Wonder Woman (Film Review)

[selenak]

Wonder Woman was a very enjoyable comic book movie. I haven't read any of the WW comics or any others featuring her, so I had no other versions to compare this Diana to. What immediately struck me, though, was the difference to the other recent DC movies. Because it seems this particular director and scriptwriter (writers?) finally managed to chuck

Comments

[abigail_n]

I've been looking forward to your thoughts on this film, since obviously you would come to it with more knowledge about the German side in WWI than pretty much anyone else I've read. I had no idea who Ludendorff was before watching the film, and it was really interesting to read about him - in particular, I appreciated the fact that he didn't become a Nazi but was clearly a fellow-traveler, as a reminder that racist authoritarianism doesn't have to wear a particular uniform. I take your point that his behavior over the course of the film would be more than even an about-to-surrender high command would tolerate - even Captain America: The First Avenger has a "regular" SS officer chastising the Red Skull for his deranged tactics

I.

[selenak]

I appreciated the fact that he didn't become a Nazi but was clearly a fellow-traveler, as a reminder that racist authoritarianism doesn't have to wear a particular uniform.

True. Another of the type was the highly influential (at the time) writer Ernst Jünger, who I suspect mainly didn't become a Nazi because he considered them too vulgar, but was as racist and authoritarian-minded as hell and wrote what must be the sole WWI era book of literary standing which peddles the old toxic "war is when men become men, and it totally worked that way for me!" myth dressed up in new aesthetics, Stahlgewitter... )

II.

[selenak]

I take your point that his behavior over the course of the film would be more than even an about-to-surrender high command would tolerate

It really starts right with his introduction and him shooting the Captain who questions him in front of everyone. Leaving ethics completely aside, this really isn't what you do - and permit anyone sold as savior-of-the-nation-genius-general to the army doing - in an army already demoralized and in bad condition. The historical likely evil action would have been to send that Captain in a pointless charge with him and his men getting slaughtered, and the Captain having no choice because either he obeys and gets slaughtered, or he refuses and gets killed for disobeying his superior officer. THAT, I would have bought without hesitation, and it would have accomplished the same plot point of characterising Ludendorff.

[davesmusictank]

It was a resounding success, I thoroughly enjoyed the film.

[selenak]

Ditto.

[redfiona10]

Hi, I have to admit I was waiting for your review before seeing WW because, although I know she does have a German bad guy (the Baroness), after seeing Danny Huston using Generic German accent number 2 in the trailer I was filled with dubiousness.

I will now go and watch it without worrying :)

[selenak]

Oh, there are Generic German Accents a plenty. Otoh one of the things Diana finds out in the course of the movie is that this war really isn't a case of good guys vs bad guys. And not just this one; there's a scene where the Lakota who is part of their team mentions his people were driven from their land and imprisoned, and when Diana asks by whom, he points to Steve Trevor and says "by his people".