Review: “Wonder Woman 1984”, superior to the first

Three years after the premiere of the first film, “Wonder Woman 1984” finally hits the big screen and HBO Max with a sincere and moving story that focuses on love, acceptance and power, but above all, the truth. Directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot, this sequel proves that Wonder Woman is by far the best the DC Cinematic Universe has to offer.

The film starts with a retrospective of the little “Diana” in some athletic competitions of the Amazons, accompanied and amplified by the music of the composer Hans Zimmer. The scene culminates with a short and direct life lesson from his aunt “Antiope” (Robin Wright), a teaching, which, as the story unfolds, will play a very important role in the life of the now adult “Diana Prince.” Returning to the present, “Diana” continues her tireless work as the Wonder Woman while leading a quiet and lonely life as an anthropologist at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. This is where she meets the insecure and clumsy “Barbara Minerva / Cheetah “(Kristen Wiig of Bridesmaids) and later aspiring businessman Maxwell Lord (Peter Pascal of The Mandalorian). Both of them, who share more things in common than just being the bad guys of our heroine, elevate the tape to a level that the former could not reach.

On the other hand, the return of Chris Pine as the handsome and charismatic pilot “Steve Trevor” adds a touch of fun and romance to the film showing once again the beautiful chemistry that Pine and Gadot clearly share on screen. Thus allowing fans of the couple to enjoy their union one last time. Going into more detail about his return would be to share the rest of the plot and spoil the cinematic experience. But what is quite clear is that his return was intended to close his character and give Diana the opportunity to accept a reality that has been avoiding for years.

The film, which has the second longest duration of the DCEU, shines even brighter than its predecessor in delivering one of the best and most exciting performances of Gadot to date. That kind of scope was something we all suspected was capable. It was a matter of time and the right material for it to finally come to light.

With better action sequences, pleasant surprises and a memorable post-credits scene, this sequel is arguably one of the best films of this year. Clearly establishing from beginning to end all that the Wonder Woman represents, this film arrives just in time to remind us that truth, justice, and equality are something so it will always be worth fighting for.

“Wonder Woman 1984” premieres tomorrow in theaters, drive-ins and on the “streaming” platform HBO Max.