Wonder Woman – DC finally finds its feet

In case you’re not aware of the ‘shared cinematic universe’ wars that are going on in the cinemas, I’ll try and put it simply.  One studio makes superhero films that everyone seems to love.  Another studio makes superhero films that you’d think the same audience would loves, but everyone seems to hate.  And there you have my brief history of ‘Marvel’ and ‘DC.’ Wonder Woman falls into the ‘DC bracket’ and fans have already expressed their disapproval with DC’s previous attempts at getting all their most famous heroes together on the big screen with the various Superman and Suicide Squad films, some even saying that DC’s ‘shared cinematic universe’ is already dead in the water.  However, just when it looked like this franchise was as dead as the new General Zod, along comes Gal Gadot as the titular Wonder Woman.  And, just as most people agreed that the other DC films don’t work, now most people seem to agree that Wonder Woman is awesome!  I have to say that I agree, but then maybe I’m easily pleased as I also really liked Batman versus Superman and Suicide Squad!

I’ve never read the comics, but I believe the film is a little different here and there.  Apparently, they’ve changed her origins and set the story in World War I as opposed to WWII.  Apparently, that did irk some people, but my lack of backstory knowledge of the source material meant that I never noticed!  Anyway, we meet Diana (aka Wonder Woman) on her Amazonian island as a child.  We see her obsess over becoming like the warrior women she idolises and yearns to join them in their eternal fight against the forces of darkness.  Don’t worry.  This doesn’t last for long.  It’s pretty tedious and definitely the low-point of the whole film.  In fact, it could quite easily have been cut and no one would have really noticed.  All it feels like is pointless exposition.  However, like I say, it doesn’t last long and Diana quickly grows up in time to rescue crashed Allied fighter pilot Captain Kirk from his stricken plane as it nose dives in the sea (or rather Chris Pine, anyway). 

And from then on it’s pretty non-stop.  You have everything you can want from a superhero movie.  Despite Gal Gadot’s inexperience with acting (I believe she’s primarily a model), she plays the character perfectly.  She’s one part fish out of water as she arrives in the ‘real’ world and interacts with people who weren’t raised without war on a paradise island.  But she’s never totally naïve.  You cannot help but root for her as she’s just so damn likeable without ever been a goody-two-shoes.  Then there’s the chemistry with Kirk – sorry, Pine – they bounce off each other brilliantly.  And the characters are seamlessly woven into expert direction when it comes to the fight scenes – after all, Wonder Woman is literally going to war and the scene where she charges an entire German trench sends goosebumps down your arms – it’s that good.

If there is a negative it’s the beginning, plus an annoying comedy relief character (you’ll spot her straight away), but thankfully both bad elements are brief.  This is normally the point where I say that fans of superhero movies will love this.  And, although I believe that to be true, I reckon that Wonder Woman is the kind of film where pretty much anyone who enjoys good cinema should enjoy it, plus – special shout-out to the weird grinding soundtrack that seems to come on every time Diana fights (it’s weird and definitely as memorable to the action as other classic tunes such as the Bond and Indiana Jones themes).

After a shaky start DC are finally off and running.  And this can only be good to give Marvel a bit of competition at the Box Office.  Bring on Wonder Woman 2 (or was that technically Batman versus Superman?!).

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one