This is part two of our segment "Watch.Read.Discuss", in which we authors deal with the same media and discuss some questions about it. This time we talk about the newly released movie "Wonder Woman".For those of you who haven't watched it yet: Diana (Gal Gadot) lives on an island - separated from the human world. The inhabitants are Amazons, strong female warriors, who are preparing for a confrontation with Ares, the god of war. He killed all the other gods a long time ago and breeded discord between humans. Zeus, already very weak, was able to wound him and leave the Amazons the "Godkiller", a weapon capable of defeating Ares. One day Diana sees an airplane crash into the ocean. She saves the pilot, a British spy namend Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), from drowning. He is being chased by German soldiers, who follow him to the Amazons' island. They're able to defeat the men, but Diana is shocked to hear, that millions of people are currently dying in the First World War. She leaves the paradisaic island with Steve to find Ares, kill him and thereby restore the peace in the world.

Why and in which context did you watch the movie?

Laura: I'm interested in every superhero movie, "Wonder Woman" was no exception. I wasn't a fan of the previous "DC Extended Universe" movies, but when I saw Gal Gadot as "Wonder Woman" in "Batman vs Superman" I immediately liked her character. The trailer increased my interest even more, so I just had to see the movie - in English, because it's usually better than the dubbing.

Katrin: I'm not a fan of superhero movies and haven't watched a single "DC Comics" one. But "Wonder Woman" sounded pretty interesting - most notably because of the setting in the First World War and the female superhero. So I dared to watch the next comic book adaptation after "Doctor Strange". During this awfully hot weather there's no better place than a cool, empty movie theatre anyway.





Even "Wonder Woman" goes shopping for clothes Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures Katrin: It's a great pity film studios seem to think all productions, which were essentially influced by women, are going to be box office bombs. There have only been halfhearted tries like "Catwoman" in the past and the "Wonder Woman" movie had been stuck in different production stages over the years. Hopefully the blockbuster's success will give a lot of young, talented female filmmakers a chance. It would be great to have new and cool heroines in the adventure, action and superhero genre, that young moviegoers can look up to. Gal Gadot is a great example: She was five months pregnant during the pickup shots and still fought - with a greenscreen in front of her stomach. It's a great pity film studios seem to think all productions, which were essentially influced by women, are going to be box office bombs. There have only been halfhearted tries like "Catwoman" in the past and the "Wonder Woman" movie had been stuck in different production stages over the years. Hopefully the blockbuster's success will give a lot of young, talented female filmmakers a chance. It would be great to have new and cool heroines in the adventure, action and superhero genre, that young moviegoers can look up to. Gal Gadot is a great example: She was five months pregnant during the pickup shots and still fought - with a greenscreen in front of her stomach.



Laura: I'm fed up with people not giving movies like this a chance and badmouthing them early. So I was excited, when "Wonder Woman" got a lot of attention and praise. I think it's an important step in the right direction. "Marvel" fans have been asking for a movie about the Russian agent Natasha Romanoff alias "Black Widow" for quite some time. Maybe this wish will finally come true after the success of "Wonder Woman".





Did the movie live up to these expectations?

The Amazons protect the world from Ares Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures Laura: Definetly! First of all: Fighting Amazons! They were awesome. But the most important aspect for me: Diana and the other women are not being sexualized by focussing on their bodies. Director Patty Jenkins portrays the female characters as people, just like the male ones. That's great and should be standard. The movie also features an incredibly strong female protagonist, who's great at fighting and able to look after herself. But Diana also has weak moments, in which she shows vulnerability. "Wonder Woman" does a great job at balancing boths sides and thereby creating a great role model for girls and women.



Definetly! First of all: Fighting Amazons! They were awesome. But the most important aspect for me: Diana and the other women are not being sexualized by focussing on their bodies. Director Patty Jenkins portrays the female characters as people, just like the male ones. That's great and should be standard. The movie also features an incredibly strong female protagonist, who's great at fighting and able to look after herself. But Diana also has weak moments, in which she shows vulnerability. "Wonder Woman" does a great job at balancing boths sides and thereby creating a great role model for girls and women. Katrin: I see it differently: The movie lived up to some expectations, but not all. On one hand the fight scenes with the Amazons were brilliant, especially because they cast professional sportswomen and fighters. I also loved the fact, that Diana always held the upper hand and didn't need to be saved by some heroic man. There was one detail I especially liked: They didn't retouch Gal Gadot's tiny "flaws". You can spot a zit and she has small love handles at the top of her corset. It's great they didn't make her completely perfect. However there were some weaknesses, for example Dianas Outfit. Why can't a female superhero wear a handy suit too or a set à la "Kim Possible"? Why does it have to be a corset (FOR FIGHTING!), which covers less than a normal bathing suit? I also thought it was pretty weak that Diana realized she was fighting for love. A male superhero would have taken up the cause of justice or peace.





Your thoughts on the male protagonist Steve Trevor?

