To put it mildly, DC’s attempt to establish an interconnected cinematic universe has been a pretty big mess so far. A lot of that has to do with both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad simply being bad movies (I go back and forth on Man of Steel, a film that has some great ideas, but also many problems). However, one theme that runs through all three of these movies is that they fail to present their central characters as aspirational figures (to be fair, this is a rather moot point when it comes to Suicide Squad, but that film had bigger issues anyway).
While Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins, is directly tied into the same DC universe as these aforementioned films, it almost feels like a rebuke of what those films were about. It’s bright, bold, heartfelt and most importantly, fun, and if it’s indicative of where DC is headed with its cinematic ventures from here on out, we’re in for a treat. Wonder Woman is the best movie DC has released since The Dark Knight and here are 10 reasons why.
10. Gal Gadot’s Performance
When it was originally announced that Israeli actress and model Gal Gadot would be playing Wonder Woman, the response was mixed to say the least. Some fans felt that Gadot was simply too slender to play the part, which is a fair criticism if you like to imagine Diana as a super buff Amazon warrior. While I’m sure there are still some out there who wish Warner Bros. had gone with a different actress, Gadot’s performance in Wonder Woman leaves no question in my mind that the studio made the right call in casting her.
Not only has Gadot buffed up considerably to better embody the look and stature of Diana, she pretty much establishes herself as the MVP of the entire DC Extended Universe up to this point. Her Diana is vulnerable and naive, but at the same time confident and fiercely idealistic and at no point does it feel like Gadot is uncomfortable in the iconic costume of one of the most popular feminist icons of the last century. Unlike Henry Cavill, who seems to have largely relied on his looks and physique to sell himself as Superman thus far, Gadot lets her performance do the talking (although it certainly doesn’t hurt that she’s also stunningly gorgeous).
Warner Bros.