Wonder Woman is one of my favorite superhero movies. Unlike the previous movies based on DC comics, Wonder Woman isn’t dark. Diana Prince believes that people are genuinely good. Even when she sees the worst, she doesn’t give up on people. Her only goal is to help. It’s her optimism and compassion that keep the movie from falling into Batman territory in which the world is a dark and evil place to live.

The movie opens with Diana Prince arriving at the Louvre. She sits at a desk and looks at a photograph of her taken in 1918 during World War I. She then reminisces on her life and we are taken back to when she was a child on Themyscira, a hidden island that is home to the Amazons.

Diana wants to learn how to be a warrior like her aunt, Antiope, but her mother, Hippolyta, doesn’t want her to take part in combat training. She’s afraid the more Diana learns, the more likely it is Diana might discover what she really is.

Diana trains with her aunt anyway and, by the time she is an adult, Diana is able to take on the best. It’s in the middle of a mock fight that Diana’s powers come out, but she still doesn’t discover that she’s more than an Amazon.

Steve Trevor crashes in the ocean just off the coast of Themyscira. He’s the first man Diana has ever seen and the movie has some fun with that.

Steve tells her and the other Amazons about the war and Diana decides it must be Aries and she has to leave with Steve to save everyone. They arrive in London and Steve tells the general about the gas Dr. Poison has developed. If it’s used, it will kill everyone. The general denies Steve’s request to go to the front to stop Dr. Poison and Diana is appalled at the general’s attitude. The general believes soldiers are meant to die.

Steve tells Diana that they are going to the front anyway. Diana’s compassion shines through when she comes across a crying woman in No Man’s Land. She tells Diana everything has been taken from her and her people. Steve tries to get her to leave, but she won’t hear of it. What follows is one of the most spectacular scenes in the movie. Diana, dressed as Wonder Woman, marches across the field. She deflects bullets with her bracelets and shield. When she sets her mind to something, nothing stands in Wonder Woman’s way.

All of this leads to the final battle, which is also quite spectacular, even if it is a little unbelievable. Tanks go flying through the air as Wonder Woman takes on the enemy; yet, all of the soldiers carry on with their business as if nothing is going on. In reality, they would drop what they were doing to watch the show. Despite that implausible tidbit, that scene is still enjoyable to watch.

Gal Gadot is fabulous as Wonder Woman. Her martial arts moves are amazing. She and Chris Pine play off of each other well. I can’t really think of anyone else who would have done these roles justice. The secondary characters are good and add a bit of comic relief. If you see the movie, you’ll love the scenes with Etta Candy.

Wonder Woman should not be missed. I can’t wait for the sequel.

Have you seen Wonder Woman?

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