Diana rarely listens to Steve Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures Laura: His fascination with Diana and her powers made me smirk constantly. Just like his attempts to explain stuff like marriage to her. The story didn't focus on him too much. He was mainly a companion and I liked that. "Wonder Woman" tells the story of Diana and Steve is an important part of that. But if he would have had more screentime it would have been their joint narrative and taken the focus away from Diana. Therefore I didn't mind his character being less elaborate. In the end I was sad because of Diana's loss rather than his death. His fascination with Diana and her powers made me smirk constantly. Just like his attempts to explain stuff like marriage to her. The story didn't focus on him too much. He was mainly a companion and I liked that. "Wonder Woman" tells the story of Diana and Steve is an important part of that. But if he would have had more screentime it would have been their joint narrative and taken the focus away from Diana. Therefore I didn't mind his character being less elaborate. In the end I was sad because of Diana's loss rather than his death.





Katrin: He was pretty one-dimensional and a little boring. I had hoped he would not be pushed into the same semi-passive and semi-naive role as many female characters are in movies with male heroes. Why can't there be a hero and a heroine with equal rights fighting side by side? But I thought it was very bold to kill him off in the end. It's always boring when you know the protagonists are going to be safe no matter what.





Which scene did you like best?

Katrin: As I said before, the fight scene between the Amazons and the German soldiers was spectacular. Especially because it's not common to have ancient weapons on one side and modern ones on the other. I also liked the sequences with 8-year-old Diana (Lilly Aspell). The little girl had so much fire and excitement in her eyes, that it was contagious



Laura: When Diana's and Steve's group is inside the British trench near the no-man's-land and "Wonder Woman" ventures out on her own. It looks spectacular how she repels the bullets in slow motion and just keeps going. This scene fits perfectly into a superhero movie, because Diana manages the impossible and gives the soldiers new courage. The euphoria at the end of the scene was contagious.





What annoyed you?

Laura: That there is no explanation what the "strengthening gas" is and why Ludendorff (Danny Huston) takes it. It didn't make sense to me, especially because it doesn't influence the story at all. It's just supposed to set the viewers on the wrong track and make them believe he is Ares.

Katrin: The discussion on the boat was cringeworthy. But what really bothered me was Diana's ambivalent attitude. She firmly believes all humans are good and only make bad choices under Ares' (David Thewlis) influence. But why does she keep killing without scruple? Generally she seems to be pretty naive and gridlocked about her self-imposed mission. I hated the fact they implied in the end, that the humans actually only had a war because of Ares' influence on them. Because that's implausible, naive and gives all DC movies set after the First World War no foundation. And why were most of the German roles not cast with German actors?



The movie is set during the First World War. What do you think about the antagonists? Ludendorff (l.) and Dr. Maru want the war Photo: Warner Bros. Studios Laura: Ludendorff and Dr. Maru (Elena Anaya) got help from Ares basically. Still they had enough evil inside of them to make his suggestions reality. That's why they're scary characters. However they only had little contact with Diana. That's why Ares is the main antagonists in my opinion. I thought the showdown, where they fought eacht other, was really interesting. Because of Ares Diana starts to scrutinize everything she has learned and believes in. Their battle is pretty balanced and Diana takes some hits before she defeats him. But overall the god of war didn't really stand out from antagonists of other superhero movies. Ludendorff and Dr. Maru (Elena Anaya) got help from Ares basically. Still they had enough evil inside of them to make his suggestions reality. That's why they're scary characters. However they only had little contact with Diana. That's why Ares is the main antagonists in my opinion. I thought the showdown, where they fought eacht other, was really interesting. Because of Ares Diana starts to scrutinize everything she has learned and believes in. Their battle is pretty balanced and Diana takes some hits before she defeats him. But overall the god of war didn't really stand out from antagonists of other superhero movies.

Katrin: Ares was a joke - especially in his embarrassing armor. He didn't seem like a real threat to me, not even for one second. His real identity was also pretty obvious way too early. Ludendorff and Dr. Isabel Maru were more exciting, because they were actually fundamentally evil and ruthless. They may be fictional people, but the setting of the First World War made them more real and scarier than Ares. Generally I think the movie was aiming for war and hate as the main antagonists.





Last, but not least: What do you expect from a sequel?

Laura: I'm excited for "Wonder Woman's" performance in "Justice League", which will premiere in November. I hope she'll have some cool fight scenes and I'm curious how she is going to interact with the other member of the league. I expect that she'll be portrayed as equal, because she is the only woman on the team.

Katrin: An explanation why Diana stopped aging and how she keeps that a secret considering she is probably often photographed and recognized as the curator of the Louvre. I also would like to have a mean and ruthless female antagonist as well as a less sexy and more practical outfit. Furthermore I hope it will be clarified that humans make bad decisions on their own accord and not just under Ares' influence.







What would have been your answers? Tell us in the comments.



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