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.
