Enamouring in its powerful display of what a female superhero film can look like, a thoroughly enjoyable and surprisingly clever blockbuster.

Rating: 8/10 (13 June 2017)

Putting aside the famous cape and cowl, the infamously grumpy Supes', and deterring from the unfittingly grim tone of the DC Extended Universe up to now, 'Wonder Woman' embodies a fresh start for the franchise, underpinned by subtle yet reverberating messages that are likely to inspire future instalments in several, encouraging mannerisms. Patty Jenkins has produced a truly gratifying entry into DCEU, defying all odds and breaking barriers which should now open the floodgates to more much needed positivity in the DCEU.
There was plentiful doubt amongst fans upon hearing the news that 'Wonder Woman' would be set during the First World War. But actually, this change in back drop, not only is it suitable in displaying the film's forceful morals, is a stimulating shift that allows Jenkins to explore the fundamentals of humanity without needing Bruce Wayne to have an existential crisis (a la 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'). The narrative follows Amazonian princess, Diana (Gal Gadot), and her journey with Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), a spy for British intelligence, as they venture into the front-line battlements of World War I, attempting to stop a potentially world threatening force. The 1918 setting allows for a clever guise in the Germans as a resonant opposing force, but as the story unfolds, the horrors of war sparks turmoil within Diana, who painfully begins to understand that she can't save everyone.
Gadot really puts on a magnificent show; perfectly cast as the Amazonian legend, she is now an icon in the industry, a new figurehead for the DCEU going forward. Supported by a fantastic array of individually absorbing characters, with a notably gripping performance from Chris Pine, 'Wonder Woman' is compellingly personal, contrasted with exhilarating action pieces which culminate to present a formidable overall conviction. Diana's initially naïve outlook on humanity adds superb depth to the narrative as she slowly yet reluctantly understands the barbaric nature of the world of man, and this allows it to be the first DC film to have such a convincing moral stance since 2008's 'The Dark Knight'.
It flows much like any other superhero film, and the origin story backdrop leaves a lot to be wished for in the opening third of the film particularly, but its packed with laughter, tears and kicks that make the build up to the unveiling of Wonder Woman in all her glory more than worth the wait (a scene which is wholeheartedly one of the best in the genre's history). Diana also has a much more interesting background, making this a story that is justifiably explored and, moreover, delightfully told.
A long time in the making, even longer in its legacy, 'Wonder Woman' is a modern pioneer for superhero movies. It demonstrates that, not only can a female hero be just as spellbinding, if not more so, than her male counterparts, but that DC is capable of making good films if it stops being so damn gloomy, and adds a dash of positivity in it place.