Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Lucy Davis, Lisa Loven, Mayling Ng, Florence Kasumba, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Ewen Bremner, Saïd Taghmaoui, Elena Anaya
OUR RATING: ★★★½
Story:
Superhero actionbased on the DC Comics character of the same name directed by Patty Jenkins. Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana (Gal Gadot), princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when American pilot, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), crashes on their shores and tells her of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana decides to leave her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full power, and her true destiny.
Our Favorite Quotes:
'May we get what we want. May we get what we need. But may we never get what we deserve.' Charlie, Steve Trevor, Sameer (Wonder Woman) Click To Tweet
Best Quotes
Diana Prince: I used to want to save the world, this beautiful place. But I knew so little then. It is a land of magic and wonder, worth cherishing in every way. But the closer you get the more you see the great darkness shimmering within. And mankind, mankind is another story altogether. What one does when faced with the truth is more difficult than you think. I learned this the hard way, a long, long time ago. And now I will never be the same.
Young Diana: What if I didn’t use a sword?
Hippolyta: Fighting does not make you a hero.
Young Diana: Just the shield then, no sharp edges.
Hippolyta: Diana, you are the most precious thing in the world to me. I wished for you so much, so I sculpted you from clay myself and begged Zeus to give you life.
Hippolyta: We give thanks to the gods for giving us this paradise.
Young Diana: And the God Killer?
Hippolyta: The God Killer?
Young Diana: The weapon that is strong enough to kill a God. Can I see it?
Hippolyta: The Gods gave us many gifts. One day you’ll know them all. This great tower is where we keep them. The God Killer.
Young Diana: It’s beautiful. Who would wield it?
Hippolyta: I pray it will never be called to arms. But only the fiercest among us even could. And that’s not you, Diana.
Antiope: Ares is alive. You feel it as I do, in your bones. It is only a matter of time before he returns.
Hippolyta: The stronger she gets, the sooner he will find her.
Antiope: Hippolyta, I love her as you do. But this is the only way to truly protect her.
Hippolyta: You will train her harder than any Amazon before her. Five times harder, ten times harder, until she’s better than even you. But she must never know the truth about what she is or how she came to be.
Antiope: [fighting Diana to train her] Harder! You’re stronger than this, Diana. Again!
Antiope: [after Diana beats her and looks over to Hippolyta] Never let your guard down! You expect a battle to be fair! A battle will never be fair
Diana Prince: [fins Steve washed up ashore] You’re a man.
Steve Trevor: Yeah. I mean, do I not look like one?
Steve Trevor: Where are we?
Diana Prince: Themyscira.
Steve Trevor: What?
Diana Prince: Who are you?
Steve Trevor: I’m one of the good guys and those are the bad guys.
Diana Prince: What?
Steve Trevor: The Germans. Come on, we need to get out of here.
Diana Prince: The Germans?
Diana Prince: [Steve’s being held hostage and has the lasso strung around him] He fought at my side against the invaders.
Hippolyta: What man fights against his own people?
Steve Trevor: These aren’t my people.
Hippolyta: Then why do you wear their colors?
Steve Trevor: I can’t tell you that.
Hippolyta: You need to tell us now! What’s your name?
Steve Trevor: I can’t tell you that either.
Hippolyta: We should kill him now and be done with it.
Diana Prince: If he dies, we know nothing about who they are and why they came.
'What one does when faced with the truth is more difficult than you think.' - Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) Click To Tweet
Steve Trevor: [starts telling the truth] My name is Captain Steve Trevor, pilot, American Expeditionary Forces. Serial number 8141921. Assigned to British Intelligence. What the hell is this thing?
Diana Prince: The Lasso of Hestia compels you to reveal the truth.
Steve Trevor: But it’s really hot.
Hippolyta: It is pointless and painful to resist. What is your mission?
Steve Trevor: Whoever you are, you are in more danger than you think.
Hippolyta: What is your mission?
Steve Trevor: [tries resisting] I’m a spy! I’m a spy. I’m a spy.
Steve Trevor: But if I can get these notes back to the British Intelligence in time it could stop millions more from dying. It could stop the war.
Diana Prince: War? What war?
Steve Trevor: The War. The war to end all wars. Four years, twenty-seven countries, twenty-five million dead. Soldiers and civilians. Innocent people, women and children slaughtered. Their homes and their villages looted and burned. Weapons far deadlier than you can ever imagine. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s like the world’s going to end.
Steve Trevor: [steps out of the water naked and sees Diana enter] Ah, I didn’t see you come in.
Diana Prince: Would you say you are a, a typical example of your sex?
Steve Trevor: I am above average.
