My review of Wonder Woman 1984, no spoilers.
Wonder Woman is my second favorite superhero, the first one has always been Batman. I remember that the best thing about Batman vs. Superman was the appearance of Wonder Woman. I loved that character in that failed movie of 2016! The following year her solo film, Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins, was released and was a huge commercial success. I really liked Wonder Woman's first movie, although the final part of it bothered me a little and so did this new adventure.
I understand that due to the worldwide success of Wonder Woman, Patty Jenkins and other people involved in the production realized, through the many promotional trips and events they attended, that the character played by Gal Gadot, is a reference for many young people and children.
For this second solo adventure of Wonder Woman, Patty Jenkins is one of the scriptwriters of the film, unlike the first film, where she was only the director, this time she has participated along with writers Geoff Johns and Dave Callaham in the development of the story of Diana Prince in 1984, facing two villains: Maxwell Lord and Cheetah. This is why the film is imbued with a great moral charge, messages of positivism, doing good, not taking shortcuts in life, empowering women, etc. and all from a simple point of view, aimed at that audience for whom Wonder Woman is a character worthy of admiration and who must set a good example.
This is palpable in the first sequence, which is spectacular. I am fascinated by how exciting that flashback of Diana as a child was. The final message of the whole initial sequence is very clear, don't cheat, the most important thing is to always go with the truth and win things the right way.
In other scenes in which Wonder Woman appears in her costume, catching evil people, and with children involved in the action, it is highlighted that the character causes admiration in the girls, saves them from danger and even gives them time to wink at them, to keep the secret.
These things have been the most criticized in WW84 by a wide sector of the public who have seen it, expressing their disappointment in social networks. They have said that the film is very childish, but I don't know what the hell they expected to see. It is a film about a superhero, who has also become a symbol of admiration for many girls and teenagers, who are its target audience, that audience is focused on all those moral messages of the film. Patty Jenkins is not to blame for the fact that adult men like superheroes, maybe even she thinks that if people over thirty like superheroes, it is because they are also somewhat childish, right?
I've never been a comic book geek, in fact, I don't know many things about the universe of Batman comics, because I've never read them or collected them. The same thing happens to me with the other DC and Marvel characters that come from comics. I remember Wonder Woman for having seen her in the cartoons when I was a kid, besides the series with Lynda Carter, who broadcast the chapters in a channel where they had many old TV series.
I have the feeling that the director has taken that old TV series as a reference, when writing this new adventure, set in 1984, that's why the moralistic and a little bit naive tone.
I knew what I would see, the trailer already showed too much of the plot and I enjoyed the whole movie. I will only reproach you for the result of the story, the way you defeated Maxwell Lord, I found the worst part of the film. I can play dumb with other inconsistencies in the script, but this last part is really disappointing. It is one of the few things I agree with the negative reviews it has received.
Also, the expected confrontation between Wonder Woman and her antagonist Cheetah seemed very short. I was left wanting to continue seeing that villain now completely transformed into Cheetah and that the super fight would have been on a lit stage. Unfortunately, that big fight happens at night, so the darkness can hide some deficiencies in the special effects. I wanted to see Cheetah in more detail! And that the fight would have been longer and more spectacular. I hope I will be granted that wish for the third film.
The appearance of Steve Trevor, Diana's pilot and great love, has also been criticized. Something that kept us intrigued when we saw the trailer. How is this possible? The character died in the first film, set in the great world war and this new story is from 1984. Well, there is an explanation for how that dead man comes back to life. I liked his return and I don't agree with those who say it doesn't add anything. On the contrary, it doesn't just work to give us funny scenes, Trevor will test the Amazon, who will have to overcome that final challenge, sacrificing what she loves and desires most, to save the world.
Besides, it has been lovely to see the two characters together again, the great love of his life, whom he swears to love forever. A subplot of love that has moved me quite a bit. There is chemistry between the characters and it works as a definitive farewell for both.
The film takes up a lot of its extensive footage to develop the story of the two villains, with a Maxwell Lord played by Pedro Pascal, whose actor does it very well, he is a villain with some comedy, perhaps because it seems that the actor has been inspired by Trump to make it cartoonish. The actor, who jumped to fame in Game of Thrones, and has starred in the first seasons of the series Narcos, is now world famous for being El Madalorian. I liked his Maxwell Lord. As I've never read comics, I don't know how will be the real origin and way of being of this character, if you are a comic book geek you can tell me your opinion in the comments.
The other villain: Chita (Barabara Minerva) was the one I wanted to see, because I was surprised that they chose the actress Kristen Wiig for that character. She's an actress I've enjoyed many of her comedies with, and I never would have imagined her as a cheetah, but the actress manages well. She is the character who has the biggest transformation in history, going from being a silly and unattractive woman, who everyone makes fun of, to becoming that villain, who loses all sympathy for others. It's a shame that what we see of her, totally transformed into Cheetah, is so short. Could it be that more special effects work was needed to fully enjoy Cheetah? I think that's one of the reasons, but they still spent a lot of money on special effects.
Gal Gadot, she repeats in her role as a hero. What can I tell you about her? I love it. Ever since I first saw her in the Fast and Furious saga, this skinny woman made me fall in love. When five years ago it was announced that she would be Wonder Woman, many criticized that choice, but the actress knew how to get the character. She is the current Wonder Woman and I fall in love with her in that suit, although I would like something shorter, it is very covered up, hahaha, but I understand that it is a film for all audiences. I hope she will continue to be Wonder Woman for ten more years, before they invent a restart of the franchise.
Adventure, romance, action, comedy, WW84 has it all, so we spent a couple of hours entertaining, I liked it and was satisfied with almost everything. Regardless of some inconsistencies in the script, I only criticize it in a negative way, it's the way the conflict is solved. The same thing happened to me with the first film. We must not forget that it is a product for the whole family and I enjoyed it as if I were a child. Wonder Woman is morally correct, she is a hero, she does not kill, she does not harm, she protects the weakest, she is a character that should be an example for the new generations. If you don't accept this, then go to twitter , the ideal social network for haters and trolls, to download all your anger because the film has not been what you expected.
If you really want to see a more adult movie, then I recommend you to see the movie Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, directed by Angela Robinson and starring Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall and Bella Heathcote. That one is aimed at an adult audience, whose plot tells us the true story of the character of Wonder Woman, created by Marston. You'll be surprised by everything that inspired the creation of the character, the life of this man and the references to those he made in the first comics.
Wonder Woman 84 I recommend it, it's a good sequel. It has left me wanting to see another Wonder Woman adventure with Gal Gadot.
My Ranking: 3.5/5
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