"Wonder Woman," released June 2, 2017, starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, is incredible.
The film, directed by Patty Jenkins, hooks viewers from start to finish through action, comedy, and romance. "Wonder Woman" is truly enjoyable to watch and appeals to audiences of all ages. I would gladly see it in theaters again. November 17, the release date of "Justice League," cannot come soon enough.
While "Wonder Woman" is engaging and exciting, I believe it is also one of the best movies of 2017 because of its ability to brilliantly portray a female superhero in the world of male superheroes. Now, don't get me wrong, I absolutely love these male superheroes and their respective films. "The Dark Knight" is my favorite movie due to Heath Ledger's impeccable performance of The Joker, combined with the underlying messages about morality and the ambiguity of good and evil. I also enjoy Man of Steel and Henry Cavill's portrayal of Superman. In these films, there are leading female characters, such as Rachel Dawes and Lois Lane. Let me stress my point here: these characters are also brilliant. There is nothing wrong with the leading female being the love interest of the male hero. However, these females have never been looked upon as leaders. They have never ultimately saved the day. Yes, there is a female superhero named Black Widow in Marvel's "The Avengers," and Gamora is a principal Guardian in Guardians of the Galaxy. These women must not be forgotten. However, while these strong, powerful females are portrayed as heroes, they are part of a group, rather than standing individually as the primary leader. Prior to June 2, no woman had been given her own, individual movie where she was the main superhero and dominant leader upon whom others depended.
"Wonder Woman" completely sets precedence as being the first movie of its kind to feature a female superhero--Diana Prince (Gal Gadot)--as the main character. This is crucial because it demonstrates to viewers, particularly young girls, that women can be strong and powerful leaders, if they so choose. It shows that women are capable of being in charge and making a difference. It displays that women don't have to get in line behind men and follow their lead. It makes the young 14-year-old girl realize that she can be independent and confident in her ability to take charge, if that's what she wants to do. Now, before you disregard this article as one written by some crazed feminist, please hear me out: this is important. Young girls need a role model such as Diana Prince. In my opinion, it's important that girls understand it's possible for them to be fierce and brave, if they aspire to be so.
Along with being a compelling leader, Diana Prince is also incredibly kind, generous and genuine--yet again proving why she's such a valuable role model. The film, set during World War I, focuses on the war efforts against Germany. During one of the most notable scenes, Diana, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) and their group encounter No Man's Land, a village invaded by German soldiers. While Steve insists they move forward past No Man's Land and continue with their set mission, Diana is compelled to help the people of the village. She leads the fight against the German soldiers, and the village is ultimately freed. In this instance, Diana could have ignored the pleas of help from the villagers, but she decided to bravely stand up and fight for what she knew was right. The role of the men in this movie, particularly in this scene, should also be noted. When Steve and their group of fighters realize that Diana is outstandingly powerful and fierce in battle, no one is intimidated by the fact that she is a woman. As men, their egos are not hurt because a woman is stronger than they are. They fight valiantly alongside her and work with her proudly. This also matters significantly.
The meaning and message at the end of this movie also factors into its greatness. Rather than focusing on good versus evil, it stresses that everyone is capable of both good and evil. It demonstrates that love, and choosing to do good, is of the utmost importance. This message is extremely timely and relevant, further adding to the overall brilliance of "Wonder Woman"
Finally, it is especially significant that "Wonder Woman" is directed by a woman. Female directors of superhero movies, along with female superheroes, are particularly uncommon. Through the excellence of "Wonder Woman" Patty Jenkins may increase the amount of female representation among comic book movie directors. She is already breaking records: on opening weekend, "Wonder Woman" produced more money than any other film directed by a woman. With a 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.2 out of 10 on IMDB, she's certainly proving how talented she is. Hopefully, we'll start to see Patty Jenkins' name among directors and producers of superhero movies in the future.
It could be argued that "Wonder Woman's"success will propel DC Universe forward in their continuous struggle against Marvel to produce excellent superhero films. Regardless, "Wonder Woman" is relevant, beautiful, captivating and important.
If you haven't seen it yet, please take the time to experience "Wonder Woman" while it's in theaters. I promise you won't regret it.
