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Tags: DC NewsDCEUMovie NewsWonder Woman

Is The Wonder Woman Movie Overrated?

July 2, 2017
byRick Austin
in Movies
Wonder Woman Review -

The Wonder Woman movie has been an overwhelming success, breaking box office records, receiving critical acclaim and fan approval across the board. It’s easily the best of the DCEU movies so far and appears to have broken their streak of being too grim for their own good. In fact, it appears to have become a beacon of hope, lighting the way forward for the next wave of DC films. It promises that future projects will have a lighter tone and be more fun – something sorely needed if the franchise is to survive. Superman may claim that his S-symbol means hope but, as a character, he hasn’t embodied it; Wonder woman, apparently, has.

Wonder Woman overrated

But is the Wonder Woman film really that good, or is it overrated and missed the point?

It isn’t perfect, by any means. There are plot holes and moments which didn’t quite pay off (the magically sinking German battle cruiser, camping out behind enemy lines without a care, Ares’ long con plan, and many more), a curious lack of German being spoken by the Germans (despite other languages being spoken, translated by subtitles), a pointless twist and a general lack of excitement by the end of the film. But thankfully the suspension of disbelief is maintained for the most part.

Where it does fail is in dumbing the film down by playing it too safe. It’s the small touches, ones seen in the underrated animated Wonder Woman film released in 2009. Directed by Lauren Montgomery and written by Gail Simone and Michael Jelenic, it covered similar ground to the live action film in some respects – including being an origin film where Wonder Woman escorts Steve Trevor back to Man’s World and is tasked with defeating Ares. The time period is different but, in both cases, it works. Yet in comparing the main characters, you see a world of difference.

First up there’s Steve Trevor. In the live action film version, Steve is Mr. Nice Guy, a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. The extent of his abilities as a spy are limited; he enjoys dressing up in disguise, and that’s about it. He’s soft, far too soft for that line of work, and especially in that time period. Alternatively, in the animated film, he’s a damn good fighter pilot and a skilled soldier who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s also a self-confessed male chauvinist pig, so much so that his nickname is “zipper”. When bound by the Lasso of Hestia, he claims to the assembled Amazons that Diana has “a nice rack”. That’s how bad he is. But he’s also a lovable rogue, and a far more interesting character.

Is the Wonder Woman movie overrated

As for Diana, in both films, she’s obsessed with finding and stopping Ares. In both films, she acquires civilian garb to blend into society, and shows some amazement at the outside world and cares for children. In the live action film, she’s all about the mission, which is good. But rarely does she make any sort of feminist statement from her understandably biased perspective. She’s clearly not subservient to men, but she hardly questions the role of women in society either. In an era of Suffragettes and a ground-level glass ceiling, Diana stays mostly silent.

In the animated version, she’s focused on Ares too… but gladly mouths off on women in modern society who trade on their looks and flirting, how men oppress and degrade women and view them as less than equals, and how men seduce women. She thinks she’s right and isn’t afraid to make her opinions known.

The dynamic between Steve and Wonder Woman – a feminist icon – is always important. However, in the live-action version, they’re both played too safe. Neither makes a bold statement, they rarely differ in the few opinions they have, and as such neither truly grows as a character in that regard.

By contrast, the animated versions are chalk and cheese. They’re strikingly different, even though they’re both warriors. Over the course of spending time together, Steve’s insecurities in himself come to light explaining his behaviour, and while he’s still a lovable rogue he becomes more open-minded. Likewise, Wonder Woman accepts that her opinion of men is biased and learns that equality is indeed possible. They evolve as characters together, and the subject of feminism is tackled head-on.

Is the Wonder Woman movie overrated

There are other areas where the animated film outshines the live action movie too. The frustration of some Amazons at being separated from Man’s World is raised several times, being considered by some as self-defeating, cowardly, and self-imposed imprisonment. Wonder Woman’s role as an ambassador of the Amazons is brought up, while Ares is a far harder foe whose history with Hippolyta is more personal – and thus more meaningful. However, one of the key differences is the ending of the film itself and the overall spirit of it.

In the lacklustre BvS movie, Wonder Woman had a goal of trying to retrieve a photograph of herself with Steve Trevor and his comrades, proof of her existence in that time. In this film, Bruce Wayne sends her the original. Since no other photos of her exist and the world remains unaware of her, it’s safe to say that she’s stayed out of the limelight since World War One. The problem with that is it means she kept a low profile in WW2 and the countless other wars which have happened since then. She hasn’t stopped any crimes or saved any innocent victims from any tragic fates (or at least not in costume). She’s kept such a low profile that if anybody saw her save the day, nobody would even know her name. But finally she goes leaping off in to the night sky in her costume, now determined to make a difference after all this time.

