, and one that will be a big success. With the rise of feminism in society and roles in movies changing over the years to be more female led, this was a true winner. Some have not worked, for example, Ghostbusters, but I have spoken to many men and they didn't have bad thing to say about this movie. It's not new to see women fight in movies as Ripley in Alien led the way. The film created someone for little girls to look up to with such a compassionate character, one that didn't need to fight against men, but with them. The sexiness of Wonder Woman has been apparent in all the other formats and this was kept going with the outfit still capturing the male's gaze. She may have been mostly naked the whole time but this wasn't for objectification but instead to show that she has legs, legs that she can kick arse with rather than cocktail sticks. Later when there are advances to her regarding her looks, she gently pushes the male away and instead wins plaudits from the males by winning a bar fight. Even beyond Gadot herself, one of the main villains is a female which could be the most feminist act in the movie itself throwing out the connotation that men would only be evil throughout this story. The casting worked very well and to learn that Gal Gadot was pregnant during shooting is impressive and fills me with respect for her. This is a ray of light for what's to come and I think this was helped by a female director. I was kept wanting more, emotionally involved and the only thing it didn't have was an after credits to link it to something else. If I had to say anything bad about it, I'd be clutching at straws. Bravo to all involved, this was truly brilliant. Diana has grown up in a world where no one has ever told her she cannot do something because she is a woman, so she only does what she thinks is right. By all means I hope this continues.
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