By Joshua H. Stulman

WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW!!!

Wonder Woman is one of the highly anticipated movies of the summer. This is the fourth DC movie set in their shared universe. While the movie delivers on action, costuming, and sheer look of what every fan is hoping for, the actual story runs a more average tone.

Wonder Woman is directed by Patty Jenkins and features Gal Gadot in her second appearance in the titular role (after Batman vs. Superman). The movie opens up in the current timeline with a Wayne Enterprise van delivering Wonder Woman, as alter ego Diana Prince, an elaborate suitcase containing the WWI photograph originally seen in Batman vs. Superman. This opening begins the flashback that is most of the movie.

We begin at the beginning, Wonder Woman is a little girl who is depicted as curious, adventurous and eager to learn combat. She is thrilled by the legends of Paradise Island and through her the viewer learns a great deal about how the Amazons came to be as well as references to Wonder Woman’s creation from clay. Forbidden by Queen Hippolyta to participate in training for the prophesized war against Ares, Wonder Woman begins her training in secret. However, after years of secret training with Gen. Antiope (the Queen’s sister), Hippolyta discovers the disobedience but is persuaded to allow it to continue.

The timing is ambiguous how long it takes for Wonder Woman (or any Amazonian) to age, but plot transitions with the introduction of Steve Trevor (played by Chris Pine) as a WWI pilot. Trevor crash lands his plane while being pursued by a German ship. Here Wonder Woman and Trevor meet, and her curiosity is perked about the outside world.

While Gal Gadot is a picturesque vision of Wonder Woman, her acting begins to show its weakness. With the introduction of Wonder Woman to Steve Trevor, there begins a theme of naivete concerning everything in the real world, and while this is great for some comedic moments- it really seams that Wonder Woman is being portrayed as clueless, child-like and slow to pick up on cues from around her.

Other aspects that seem off, occur when the small contingent of German soldiers invade the beaches of Paradise Island. The Amazons, who are supposedly trained since ancient time as warriors, seem to have a great deal of trouble fending off the invading forces. After the melee, Wonder Woman becomes convinced that Ares is behind World War I and sets out with Trevor to head to the warfront. She first steals the lasso of truth, shield and sword (called the Godslayer), basically leaving Paradise Island defenseless without its major weapons. Seems a bit irresponsible, and a major departure from her comic origins, which showed her winning the mantle of Wonder Woman through warrior competition. She already possesses her famed bracelets and previously exhibited unknown powers with them (also kinda odd that she has powers that just pop up that no one wants to tell her about, even after she’s allowed to train as a warrior).

After Wonder Woman and Steve leave the island, they travel to England. I have to applaud the set designers who did a really great job of recreating the look and feel of England and Europe at the time. Everything from fashion to advertising posters is spot on and gives an authentic feel. Here we meet Etta Candy (played by Lucy Davis), a character from Wonder Woman’s 1940’s comic, who is British in the movie.

Midway through the movie is where things start to fall apart. Now in England, Wonder Woman starts to get bogged down with more supporting cast additions, the introduction of the German villains Dr. Poison and Gen. Ludendorff, as well as subplots that are convenient and obvious. Wonder Woman interrupts a high level military meeting to lecture the leaders that they are not doing enough to save lives. Its very naïve and heavy handed, and doesn’t make a whole lot of sense how she even has clearance to be anywhere near the building. As Dr. Poison’s plan to create a new chemical weapon becomes clear to the allies, Wonder Woman exhibits deep knowledge of chemistry which conveniently moves the plot along, so I guess she’s only book smart?!

Finally, Wonder Woman joins Steve Trevor’s “Howling Commandos” and just like in Captain America: The First Avenger, they march towards the German front. Along the way Wonder Woman witnesses the horrors of war that challenges her belief that people are naturally good but corrupted by Ares. But don’t worry she kills an awful lot of Germans in the process. Despite story criticism, these battle scenes are shot very well and really show off her fighting techniques. The choreography and effects are great.

The final act sees everything wrap up very neatly. Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor storm the German base. Wonder Woman kills Ludendorff, convinced that he is Ares. Guess what he’s not! Yes it turns out their English high commander was really Ares all along, and he of course reveals himself to ask Wonder Woman to join the Dark Side so they can rule the earth ala Star Wars. Wonder Woman finds Dr. Poison but spares her life, despite Dr. Poison being responsible for thousands of deaths and demonstrating her evil deeds throughout the movie. It really makes no sense how Wonder Woman was so willing to kill just about every German, but when it comes to someone who has tortured people and gassed full towns- this person she spares?

The last scenes of the film are pretty straight-forward. There’s a big fight and Wonder Woman ends up killing Ares with another conveniently unknown super power. Steve Trevor ends up flying a plane loaded with the chemical weapon, again like in Captain America, but dies a hero as he destroys the weapon mid-air. Wonder Woman declares that her heroic motivations are out of “Love.”

I didn’t know what to expect with this movie, it looks fantastic and I wouldn’t change a thing about the effects or the actors’ costuming. There really wasn’t a lot of chemistry between Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor, so when he dies it feels empty and kinda forced. I’m not really sure why Trevor had to die at all? I’m sure there was a parachute on the plane. I also found the “Howling Commandos” to be unnecessary to the story. I was really offended at how stereotypical the American Indian in the group was depicted both in dress and character.

Overall, I would rate the film a 8/10. It looked beautiful with a very popcorn friendly plot. There were no real twists or interesting subplots. It also missed a tremendous amount of heart, or emotional connection with the audience. I’m not sure if Gadot has the acting chops to pull off these type of scenes. There was way too much lecturing the audience, instead of making the audience experience Wonder Woman’s perspective. As far as superhero movies go, it was better than average of what we’ve been getting. All in all Wonder Woman lacked the epic quality it should have had.

Movie Grade: 8/10

Comic Accuracy Grade: 7.5/10

Joshua H. Stulman

Owner, BrooklynComicShop.com