When the credits rolled on Wonder Woman, my mom turned to me and asked,
"Do you think it's a coincidence that this movie came out when it did?"
Taking Literature Into Film last semester taught me two major lessons:
1. Every film/TV show is an adaptation of a book (at least, it seems that way)
2. Every film is made when it's made for a reason (i.e. historical, social, and/or cultural context)
That second lesson in particular is why I was able to reply confidently with a big, fat...
"Hell no!"
Sure, this movie may have been "in the making" for a long time. But there's no doubt in my mind that it finally came to fruition when it did for good reason. In a world where women still have to battle every day to protect the rights and opportunities that we've worked tirelessly to secure, it's only appropriate for a kick ass character to make her glorious return.
And boy, has she ever.
Before we go any further, here's my disclaimer:
I have no problem admitting that I enjoy superhero movies as much as the next person. Thor, Suicide Squad (though it definitely had its issues), Doctor Strange, The Avengers.
Don't even get me started on Batman vs. Superman though...the best part of the three torturous hours was Wonder Woman's introduction!
What I'm getting at here is that while I've enjoyed the films, I didn't exactly take anything away from them. Good for entertainment, not so good for anything greater than just that. It just always felt like something was missing.
I'm happy to report that Wonder Woman did so much more than entertain me.
Although, it most definitely did that too!
Yes, the film packed in explosions, fight scenes, and a nefarious villain (or two) like your typical Marvel/DC movie does during its 2-ish hour runtime. The scene where Diana is fighting her way across the front, deflecting bullets and bombs backed by her male counterparts, epitomizes these elements but there's something different about it.
In fact, there's something different about all of the fight scenes in the film. Diana and her counterparts work together rather than one trying to overpower the other.
Yes, Diana is more powerful than Steve or his friends (she is a demigod after all...) and that fact is awesomely highlighted. Yeah, she usually goes ahead of the others because she's much better equipped weapon-wise and training-wise.
She did throw an effing TANK, after all.
And honestly, the name of the film is Wonder Woman, so CLEARLY we're all there to watch Wonder Woman to kick some serious booty.
But, Diana, Steve, and their friends are always looking out for each other and doing their best to support the cause in the best way that they can.
The buzzword/concept surrounding this movie is without a doubt "feminism", and the feminist in me is jumping up and down out of pure happiness!
When it boils down to it, feminism is all about equality for the sexes, not putting women above anyone else. The way that Diana, Steve, and their counterparts function as a successful unit is a perfect example of this.
Don't get me wrong, the thought of a strong female character like Diana kicking ass 24/7 does make me tear up a bit. But so does the way that Steve and Diana's relationship unfolded.
Personally, I didn't want to see a sex scene between Diana and Steve. And weirdly enough, I'm glad I didn't see one. I love a good sex scene as much as the next gal, and while it was clear plot-wise that their relationship was headed somewhere steamy, it didn't feel right to see that on the big screen. The relationship between the two characters seemed genuine and special (unusual for a superhero movie but much appreciated) and I respect the director's decision to omit whatever happened after the kiss we did get to see. Sometimes not seeing something says more than seeing it, and this was one of those times for sure.
For once, a female superhero was so much more than just eye candy. Gal Gadot is virtually the most beautiful woman on the planet, and we all know this to be true from watching Wonder Woman. Unlike other female superheroes, Diana is coveted for more than just her beauty; her wit, intelligence, and selflessness are what truly make her a desirable character.
A superhero film practically free from the "male gaze" that pervades every other Marvel/DC film, thanks to director Patty Jenkins, the shots focus on impressive leg sweeps and sword-swinging arms rather than jiggling breasts.
Speaking of jiggling, can we talk about the fact that Diana's thigh actually jiggled when she hit the ground?!
#RealThighsJiggle
I could go on and on about Wonder Woman, and I'll probably write more about it when I can cohesively synthesize my thoughts, but for now I'll leave it at that.
I'm so happy we live in a world where girls and women have a role model like Gadot's Wonder Woman to look up to. As a woman, I couldn't help but get misty-eyed watching a film made by a woman that featured some seriously bad-ass women and some bad-ass men as well. There's no doubt in my mind that this movie couldn't have come at a better time. We needed this. We still have a long way to go, but this is definitely a jump and a huge leap in the right direction.
