It’s a movie both the DC franchise and fans of superhero action desperately needed: an un-boring origin story where nearly everything works and a woman saves the world. The ‘WW’ on the posters stands less for Wonder Woman, though, and more for ‘World War,’ as this war genre pic has loads to say about humanity’s disagreeable ways and violence, including how we haven’t gone beyond the reach of redemption. 4.5 out of 5.
 

Synopsis

During World War I, American Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), on loan to the Brits as a spy, steals the journal of a malevolent scientist and escapes in a German plane. While pursued, Steve crashes into the waters surrounding the hidden island of Themyscira, home to warrior women, the fabled Amazons. Steve is rescued by their princess, Diana (Gal Gadot), who has a backstory of her own that her mother Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) has kept from her. Unfortunately, Steve’s arrival has brought the German navy to Themyscira, and the naïve Diana begins her sorrowful crash-course in 20th-century warfare and the world of men. Soon, she’s struck a deal with Steve to take her to the European front where she intends to make a difference, but Diana has much to learn, not just about politics and society, but her own potential.
 

What Works?

Who knew that we were “Waiting for Gadot”? The actress, already the best part of Batman v Superman along with her theme music, becomes a star here (huzzah for no clowny, juvenile Lex Luthor in this film). This movie had every excuse to fall apart (remember this Tweet from three years ago when just conceptualizing this film and finding a director were issues?): an unknown star, a lack of previous film iterations to borrow from or avoid, a prevailing “DC can’t do it like Marvel can” wind, darker DC themes and scenes, questions of whether a superheroine could carry her own film. Might the movie and costuming be too sexy one way, or too anti-male the other? The list of potential troublespots grew.

The result, however, is a fun, clean, entirely watchable film that puts all of the above to good use as strengths. DC darkness? Works here because first and foremost Wonder Woman is a war movie, and the smoky tones of the front – here representing the dark parts of the human soul – contrast perfectly with the brightness and innocence of Themyscira and the muted primary colors of Wonder Woman’s outfit. Unknown star and relatively blank canvas of source material? Gadot brings us on Diana’s journey and the unexplored territory is refreshing – we learn of Wonder Woman’s cares, concerns, powers and potential right in step with the character. These Amazons, particularly Robin Wright as fierce general Antiope, are good enough and interesting enough for a film of their own.

There’s humor here, too, thanks to another great bit of casting: Lucy Davis as Etta Candy, Steve’s secretary (Diana suggests an alternative word for her position). Would that Etta had more time to shine, but she carries off everything she’s asked to do, including a brief bit of sword wielding.
 

What Doesn’t?

Okay, the Captain America: The First Avenger comparisons. I get it: girl scout with a cool shield wearing blue/red underpants helps fight one of the World Wars and kick off a franchise. So? On the plus side, Diana didn’t require any super serum to become great, and Wonder Woman is more grounded in the lessons of WWI than Captain America was in those of WWII. Downside? Where Cap was frozen in ice for decades, what has Diana been up to in the century between her arrival in the world of men and revealing herself to the world in Batman v Superman? We see her springing into action after the war ends, but that would seem to belie the fact that we already know she’s still a pretty big secret in 2016.

In the interest of saving spoilers, I won’t talk much about the plot twists. One isn’t really a secret except to Diana; we’re pretty much told 90 percent of it. The other involves the identity of the villain(s), and that can be a risky proposition with a marquee superhero movie (fear not, however, the big baddie is indeed part of the Wonder Woman rogues gallery and terrifically portrayed). I saw this coming very early on, however, and so these twists didn’t quite turn properly for me. Similarly, if one is looking for Justice League Easter eggs, one will be disappointed but for the brief 5 minutes at the beginning and end in which this movie takes place in modern times. 

While their performances are top-notch, the supporting team Steve and Diana put together of Native American tracker The Chief (Eugene Braverock), Scottish sniper Charlie (Ewen Bremner) and polyglot Sameer (Said Taghmaoui) feels underutilized (but notice how just being in the presence of caring Diana is a balm to their souls). Sadly, the shortest straw goes to a woman, Elena Anaya as Marina Meru/Dr. Poison, a Wonder Woman enemy from the comics. Sidenote: did we need Steve Trevor to be an American so badly even though the U.S. has almost nothing to do with the rest of this film? Eh, best to just go with it and not overthink.
 

