Wonder Woman 1984 Movie Review
The time has come
Gal Gadot stole the show, and the hearts of millions, as Diana Prince in the 2017’s Wonder Woman movie. (I was actually afraid I was not going to like anyone as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman as much as I liked Lynda Carter in the role, but Gal Gadot proved me wrong.) Since then I have been waiting for a sequel, and when Wonder Woman 1984 was announced I jumped for joy.
I then jumped and screamed when I discovered I got HBO Max for free and was going to be able to watch Wonder Woman 1984 on Christmas Day. Well, I did, and so did many others. Haha! Since many people have already seen the film this review will be full of spoilers. So, if you have not seen the film and don’t want it to be spoiled for you then bookmark this post for after you have watched it. Since the theme of Wonder Woman 1984 is all about being truthful/honest here is my review.
Wonder Woman 1984 is good, but it could have been better
It is sad but true. My love for Wonder Woman runs deep, but there were many things in Wonder Woman 1984 that could have been better. Now, I just want to set the record straight. I enjoyed the movie. But in regards to the story, special effects, and how they brought back Steve Trevor, it just seemed like the movie could not piece them all together. So, I am going to break down my thoughts on the movie.
The Story
For those who love comics, we all know that movies made these days pull what they want from the source material. In all honesty, I do not think the dream stone and Max Lord story was the best they could have done for Wonder Woman 1984. They could have easily used the Duke of Deception instead of the dream stone and could have come out with the same moral story they wanted to tell/highlight. (Yes, that might have pushed Max Lord’s character into a smaller side role for the movie, but I don’t think it would have affected much of the movie.) The use of the dream stone just opened the movie up to more visible plot holes, but the story wasn’t the only thing that had issues. Haha!
Special Effects
To be honest in huge movies like Wonder Woman 1984 as a viewer I am hoping/expecting amazing special effects. We did not really get that for Wonder Woman 1984. Yes, I get they were focusing on the story more in Wonder Woman 1984, but come on. The fight scenes were not as good or realistic as the first Wonder Woman, and at one point you can definitely see dummies being used during one of the fight scenes. (2 kids Wonder Woman saves when she goes to Egypt.)
It is so obvious it made me bust out laughing. Another disappointment, for me, was when Kristen Wiig’s character, Barbara, finally fully transforms into Cheetah and she looks like she stepped out of the most recent CATs movie. They also had the epic fight scene in the dark, and it didn’t even last that long. (I do hope though that they bring Kristen Wiig back as Cheetah because before they turned her into a CGI Cat she was amazing!) But something bothered me even more than Kristen Wiig’s CGI Cat.
Steve Trevor
Hahaha!!! Omg. Steve Trevor’s character in Wonder Woman 1984 get’s his own section. I have so many questions. I get it. Diana was missing the love of her life, and she wished he would come back. Personally, I would probably do the same thing. But bringing Steve Trevor back in the body of another man is just too funny. I feel for the man whose body got used. It makes me wonder if his consciousness was pushed to the back of his mind when the dream stone put Steve Trevor in there.
Does he remember anything during the time his body was not his? Haha! (I am sorry. Haha! I am just laughing so hard writing this.) I mean does he even realize he got to make out, and other things, with Wonder Woman? Haha! They could have just as easily brought Steve Trevor back as a figment of Diana’s imagination or manifested him differently. I will give credit to those responsible for casting though because Kristoffer Polaha, who plays the gentleman taken over by Chris Pines Steve Trevor, looks very much like Lyle Waggoner from the Wonder Woman TV Show that starred Lynda Carter.
Speaking of Lynda Carter…
Please watch through the end credits. You might just see someone important.
My rating
Overall and after having said everything that I stated above. I enjoyed Wonder Woman 1984. I sadly though have to give it a B-. There were so many areas that could have been improved to shore the movie up and bump it to a higher rating. But my love for the character of Wonder Woman holds strong, and I cannot wait to see Gal Gadot back at it, again, in Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
Will there be a 3rd Wonder Woman movie?
YES! Because Wonder Woman 1984 has done so well Warner Bros. Pictures announced they will be fast-tracking development on Wonder Woman 3. This is fantastic, and I am still excited to see what they come up with.
Synopsis
In Wonder Woman 1984, the fate of the world is once more on the line, and only Wonder Woman can save it. This new chapter in the Wonder Woman story finds Diana Prince living quietly among mortals in the vibrant, sleek 1980s-an era of excess driven by the pursuit of having it all. Though she’s come into her full powers, she maintains a low profile, curating ancient artifacts and only performing her superheroic acts incognito. But now, Diana will have to step directly into the spotlight and muster all her wisdom, strength and courage in order to save mankind from a world of its own making.
