Wonder Woman rescues the DCEU.
Ever since The Dark Knight trilogy ended DC films have been a very divisive subject. With the critics generally panning them and the hardcore fans living for them. Somewhere in the gray area between these antipodal entities lie the common movie goer. While the previous entries in the DCEU have found initial success they’ve often seen major drop off’s in ticket sales after their opening weekend hauls. As well as, registering lackluster fan reactions from various polling entities. All of the aforementioned issues with the DCEU have seemingly come to a screeching halt with the release of Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman is far and away the best film in the DCEU. The film delivers everything that the common movie goer, critics, and the hardcore fans have been asking for all along. Great Story? Check. Memorable Villain? Check. An unabashed true hero? Check. Wonder Woman simply delivers in every way.
From the opening scenes set in Themyscira, we are quickly made aware that is a different type of DC film. The gray and highly stylized overlays found in Suicide Squad and BvS are noticeably absent. Having been replaced with the brightest natural landscapes planet earth has to offer. Setting the film up from the jump as much more hopeful looking picture. We initially met Diana (Wonder Woman) as a small child who is trying to understand and partake in Themyscira’s traditions. Themyscira is the home of the Amazon’s who are a league of warriors but nonaggressors. The non-aggressive nature of the Amazonian existence is hammered home throughout the opening act. With it even becoming a point of contention between Queen Hippolyta and Antiope in regard to Diana. When Diana’s curiosity begins to take a more tangible shape. The focus on nonaggression is even more interesting when viewed from the perspective of the DCEU and the criticism it has received. The first act continues on much as the rest of the film will with Diana trying to discover her true self. Which is kicked into high gear once Steve Trevor arrives on Themyscira.
The arrival of Steve Trevor for me is where the film really starts to sing. At this point, the challenges presented to all of the characters in the film are forced to become way more pressing. Building excellently upon the character beats presented in the early moments of the film. The arrival of Steve forces Diana to confront whether or not she truly wants to embrace the Amazonian code even if that means that she might isolate herself from those that she loves. It’s these types of the decisions that were noticeably absent from previous entries in the DCEU.
Once Diana chooses to embark on a new journey with Steve we quickly become aware of how naive Diana is in regard to the complexities of life off the island of Themyscira. When Steve begins to describe the mission they are about to embark on Diana fervently believes that the issue can be resolved by doing one simple thing. This train of thought contradicts entirely Steve’s world view given his profession in the film. Steve’s steadfast belief of complication and Diana’s overarching positive attitude provide for some very light moments in the film that provide a much-needed sense of levity to the very dire circumstances that are playing out throughout the film.
Throughout the middle act of the film, the relationship between Steve and Diana continues to play out in a very similar fashion. The chemistry between Chris Pine (Steve Trevor) and Gal Gadot (Diana) really shines throughout the second act making it increasingly difficult to picture anyone but them in the roles. During the second act, we are introduced to several new characters who all serve a purpose. This also corrects some of the criticism aimed at DCEU films in the past. With Suicide Squad, in particular, facing criticism for the unnecessary inclusion of characters. As the new characters are introduced, Diana begins to grasp a further understanding of mankind and the complexities that exist among us such as race and women’s rights.
The story continues to progress in a very linear fashion with the heroes marching towards a final showdown with the antagonists of the film. This is where it becomes unavoidable to discuss the film without mild spoilers. I’ll do my best to minimize these but if you’re adverse to spoilers I’d recommend skipping to the last paragraph of the review.
With the film taking place during WW1, and the Amazonian code swearing to defend the world against Ares (the god of war). Diana has squarely pegged the target that Steve was spying on as Ares in a human form. With Diana’s revelation that Ares is, in fact, a person she can hunt down on the battlefield she keeps the group the Steve has assembled lasered in on finding the general or in her eyes Ares. This is important to note as it plays a pivotal role in Diana’s character development throughout the film. Even though she is becoming increasingly aware of the complications of the world she remains steadfast in her belief that if she can end Ares she can end the war.
In her quest to find and destroy Ares, Diana leads the group of men that Steve has assembled through unimaginable situations showing that she is in the fact the hero the world needs. At one point, even ending a year’s long stalemate on the front of WW1. She saves Steve and the crew multiple times proving even the most skeptical of the bunch wrong. Diana’s belief is her greatest strength at this point but will also be her downfall. Once Diana and Co., have zeroed in on the target Steve presents a nuanced plan that he believes will lead to the best outcome with the least amount of casualties. Diana views this plan as less than favorable and decides to take the situation into her own hands, which nearly compromises everything they’ve been working towards for the entire film. Diana’s naivety, but also raw power is on full display from here forward until a revelation comes to light and changes the entire complexion of the story. Which we won’t discuss here.
The conclusion of the film is fully satisfying though it could have been trimmed down slightly. Separating itself further from its DCEU counterparts, everything that happens in the conclusion feels natural and fully deserved. There’s no hula dancing enchantress who was barely in the film prior, everyone involved in the conclusion was directly and actively involved with the story throughout the entirety of the film. Not only was Wonder Woman the best DCEU film yet, I believe it’s in the top 10 best comic book films ever made.
Wonder Woman Score – 8.5 out of 10.
