ORIGINALLY POSTED: June 20, 2017
By now I hope that just about everyone, no matter what gender you are, has seen Wonder Woman. Let me start out by saying Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins, is a stunning and groundbreaking film for women in geek/pop culture (an arena currently dominated by the boys club). I think that is something we can all agree on. Since the movie first premiered I have been reading every article I can get my hands on about the film. I also may have developed a small obsession with Gal Gadot, but that's besides the point...
In any case I want to share the five thoughts I have had since seeing the film. I want to talk these mostly because I believe many of you have probably had similar thoughts, and let's face it I need to get them off my chest.
*WARNING POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*
1) Gal Gadot kicks ass - period! There were a lot of criticisms floating around on the internet when Gadot was cast as Wonder Woman. People talked about everything from her acting experience to her physique. The internet shared it's opinions far and wide. Many of those crappy opinions were put to rest when she made her debut in Batman vs Superman, but Wonder Woman absolutely drove the point home and has made Gal Gadot's name synonymus with Wonder Woman and Diana Prince. Gal Gadot is the Wonder Woman we have been waiting for.
2) The toy lines are EPIC! The other day I was strolling through Target and I was literally AMAZED at the shelves and shelves of Wonder Woman merchandise available. There are toys and action figures ranging from actual dress up wear such as her gauntlets, to bendable and poseable figures with real hair accompanied by her sword and shield to match. When I was growing up in the 90's girls were lucky to see a Princess Leia or Padme Amidala action figure on the shelves mixed in amongst the dozens of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Anakin Skywalker action figures. Let me tell you walking through Target and seeing Wonder Woman equally represented, if not more present, than her male costars and other superheroes was a really emotional moment. My husband laughed at me a little because he actually thought I was going to cry just talking about it. I know I'm getting a little sappy, but I felt proud and excited for women and girls everywhere, especially those of us engrained in geek culture. All of that merchandise geared towards young girls proves there is a shift in geek/pop culture - THIS IS OUR MOMENT!
3) On the press tour why are they really asking Gal Gadot about her shoes and why she is not wearing heels? Seriously? That is all they were able to think of to ask her? Ridiculous. Why don't you ask her about how she feels making history or about why she wants to be a role model to future generations? Of all the questions in the world they ask her about her shoes!? How insulting.
4)Let's face it. The beginning of the film was a little boring. Lilly Aspell the child actress who plays young Diana in the movie paled in comparison to the adults around her. I think she made a great effort, but when you stand her performance next to Dafne Keen, who played Laura Kinney in Logan, she just falls short (this comparison is made due to them being two recent child actresses in superhero films). I wish the opening would have told the origin story in a bit of a different way. Perhaps a narrator could have told us the story of Diana, Themyscira, and the Amazons set to a screen filled with some sort of animation - or even comic book panels that would lead the audience to remember this all started as a comic. I am not a director nor an actress but I think shortening the beginning up and then moving into her training sequence wouldn't have hurt the movie. Again, just my opinion.
5) I really sincerely hope that moving forward not only DC Comics, but Marvel Comics, will see the impact Wonder Woman (a beautfiully crafted movie directed and starred in by women - with Chris Pine helping out along the way) has made on the world. I am looking forward to seeing more female superhero movies with substance, grace, action, and integrity come out in theaters. The only place women in comic based movies have to go from here is up, and this movie was a great start to a new trend.
In closing we should all continue to support this movie so more can come out like it. Go see the movie one, two, or even three times! You should buy every piece of clothing, every action figure, and every piece of memorabilia available to show that we as women, and men, want to continue to see quality female led superhero movies. To these large companies money talks. I personally am going to continue to support the film in any way I can.
Thank you for reading!
DISCLAIMER:
All images are property of DC Comics and Warner Brothers respectively. I received no compensation for this post. I am just a woman who enjoys movies.
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