In the animated version, however, she’s become a part of public consciousness by the end of the film. The Cheetah is causing havoc for the police, and someone has to do something. Like a true superhero, she passes her things to Steve Trevor and races off to do the stereotypical alleyway quick-change. Emerging from the shadows in her costume, she leaps into the fray as a young girl spots her and excitedly exclaims “Look! It’s Wonder Woman!” It’s a wonderful moment. She’s acknowledged, and more than that she’s respected and admired.

It’s a cliché of comic book adaptations: Every super-powered character makes some bold statement about how it’s their duty to save the day, and then stands brooding on a rooftop or goes racing off into the distance. It’s a standard moment which both WW films pull off. But to have a child look at her, shouting her name proudly, that makes it something special.

Is the Wonder Woman movie overrated

This may seem like a minor complaint, but it’s important that superheroes on such a large scale be a symbol of hope. It’s one of the biggest complaints about the DCEU’s Superman and Batman so far, and to some extent was missed in the new Wonder Woman film. And if you think Batman gets a free pass because he’s more of a grim loner, even Christopher Nolan had Batman gain a kid’s respect in Batman Begins by giving him a periscope from his utility belt. At their best, superheroes are meant to be symbols of hope for the general public, out in the open and inspiring people. The animated version showed that. The live action version showed her hiding away for nearly 100 years for no reason.

There are flaws with Wonder Woman. There are flaws with every film. Is Wonder Woman overrated? Probably… very much like several Marvel films – especially the Avengers movies, which look less impressive as time goes on. It’s easy to misjudge Wonder Woman as a great film, simply because the other DCEU movies have been so bad that even a good Wonder Woman movie looks great by comparison. It doesn’t show the best of Wonder Woman (or Steve Trevor) and it plays it safe by avoiding some issues that even the animated film took time to cover.

But it is a good film. It’s fun, it’s entertaining, it’s got some great action sequences and it’s got some heart to it. There’s nothing wrong with playing it safe, as long as the final product is decent –  which in this case it is. Just remember though, that it could still be a whole lot better. Maybe, if we’re lucky, the DCEU will get to that point. After the success of WW, anything is possible.

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Comments 26

  1. Stacy Marinaro says:
    5 years ago

    The story was familiar from true history point of view. 1944 There was a small town that a rogue American army saved only to have that same town Wiltz, Luxembourg destroyed days later because that same small army where unable to find and stop the bombs in time. So take that same history about and just add wonder woman. The comic book places wonderwoman in world war 2– However the movie claims she is fighting Germans in world war 1 which differs from the comic book and probly to throw us off the scent of the fact that the script was basically stole from a true war story in WW 2

    Reply
  2. Ricky Kent says:
    5 years ago

    It’s defly a winner for a lead female super hero movie as many couldn’t impress at the box office but this movie changed that! Well done Wonder Woman

    Reply
  3. Finn says:
    5 years ago

    All the recent DC movies have sucked, this one not as much but it still sucked!
    It felt disjointed and limp and more like a pilot for a TV show. The execs at DC seem to assume dark lighting equals gritty. The script was limp and boring, the action sequences where ruined by slow mo & the CGI looked unfinished & rushed. It was a complete waste of talented actors who should of deserved more.
    Marvel films appear to be made by fans for the fans, mybe DC & WB need to sit down with some comic fans & have a good talk.
    Using Wonder Women as a feminist statement is weak considering for a long time most fans of her have been male.
    The SuperGirl TV show is better even with the cut down budget and rushed storys yet I dont hear feminists banging on about that just because its on TV, hmmm.

    Reply
  4. Johnny Jay says:
    5 years ago

    To be honest I don’t give a shit it’s just something new to watch and that’s better than nothing

    Reply
  5. Dave Wharmby says:
    5 years ago

    One of DC’s finest

    Reply
  6. Joey Davis says:
    5 years ago

    Rick, you’ve made a lot of good points but it’s never a wise idea to compare a live action movie with a cartoon. So much more can be done with animation. I, too, loved the animated movie and would have loved to see more elements of it incorporated into the film – just as I would have loved to see more aspects of the various Superman mythos, often portrayed in animation, in live action films.

