Where to watch Wonder Woman
4 Stars
In antiquity, the Amazons defeat the war god, Ares, and Zeus charges them to hold him prisoner as eternally young warriors on the hidden island of Themyscira. Centuries later, US Air Force pilot Steve Trevor is lured to crash land on the island and the distraction of that trespass allows Ares to escape. In response, Princess Diana wins the responsibility to both take Trevor home and recapture the fugitive god. Steve Trevor offers to help and together this disparate pair must not only overcome Ares’ efforts to achieve a bloody revenge, but also reconcile their own conflicting world views in an adventure that would be the first for the greatest of the female superheroes.
Before Patty Jenkins’ excellent 2017 film Wonder Woman, this animated feature from DC (which predates the film version by 8 years) was the best take on the character ever presented on screen. Four features in, and the creatives running the DC animated universe have produced their finest work to date with Wonder Woman (2009). I had never been a fan of this superhero; her powers and tools are infinitely silly, but this outstanding take on the character and universe is so good that I became so interested in these individuals that I’m eager to see the follow-up, which never materialized, making this movie a standalone story.
Wonder Woman has been mistreated historically by entertainment executives. Just recently, the brass at WB fumbled a billion-dollar franchise, letting Jenkins and Gal Gadot exit any future sequels. Now that James Gunn runs a newly invigorated DC cinematic universe, perhaps he will give Wonder Woman a loving retelling. The writing of this 2009, highly successful animated tale sets it apart from its contemporaries. To state that Wonder Woman (2009) is a surprise is an understatement; it is a revelation.
Directed by: Lauren Montgomery
Written by: William Moulton Marston (characters), Gail Simone (story), Michael Jelenic (story), Michael Jelenic (screenplay),
Starring: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Alfred Molina, Rosario Dawson