REVIEW: WONDER WOMAN (2017)

**SPOILER-FREE**

Following the release of Director Zack Snyder's MAN OF STEEL (2013) and BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE (2016), and David Ayer's SUICIDE SQUAD (2016),
WONDER WOMAN stands as the fourth film in the ever-expanding DCEU (DC Extended Universe); Warner Brothers' equivalent of Disney's 'Marvel Cinematic Universe'.

Since its inception, the series has proven extremely lucrative for the studio.

However, fans and critics alike have always struggled to wholeheartedly embrace it; and understandably so.

Though they may be technically sound and visually hypnotising, the aforementioned films (in particular, the latter two) are fundamentally, heavily and inexcusably flawed. Though they DO have their moments, they are simply not great films.

Two flops in a row; many feared this would be a continuing trend.

Concerns grew for the future of the DCEU.

Enter WONDER WOMAN (2017)...

DC fans, rejoice! The curse is lifted! WONDER WOMAN is a resounding success!

Director, Patty Jenkins [clearly aware of the sins of the past] helms a production that flourishes; precisely where its predecessors failed to do so.

The film tells the coming of age tale of Diana (played by Gal Gadot), a young woman of mythological origin and Princess of Themyscira (Paradise Island); a mysterious, hidden land, disunited from the rest of the world. She is an Amazon; a part of a legendary, warrior race [within Greek mythology]. She dreams of becoming a warrior herself, against the wishes of her mother, Queen Hippolyta (played by Connie Nielsen). However, it soon becomes all too clear that Diana cannot be denied her destiny.

Upon saving the life of a downed and drowning pilot (Steve Trevor, played by Chris Pine), Diana learns of the world beyond the shores of Themyscira; a world at war.

Believing she can make a difference and bring an end to the global conflict (WWI), Diana joins Steve on his mission to restore peace.

WONDER WOMAN far outshines previous DC films in a number of areas.

First and foremost, it presents a very concise plot; something that cannot be taken for granted considering the jumbled and disjointed BATMAN V SUPERMAN and SUICIDE SQUAD films.

These last two films focused way too much on world-building and interconnected continuity; ultimately causing them to lose sight of the stories they were trying to tell.

Here, the focus of the plot always resides precisely where it should; around Diana and Steve. It's their story, and thankfully, anything that would fail to serve these characters or fail to strengthen the main narrative itself is of little concern.

The story serves its iconic characters respectfully and faithfully; as does the cast!

Gal Gadot and Chris Pine own their roles! They are fantastic!

Throughout my years reading comics, and experiencing different writers, I've come across a number of pretty harsh interpretations of the warrior-princess; many depicting her as something of a brute. Strong-willed and powerful - yes! But almost a little cold and distant too. More warmonger than peacekeeper.

Personally, I gravitate far more towards Gadot's Wonder Woman than perhaps any other to have existed before it. She has an immediate appeal due to her warm, fostering, kind-hearted nature and Gadot plays the role with such incredible earnestness, you can't help but embrace her.

This Wonder Woman is strong, courageous and compassionate, if not a little naive in the most endearing of ways.
She is a hero by the very definition of the word. Someone to look up to! And [should the need arise] she knows how to kick ass!

Chris Pine's Steve Trevor shares similar traits.
A level-headed professional, driven by duty; charming and charismatic. He has a heart of gold; willing to give it all for a good cause.

There's a fantastic chemistry between these characters (and the people who portray them). Their time shared on screen together is absolutely captivating.

They cannot help but resonate with an audience, as we find ourselves completely immersed in their tale.

(That's a great word to use: 'immersive'.)

This film is very 'immersive'. It really sucks you in!

The ancient island city of Themyscira, the bustling, early 20th Century streets of London, the war-torn battlefields of Eastern Europe; the costume and set designs (of both fictional and real-world origin); it all feels so authentic, inspired and full of energy!

The film's epic score wonderfully accentuates both the action and emotion; boosting the grandeur to new heights!

The culmination of all the above; these great performances, the intriguing character-driven story and impressive aesthetic; it all takes a hold of you, right from the get-go!

Now, on a side note: I feel I there's something else I need to address.

As indicated earlier on, WONDER WOMAN is directed by a woman - Patty Jenkins.

I think the choice to hire a female director was a no-brainer that made complete sense, and I think she did a great job.

For context: Wonder Woman first appeared in print in 1941, and has since then been heralded as a real-world, feminist icon and role-model.

Now, I must further commend Patty Jenkins and her team.

It would have been very easy for this film to introduce some form of 'social agenda'.

In this day and age - you know what I'm talking about.

Thankfully, the film completely steers clear of any 'on the nose' commentary.

I must stress that I, by no means, have an issue with female empowerment or anything like that! Hell, most of my favourite characters in literature and film are female; Wonder Woman being among them!

