The film DC's 75-year old hero deserves

Rating: 10/10 (6 July 2017)

With stunning cinematography, jaw-dropping war scenes, and an iconic and hopeful portrayal not seen since the likes of Reeve's Superman, Wonder Woman is the film DC's 75-year old hero deserves. 9.6/10
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It would not be unfair to say that the DCEU's fate was riding on Wonder Woman's reception. After a divisive and polarizing trio of films in Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and Suicide Squad, both die-hard DC fans (like myself) and DCEU haters were hoping to not have this endless debate again with WW and get a universally and critically- liked film that would perform well at the box office and please everyone. Well, thankfully, that's exactly what we got.
Pros: For one, the cinematography and location settings are absolutely BEAUTIFUL. You truly believe that Themyscira is a place of fantasy with how stunning (and colorful- a huge DCEU complaint for many, myself included) it looks. Even London, with its purposely dreary atmosphere to show the marked difference between Amazons and lower humans, is still well-shot and crafted in things like shots and mise-en-scene.
Next, Diana's training. Her portrayal as a young girl who just always wanted to fight will be inspiring for many girls, and rightfully so as that is the power of Wonder Woman and what I'm sure Jenkins was trying to achieve. The feminism factor is on full display here, and while some men will write it off, that is just unfair. That's what Wonder Woman was BUILT ON, being a game-changer in the world of superheroes by showing that a woman could beat up criminals just as well as a man, and in that sense Jenkins was spot-on in understanding the character.
The best part in the whole movie was the action/war scenes. They are absolutely jaw-dropping. Set in WWI, the portrayal of things like battles in the trenches and Wonder Woman fighting off a barricade of soldiers with guns is just stunning to behold, especially during my favorite scene of the movie and one of the most incredible scenes I've seen in a superhero scene: the No Man's Land scene. In the face of impossibility like charging a battalion of machine guns head-on, we get a hero who shines as a beacon of hope I have not seen or felt as invested in since the likes of Reeves' Superman in 1978.
The movie is also hilarious. It is so refreshing to see the DCEU not take itself too seriously as in the Snyder era, and actually have some fun too. Chris Pine and Gal Gadot's chemistry is so realistic and believable, unsurprising due to the fact that Jenkins revealed that entire scenes of the movie such as the Boat dialogue scene were entirely improvised and ad-libbed on the spot by Gadot and Pine. The jokes in the film were all spot-on too, unlike Marvel movies in which a sometimes large portion of the jokes are insultingly juvenile/cringy, ala Orange Slices in Civil War or Dance-Offs in GoTG.
Finally, Ares. The plot twist in Ares' identity reveal is downright shocking and threw me for an absolute loop. No possible way you could have seen that coming. It is one of the best kept secrets I have seen in a superhero film and an absolute gut-punch when it was revealed, reminiscent of Bucky's killing of Howard Stark in CA: Civil War but even more shocking. Besides his reveal, Ares' powers, costume, and overpowered-ness are insane. While Marvel has had a remarkable slew of weak villains in their on-going villain problem, DC absolutely shines in this category. The final Wonder Woman v Ares was epic.
Now, the cons (Few): First, Ares' costume. While Ares is an incredible villain, perhaps my favorite in the entire DCEU which has had strong villain entries consistently, I have a problem with his appearance: his mask. The metal look is serviceable, although I would have preferred the blue costume from the comics. But, I don't understand why they didn't obscure his face a little better in the mask, creating the shadow in between his eyes that made him so anonymously frightening in the comics.
Also, the beginning and ending framing were unnecessary and I wish they weren't there. You have an incredible story and brilliant execution by Gadot and Pine, so why frame it with a modern-day look-back on the memory instead of just starting the movie in Themyscira? And throwing in Batman for no reason, I love Batman but why throw him into every movie even as an Easter Egg?
Finally, Steve Trevor's ending. Why end his story? I get that WWI happened a long time ago from where Justice League is set, but Steve Trevor is supposed to be Wonder Woman's main love interest, and his end seemed premature. The ending works for this film alone, but it could pose a problem in the sequel.
Overall, while there are flaws, they are so minor that they don't really affect the movie as a whole. Wonder Woman is a triumph for superhero movies and easily one of the greatest ever.
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Most Memorable Moment(s): 1. No Man's Land fight, 2. Wonder Woman v. Ares final fight and plot twist
Pros: Visually stunning form and cinematography, jaw-dropping action and war scenes, amazing fight choreography, Hilarious jokes a refreshing and welcome addition in DCEU, sure-handed direction from Jenkins, an iconic and hopeful portrayal by Gadot we haven't seen since the likes of Reeve in '78, Great chemistry between Gadot and Pine, overall strong acting and writing, incredible and shocking plot twist in the Ares reveal
Cons: Ares' costume could've been a tiny bit better (helmet area more obscuring), the beginning and ending framing of the story were unnecessary, Steve Trevor's ending
Overall Rating: 9.6/10