While Zack Snyder finishes his version of Justice League, Patty Jenkins continues the adventures of one of the League's best. Wonder Woman goes straight from World War I to the Cold War in the aptly named Wonder Woman 1984. It's not as awful as some reviews have stated. Let's see why.
In the titular year, Diana (Gal Gadot) works at the Smithsonian as an anthropologist. She also fights crime as Wonder Woman. The two professions meet when, after a robbery, the FBI hands Diana a bunch of stolen goods. One of them is a "Dreamstone" which grants wishes the Monkey's Paw way. She accidentally wishes Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), who perished in World War I, back from the dead. But it's in another man's body. And also, because of her wish, her formidable physical powers vanish.
Meanwhile, dirt broke businessman Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) merges with the stone and becomes the world's richest genie. But the Monkey's Paw rule brings the world straight into World War III. The only way to undo the damage is to get everyone to renounce their wishes. It's painful for Diana, but easier for her than her co-worker, Barbara (Kristin Wiig), who wished herself some confidence and won't give it up without a fight.
Jenkins and her co-writers Geoff Johns and Dave Callaham keep it going decently for 151 minutes. It starts off with young Diana participating in her home island, Themyscira's version of the Olympics. It does thematically set-up the film's McGuffin. The "present day" opening gives Diana plenty of comical superheroics on the way to the robbery. Diana thwarting the robbery is a spectacular sequence. The film spends its time developing its characters in some engaging scenes. It's a slow plot, but it's got some good ideas.
Perhaps the best ideas come from the villains. Pascal as Lord starts off as a vapid 80s tycoon. But we see how he's trapped by his public persona. He becomes an misguided megalomaniac when he merges with the stone. But fortunately, Diana is able to make him see the error of his ways. Wiig as Barbara goes from likable to vicious during the movie. She makes a great personal antagonist for Diana, especially when she becomes The Cheetah.
Gadot is still engaging as Diana/Wonder Woman. We see her as lonely and world weary; seems understandable for someone as long-lived as her. We can understand why she would hesitate to renounce her wish. Whether one can empathize with it is apparently a deal breaker for some reviewers. But her taking action as Wonder Woman is awesome. Her chemistry with Steve is still endearing.
Production Designer Aline Bonetto, Cinematographer Matthew Jensen and Costume Designer Lindy Hemming return to produce a vibrant world for Diana to inhabit. The film looks great whether it's on Themyscira or a Washington DC Mall. The Cheetah was created with CGI, but it looks so much like prosthetic makeup. It's just that good. Hans Zimmer adds to the aural excellence with his score. It's mostly subdued but it amplifies the emotional moments.
No comments:
Post a Comment