'Wonder Woman' Movie Review

The Amazonian quality that Gal Gadot displays in 'Wonder Woman' is simply stunning. While she is every bit the Goddess she represents, Chris Pine, as the all-too-human pilot, lends an emotional heft even to the man-in-distress cop out

'Wonder Woman' poster

'Wonder Woman'
U/A; Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Director: Patty Jenkins
Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, David Thewlis, Danny Huston
Rating: 

The very first solo big screen outing for DC comics' least-cinematically-exposed superhero, is an origin story, that establishes the mythic background and mission of its lead character. The film begins with a voiceover invocation spelling darkness, accompanied by Rupert Gregson-Williams ominous score while an aerial digital capture of the Louvre lends an impression of something sinister about to happen. You may well be transported to 'Batman Vs Superman' reminisces but director Patty Jenkins' just won't allow you to linger there. Once the tokenism to franchise continuity gets established, Jenkins takes a sharp turn, orchestrating delivery of a mysterious package from Bruce Wayne at the office of Wonder Woman's alter ego, Diana Prince, an antiquities expert at the Louvre. And then comes the flashback to the heroine's past life - as Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained by her mother Hippolyta (Connie Neilson) and aunt Antiope (Robin Wright), to be an unconquerable warrior. But it's when she meets an American pilot (Chris Pine) who tells her about the massive conflict that's raging in the outside world, that she really comes into her own as a warrior princess who can single-handedly save the world. The easy-on-your-eyes narrative is touched by screwball comedy, espionage caper elements and romantic adventure and has a sizzler of a kiss to render the romance aspect meaningful.

Jenkins' 'Monster' was terrifyingly dark territory but 'Wonder Woman' thankfully, is not. The initial fight sequences and CGI are top-of-the-class and rendered with great coherence and style. But as the narrative proceeds it gets more and more populated with sub-action that draws your attention away from the mainstay. They are obligatory and unmemorable and leave you exhausted and just a little listless.

Diana of Themyscira is a superhero that is markedly different from the rest. The palpably sizzling vibe between Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, the manner in which Jenkins and screenwriter Allan Heinberg move the story from World War II to the First World War, at a time when men were seen to be at their most destructive and inhumane - thus making her presence as a warrior for Peace, much more potent and highly effective and the remarkably high level of action, comedy and romance that enhances the narrative.

The Amazonian quality that Gal Gadot displays here is simply stunning. She wears her costume without allowing it to dictate her moves. It's a command performance that will go down in superhero history as amongst the best ever. While she is every bit the Goddess she represents, Pine, as the all-too-human pilot, lends an emotional heft even to the man-in-distress cop out. 'Wonder Woman' I must say is the oddly rare superhero story that breathes fresh life into the jaded cosmos of comic-book super-heroics.

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