Wonder Woman was a serious breath of fresh air. It wasn't just a great comic book movie. It was a great movie period. The script contained no major flaws, though there were things I would have liked to see done a little different. The 'main villain' in almost all the more recent comic book movies have been rather poorly developed and this one is no exception. I guess that's the worst flaw in this movie.
I can tell you what wasn't a flaw. Gal Gadot. When I first heard who was going to play Wonder Woman I looked her up and was baffled. I didn't automatically assume she would suck because that's just not in my nature. I was also shocked that Ben Affleck was cast as Batman, but I actually saw some potential there and I think I was right despite Batman v Superman not being the greatest film. Gal Gadot's performance in that movie was fine but too brief for me to determine how she would do in a stand alone film. Well, she did great. I can, if I'm being honest, see some room for improvement, but I was more than merely satisfied with her performance. As I said, the movie was great and had no major flaws.
There was really only one other truly well developed character and that was played by Chris Pine who I feel might be one of the most underrated actors out there. He gets major roles frequently, sometimes HUGE roles like James T. Kirk, but you rarely hear all that much praise for his acting skills. I hope this movie helps change that. He is practically irresistible in this role and just oozes charm and confidence while somehow never overshadowing our other main hero. The chemistry between our leads is damn near perfect.
This will naturally lead into the romantic subplot. It is so organic and unforced that it is far superior to many 'love stories' that have been made. The mutual admiration, respect and more physical feelings that develop between the main characters is so natural and subtle that if they had tried to leave any romantic interest out it would have been almost obnoxious. She has never seen another man at all and he is far from lacking in good looks or charm. He's 'a little more than average' (hehe, you'll see) and as they travel together she will learn that he is a man of honor, integrity, and is obviously superior to the average man both physically and intellectually. And if you're thinking 'well she's super hot so he's obviously down for it' then you'd misjudge there as well. Of course they are initially physically attracted to each other, but that is the furthest thing from his mind. There's a brutal and horrible war going on killing more and more people everyday and he has to do what he can to stop it. The development of his feelings for her are just as gradual and understandable as hers. He's constantly surprised by her strength and skill for sure, but he is also shocked by her kind-hearted nature and blatant displays of intelligence (she speaks a hundred languages) He sees her almost disabling innocence and naivety slowly get stripped away by the horrors the world begins to show her. She plainly struggles yet she displays an inner strength that matches her physical powers. She shows persistent determination to meet a goal he finds ridiculous (she has to slay the god of war after all) but when faced with obstacles that might slow her down she fights despite being told 'we can't save them all' she tries and when she learns that he was right she doesn't break down. She grits her teeth and marches on. Of course he would fall for her.
Heroes. I've seen so many portrayed. Wonder Woman was possibly the best. Captain America did everything he could to be a hero. He tried desperately to join the military despite being too pathetic to serve. He agreed to risk death to try to become something more. He lead men into battle and fought with courage. But he wanted that glory and he got it.
Wonder Woman has no interest in glory. She wanted to be a warrior because that's what every single person she had ever known was. So what else COULD she have aspired to become? She has a singular goal to fulfill a destiny she never asked for. She goes out into the world knowing nothing about it except that she had a duty to protect it. All along the way she sees pain and suffering. She sees people she can help, but keeps going because she thinks she must. Her drive and determination are relentless and more than admirable, but then she breaks... or does she? She finally steps up. She climbs out of that trench and in that moment you realize that this woman is a freaking hero not just a superhero, she somehow makes THAT title seem like less. She puts her endless drive to the side and saves the day. When she wins the day and praise is heaped on her she accepts it graciously, but it is obvious that that was never the goal. When it all turns out to have been in vain she does not crumble, but she isn't perfectly stoic about it either. She feels more human to us than ever. When the final confrontation approaches and she is faced with the challenge of defeating the god of war himself she is not going into the fight thinking she is making some kind of sacrifice. She has some doubts, but she is confident. She believes in her ability to accomplish what seems impossible. But at no point does she ever seem actually arrogant in any way. She is simply performing a duty. Facing her destiny head on.