Diana Prince: What’s that?
Steve Trevor: It’s a…
Diana Prince: Oh…
Steve Trevor: It’s a watch.
Diana Prince: A watch?
Steve Trevor: Yeah, it’s a watch. It tells the time. My father gave it to me. Went through hell and back with him. Now it’s for me and, good thing it’s still ticking.
Diana Prince: What for?
Steve Trevor: Because it tells time. When to eat, sleep, wake up, work.
Diana Prince: You let this little thing tell you what to do?
Steve Trevor: Yeah.
Steve Trevor: What is this place? Who are you people? Why does the water do that? How come you don’t know what a watch is? How can you speak English so well?
Diana Prince: We speak hundreds of languages. We are the bridge to a greater understanding between all men.
Steve Trevor: Right.
'A scorpion must sting. A wolf must hunt.' - Antiope (Wonder Woman) Click To Tweet
Steve Trevor: So you are here to let me go?
Diana Prince: I tried, but it’s not up to me. I even asked them to send me with you, or anyone.
Steve Trevor: An Amazon.
Diana Prince: The Amazons.
Steve Trevor: The Amazons?
Diana Prince: It is our sacred duty to defend the world, and I wish to go, but my mother will not allow it.
Steve Trevor: Well, I can’t say I blame her. The way this war’s going I don’t want to let anyone I care about near.
Diana Prince: Then why do you want to go back?
Steve Trevor: I don’t think “want” is the word, right? I guess I got to try. My father told me once, he said, “If you see something wrong happening in the world you can either do nothing, or you can do something.” And I already tried nothing.
Diana Prince: I am going, mother. I cannot stand by while innocent lives are lost. If no one else will defend the world from Ares, then I must. I have to go.
Hippolyta: I know. Or at least I know I cannot stop you. There is so much, so much you do not understand.
Diana Prince: I understand enough. But I’m willing to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. Like you once did.
Hippolyta: You know that if you choose to leave you may never return.
Diana Prince: Who will I be if I stay?
Hippolyta: [to Diana] Be careful in the world of men, Diana. They do not deserve you. You have been my greatest love. Today you are my greatest sorrow.
Menalippe: [referring to Diana] You should have told her.
Hippolyta: The more she knows, the sooner he will find her.
Diana Prince: [as she goes to lie next to Steve to sleep, he moves away] What are you doing?
Steve Trevor: I thought maybe you want to get some sleep.
Diana Prince: What about you? Are you not sleeping? Does the average man not sleep?
Steve Trevor: Yes, we sleep. We just don’t sleep with a…
Diana Prince: You don’t sleep with women?
Steve Trevor: No. I mean, I do. I sleep with… Yes, I do. But out of the confines of marriage, not polite to assume, you know?
Diana Prince: Marriage?
Steve Trevor: Weird! You don’t have that. You go before a judge and you swear to love, honor and cherish each other until death do you apart.
Diana Prince: And do they love each other till death?
Steve Trevor: Not very often, no.
Diana Prince: Then why do they do it?
Steve Trevor: I have no idea.
'It's not about deserving. It's about what you believe.' - Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) Click To Tweet
Diana Prince: So you cannot sleep with me unless I marry you.
Steve Trevor: I will sleep with you if you want. I’ll sleep right there.
Diana Prince: There is plenty of room.
Steve Trevor: Then fine, if you don’t mind.
Diana Prince: No, it’s up to you. I’m just fine.
Steve Trevor: Coming to sleep with you.
Steve Trevor: You know, where I come from, I’m not considered average. You know, um, being a spy you have to show a certain amount of vigor. Have you never met a man before? What about your father?
Diana Prince: I have no father. My mother sculpted me from clay and I was brought to life by Zeus.
Steve Trevor: Well that’s neat.
Steve Trevor: Where I come from babies are made differently.
Diana Prince: You refer to reproductive biology.
Steve Trevor: Yes, yes.
Diana Prince: Yeah, I know. I know all about that.
Steve Trevor: I mean I refer to that and other things.
Diana Prince: The pleasures of the flesh.
Steve Trevor: Do you know about that?
Diana Prince: I’ve read all twelve volumes of Clio’s criticism on earthly pleasures.
Steve Trevor: All twelve, huh? Did you bring any of those with you?
Diana Prince: You would not enjoy them.
Steve Trevor: I don’t know. Maybe.
Diana Prince: No, you wouldn’t.
Steve Trevor: Why not?
Diana Prince: They came to the conclusion that men are essential for procreation, but when it comes to pleasure, unnecessary.
Steve Trevor: Welcome to jolly old London.
Diana Prince: It’s hideous.
Steve Trevor: Yeah, it’s not for everybody.