I simply believe that there's a time and a place for everything; and honestly, I feel that any type of perceivable 'agenda' (regardless of what it might be) would only hinder a film like this; potentially segregating the audience.

WONDER WOMAN doesn't push anything of the sort, and I truly appreciate it!
Instead, it presents strong, female characters and lets these positive representations speak for themselves; precisely how it ought to be done!

All this said, of course, I do have a number of small gripes with the film.

Nothing too major, but still worth mentioning.

The film's visual design is great. There's no disputing that.

However, the overall aesthetic is somewhat compromised at times by some pretty shoddy CGI (computer generated imagery), of which - there is an unnecessary overabundance.

Poor, unconvincing CGI is particular prominent during action scenes with complex camera movements. I know why this particular technique/ technology is employed, but these computer effects are often so blatant that I unfortunately found myself distracted and removed from the scene.

The choreography of the action throughout the film is pretty well done, however, again, it is hindered by what I can only put down to as a misstep in direction.

There is ton of slow motion!

Just about every fight scene in the movie uses it, and it very quickly grows tiresome.

I guess it's supposed to look 'cool', and perhaps depict some sort of elegance or grace, but honestly - it just slows down the pacing and makes combat far less impactful.
Played in real-time, watching Wonder Woman clear a room full of hostiles in mere seconds would appear far more devastating and bad-ass!

Speaking of 'bad-ass' or a 'lack thereof', I gotta say: the film's primary villain is a bit of a letdown. I think perhaps this was a case of poor casting, but he just doesn't really feel that imposing or menacing. In fact, he's a bit of a cliché, more in line with Star Wars' Darth Sidious than the Greek God of legend, from which he is derived. He just doesn't have much of a presence.

Another of the film's more prominent villains is tragically underutilised.

This character sparks a lot of intrigue, and yet, we learn very little about her -if anything at all!

There's also a bunch of other, more minor characters that don't really amount to much. They simply feel tacked-on and a little redundant; sadly - forgettable.

On the nitpick side of things: a few scenes play out too long. I get that they're for character development, but they drag and outstay their welcome.

I also raised an eyebrow at some strange cuts (edits), but these are things easily overlooked.

Ultimately, WONDER WOMAN is a damn good movie, and I do recommend it!

It's by no means perfect, but it does right by the source material and is extremely entertaining! It's great to see this character finally receiving some quality, cinematic recognition (it's long overdue), and I can't wait to see Gal Gadot return to the role this November is Zack Snyder's JUSTICE LEAGUE (2017).

- Woody

REVIEW: SUICIDE SQUAD (2016)

** SPOILER-FREE**

SUICIDE SQUAD is a real mixed-bag of a film.

Did I enjoy it? Yes, I did!
Would I call it a GREAT film? Probably not.

It IS very entertaining, but it also harbours some major flaws.

Without going into too many specifics, let's start with some positives!

The casting is choice! Everyone plays their part really well, and there are some surprisingly solid performances throughout - even from the lesser-knowns!
Will Smith [as Deadshot] totally steals the show. He's easily my favourite member of Task Force X. This character is quirky and fun, while baring some genuine weight and depth. It's a really well-struck balance - well written, and Smith's innate charisma just sells it perfectly. He is the humanity a film like this needs. A winner in my book.

Other characters like 'Diablo' for example (who I was previously unfamiliar with), also help bring something relatable, somewhat grounding, honest and heartfelt to the film. While a number of these 'smaller role' characters get very little screen-time and dialogue, their unique personas are still conveyed quite well - and that's ultimately what this film is all about!

SUICIDE SQUAD is less about the plot and more about the personalities.

The story is pretty straight forward. A little generic in part, but still serviceable.
It's not so much 'the mission', but the character interactions that are the focus here.
The action is, admittedly, a little generic too, but once again - it's about the characters!
The dialogue is decent! There are a few stand-out lines in there. (Particularly pertaining to Smith's 'Deadshot'). Some of the design work is really creative too! I was pretty impressed overall!

Now...

The most glaring issue I have here, is with the film's editing and pacing.
This thing is pretty damn choppy! It feels kinda like a puzzle, where your pieces aren't quite fitting together how you'd like, but you try and mash them together anyway. You should be taking your time to find just the right place for the right pieces, but maybe the problem is, you're actually missing a few..? Bummer.

There's a lot of unnecessary jumping back and forth between scenes and locations. There's a lot of scenes inappropriately inserted over other scenes. There's a lot of segues that don't really add-up, and there's an overabundance of flashbacks! It can be damn confusing!