Christian Worldview Elements / Spiritual Themes

A background story told via a unique bit of animation explains how Zeus created men as basically good, but they were corrupted, becoming warlike. Zeus later created the Amazons to help show men the way (feel free to question, then, why they are staked out on their island). In this myth, gods can die, and with his dying strength, Zeus left the Amazons a secret weapon. Diana grows up believing she came into being when her mother sculpted her from clay and Zeus brought her to life.

Beyond the mythological elements, this movie has some strong talking points about the nature of humanity, the positives that powerful, self-assured women bring to it, and even the question of what men “deserve” (this concept relates to both sinful destruction and to women knowing their worth). Christian audiences will appreciate the ultimate decisions to err on the side of grace, mercy and love instead of destruction and judgment. One character suggests that the ‘god of war’ and the ‘god of truth’ are one and the same, implying that it is man’s disagreements over what is true that lead to war. One character’s sacrifice becomes another’s touchstone for understanding and choosing love. Defending is a “sacred duty.” “Saving the world” as a life goal is questioned and examined.
 

CAUTIONS (may contain spoilers)
 

• MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive content
• Language/Profanity: Very mild. The rare minced oath may have snuck past me, but I was overall pleased to note a general cleanliness to the dialogue.
• Sexuality/Nudity: Very brief male rear nudity; a bare chested male; some suggestive conversations about “sleeping together” (of a more literal meaning) and one where a woman is addressing a just-out-of-the-bath man and says, “You let that little thing tell you what to do?” (turns out she is referring to his timepiece). A shared night in a hotel between unmarried man and woman features a kiss but the scene ends there. Diana explains that she has learned of “biological reproduction” through books, and shares that the author concluded that men are necessary for procreation but not pleasure. Switching gears a bit, this section would be a good place to give a shout-out to the successful costuming of both Diana and the women of Themyscira. The designers faced many challenges here, beginning with how to costume Wonder Woman herself from among the many looks she’s had in the comics and television. They nailed it. She looks great, as do her Amazon sisters. The costumers and makeup artists get a huge assist for the way this movie showcases female strength and beauty simultaneously. The Amazons wear scant outfits for movement in battle and practicality, yet there is nothing salacious about them, nothing sensual. One of my favorite shots was a closeup of a conversation between Wright and Nielsen, in which neither woman is slathered in blush. Instead, their true faces with all the strength and wisdom written into them shine through. The creative decisions and balance here deserve a round of applause.
• Violence/Frightening/Intense: As mentioned, this movie is heavy on war themes and imagery, some of which could be disturbing for youngsters. Some of the most difficult images come when the Amazons, so perfectly trained in traditional combat, come up against bullets. Other characters are gassed. Several bombs, grenades and mortars go off. Wonder Woman draws a heavy barrage of fire on the front lines. Characters are threatened at gunpoint in a London alley. Once the true villain is revealed, he can be quite frightening in power and appearance, but maybe even more so for his surreptitious, shadowy ways and means.
• Drugs/Alcohol: Steve recruits some of his team in a pub; at least one team member has had difficulty dealing with what he’s seen in war and has used alcohol to cope. A German chemist creates a gas that when inhaled gives the user a rush of rage and strength.
   

The Bottom Line

RECOMMENDED FOR: I sat through this screening going, “I can’t wait to bring my daughter and wife to this.” But that doesn’t mean for a second boys and men won’t enjoy this film. In fact, another round of applause for another great bit of balance by director Patty Jenkins and her crew: yes, this movie DOES promote the strengths and virtues of women and the frailties of men (the species), but in no way trashes men (the gender), who play a vital and important role here, and rise to the best of their capabilities when inspired by a truly confident, wonderful woman.

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR: The under-10 crowd. Those who prefer more superhero in their superhero origin stories (think the level of actual Batman scenes in Batman Begins). Those who think Marvel movies are the only superhero stories worth telling.

Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins, opens in theaters June 2, 2017. It runs 141 minutes and stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Lucy Davis, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Elena Anaya, Eugene Braverock, Said Taghmaoui and Ewen Bremner. Watch the trailer for Wonder Woman here.
 

Shawn McEvoy is the Managing Editor for Crosswalk.com and the co-host of ChristianMovieReviews.com & CrosswalkMovies.com’s Video Movie Reviews.

Publication date: June 1, 2017

Image courtesy: ©WarnerBros.

This Post has been auto-gathered from Cross Walk Click HERE to follow Crosswork on Facebook]]>