Review: WONDER WOMAN [2009]

Wonder Woman is one of many DC Animated films. This one focuses on the origin story for the queen of comics. We see Diana (Keri Russell) journey to Man’s World with the guidance of Steve Trevor (Nathan Fillion). The two need to stop Ares the God of War (Alfred Molina). It’s a story we’ve seen a thousand times. Girl wants to explore a new world, the overprotective parent says no, they go anyway and run into a man that joins them on their adventure. It’s basically every Disney movie.

There’s a huge difference though. Wonder Woman takes these cliches and turns them on their head. It opens with one of the biggest actions scene you’ll see in an animated film. There’s blood, murder, and even a decapitation! We see the Amazons fight Ares centuries ago, leading to the creation of Themyscira [Paradise Island], and their separation from the rest of the world. Which gives us great context on why Diana’s mother forbids her to leave the island. Everything on the island is pure gold. The design is gorgeous, the characters are solid, and all of Steve’s lines are hilarious. Artemis (Rosario Dawson), Hippolyta (Virginia Madsen), Persephone (Vicki Lewis), and Alexa (Tara Strong) all have their own character arcs that feel natural and really help make this world feel alive. Giving Wonder Woman the supporting cast she desperately needs.

While Diana is a great lead, she does she have her problems. Diana is perfect at everything. She’s the best fighter on the island, she’s compassionate, inspiring, and beautiful. It’s hard to have a lead character who has practically zero flaws. They do make it work, but it makes her character can feel a little boring at times. Diana’s relationship with Steve helps to keep things interesting – as the characters are a great pairing. This is honestly a nitpick as it’s very minor and doesn’t really ruin the overall experience. Ares is a fantastic villain, and Molina does incredible voice work here. He’s intimidating but still surprisingly charming. The entire cast does an amazing job bringing these characters to life.

All in all Wonder Woman is an excellent watch. The characters are great, the story is solid, the action is brutal, and the animation is fantastic. It’s not perfect; but it’s as good as you can possibly get. This is the perfect origin story for Wonder Woman, and deserves to get a sequel. With the film being release eight years ago, the chances for a sequel look pretty slim; but with the commemorative edition re-release – I do have a glimmer of hope. Whether you’re a life long fan of the character or someone who wants to know more about the Amazonian Princess – this is the movie for you.