Well, I've finally seen it. Finally watched this movie. And it took me a while because I was quite conscious of all the hype that was made about this movie when it originally came out. As such, I think this response needs two parts.
First, the movie itself--just as it is: a movie. Plot was fine--nothing elaborate. Characters weren't flat, but basic. The action/fight sequences were fun to watch. And all the other aspects--set, costume, music, etc.--quite adequate. Good even. High points of quality: the action sequences, and the way Gal Gadot carried Diana--her poise, her bearing, her charisma. As a movie, I'd give it an 8 out 10, maybe even 8.5. But as far a movie goes, I don't know that there's too much more to say. The movie seems to hang it's hat on the action sequences--and if it was merely aiming at a good action movie that carried out DC's conception of Wonder Woman for a modern audience, then it was successful. Quite successful. Well done.
But I can't help noticing that the second part of this response colors the my thoughts on the first, and in that respects, I was quite disappointed.
The second part of this response is all the things that surrounded this movie when it came out. There was a great deal of hoopla at the time. The movie was being touted as a celebration of women. There was even a little bit of controversy as some movie theaters held the first showing of the movie for women only (and some of the men didn't like being excluded). And a few of those who saw it came out of the theater vindicated and ecstatic that the movie was a celebration of women.
So, maybe all of this set the movie up for higher expectations within me--higher than it should have, higher than what may be was realistic.
I can see that if a person wanted to see women as equal to men--as better than men--then, I suppose the movie accomplished that. But what does that mean? Within this movie, it means they gave a woman the bigger weapon, the better skills, and the higher success rate than the male characters.
Is that a celebration of women? That sounds more like trying to make a woman become a man, not celebrate being a woman.
Oh, I know. There are those who would say, "I am tired of seeing men get all the laud, and women being lowered..." [or whatever adjective would be chosen to be put there]. "...and it was time to show that women could be a hero/heroine just as much as men." I still can't help feeling like something's been lost. It's kind of like the old story of a woman climbing the business ladder only to find that what it took to climb ladder (male tactics) made her lose all the qualities that made her uniquely a woman.
If I'm looking at this movie as a story, as a movie, then it was a good movie--8 or 8.5 out of 10. If I'm looking at this movie as a "celebration of women," then I think it is a failure. I think that there needs to be a better movie that can celebrate those things a woman can do that a man can't, and that would be a "celebration of women." I can think of several movies plus a few characters that do a better job on that front. Ocean's Eight pulls off fashion, smarts, the ability to blend in, and most importantly collectivity--almost a sisterhood--between the characters. That's something you'll find in the female aspects of our society Even The Single Moms Club does a much better job celebrating what makes women unique and wonderful.
It's also one thing to be brave when you're invincible. It's another thing to be brave when you're not. Think of the character Narcissa Malfoy who for the love of her son has the nerve to ask someone trying to look dead if her son is alive and then turn and lie to Voldemort about it. Talk about a gutsy woman. As for action scenes, we have that too: Turn to Lara Croft to find a way to take an action sequence and make it over into a woman's style, and not just give the girl a bigger "gun."
So if you're looking for a page out of the comics brought to life, if you just want to see a woman "kick some butt," then this movie is great for that. I'll completely support that. But if you're wanting a movie to "celebrate women," then I think you need to keep looking.
