Wonder Woman – a movie review by Roz Tarszisz
As I have been pleasantly surprised before by films I might not have considered my ‘thing’, I did not hesitate to give this action sci-fi fantasy a go.
If the story doesn’t quite match history, it’s no matter. It’s all about the action, the special effects, and the heroine, Diana, aka Wonder Woman. She is played by beautiful Israeli actress Gal Gadot who looks fabulous, especially in her action costume – and she can act.
Director Patty Jenkins (Monster) has used the best of modern film-making techniques to tell a timeless story of good versus evil and have some fun with it.
Diana is raised on a sheltered paradise, the only child on an island without men where the women are Amazon warriors. The back story has her birth the result of a union between Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) and Zeus. Hippolyta has never told her beloved daughter the truth of her parentage or that she is immortal.
General Antiope (Robin Wright) teaches Diana fighting skills and it’s tough training. When Diana rescues a downed airman/spy Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), it brings World War I and men with guns to the island. The women fight armed only with arrows and swords in a scene choreographed like a ballet on steroids.
Seizing the family jewels – a mystical sword and whip – Diana takes off with Steve in a little boat to try to end the evil of war. They arrive in London after one night – in fantasy you can do this stuff.
In order to prolong the war, German General Eric Ludendorff (Danny Huston) is using Maru aka Dr Poison (Elena Anaya) to develop a poison gas against which gas masks are no protection. Diana believes he is the evil god Ares who wants to destroy mankind.
Diana and Steve get support for their mission from Sir Patrick (David Thewlis) and are soon off to the Front with a motley crew consisting of Charlie (Ewen Bremner), Chief (Eugene Brave Rock) and Sameer (Said Taghmaoui) . It seems entirely appropriate that a Scot, an American Indian and a Turk join with an American spy and Wonder Woman to save the world from destruction.
The special effects and choreography are terrific and the music works well. I found it most satisfying.
- 5/5 Rated M 141mins 2017 Released June 1
Starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, David Thewlis, Danny Houston
Directed by Patty Jenkins
Screenplay by Allan Heinberg
Story by Zack Snyder, Allan Heinberg, Jason Fuchs
Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston
Music by Rupert Gregson-Williams
This film has been banned in Lebanon.
So what!