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Wonder Woman (DCCU) Review Thread (RT 93%)

Uh what case?

Well yeah, the majority of critics all hated Fire Walk With Me when it released and now everyone loves it. I'm not trying to rewrite or shy away from history. Maybe the same reception change will happen with Batman v Superman, probably not.

I mean, I'm not saying anyone can't like BvS if they want to. I'm just saying that the majority of critics didn't like it, which is true.

majority of critics still don't like Fire Walk With Me. It got a reappraisal from fans and some critics.

don't take this as direct comparison bruv because I don't hold him in even 1/10th the esteem of Lynch, but I do see some Lynch inspiration in Snyder's work. his penchant for violence and the almost dream-like scattered pacing of BvS in particular were pretty familiar.

hell, I recall him mentioning Blue Velvet was a top 5 for him back in the day. which kind of checks out now after seeing how much another favorite movie of his, Excalibur, has influenced his approach to franchise flicks.
 
Really like this fanmade poster.

DBD4--bU0AAUH_k
 
But I think Justice League hurting, or at least not helping Aquaman's box-office would mean that the DCEU is a failed concept. The reason why the MCU is such a success is that they used B-list characters to foster goodwill towards C-list characters (Doctor Strange, the Guardians of the Galaxy) - movies that won't have a close connection to A-list characters like Batman (i.e. Batgirl, Gotham City Sirens).

Wonder Woman had the potential for success with or without the DCEU, but I don't think characters like Aquaman and Cyborg do. They need a good lead-in, and I think Justice League is that movie.

Failed concept? Maybe, but not for long.
You're not wrong about Cyborg and Aquaman, they need all the help they can get but at this point we already know the DCEU is not going anywhere. They might have to rely on Bat characters (as usual) for a while if JL really gets a bad reception but even then, it looks like they just managed to finally establish the third pillar of their universe with WW. And she'll get to interact with the rest of the DCEU in her sequels and carry the goodwill of her first movie forward. Cyborg and Aquaman will be temporary casualties at best. And I'm not prepared to write-off Aquaman yet. Despite the status of the character in pop culture, with the right trailers and marketing, it could very well succeed on its own merits, just like WW hopefully will.

I realize I'm being optimistic of course, but I think DC has been doing okay at rectifying the course in the last few months. I think they're prepared for every outcome with Justice League, it's just the last hurdle they have to get past at this point.
 
I'm not quite sure how The Guardian's reviewer is equating Wonder Woman taking place during WW1 to Kendal Jenner's Pepsi Ad.

that review was nonsense "Smurfette"...lol wat

but I dunno, I can kind of see the reviewers point in that although I don't necessarily agree that this is nearly as offensive or misguided.

that shot of Wonder Woman walking out of the trenches looks like a supermodel shoot. in the hell of WW1. its a pretty odd image.
 
I'm not quite sure how The Guardian's reviewer is equating Wonder Woman taking place during WW1 to Kendal Jenner's Pepsi Ad.
His overall opinion on the film (2/5) is a lot closer to mine than a lot of the other reviews out. But I don't even understand that Smurfette line, and he totally lost me with the paragraph you mention.

But there's something rather distasteful about co-opting trench warfare as the backdrop to a sanitised, hyper-stylised fantasy. I couldn't help thinking of Kendall Jenner's disastrous "protest chic" Pepsi ad. And when Gadot is called upon to communicate the horrors of war moments later, reeling around dazed and confused in a
haze of orange poison gas
, it's a moment of Zoolander-esque silliness that brings home how weightless the whole story has become. Gadot is entirely credible as the embodiment of Amazonian perfection, but there's only so much emotion her concerted brow-furrowing can convey.

that review was nonsense "Smurfette"...lol wat

but I dunno, I can kind of see the reviewers point in that although I don't necessarily agree that this is nearly as offensive or misguided.

that shot of Wonder Woman walking out of the trenches looks like a supermodel shoot. in the hell of WW1. its a pretty odd image.
I thought it was inspiring, to be honest. The context of the scene is important, so I won't get too spoilery, but essentially she's using her superhuman powers to perform a true act of heroism that a regular person would be incapable of doing. The Guardian review makes it sound like it's on the same level as Superman making out with Lois Lane in the ashes of Metropolis.
 
Great reviews, and I'm not surprised at all. Movie seemed very interesting from the get go. Is there any good WW thread with lot of "haters", people who are sure this fails and Gadit has only one expression? I want to see those people and what they say now.
 
This is why I avoid a 10-point scale, there's no need. All you need is 1-5 or letter grades.

Even then there would be a difference with 1 and 2 right? Though I personally don't see the harm in having 10 point scale. It's hard for me to round off a movies score like that
 
But criticism and analysis of film/music/art is not like grading a Calculus exam.

Opinions can change over time. Roger Ebert originally gave The Big Lebowski 3 out of 4 stars. Years later, he changed his review score to 4 out of 4 stars.

By this notion, no one studying to be an artist can therefore be honestly graded on their work.

The same debate happens all the time in videogames, with outlets wanting to strip away review scores. But they don't because A) they want placement on Metacritic, and B) there is plenty of value in a succinct answer to the question "Did you enjoy your time with this - Y/N?"

We're talking about a massive production and tentpole film for a major corporation to capitalize on a property's interconnected nature, as preceded by another major corporation's similar experiment, all to set up future installments and establish emotional investment in a franchise through complex serialized storytelling. We're not talking about a personal piece of expression that leaves a lot of room for interpretation about a singular author's intent. The argument that a numerical critique is more meaningless here versus any other form of expressive or commercial art rings kinda hollow.

This isn't to say there isn't value in reevaluating a work, or that you can't revisit something. But time won't change that BvS is a depressing, confusing film that does little to serve peoples' desires to celebrate these characters.
 
