Wonder Woman: 10 Reasons To Be Excited
You don't need a lasso of truth to see there's cause for celebration in DC's next movie.
It's not a stretch to say that Warner Bros.' plans for their DC Extended Universe haven't gone exactly to plan. The frosty critical and fan reception of their two 2016 releases, Batman v. Superman and Suicide Squad, were mixed at best and toxic at worst, though both came out swinging at the box office (as is to be expected for every major superhero movie until the bubble finally bursts).
The dark, 'gritty', bloated formula the studio has been employing since Man of Steel hasn't done them a lot of favours, especially in comparison to Marvel Studios' reliable (if occasionally bland) crowd-pleasing methods.
But fear not, for on the horizon comes Wonder Woman, a film that promises to kick the DCEU into the shape it should have been since its inception. There's a lot riding on its success, and it's always difficult to gauge a film's quality based on its marketing (too soon, Suicide Squad fans?), but from everything we've seen so far this could be just what the doctor ordered.
Still not convinced? Well maybe you will be after these ten reasons you need to be excited for Wonder Woman...
10. It's The First DC (or Marvel) Movie To Be Directed By A Woman
Some of you might not think that's a big deal, but with women helming only 15% of the films being made in Hollywood (as of 2014), it should come as no surprise that being in a position to deliver a giant tentpole movie is a rare event for even the most talented female filmmaker.
The career of Wonder Woman's director Patty Jenkins is as good an example as any of what's wrong in Hollywood. After directing 2003's critical smash and Oscar-winner Monster, she largely worked in TV; Wonder Woman is her first feature film in over a decade.
The fact that a filmmaker as clearly talented and capable as Jenkins hasn't had projects lining up at her door until now is a serious problem in an industry infamously beset by sexism. This is a step towards course-correction by affirming once again that women can do just as good (if not better) a job as the men when handed the keys to billion-dollar franchises.
And besides, this isn't just any woman: Jenkins delivered one of the most chilling, effective thrillers of the noughties in Monster, and brought us an unforgettable female lead in Charlize Theron's Aileen Wuornos. Perhaps that isn't the best role model for Diana Prince, but it's certainly proof Jenkins has the chops to bring in a high-quality product.