I can tell you what wasn't a flaw. Gal Gadot. When I first heard who was going to play Wonder Woman I looked her up and was baffled. I didn't automatically assume she would suck because that's just not in my nature. I was also shocked that Ben Affleck was cast as Batman, but I actually saw some potential there and I think I was right despite Batman v Superman not being the greatest film. Gal Gadot's performance in that movie was fine but too brief for me to determine how she would do in a stand alone film. Well, she did great. I can, if I'm being honest, see some room for improvement, but I was more than merely satisfied with her performance. As I said, the movie was great and had no major flaws.
There was really only one other truly well developed character and that was played by Chris Pine who I feel might be one of the most underrated actors out there. He gets major roles frequently, sometimes HUGE roles like James T. Kirk, but you rarely hear all that much praise for his acting skills. I hope this movie helps change that. He is practically irresistible in this role and just oozes charm and confidence while somehow never overshadowing our other main hero. The chemistry between our leads is damn near perfect.
This will naturally lead into the romantic subplot. It is so organic and unforced that it is far superior to many 'love stories' that have been made. The mutual admiration, respect and more physical feelings that develop between the main characters is so natural and subtle that if they had tried to leave any romantic interest out it would have been almost obnoxious. She has never seen another man at all and he is far from lacking in good looks or charm. He's 'a little more than average' (hehe, you'll see) and as they travel together she will learn that he is a man of honor, integrity, and is obviously superior to the average man both physically and intellectually. And if you're thinking 'well she's super hot so he's obviously down for it' then you'd misjudge there as well. Of course they are initially physically attracted to each other, but that is the furthest thing from his mind. There's a brutal and horrible war going on killing more and more people everyday and he has to do what he can to stop it. The development of his feelings for her are just as gradual and understandable as hers. He's constantly surprised by her strength and skill for sure, but he is also shocked by her kind-hearted nature and blatant displays of intelligence (she speaks a hundred languages) He sees her almost disabling innocence and naivety slowly get stripped away by the horrors the world begins to show her. She plainly struggles yet she displays an inner strength that matches her physical powers. She shows persistent determination to meet a goal he finds ridiculous (she has to slay the god of war after all) but when faced with obstacles that might slow her down she fights despite being told 'we can't save them all' she tries and when she learns that he was right she doesn't break down. She grits her teeth and marches on. Of course he would fall for her.
Heroes. I've seen so many portrayed. Wonder Woman was possibly the best. Captain America did everything he could to be a hero. He tried desperately to join the military despite being too pathetic to serve. He agreed to risk death to try to become something more. He lead men into battle and fought with courage. But he wanted that glory and he got it.
Wonder Woman has no interest in glory. She wanted to be a warrior because that's what every single person she had ever known was. So what else COULD she have aspired to become? She has a singular goal to fulfill a destiny she never asked for. She goes out into the world knowing nothing about it except that she had a duty to protect it. All along the way she sees pain and suffering. She sees people she can help, but keeps going because she thinks she must. Her drive and determination are relentless and more than admirable, but then she breaks... or does she? She finally steps up. She climbs out of that trench and in that moment you realize that this woman is a freaking hero not just a superhero, she somehow makes THAT title seem like less. She puts her endless drive to the side and saves the day. When she wins the day and praise is heaped on her she accepts it graciously, but it is obvious that that was never the goal. When it all turns out to have been in vain she does not crumble, but she isn't perfectly stoic about it either. She feels more human to us than ever. When the final confrontation approaches and she is faced with the challenge of defeating the god of war himself she is not going into the fight thinking she is making some kind of sacrifice. She has some doubts, but she is confident. She believes in her ability to accomplish what seems impossible. But at no point does she ever seem actually arrogant in any way. She is simply performing a duty. Facing her destiny head on.
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