With all this jumping around, you can easily lose your place in the story - your grasp on the timeline. I often felt a little left in the dust, trying to piece things together - figure out how they interlocked, when I shouldn't have had to. More than a couple of times throughout, I thought to myself: "Why is this [scene] here?". I found myself distracted from the story, second-guessing, trying to comprehend what direction the film (and by extension - it's creative team) was taking. It's not directionless by any means, but it's often quite misleading, and NOT in a way that purposely serves the story. There are just so many [seemingly] random inserts that completely halt the story.
We need less cuts! Just let the scene run its course! Please, don't put any more on my plate 'til I've finished what's already there!

Oh, and I should mention that the film feels like it doesn't have a Second Act...
It just goes: First (Setup and introductions) - BAM! -Third (Let's save The World).
It's a structure that totally threw me for a loop.

It really is an odd cut - a bizarre amalgamation, and one that I questioned throughout.

The plot is an easy one to follow (I wont spoil anything here), but the tone the film sets for itself is constantly being interrupted and brought into question. This is primarily due to some strange editing choices.

The film can be really punchy and fun, but in the blink of an eye - it can turn really quite sombre. This doesn't sound like a bad thing, right? I mean, it's an action drama! It's gonna have it's ups and downs! This is normal, right? Absolutely!
The problem is the inconsistencies in the tone and the rate at which they occur.
The tone in SUICIDE SQUAD shifts back and forth at breakneck speed! We don't know how to feel about a lot of things, because we're never given enough time to let anything sink in. AGAIN, this is due to the editing - cutting from one thing to another so haphazardly!
Sombre scene! Now, a quick, fun, bubbly scene! Now, back to sombre! It's so arbitrary and disjointed!
How am I supposed to feel, film!? Huh!? What are you? A Warhol or a Rembrandt!? Tell me!

Another issue I have with the film relates to it's Soundtrack. (Specifically, the licensed martial). Now, don't get me wrong! This film has a kick-ass soundtrack! You'll hear some legendary tunes from some legendary artists! My issues stems from their usage, or rather, their misuse.
There's a time and a place for each of these tracks. An editor just needs to find that sweet spot. Sometimes, they get it right. Often, they don't. It's when they don't, that these tracks become a problem. They become little more than a distraction - overbearing and unnecessary. This film just has more tracks than it knows what to do with! Again, just cram them all in and hope for the best, right? Sorry, but that doesn't work! Music should be used to enhance the cinematic experience. It should be there to set a mood or create an emphasis - to mean something, assist in the story telling and make the audience feel a particular way. It should NEVER be there, just for the sake of it!
"We have this song. It's a pop song. People like pop songs. Let's put it in the movie."
Unfortunately, that's how a lot of the song placement in this film comes across. Simply for the sake of it. That's a BIG mistake. All these songs are great, but do we really need them? You've gotta ask: what purpose does each song serve? How does it enhance the experience? If you struggle to answer either of these fundamental questions, then it's time to re-evaluate.
...

Okay, so I should wrap this up before I get too carried away!
Obviously, I have a few gripes with the film. A few considerable gripes.
The pacing can be jarring, the repeated tonal shifts are honestly, quite mind-boggling, and a number of intriguing characters are sadly neglected.

Nonetheless, I did like SUICIDE SQUAD!

You don't go into a movie like this expecting something ground-breaking or poetic or whatever. You go in to see Will Smith, a psychotic clown girl and a crocodile man do-... Whatever it is Will Smith, a psychotic clown girl and a crocodile man do!
If you've seen the trailers, then you know what to expect.
If you liked what you saw in those trailers, then you'll probably like the film!

(Oh, and I should note: A lot of the biggest and best beats from the film ARE in the trailers, but funnily enough - there's a whole heap of material in those shorts, that doesn't appear in the final product! No doubt, a messy cutting room floor!)

All in all, SUICIDE SQUAD delivered exactly what I thought and hoped it would deliver!
It's a fun, entertaining movie! It's exciting and creative! It's a couple of hours of mindless escapism, and that's precisely what the doctor ordered - a good time!

- Woody

REVIEW: THE KILLING JOKE (2016)

 

**RECOMMENDATION: See film for yourself, before reading any further!**

THE KILLING JOKE makes for a fantastic read but, unfortunately, makes for a pretty lacklustre film.

The graphic novel has been a favourite of mine since I was a kid, so needless to say - I was really looking forward to seeing the animated adaptation!
It's sad to say - the film falls flat in just about every department.

For starters, it suffers from an extremely unfocused plot.
Pretty much the first half of the movie revolves around Batgirl and her relationship with Batman. Now, I LOVE Batgirl! She is, without a doubt, my absolute favourite female character and she is totally deserving of her own films!
Her prologue here, however, is a complete hindrance.
I understand why it's there, but all it does is detract from the over-all experience!
You're here for THE KILLING JOKE, but first - let's watch this OTHER MOVIE!
It's filler. It's fan-service. It's not what I came to see.
Somehow, The Joker manages to take backseat in his own movie.
Structurally, this thing is all over the place and the pacing sucks.

