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A Wonder Woman Review
WW may almost certainly be taken as a sign of mass social consciousness and its evidently exponential change. Even ten years ago, Warner Bros. might not have taken the risk of pouring such money into a female-led action or superhero movie, due, of course, to such investments' historical lackluster performance. However, given the kind of fandom that has taken root across virtually all of the world in the past decade, WB knew now that, should they choose to funnel funds toward such a project, an ample return may well be waiting in the wings. And they were right.
An origin story with a fittingly straightforward plot, breathtaking action, magnificent cinematography, and outstanding characterization, Wonder Woman does just about everything right, as far as a summer superhero movie goes. Gal Gadot radiates a kind of glorious, naive optimism in the titular role, and her sleek, fit, and apt physicality make for action sequences rivaling all other major superhero filmography, Marvel and DC alike. Though her emotional resonance, at rare moments, may feel a touch unpolished, it's hard to imagine any other actress pulling this off the way she has. During your theater-going experience, you'll have zero doubt that the iconic demi-goddess onscreen is, in fact, Wonder Woman. 
Now to her male counterpart, Steve Trevor: the Lois Lane to Gadot's Superman, though in a far less damsel-in-distress position, Chris Pine nearly threatens to steal the show in every last shot in which Trevor is featured. Indeed, many of the most entertaining and meaningful moments are those charming interactions between Diana and Steve, and his awkwardly accommodating politeness to her fish-out-of-water naivete. To top it all off, the unique choice to set the story during World War I has a singularly fitting effect, in that, firstly, movies are rarely ever set in such an era of history, and secondly, the phrase "Man's World" had never been quite as applicable as it was then - setting the stage of course for Diana's spectacular, contrasted female strength in full force.
The world's favorite superheroine employs nearly all of her classic tools: the Godkiller sword, the nail-tough shield, and the lasso of truth all serve to elevate her already-jaw-dropping action scenes, choreographed, executed, and shot to stunning cinematic perfection, screaming from the screen to little girls - and just as vitally, boys - that they are capable of doing anything, fighting their own fights and solving their own problems. And ultimately, isn't that what superhero movies are all about?
So we have downright ethereal cinematography, incendiary action, superb effects, and fashionably forward, fighting fit costume design that has yet to be surpassed by any of WW's competitors in the DC universe. So as far as technical ability goes, the film is unquestionably masterful. So now we're asking, "What doesn't work with Wonder Woman?"The answer is the final - boss - fight and its resulting moral message toward the end. Drawn out, preachy, and overall a bit too much, the climax will undoubtedly have some viewers squirming in their seats. Despite Diana's charmingly naive and truly just and honorable persona, it's here where the script veers into "love solves everything" territory, and instead of showing us such a message in action, the director tells us that very thing we've all heard in a hundred other stories.
To be fair, it's not exactly a moral message one could soundly reject; indeed, it may be something our current political and social climates could use. But the problem here lies in its execution - an issue viewers can only notice when they've seen it for themselves. The result of this messy final product in the movie's third act cuts critical reception down a few points, but it's not enough to ruin the film outright.
FINAL SCORE: 82 / 100
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