#mo genuinely caring about gal and not wanting to fuck things up between them

[adhd-merlin]

Galahad in Bliss & Blunder (part II)

[elizas-writing]

Movie Reviews: Wonder Woman

It’s no secret that since DC got a start on its own cinematic universe, it doesn’t have the best track record of films. Only three in, and they are only “meh” at best. So as you can imagine, there was extra pressure on their fourth installment, Wonder Woman, to be a widely accepted hit, not only with it being the first female-led comic book movie over a decade, but also with it being the last film before Justice League premieres later this year. If this didn’t do well, it would spell disaster for the future of DCEU. And thank god, it became an instant hit for all the right reasons.

DC, where have you been all this time?

We dive into the origin story of Diana Prince (Gal Godot) where she was a princess of the Amazons, and trained since childhood to become a warrior. Although their home is peaceful, her mother still fears the return of Ares, the god of war, should Diana lose control of her growing powers. But that peace is soon disrupted when a plane crashes on their island with pilot Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) who had German soldiers tailing him, and they end up confronting the Amazons in a big fight. Afterwards, the Amazons learn from Steve that the world has plunged into a massive war (in this case World War I) which already took the lives of millions. Convinced it is the doing of Ares, Diana takes it upon herself to leave the comfort of home with Steve to London, England and come up with a plan to stop the war.

The major thing I loved about this movie that DC finally got right was atmosphere; just letting the characters breathe and talk like actual people. Not every conversation has to be about destiny or what it means to be a hero. What is the character like when they’re not saving people? In between the action and drama, there’s a perfect amount of world building, quiet moments, and even some good comedy. Nothing feels out of place, and I know enough about all these characters to enjoy them.

The beginning is mostly spent on Themyscira, Diana’s home, and you see a ton of the Amazons practice fighting (most of which who are portrayed by actual stuntwomen or athletes), and there’s a brilliant backstory told through CGI that moves like a Renaissance painting and it’s so freaking beautiful. And Themyscira is gorgeous to look at (filmed on the Amalfi Coast in Southern Italy), and thank God someone finally got a DCEU film with light and color. Really one of my main criticisms is that I wanted way more time with them, because they’re so fascinating.

Of course, I loved all the characters and their interactions. It’s also great to see a film that prominently shows characters of color in the foreground and background. Many of the Amazons are women of color, there’s a lot of people of color walking around London, and you have Steve’s trio with two of them being men of color. How often do you see a Native American character actually played by a Native American actor? I was so happy to see Chief, and he’s played wonderfully by Eugene Brave Rock; give the guy more work please. Chief and Sameer have great lines explaining the racism they face to Diana, and it’s awesome to see these kinds of characters in the foreground.

It takes a lot of time to establish relationships between Diana and everyone else from Hippolyta, Charlie, Etta, Chief, Sameer, and even Steve. Yes! It’s a well-done and properly built romance! I especially love Diana’s curiosity of the early 20th century and how people act and dress, and how she and Steve meet half way with each other to understand their worlds. One of their early conversations is about sex which I was worried would be too awkward, but it’s genuinely funny and witty (with apparently some great improv by Gal Godot). And their arguments aren’t the stereotypical “oh, if they fight a lot, then it must mean they love each other.” No! It’s actually compelling dilemmas about the war! And neither of them are wrong!

This movie really hones in on how much war escalated through the years and the damage it’s caused. It doesn’t shy away to show you soldiers in shock with amputated limbs, it explains Charlie’s PTSD, and they can’t always save everyone; a bitter reality Diana has to learn since times changed so much since Ancient Greece. But she can’t help but sympathize with those who’ve lost so much and are just damaged from the war. Is her compassion so bad?

My favorite commentary out of this is on the timing on when to fight or make peace. You see the men from both England and Germany pushing towards and armistice, Doctor Poison and General Ludendorff who just don’t know when to quit, and Diana and Steve who know millions more might die regardless of the armistice and want to stop it before more lives are lost. I can’t say more on the villains without spoiling, but damn Ludendorff and Doctor Poison are pretty frightening in their persistence to victory, and won’t hesitate to sacrifice their own to achieve their goals.

I love Diana’s fury at the politicians who know the risks but don’t seem to care about their own soldiers. Her compassion makes this movie and sets it into motion as she wants to save everyone she possibly can, despite the odds, and remind those around him that human lives are still valuable and should never be taken lightly. Her arc is amazing in how she adapts to the modern world and how she accepts bitter realities but still wants to fight for what’s right. I could watch that scene with her walking through No Man’s Land again and again. If that shot doesn’t define a great superhero, I don’t know what does.

And the action is freaking awesome. Some of the effects aren’t one hundred percent polished up, but when it’s done right, it’s fun to watch. It’s actually one of the few times I don’t mind the typical Zack Snyder slow-mo because Diana has such a distinct fighting style, and they take every opportunity to get great angles. And when it’s paired with that rocking music, I had to contain myself in my seat.

It’s a fucking great movie. What else is there to say? It balances all of the elements with wonderful characters and morals. I know to some it’s probably more built up than necessary, but it’s still amazing in its own right, especially all things considered with DCEU’s track record of films. If you haven’t seen it yet, what the hell are you still doing here?