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Film Review
Film Review
Wonder Woman - 2017
Wonder Woman - 2017
★★★★
Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman, is a 2017 American superhero film based on the DC Comics Character of the same name, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Wonder woman has a very powerful plot as it exists as the first superhero film to cast a female as the protagonist. It makes history for women in Hollywood. Diana (Gal Galdot) has a very captivating start in the film as an Amazon princess who has her impeccable only female warrior occupied island interrupted by a pilot (Chris Pine) who crash-lands nearby. She kindly rescues him, which leads to her learning of WW1’s destruction, engrossing the planet, and so vows to use her marvellous powers to restore world peace.
The producers aim was to attract a predominantly young female audience (based on generalisation), a deeper depiction of this would suggest that since nearly every Hollywood superhero film consists of male protagonists and damsels in distress; young girls are lacking a role model – Wonder Woman fills this void. Alongside this, the film appeals to hard-core fans of the comic book and wonder woman newbies.
Generally, the editing throughout the movie was consistent and has a good way of keeping the audience engaged. For example, in the No Man's land scene, the use of slow motion, cuts between long shots (depicting the estranged location and her full body), medium shots and close ups (of her armor, facial expressions and weaponry) enabled us to see how strong she really was as she broke the typical gender representation of a weak woman versus powerful males. Together with non-diegetic sound, the narrative and meaning was successfully pushed upon the audience.
To continue, cinematographer Matthew Jensen, production designer Aline Bonetto, and costume designer Lindy Hemming cleverly form Themyscira into a stunning utopia which employs a range of ethnic touchstones. The set represents all of which you’d expect from Greek mythology with the Amazons designing their home in a way which protects nature rather than damaging it which connotes a more feminine and motherly tone to the movie. The scenes capture a stunning array of colours, especially gold armour, cerulean blue waters, warm creams, and deep browns. Jensen pictures many of these scenes in a wide shot, which allows us to appreciate the majestic culture. Likewise, the rendered backstory by Hippolyta of the history of the amazons, evokes a quality image of a beautiful environment as its told in a dense and passionate way.
Overall, the technical production of the film alongside the creative successfully depicted the narrative and engaged the audience throughout. The negative aspects of the film, in my opinion, were Diana’s costume and the ending. Firstly, Diana’s is supposed to represent a wholesome inspiration for young girls yet, her costume is revealing for the pleasure of a male audience like most females in superhero genre. Secondly, the feminist aims presented at the beginning (a strong female who doesn't need a man to protect her, she's independent, etc) are lost by the end of the film. Lastly, when Ares is finally introduced the film seems to be a somewhat clever take on the God of War. He isn’t so much seeking to end the world as create a new one by influencing the darkest aspects of mankind. But then the story tips into being a far more traditional superhero film than it had been previously.
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