This is one of the best Superhero movies ever made.

Rating: 10/10 (13 June 2017)

Finally a DCEU movie that is loved by critics, fans and general audiences alike and for good reason. Everyone across the board that worked on this movie did a fabulous job and this is amply evident from; the amazing and nuanced performances to the assured direction to the resplendent cinematography to the beautiful, attentive production design and costume design. This a very different film from the previous two efforts in the DCEU, namely Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, in that it is a standalone story set in World War 1 which allows director Patty Jenkins to really home in on and redefine Wonder Woman for a new generation and that she does with great success in this movie.
One thing I particularly admire about Patty Jenkins is her attitude towards Superheroes. She not so long ago said something along the lines of 'The word "cheesiness" is banned in my world' and it really shows. In a time of Superhero movies like Deadpool and Guardians of the Galaxy that wink at the camera at every opportunity, it was really refreshing to see a Superhero movie done earnestly and with a passion for seriousness. Also, Jenkins pays homage to classics of the genre such as Richard Donner's 1978 Superman and Sam Raimi's 2002 Spider-Man. If you have seen these two movies you will recognize the homages immediately when you see them.
However, even with these qualities the movie is still very humorous due to the 'fish out of water' scenario Diana finds herself in from the second act onward. Gal Gadot is outstanding in this role. She displays naivety, compassion, wonder (no pun intended), bravery, strength and heroism with abundant aptitude. Chris Pine is also fantastic as Steve Trevor. They have bundles of chemistry together and the film really is elevated because of this. Lucy Davis is remarkable as Etta Candy and really leaves an impression despite her limited screen time.
I heard some complaints about the villain in this movie, namely Ares the God of War, alluding to him being undeveloped. For me, these complaints don't hold any weight because in my view the real villain in this movie is not something physical but rather the darkness that lurks inside all humanity. The sign of a good hero-villain dynamic is that they compete for the same goal. That is what happens here. They are competing for the heart of mankind. Ares wants to reveal them as greedy, corrupt and dysfunctional and Diana believes that Man is good, kind and compassionate. In the end, she learns that they are a dichotomy of the two and it comes down to what people choose to be as she tells Ares what she learned from Steve Trevor: "It's not about deserve, it's about what you believe and I believe in Love".
In summary, I could not recommend this movie enough. This is one of the best Superhero movies ever made.