Wonder Woman: Movie Review

If you're OK with Wonder Woman's origin story involving quite a lot of Greek mythology, then DC Comics' new take on the Amazing Amazonian superhero is one to see. It's one of their best, if not the best. Moviegoers certainly haven't been this epically entertained so far this year.

Israeli actress Gal Gadot dons Wonder Woman's suit in director Patty Jenkins' giant cinematic take on the powerful heroine. Beautifully directed, written, and acted by Gadot, Wonder Woman has all the appeal and power of a great superhero flick.

In it, we find Diana wrestling between her mother's wishes and her own sense of duty to protect innocents. When Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), an American pilot, crash lands on Diana's secret paradise island, inhabited only by Amazonian women, he shares the atrocities going on in the outside world, in a war that could end all wars. Unable to sit idly by while millions perish, she returns with Trevor, soon realizing the magnitude of her powers and her true calling.

Wonder Woman, as Diana Prince comes to be known, owes her creation to Zeus – according to the movie and original comic books. Similar to the early stories, hers is a story steeped in Greek mythology. She and her Amazonian sisters revere the "gods". This alone may turn you off from being interested in this film. If you still are, the movie offers empowering messages for most ages (older than 13) and both genders. This isn't a chick flick.

It's an intriguing, sometimes funny, thrill ride, teaching audiences that though this world is dark, light can conquer it. At the end of the day, only love can truly save us. Wonder Woman embodies Micah 6:8 ("to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly"), however she doesn't point to God as the answer. One thing is for certain, her engaging and soon-to-be popular movie will get moviegoers around the world thinking about love and hope and where on earth to find it.

Wonder Woman is beautiful. Gadot is striking. But, the movie itself is stunning. Vibrant colors, impressive stunt work, amazing visual effects, and a pulsating theme song by Rupert Gregson-Williams all add levels of quality to the engaging story – helping to push this DC movie beyond where most of the studio's previous work has achieved. Everything just comes together nicely. It's the complete package, offering general audiences an enjoyable time at the movies – along with reminders about important lessons our world could stand to learn even today – ones about sacrifice, strength, compassion, and above all else, love.

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive content, Wonder Woman isn't a kids movie. One scene shows Trevor almost completely naked – head to toe. He covers somewhat, but the nudity is significant. Diana has an innocence about her; she talks of sex and is seen kissing a man in a hotel room (though the scene ends there). Multiple characters drink alcohol, a few to excess. The violence is set in a war (World War 1 instead of WW2 as in the comic books), but it's not gory. Many die from gunfire, chemical gas, and hand to hand/sword combat (especially by Wonder Woman). The time change to her storyline works fantastically well, though some die-hard fans might not like it.

If you are accustomed to the modern superhero film and won't be bothered by this movie's mythological references, then you can't do much better than Wonder Woman. It's going to be the blockbuster to beat this year.