The film is also very disappointing from a technical standpoint.
When we first saw the trailer, I think we were all kinda 'cautiously optimistic'.
The art looked kinda 'meh' but we figured everything else would make up for that, right? WRONG!
Yeah, I know there's a lot of talent behind these productions, and Warner Bros is easily my favourite animation studio. They're a studio behind some mind-blowingly cool stuff, but mind-blowingly cool this is not! In fact, it's pretty damn ugly!
The art sucks. The animation sucks. The framing and compositions suck.
Honestly, it's all rather baffling. If you've read the graphic novel, then you KNOW just how great Brian Bolland's art is! You KNOW how much gorgeous imagery there is to draw from! Dammit! You're basically being spoon fed! Why ignore the genius that is right in front of your faces!?!
The art is so important. In the book, it's the illustrations that emphasise the theme. The story is about madness and so, the art is suitably twisted! It's all there, in the book and it works wonderfully! The writing and the visuals complement one another perfectly! Visually, the film is just dull. It's boring to look at, and what a shame this is.

...

Yeah, I'll admit, I'm very passionate about this stuff. It's my bread and butter, and I DO take it seriously.
That said: please, don't write this off as just some stupid fanboy rant.
I swear, I'm not "butthurt".
I'm not saying you can't or shouldn't enjoy this film.
I'm not saying it's TERRIBLE or that it's a waste of your time.
This is purely one man's opinion.
I don't regret watching the film. It just has A LOT of glaring issues.
...
One of them being Mark Hamill...

YES! I know! I know! Now, before you kill me - just hear me out!
Mark Hamill is The Joker. His depiction of The Clown Prince of Crime is, by far, the most faithful and entertaining to date. The man is a great actor and he knows this character!
However... Someone dropped the ball.
Mark plays a great Joker. He DOESN'T, however, play a good 'pre-acid-dip' Joker.

In the graphic novel, Alan Moore depicts Joker's origin as a tragedy. He depicts this character (again, pre-dip) as an incredibly frail, almost pitiful man, down on his luck. Particular events in the book push this man to his breaking point and [wouldn't you know it] - he breaks!

Mark's performance here (as pre-dip Joker) is misguided to say the least.
I don't know what happened exactly. Ordinarily, Andrea Romano supplies the voice direction for projects such as these. She's a veteran and she knows how to get the best from her actors. This time, Wes Gleason was given the job. I'm sure by now, Mark has a solid grasp on the intricacies of this character but I'm not sure the same can be said for Gleason. So, yeah. I AM gonna blame the direction!

Pre-Joker Joker is (as mentioned before) a pretty pitiful guy, and when tragedy strikes, it shatters his whole world!
Mark's performance is less one of: "Jesus Christ! I've lost everything. My life is over..." and more one of: "Hmm... Well, that's life! Shit happens! I'll get over it!".
It's bizarre! Do you feel the tragedy? No! Not really! You don't! There is very little sense of grief in Mark's delivery, and you really get no sense that this is a pivotal moment for this character.
Obviously (Sarcastic "Spoiler Alert"), the dude loses his mind and The Joker is born, but this transformation is so spontaneous that is seems kinda silly and out of place! It's like an over-reaction - uncalled for - not really warranted, considering the character's composure moments before! It doesn't make much sense and it doesn't mean a lot! The significance is lost.

That's the problem. There is little to no weight to anything that happens in this film. It has no gravity. It's not the story's fault. It's the way the story is told HERE - this adaptation!

The book is structurally sound and carries weight. The film is not and DOES NOT.
Let's face it - the book is iconic. It's well written and gorgeously presented. It's a turning point for so many characters. It's insightful and thought-provoking. It's a fantastic, gritty drama and most importantly - it's creative.

This was an opportunity to get creative - to really make something special.
This adaptation is paint by numbers. It's based on a great story but ultimately, comes off pretty bland because it fails to think for itself or pause to let its audience ponder!

Let me just say this too: this review isn't a 'book versus film' kinda deal.
I understand that they are two totally different mediums - incomparable to certain extents.
I'll just clarify by saying: the film is a poor adaptation. It's simply missing what made THE KILLING JOKE the must-read that it is. The book is not just an origin story - it's a study of the human condition. This exploration and insight is at the heart of the story. It's what makes it meaningful. The film struggles to capture and convey this. Things just happen and then they're over. Again, there's just no weight to it.
What's happened here is: they've taken a solid template, a great script, without knowing how to translate it to screen. Plain and simple.

Man, I could go on and on!
Believe it or not - this was intended to be a BRIEF review.
So, I'll finish up by saying this: The film is entertaining for the most part. It's by no means an insult to the original material but it certainly doesn't do it the justice it deserved. There are some decent performances throughout but they alone, can't make up for what could have been.
At the end of the day, THE KILLING JOKE can be summed up in two words: Missed opportunity.

- Woody