Wonder Woman is the Greatest Superhero Movie of our time. Some people have difficulty explaining why this is. I have no such problem…
Wonder Woman has always been my personal favorite superhero. She and Batman were always close, but I wanted to marry Batman (and still do), whereas with Wonder Woman—I wanted to be her. It is no surprise that when I was a child, Wonder Woman was always the character I played the most. I tried to giver her all the strength, kindness, and dignity I believed the character possessed (My own version of this). Growing up I didn’t have a lot of examples for her besides the 1975 version with Linda Carter (which, while I liked it, was limited for its time), and Justice League the Animated series. I didn’t grow up on many comic books, other than a few of Stan Lee’s Spider Man, but I did my research on what character’s were originally based off of and I saw a lot of the old Marvel animated series.
Where Wonder Woman is concerned, Gal Gadot does my favorite portrayal, hands down. I never skipped the trailer on YouTube, so I ended up letting it play over a dozen times and I saw the film twice in theaters, which I never do (because I usually have the patience for it to come to rental and because I’m a cheapskate.)
The character of Diana and what Gadot brought to the screen: Wonder Woman has always been the Golden Mean between Superman and Batman. She is the heart of the team. She wasn’t out for Justice like Batman, or simply protecting the world because she’s so powerful like Superman—Diana truly cares about people and wants to save them. Batman might offer people rehabilitation, and Superman might try to stop a jumper from committing suicide, but Diana’s the one who’d get down beside you and offer you comfort. She is loving, while still being a warrior princess. Gadot brought these characteristics to light beautifully. (Consider this an apology back when I’d never heard of Gal Gadot and wasn’t sure she could pull this role off. We’ve all been there when we doubt someone’s ability to accurately portray what we love—it’s called being a fan). Gadot is just plain loveable in this role, her real life personality and charm oozes into the character, but she can also show strength, and carry herself, the way I always saw Diana doing.
Wonder Woman as a character in this movie and her journey: When I was in an English class some years ago, we were asked what made Wonder Woman such a good movie. My hand shot straight up, but the teacher didn’t call on me. He called on the girl behind me who hadn't raised her hand. She said the movie was good because it had a strong woman in it and No Man’s Land was a cool scene. This was oversimplified for me. I also disagree with the title “Strong Woman” in what it has come to mean. Being strong is simply a characteristic and doesn’t make or break a character, but lately I’ve heard people calling women who are wicked (i.e. Regina, Season One of Once Upon a Time) strong and therefore good. We don’t watch a movie because it has a “strong woman,” anymore than we’d watch a movie because a person is black or white. We watch a movie because the character and plot are well written.
Diana has character flaws:
-She starts the film with a misbelief-there’s one bad guy and if she kills them she can save everyone. She’s really naïve and needs to have her eyes opened to the harsh truth, like anyone who hasn’t been to war and thinks its not messy. On their way to the front, Diana wants to help everyone from a wounded soldier to a horse being whipped stuck in the mud—but she can’t.
- She’s NOT invincible. I love this about Wonder Woman. She’s not mortal, but she can’t move planets. She can fight the God of War, but she’s not bullet proof. No Man’s Land is arguably everyone’s favorite scene. Why? Because Diana crosses it to save the town even though Steve tells her it’s not possible and not what they’re here to do. The thing is—it’s not possible by herself. She gains some ground but ends up pinned by enemy fire. She only makes it with the help of Steve and the others. Also ultimately to Wonder Woman “possible” doesn’t matter-doing what’s right does. Regardless of her mission ending in success or failure, it is what she came to do.
Trevor is her equal as a love interest: Not physically, obviously, but by what he contributes to her as a character. He’s simply a man hardened and confronted by the truth of war. He’s not Captain America, he’s just a guy trying to do the right thing. In many ways, you’d think she renders him insignificant, but in the end he’s the one to wake her up and he’s the one to sacrifice himself to stop the plane. Diana quits on humanity when she realizes (spoiler alert) we ARE the problem. Mankind is inherently going to tear itself apart and fight wars again, and again, Trever knew this going in but he still refuses to leave the fight.
It’s not about what you deserve, it’s about what you believe: When the townspeople are murdered and Diana rejects everything, even Steve, he gives her the “hero speech.” Their conversation is so good because Diana basically tells him she doesn’t believe in what they’re doing anymore. Why save mankind if they’re evil? Trevor agrees in the sense that he tells her “there’s not one bad guy to blame. We’re all to blame.” Diana says she’s not and Steve says, “But maybe I am.” Here’s where we get to the heart of the story. What makes this movie greater than all the others is this message. It’s not about defeating a bad guy, it’s about a worldview (a pretty straightforward Christian worldview if you pay close attention).
Hippolyta tells Diana the story of creation, how Zeus was good and died trying to save man. If you know anything about Greek Mythology this is not true to the selfish perverted Zeus we read of.
Mankind is fallen and it was their own doing. Ares says, “he puts the ideas into their heads but he doesn’t make them do it.”
One person cannot save mankind from their sins, only love can. What does this mean?
-No matter how many muggers Batman stops, no matter how many planets Superman saves, why do we do it if mankind is wicked and we can’t save them? This film addresses the why. Heroes don’t do things “just because,” they act based on their beliefs.
-The kind of love Diana is talking about in this movie is a selfless kind of compassion for a world that doesn’t deserve it but desperately needs it. John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
-Only in Christianity are we taught mankind is in a state of depravity, completely undeserving of any grace and yet saved by God’s love (John 3:16). Also in Christianity, we are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves, to love as the Father has loved us (John 15:9-11).
Diana is broken by the end of the film, her misbelief shattered, and it’s Steve who trudges back into the fray to save the day. She fights Ares, but it’s Steve’s sacrifice that wakes her up to the truth—it’s not about what you deserve, it’s about what you believe and she believes in love. Only Wonder Woman could say such a line.
Every hero tries to save the world, but ultimately knows they can’t. They fight the good fight, or fight for truth and Justice, but none of them provide the answer. Diana knows she can’t save the world but she knows what can—love.
-Hannah