I may as well get straight to the point. It's the best DC film since The Dark Knight. It's not even a contest. This film has that one thing both MoS and BvS lacked - heart. This film defines exactly who Diana is and never once questions why she believes what she believes. A leader, an inspiration, a bright light in a dark time, it's someone who wants to change things for the better and the film embraces that. Patty Jenkins has captured the essence of who Diana is in all her glory.
I'll preface everything by saying the film is not without it's faults. The first 20 mins or so feels incredibly clunky as the story tries to fit in who the Amazons are and what their history is. And the lack of any real exploration of Themyscirca was also disappointing. Overall I feel the Amazons were short shifted a little bit with very little time given to really develop relationships, especially between Diana and Hippolyta. It almost feels like a weird prologue that doesn't really fit with the rest of the movie
But the film picks up once Steve Trevor arrives and Diana leaves with him for London. Anyone worried about Marvel-like humour needn't worry. The fish out of water elements that bring out most of the humour works much like the levity in The Dark Knight, nothing feels written for the sake of making the audience laugh and instead feels like the kind of humour that comes naturally in conversation.
It's during this time that Diana slowly learns how this world works, she questions the decisions made during times of war and the effects it has on people, never once being satisfied with the answers she's given. It's here where her inspiration to others start to take effect as she literally charges across a battlefield. It's this type of thing that has been missing in the last couple of movies, a character who wants to help and doesn't take no for an answer.
In terms of cast, I was never won over by Gal in BvS and none of the trailers lead me to believe anything was going to be different. I still feel there's a clear level of difference between her and the rest of the cast, and she still has limitations in terms of her range, but overall she does well. She has good chemistry with Chris Pine, it might be one of the best superhero relationships that's been capture on film, and she undoubtably has a warmth that comes through on screen.
For the action it's pretty good for the most part, although Patty seems to have taken a few too many Zack Snyder slow-mo pills which makes some of the sequences feel awkward, and there's some noticeable CG elements that feel distracting. The final set piece feels a little all over the place at times but not to the point of ruining the movie. The score blends in with the film pretty well, but that annoying guitar theme music does make an appearance though which felt completely out of place with the tone of the film.
Overall, this is oh-so close to being a great movie. A few changes here and there and I think it's as good as TDK or Logan, but alas it falls ever so short. Agonisingly short. There are clear influences from both Superman: The Movie and Batman Begins, it seems fitting the first movie from Wonder Woman would follow in those films footstep.
8/10
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