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Wonder Woman (2017)
Directed by Patty Jenkins
Based on characters created by William Moulton Marston
Screenplay by Allan Heinberg
Story by Zack Snyder, Allan Heinberg, Jason Fuchs
Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Elena Anaya
Diana (Gadot) is a princess of the Amazons who has been thrust into the midst of a world unfamiliar to her. Now she’s working with a fearless pilot (Pine) to stop a destructive force threatening the world.
This film is the fourth installment of the DC Extended Universe. This one was directed by Patty Jenkins (Monster), using a script written by Allan Heinberg. The story was developed by Heinberg, Zack Snyder (Man of Steel), and Jason Fuchs (Pan). The title character for the film was originally created by William Moulton Marston, debuting in January of 1942. The film stars Gal Gadot (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) and Chris Pine (Star Trek). The other stars in the film include Connie Nielsen (Gladiator), Robin Wright (Forrest Gump), Danny Huston (Big Eyes), David Thewlis (The Theory of Everything), and Elena Anaya (Van Helsing).
In some ways this might be the best written film from the DC Extended Universe. Snyder, Heinberg, and Fuchs did a nice job crafting a film that truly stand alone. While there are certainly connections to the other films from the series, it doesn’t seem to rely on them to fill in plot gaps. The story for this one is well-balanced; mixing humor, action, and drama in equal amounts. The story also moves pretty quickly, with very few moments that seem to slow the pace. It is nice to see a female superhero on the big screen, but I think it falls short of being the social achievement that some would expect. While she is a strong woman in a very literal sense, there are a number of scenes that undercut that strength with a mix of naiveté and childlike wonder. This isn’t a major issue since the story plays well enough despite it. The biggest issue with this film is the way it ends. Without giving anything away, I’ll say that the end of the film misses the mark in a significant way. While this movie has some issues, like all of the DC films, this one has one of the better stories from that world.
The acting in this one is good. Chris Pine and Gal Gadot do a nice job leading this one. Gadot was a nice choice for the title role in the film. Her performance is solid, and she was able to handle the physical aspects of the job nicely. Chris Pine was the perfect choice for his role in the film. In addition to being comfortable in the physical moments, he really found the right way to play the more dramatic moments. These two were surrounded by a number of talented actors. As a whole there isn’t really a bad performance in the bunch. While the story has some issues, the performances elevated the film quite a bit.
This one looks incredible. The special effects, CGI, and stunt work create an incredible world. The costumes and makeup work also add a lot to the mix. The sound work on this film is also nicely done. This might be one of the better scores I’ve heard from a comic book film. Composer Rupert Gregson-Williams (Hacksaw Ridge) really found a great way to accent the film. Overall, there isn’t anything to criticize about the production work.
This is a solid film, and easily the best thing the DC Extended Universe has offered fans. While there are certainly issues with the story, this is still a fun movie and worth checking out. Fans of comic book films should make time for this one. I would also suggest it to fans of Chris Pine or Gal Gadot. I liked this one, but I didn’t love it. I give this one 3.4 out of 5 stars.
Did You See That One? 
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