Will never understand the complaint that Wonder Woman's inclusion in Batman v. Superman was 'unnecessary'. It would have been a total shitshow if she hadn't been included. By the time we get to her, I had already long since decided to turn my brain off and just enjoy the trash. And her inclusion was obviously the highlight.
 
His overall opinion on the film (2/5) is a lot closer to mine than a lot of the other reviews out. But I don't even understand that Smurfette line, and he totally lost me with the paragraph you mention.



I thought it was inspiring, to be honest. The context of the scene is important, so I won't get too spoilery, but essentially she's using her superhuman powers to perform a true act of heroism that a regular person would be incapable of doing. The Guardian review makes it sound like it's on the same level as Superman making out with Lois Lane in the ashes of Metropolis.

It's pretty ridiculous. War is war, young soldiers die in terrible ways no matter what the era is or where the fight is, trenches or otherwise. I wonder if this same reviewer would say the same thing about Captain America righteously killing soldiers in Europe in TFA. Besides, Diana's appearance from the trenches served as the rallying point for the soldiers, and the slow-mo walk she does is only a fraction of that sequence anyway.

The Kendall Jenner comparison is the most nonsensical thing ever.

It's too bad, because I actually kinda agree with him about the poisonous gas scene.
 
"They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders."

Damn it was never about Supes. But about WW and DCEU. :P
 
Will never understand the complaint that Wonder Woman's inclusion in Batman v. Superman was 'unnecessary'. It would have been a total shitshow if she hadn't been included. By the time we get to her, I had already long since decided to turn my brain off and just enjoy the trash. And her inclusion was obviously the highlight.

In terms of serving the plot or themes, there isn't really a reason for her to be in it. She's mostly just there to promote the her movie and Justice League. That said, I do agree that she is one of the few shots of life in that movie.
 
Will never understand the complaint that Wonder Woman's inclusion in Batman v. Superman was 'unnecessary'. It would have been a total shitshow if she hadn't been included. By the time we get to her, I had already long since decided to turn my brain off and just enjoy the trash. And her inclusion was obviously the highlight.

The thing that's frustrating about Wonder Woman's inclusion (though I also agree, it was more of a highlight) is that the arc it seemingly serves isn't even properly introduced until after its theoretical closure. Her scenes with Bruce, however brief, are fine but don't say much about what her deal is. The biggest revelation then comes with the revelation of the photograph, and the proceeding IM chat from Bruce in a weak-ass attempt to set up Justice League and three other characters.

Then she appears in the Doomsday fight, and she's all tough and cool... but you still have no grasp on who or what she is.

It isn't until the funeral that you get any kind of actual look into her perspective, or explanation why her appearance during the battle should be seen as some kind of real heroic choice.


The confrontation about the picture between her and Bruce should've happened in-person, but also those hints as to who she is or about her cynicism should've been made apparent here. Thus when she dons the costume again, the emotional weight behind her choice actually gets an opportunity to impact the audience. As it stands, this movie is sort of acting like the Rogue One for Diana's story. A seemingly retroactive recontextualization of Diana's choice in BvS, turning that moment into the closure of an emotional arc being set up by this film. Though this was far more intentional than Star Wars' handling of contextualizing a supposed plot-hole of the Death Star weakness, BvS' handling of its end of the story makes it less satisfying and kinda muddy on its own terms.
 
As happy as I am that we finally have a genuinely good movie in the dccu. My only concern is this is still part of the terrible dccu and I'm not sure how much this continuity can truly be salvaged.
 
Will never understand the complaint that Wonder Woman's inclusion in Batman v. Superman was 'unnecessary'. It would have been a total shitshow if she hadn't been included. By the time we get to her, I had already long since decided to turn my brain off and just enjoy the trash. And her inclusion was obviously the highlight.
There wouldn't be digital picture theft, no emails, and Superman using the kryptonite spear himself would have made more sense. That's about it.
 
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!
Im so happy for wonder woman. Hearing is similar to The First Avenger and the original superman, and that the charcters understand heroes hope and inspiration is music to my ears.

Patty, you awesome, awesome person! Thank you!
 
As happy as I am that we finally have a genuinely good movie in the dccu. My only concern is this is still part of the terrible dccu and I'm not sure how much this continuity can truly be salvaged.

All they have to do is continue with this level of quality from here on ou--

Justice_League_film_poster.jpg


Oh. God dammit.
 
For superhero movies, I typically look at Empire's review and minus a star. Four stars... minus one... equals... carry the one... three stars. Looking at the flood of reviews that just about lean over into positive territory, that feels about right.
 
YES

can't wait to watch this. positive wom and solid rt will make this do huge numbers, and the focus on female fronted cape movies can truly begin!

see what happens DC when you leave the dour, poorly made messes behind and focus on a Real Hero's tale? some levity, some brightness - looks like they finally are taking cues from the MCU.
 
YES

can't wait to watch this. positive wom and solid rt will make this do huge numbers, and the focus on female fronted cape movies can truly begin!

see what happens DC when you leave the dour, poorly made messes behind and focus on a Real Hero's tale? some levity, some brightness - looks like they finally are taking cues from the MCU.

It's doing it's own thing.
 
For superhero movies, I typically look at Empire's review and minus a star. Four stars... minus one... equals... carry the one... three stars. Looking at the flood of reviews that just about lean over into positive territory, that feels about right.

Metascore is 79, really high for a cape flick. It'll probably drop a bit as more reviews come in, but as it stands that's much higher than most MCU films. Avengers has a 69, Winter Soldier a 70, Gotg a 76. It's also even a couple points higher than Logan's 77.

Your attempt to dismiss these reviews as being barely positive isn't actually based in fact.
 
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