Film Review: "Wonder Woman" (2017).

"Power. Grace. Wisdom. Wonder." This is Wonder Woman. This superhero film directed by Patty Jenkins, written by Allan Heinberg and based on the DC Comics character of the same name created by William Moulton Marston. It is the fourth installment in the DC Extended Universe, as well as being the first live action theatrical film based on the character. When an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside men in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers and her true destiny. 

Development for the film was on-going since 1996, with several writers and directors attached such as Ivan Reitman, Todd Alcott, Laeta Kalogridis, and Joss Whedon. In 2014, several directors were considered to direct the film before Michelle MacLaren was given the job. However, in 2015, MacLaren dropped out of the project due to creative differences. In 2015, Patty Jenkins replaced MacLaren. Many actresses were considered to play the role of Wonder Woman throughout the years before Gal Gadot landed the coveted role. Principal photography began in November 2015, before filming wrapped in May 2016. Filming took place throughout the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Additional filming also took place in November 2016 while Gadot was five months pregnant. A green cloth was placed over her stomach to edit out her pregnancy during post-production.

The film stars Gal Gadot as the titular character with Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen and Elena Anaya. In the cast, the casting department found actors with just the right charisma to pull it off. Gadot makes the character of Superman his own, while also reminding us of why we love the character. Gadot essays the title role and makes it her own, combining correctly chiseled features with a likable comic humanity, while the film itself nicely balances special effects with the romance of Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor. Pine as Trevor was wonderful and he and Gadot have excellent chemistry.

Wonder Woman is a lot of fun, and the lot of talented people involved have managed to get a lot of their talent very enjoyably on view. Jenkins keeps her film briskly funny and exciting, with smart and spectacular action. The greatest effect of all, however, is Gadot's miraculous performance. Not only is there the ultimate fantasy fulfillment for women--to be strong, to be invulnerable, to be fast--but her story also taps into the universal feeling of being an outsider in the world. Between its extravagant fancies and extravagant success, Wonder Woman can only help to enhance the prestige of large-scale fantasy filmmaking. All this makes a highly entertaining, though undemanding mixture, of fantasy, romance and comedy, which could hardly have come off at all at any lower artistic level, nor without such a happy choice for the central part as Gadot.

Simon says Wonder Woman receives:

Also, see my review for Suicide Squad.