“Wonder Woman 1984” Review
Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) runs towards a fight in “Wonder Woman 1984,” the latest film to feature the Amazon Warrior.
As a massive fan of comic books and their modern-day treatment on the big screen, 2020 was a very disheartening year when the COVID-19 pandemic pushed most comic book films back to 2021 and 2022. As such, I was constantly refreshing my computer screen to see when “Wonder Woman 1984” would be released. Not only was it the first superhero film to be released in a post-COVID world, but it was a sequel to one of the most beloved superhero films of the past decade.
After a simultaneous release in theaters and on HBO Max, not only is “Wonder Woman 1984” a delightful film from start to finish, but it might be one of the best sequels in the history of comic book films, surpassing the original in nearly every way.
Taking place 70 years after the previous film, in the titular year, Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) has spent all of this time living her life as an archeologist, currently working at the Smithsonian, while secretly saving people as Wonder Woman. When an ancient stone is discovered that makes people’s wishes come true, a down-on-his-luck businessman named Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) absorbs its abilities to become the most powerful man in the world.
Things are further complicated when an awkward friend of Diana’s, Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wigg), also uses the stone to become an “apex predator,” losing her humanity in the process and even Diana herself uses the powers of the stone to bring back to life Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), her love interest who was killed in the previous film. As Barbara and Maxwell Lord become more powerful and plunge the world into chaos, Diana and Steve must work together to put the world back into its natural state.
With that dense plot description, it would seem that this film has a lot going on and, while the film is constantly moving, the film’s story is remarkably easy to follow.
Much of what makes this film interesting are the characters who are all identifiable and are given personal struggles. Gal Gadot absolutely makes this film with her optimistic and deep performance. I’m always amazed at how modern comic book films have picked the most perfect actors to play these iconic characters like Robert Downey Jr., Benedict Cumberbatch and Margot Robbie.
Having Steve Trevor (Right) in the film after his death in the previous film provided a great deal of levity to the story.
While Diana was already a likable character with great development, the drama she goes through is some of the best treatment any superhero has been given in a sequel. Most great superhero sequels, like “Superman II,” “Spider-Man 2” and “The Dark Knight,” take their characters and just beat them to see how much they can take.
“Wonder Woman 1984” is no different as the wishes that the characters make result in consequences a la the infamous monkey’s paw. This causes Diana to have the human aspect of her “superhuman” character to be on full display.
When it was announced in the trailers that Steve Trevor would be brought back, I was worried because I thought it was a cheap ploy to get people into the seats. However, after seeing how he’s brought back, it not only made sense but it was very heartfelt. One scene in particular sees a role reversal of when Steven showed Diana modern society in the first film as she marveled over everyday pleasantries like ice cream. When Diana shows Steve Washington D.C., it proves to be a quiet yet powerful moment.
Where the film really surpasses the original is the treatment of its villains. Unlike the first film, whose villains were better suited to an Adam West Batman film, the adversaries of Wonder Woman are much more complex and human, making their turn towards evil all the more tragic.
Both Lord and Barbara are given human issues that make their choices understandable. Many comic book films have disappointed when it came to villains, even great films like “Iron Man” and “Shazam!,” but “Wonder Woman 1984” has two unforgettable foes that will be in the minds of viewers weeks after a screening.
Other problems of the first film included the CGI heavy action and the overindulgent third act. While neither of these factors overshadowed the enjoyment of “Wonder Woman,” the sequel manages to improve on these factors resulting in a more structurally sound film. Even when the CGI looks unconvincing, there’s still a level of imagination.
Director Patty Jenkins (Left) speaks with Gal Gadot on the set of “Wonder Woman 1984.”
Director Patty Jenkins also excels in creating a massive looking and colorful comic book film that only the film’s setting, the 1980s, could deliver. If the first film was a perfect representation of a modern comic book, dark and moody, then this film is a representation of the comic books of the 1980s: unafraid to address tough issues while also having bright colors.
The tone of this film perfectly balances both fantasy and reality that it feels like a 1980s blockbuster instead of a modern film. If director Richard Donner, the man responsible for “Superman” and “Superman II,” ever got his hands on a Wonder Woman film, this is probably what it would look like.
While 2020 was a disheartening year for multiple reasons, having “Wonder Woman 1984” close off the year with such joy reminded me why we need heroes like her. They give us a good example of who we can be. We may not fly or swing swords, but we all have the power to make a difference. The world of 2020 needed “Wonder Woman 1984” which makes it a true wonder.
