The DCEU has FINALLY hit a home run!

Rating: 8/10 (3 June 2017)

Wonder Woman is the fourth film in the DCEU and takes place during World War One, therefore placing it before the events of the previous DCEU entries. It is the first female-led superhero film, as Patty Jenkins takes on the role of director and Gal Gadot stars as the titular superhero. On top of that, it's the first theatrically- released live action adaptation of the character of Wonder Woman. Chris Pine portrays Steve Trevor, and the films also stars Robin Wright as General Antiope, Danny Huston as General Ludendorff, David Thewlis as Ares, Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta, Elena Anaya as Doctor Poison, and Lucy Davis as Etta Candy.
I'll just start right off the bat; Wonder Woman is a triumph for the DCEU and the best DC film since The Dark Knight, no question. Wonder Woman hits such a glorious home run that I almost got out of my seat and started cheering. And this is the darn truth, half of the people in my theater gave the film a standing ovation when the credits started rolling. But why? Well let me tell you. When it comes to films that are centered around one character in a vast multi-verse, it is imperative that the filmmakers get that character right. Wonder Woman is written by Zack Snyder, Allan Heinberg and Jason Fuchs and portrayed by Gal Gadot superbly. Her entire dynamic screams "fish-out-of-water," and those types of characters are the ones I find to be easily relatable. As Diana Prince walks along the streets of London, marveling at the fashion popular at the time, or witnesses soldiers coming home from the war, battered and broken, you can relate to her. She isn't some experienced veteran who's used to seeing brutality like this, or some fashion supernova, she is a minnow in a pond chock full of piranhas. A minnow capable of cracking open a can of whoop-ass whenever she feels like it, I might add. The characterization of Wonder Woman/Diana Prince is unmatched in this Extended Universe, and that's complemented by Gal Gadot's colossally charismatic performance. Gadot exhibits on-point line delivery and excellent displays of emotion, and this is her best work to date in my opinion.
Chris Pine also put on a great performance as Steve Trevor, and the romance between Trevor and Diana was satisfyingly investing and not sappy, as the main romance is one of the most common areas where superhero movies fall flat, but not when it comes to this film. Everyone else put on really good or great performances, with Lucy Davis particularly shining.
On the flip side of substance, the visual/CGI effects were top- notch, although there were some parts that boasted uneven CGI (specifically the fire effects). However, one particular department I must single out is the stunt work. The stunts are amazing, and something I can appreciate is that Patty Jenkins does not use varying camera angles to mask the not-so-spectacular stunts. Not that that's a bad thing, cause even the worst stunts were still good. That tells you how dedicated Jenkins was to this project, and I dearly hope that she helms more films in the DCEU. Now back to what I was previously discussing, the fighting sequences themselves are something to behold. Unlike Captain America: Civil War, where there were some fighting scenes worth complaining about, I can't recall one dull moment of action throughout this entire film. The action and fighting sequences kept me on the edge of my seat throughout this movie's run time, while the drama rarely ever lets up. Dang, what a gem this is.
Is Wonder Woman just as great as The Dark Knight? No. But it does come close. Overall, Wonder Woman is a standout among the DCEU. Not just because it's colorful and not a depression-inducing shade of gray, but the film's handling and representation of the iconic titular character is unparalleled. Wonder Woman/Diana Prince is both a fierce warrior and a curious individual, determined to restore peace to mankind and learn all about their ways of life as well. Intensely terrific action, a cohesive plot, a satisfying main romance, and a colorful tone with serious elements all gel together to form my favorite film of 2017 so far. Whether you're a long-time fan of the character, or recently introduced, you'll get your money's worth and more with the DCEU's magnum opus, and hopefully this will set an example for the folks at DC in the years to come.
Rating - 8.4/10 stars