'If you see something wrong happening in the world you can either do nothing, or you can do something. And I already tried nothing.' - Steve Trevor (Wonder Woman) Click To Tweet
Diana Prince: Why are they holding hands?
Steve Trevor: Probably because they’re together.
Steve Trevor: [Diana tries to hold his hand] No, no. We’re not together. I mean, in that way.
Diana Prince: To the war!
Steve Trevor: Well, technically, the war is that way. But we got to go this way first.
Etta Candy: I’m introducing myself. It’s Etta Candy. I’m Steve Trevor’s secretary.
Diana Prince: What is a secretary?
Etta Candy: Well, I do everything. I go where he tells me to go and I do what he tells me to do.
Diana Prince: Well, where I’m from that’s called slavery.
Etta Candy: I really like her.
Steve Trevor: Fantastic. Ladies, after you.
Etta Candy: Oh, I do. I like her.
Diana Prince: [referring to the undergarments] Is this what passes for armor in your country?
Etta Candy: Ah, well. Oh, my. It’s fashion. Keeps our tummies in.
Diana Prince: Why must you keep them in?
Etta Candy: Any woman with a tummy would ask that question!
Diana Prince: [referring to the restrictive dress] How can a woman possibly fight in this?
Etta Candy: Fight? We use our principles. I mean that’s how we are going to get to vote. Although, I am not opposed to engaging in a bit of fisticuffs should the occasion arise.
'They came to the conclusion that men are essential for procreation, but when it comes to pleasure, unnecessary.' - Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) Click To Tweet
Steve Trevor: [referring to Diana] Etta, where is she?
Etta Candy: She’s trying on up to number two hundred and twenty-six.
Steve Trevor: [aees Diana in her new outfit] Ms. Candy, the whole point was to make her look less distracting. May I?
Etta Candy: [as Steve gives Diana glasses to wear] Yeah, really? Specs? Certainly she’s not the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen?
Steve Trevor: Better.
Steve Trevor: [as Diana tries to go through a large door with her sword and shield] Yep, that’s not going to work. Please put the sword down, Diana.
Steve Trevor: Etta, why don’t I meet you back at the office?
Etta Candy: [referring to Diana’s sword and shield] And meanwhile, I’ll take this for safekeeping.
Diana Prince: Oh, no. I don’t think so.
Steve Trevor: You got to put the sword down, Diana. Please.
Etta Candy: It doesn’t go with the outfit.
Steve Trevor: At all. Put the sword down, first of all.
Diana Prince: [to Etta] Promise me you’ll protect it with your life.
Etta Candy: Yes. No.
Steve Trevor: You can trust her. Just hand that over. Shield. And the shield to her.
[Diana reluctantly gives the sword and shield to Etta]
'I wish we had more time.' - Steve Trevor (Wonder Woman) Click To Tweet
Diana: [as Steve guides them into an alley] Steve, why are we hiding?
Steve Trevor: Ssh, come on. Come on.
Suited Man: [from behind a gun is pointed at Steve] Captain Trevor. I believe you have something that is the property of General Ludendorff.
Steve Trevor: [as other suited men surround them] Ah, it’s the bad guy convention.
Trailer:
* Chris Pine is the actor not Chris Payne. 🙂
Wonder Woman deservedly grossed over $225 million globally this weekend. It is a great origins movie! Gal Gadot, a refreshingly accented, olive-skinned brunette, and the most strikingly beautiful movie actress since Sophia Loren, creates an indelible impression, as a superhero, whose attitude about her mission and the human race evolve throughout the film.
Everyone knows about Krypton; few had heard about Themyscira. Despite the three–year reign of Lynda Carter in the television series, beloved by baby boomers 40 years ago, there had been little love shown for the Queen of the Amazons. That should never be the case again.
As importantly, women played the key roles behind the camera, with Director Patty Jenkins making the highest opening movie revenue ever for a woman director. Every dollar of the estimated $120 million budget shows on the scene with period costumes, international landscapes, and exciting action scenes.
Chris Payne, who seems to be in every movie released in the past year, is perfect as the charismatic first love for Wonder Woman. He ungrudgingly takes a back seat to the Daughter of Hippolyta. The rest of the cast is appropriately evil (Danny Huston as German General Lundendorff, heroic (Robin Wright as General Antiope) or funny (Ewen Bremner as Charlie).
Wonder Woman may help fans forget the previous, dismal DC Comic-based movies: Man of Steel and Batman vs Superman. Only potential disappointments for comic fans. These are DC Comics, not Marvel ones: so, no Stan Lee cameo or enticing trailer after the credits!
Rating: 5/5