    As for the movie being ‘overrated,’ I believe it is you who is somewhat missing the point. The spirit of the movie extends way beyond what we see on the screen. It’s made a cultural impact. Not only have I read of this online (fashion statements, little girls ditching Beauty and the Beast birthday party themes in favor of Wonder Woman), I’ve experienced it myself. Let’s forget for a moment how it has finally laid to rest the notion people won’t see a female superhero movie. Let’s forget for a moment how it has opened a dialog on feminism. Let’s discuss what’s happening on the ground, with true fans, with NEW fans. How, for first time ever, children are grazing through the DC section of toy and department stores, trying to grab hold of something, anything, from this film. I saw a father futilely attempt to steer his son away from the Wonder Woman figures to the Star Wars section. I’ve seen Target clerks promising customers a new shipment of Wonder Woman merchandise is on the way. My daughter was ecstatic when she got her first Wonder Woman doll and when she insisted on giving one as a birthday present to one of her friends, that 11 year old girl cried when she unwrapped it.

    I guess a father raising a young daughter sees the world differently. Though things are changing rapidly, she’s still at an automatic disadvantage because of her gender and she’s beginning to realize that. Imagine the millions of grandmothers, mothers and daughters who are finally seeing a strong superhero on the bigscreen – one that represents all the hopes and dreams they’ve ever had?

    Sorry, I’m getting a bit sappy so I’ll jump track.

    Of course Wonder Woman has plot holes. Tell me a movie that doesn’t. But the fact so many critics have taken it upon themselves to point this out (some rather smugly) when they’ve never done so before kind of reveals a determination to chop this film down for some other reason than just a fair critique of the movie. Couple this with the fact a large portion of the fanboy community gnashed their teeth over the selection of a thin, olive-skinned, brown-eyed Jewish woman instead of a big breasted blue-eyed American has many true fans and social commenters asking, “WTF is actually going on here?”

    Reply
  7. Gary van den Heuvel says:
    5 years ago

    Yes, probably a bit over rated, things will calm down soon. But it is still a pretty pivotal movie ITO it’s achievement.

    Reply
  8. Rhett Pilcher says:
    5 years ago

    Saw it today. Loved it. Enjoyed seeing a strong female character being played without politics being shoved down my throat.

    Reply
  9. Ria says:
    5 years ago

    With the recent spate of DCEU films being so downright terrible, of course this film would be viewed as excellent. However, it is quite clear that WW is badly misunderstood and the point being made quite clearly missed. The 2009 WW Animated film is still the best representation of WW and those who fail to see the point of the article quite clearly do not understand WW at all. There is no need for hate speech or threats simply based on one’s opinions on the comments. Excellent and well written article with very valid points made.

    Reply
  10. Gage Lee Sweeney says:
    5 years ago

    Yes but it’s really good. Just not as good as some people say it is

    Reply
  11. Kerneels Odendal says:
    5 years ago

    Spoilert alert!!! Stan Lee will not appear in this movie.

    Reply
  12. Paul Michaels says:
    5 years ago

    It’s a comic book movie not Tom Clancy.
    Nitpicking click-bait much?

    Reply
  13. Danny Gonzalez says:
    5 years ago

    Your overrated lol

    Reply
  14. Tomas Valdez Jimenez says:
    5 years ago

    If where a fail movie this coments will never existed.

    Reply
  15. Daniel Francis says:
    5 years ago

    Do journalists make ridiculous statements to create traffic rather than craft well written stories?

    Reply
  16. Josh Johnson says:
    5 years ago

    yes. ww is very overrated. jean grey emma frost or psylocke would smite her.

    Reply
  17. Leo Sivaja says:
    5 years ago

    Really? Overrated? Finally one of the movies gets goods critics and now is overrated.

    Reply
    • Omar Torres says:
      5 years ago

      I feel you

      Reply
  18. Alexander Chang-Reavis says:
    5 years ago

    Rick Austin should go and choke

    Reply
  19. Alexander Chang-Reavis says:
    5 years ago

    It is the PERFECT comic book film.

    Reply
  20. Shan V Perera says:
    5 years ago

    Im sorry what? U drunk?

    Reply
  21. Martin Cheetham says:
    5 years ago

    Great article – I agree wholeheartedly

    Reply
  22. Wayne Richard Smith says:
    5 years ago

    I enjoyed the movie but found a lot of the movie visually dark. As in difficult to see.

    Reply
  23. Jessie R. Boyd says:
    5 years ago

    I agree its getting old

    Reply
  24. Ashish Kalam says:
    5 years ago

    I think it’s a breath of fresh from rest of the DCEU movies .
    It’s Awesome but we wouldn’t think so if the rest of the DCEU was better.

    Reply
  25. Brandon Carl Keller says:
    5 years ago

    I wouldn’t say it’s overrated because even though most people have a positive opinion of it, I hardly hear people say it’s great. Nobody is saying it should win best overall picture at the oscars; it’s just a fun flick everyone should check out.

    Reply

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