Wonder Woman 1984 is a 2020 superhero film directed by Patty Jenkins, starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Pedro Pascal, and Kristen Wiig. It is a sequel to the 2017 Wonder Woman film and is set in 1984 during the Cold War, the film follows Diana and her past love Steve Trevor as they face off against Max Lord and Cheetah.
There’s a lot going on in this film and it gives the film a rich sense of depth and diversity. First, the story does a good job of not only fleshing out our characters but giving them deep character arcs. There’s a lot of emotional depth to Diana and Steve’s story and it gives the film an almost magical quality. The story goes at a good pace and it didn’t feel like I was watching a two and a half hour movie. Second, the story does a good job of fleshing out us as a people and things we want and value in life, whether it be the simple acts of love or overwhelming success. At its core, it’s an emotional tale but its given context through its storytelling. Now that’s not to say that it doesn’t have its share of problems. There are a number of scenes that do feel like they could’ve been shaved off without taking away from the story. Also, the climax isn’t as badass as it could’ve been, specifically the fight between Diana and Cheetah. Also, the ending was wrapped a little too neatly, there seemingly being no consequences for the events of the film. Still, it’s enjoyable enough to sit through the two and a half hour runtime without feeling like it’s dragging. (3 out of 5)
Jenkins does a good job of the characters and how well written they are as well as their motivations. Diana is more fleshed out with more complexity ti her character. She’s always shown as strong, good hearted, believing in the best in others. And we get to see that despite being a good person she’s lonely and has her own temptations. And the scenes she shared with Steve Trevor are damn near magical. Even in the first film Steve was a scene stealer and he works so well. I was afraid that they would go the comedic route for his fish out of water scenario but it was embraced creatively. You can definitely feel the energy between these two and how it has changed Diana from the first film and this one.
Now let’s shine some light on our villains of the film, Max Lors and Barnara Minerva. I actually really liked and sympathized with these two. Max is a failing business who just wants to succeed while Barbara is an awkward shy woman lacking confidence. As far as Max goes he’s a pretty interesting villain because as. a major threat he’s so different. He’s charismatic, actually likable. So different than Lex Luthor or Zod. On Barbara’s side, I like the character whose pathetic and then gains power and confidence and turns bad. It was one of the things I liked about Electro in the Amazing Spider-Man 2. She brings a comedy but it’s not corny or exaggerated. And I like the phases of her evolution that she’s given. But I will admit I wished that her Cheetah persona would’ve had more screentime. Cheetah is one of my favorite characters in DC and I do like what’s done with the character. But I think the character would’ve benefited from more screentime. Perhaps have her become Cheetah at the end of this film and become the major antagonist of the next. But the ending kinda messes that idea up. Still, I really enjoyed her. And for the most part I liked the supporting characters. (5 out of 5)
If there’s anything this movie got right, it’s the performances. Everybody shines in their scenes. Gal Gadot is the definitive Wonder Woman, hands down, there’s no away around it. The depth of compassion and emotion she gives the character is great. Loved her chemistry with Chris Pine. I’ve always enjoyed Pine as an actor and he’s just great as Steve. Pedro Pascal is great as Max Lord, loved seeing his charisma. But I have to say that Kristen Wiig definitely surprised me. I found her performance deep, well rounded, and actually good. Her transition from insecure and clumsy to confident just made her acting shine even more. I liked the supporting cast but the main just did phenomenal jobs. I was glad to see Robin Wright and Connie Nielsen returning as Antiope and Hippolyta. (5 out of 5)
This is just a good looking movie not only cinematic wise but also style. The film takes place in the eighties and it looks and feels like it which gives it this flashy comic book look and feel that’s not really seen in today’s comic book films. The look of Wonder Woman looks good blending the contemporary art with Amazon culture. The special effects work really well giving the film a very high production quality. The action sequences are well choreographed and intense and Gadot’s great with the physical performance. There’s a lot of slow motion in the action and it works, showcasing the best of Diane’s abilities.
Let’s talk about the look of Cheetah. I loved the look of the character, the design, and how she maneuvered. We don’t see much of the practical aspect but what we do it looks really good. When it comes to the eventual fight at the end, the design takes a back seat. The CGI could’ve worked better had there been more practical use during the fight. There is some CGI that’s noticeable especially the scenes with the lasso. There are moments where Diana’s running super speed and it looks awkward due to her leg movement not matching the speed. Still, it isn’t terrible just a little noticeable. And it doesn’t take away from the movie. (3 out of 5)
Hans Zimmer definitely did his thing. His music was not only deep and resonating but it was emotionally charged. It’s art in its purest form and I found myself listening long after the credits started rolling. Zimmer just has a way of capturing fantastic moments, especially around those of character growth. I loved him in Man of Steel but he just kills here. I just loved the score. The sound design is done masterfully, giving the film depth, the action ambiance, and the emotion impactful. (4 out of 5)
Now, the writing and direction are another thing. There are a lot of people that are not liking this movie and are blaming Patty Jenkins for a poor job. But I’d like to counter their arguments. I think Jenkins is bold and does a take the movie in a different direction than the first film. The action is a bit light but it’s replaced by a meaningful story, a story that explores the main characters, their dilemmas, motivations and redemptions. Jenkins does a good job of actually focusing on the characters. She also uses the movie to deliver a powerful message about the goodness of people. The dialogue itself is quite meaningful and does a good of expressing the characters.
Now, that’s not to say that the writing and direction don’t have their share of problems. There are a lot of holes in the plot that are never really addressed. How was a WWI Bi-plane pilot able to fly a modern jet that despite somehow being a museum piece was fully fueled, primed and prepped to make a non stop flight to Eqypt? How did Max come to discover the strange artifact? Why was the end battle between Diana and Barbara shot the way that it was? Why wasn’t the wishing concept a bit more reserved to reign in the chaotic nature of it? How was Diana able to turn the jet invisible while losing her powers? There are some editing choices that should’ve been given another look at. There’s a bit of corniness to the film that’s reminiscent of the eighties, the Christopher Reeve films, and even the Wonder Woman television series. And for a lot of people this won’t sit well. There are moments where Diana gets into her outfit seemingly out of nowhere. So, the film does have a lot issues with the writing and directional choices. And this movie has been one of the more polarizing DCEU films. (2 out of 5)
In the end, Wonder Woman 1984 is quite different from its predecessor but a good thrill ride nonetheless. This movie is getting a lot of crap for a lot of reasons (some justified some not) but it’s still a movie worth watching. The main problems that the film faces is due to the writing and direction, some of the special effects, and some scenes that could’ve been cut out. However, the story is interesting and meaningful, the characters are well-written, the performances are great, fantastic score and the direction decent. Wonder Woman 1984 gets 4 out of 5.
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