Movie review: "Wonder Woman"

THROND'S CHOICE
dir. by Patty Jenkins
It's odd to consider that it took three years for Warner Bros. to continue its DC Extended Universe after premiering Man of Steel in 2013. Last year's Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad arrived with the intention of competing with Marvel's own cash cow, but both premiered to largely negative reception, and the DC films became associated with a forced bleak tone and poor editing. And yet, the latter also showed Warner Bros. changing course, as last-minute reshoots attempted to add more humour and create a lighter tone. (I haven't actually seen either film, so I can't attest to either's quality.)

Wonder Woman is DC's second film to have been released since Batman v Superman's critical failure, and as significant as its status as the first female-starring superhero movie in over a decade is, almost as notable is that this is the first genuinely optimistic film in the DCEU. Not coincidentally, it's also a massive step up for the franchise, an earnest, big-hearted, and even inspiring movie which is as funny and exciting as the best of Marvel's offerings and which fully understands why these heroes are so beloved. If this is what DC's offerings are gonna be like from here on out, I'm all in.

Hell or High Water movie review

BEST NEW FEATURE
dir. by David Mackenzie
After starring on the early seasons of FX's Sons of Anarchy, Taylor Sheridan made a name for himself as a screenwriter with his excellent script to last year's Sicario. With his directorial debut set to premiere at Cannes next year, he's one of the most promising talents in the industry right now, and this second film, directed by Starred Up director David Mackenzie, only confirms that. Hell or High Water is a riveting rural crime film with deep characters and a surprising sense of humour, and while it lacks some of the novelty which made Sicario so successful, it's slightly more engaging as a whole, and in a summer as dry as this one, a thriller which is both smart and entertaining is all the more of a breath of fresh air.

Star Trek Beyond movie review

dir. by Justin Lin
The latest entry in the popular-but-divisive Star Trek reboot film series has been praised as a return to form after 2013's controversial Star Trek Into Darkness, and in many ways it's the closest these films have come to the tone and format of the original TV show. However, despite its many charming character moments and thoughtful tangents, Star Trek Beyond continues down the action-oriented route that this reboot series has become notorious for, and for all its moments-and there are plenty-its by-the-numbers plot and poorly-shot action never make this latest entry exciting enough to justify the wasted potential of its deeper elements.