There are three reasons why Wonder Woman is an awesome movie:
1. It is a kickass, bells and whistles, best of Hollywood action film.
2. For those who loved her as a kid, it confirms your idolization and reminds you of why you loved her.
3. Women are woke. How else to say that this felt like the boomerang from 2016 that we all needed?
To start with the last point first and to paraphrase my insane speech on November 10, 2016, I'm not going to apologize for loving Wonder Woman, because she has been a hero of mine my whole life. Sure, she is fictional and dresses pretty skimpy and is insanely beautiful. So what? Ladies, given the brutal reality of sexism and inequality, don't we need a little let-loose fantasy? Can it be ok to look up on that big screen and see a woman literally kicking everyone's ass for justice and love? Well, it was for me. Beyond ok, I was literally flinging my arms with each punch, pumping my fists and "yas-ing" like crazy. It is vindication. It is the supercharge I need to stay woke!
On the second point, I was a five year old feminist. I didn't know this, of course, but I played soccer better than the boys, sung "I am the Warrior" at the top of my lungs and I loved Wonder Woman. I had her Underroos. I watched Lynda Carter kick some ass. I LOVED it. With female role models few and far between in the 70s and 80s and before the age of (much needed) political correctness, I just freaking loved her, her myth and her legend. This film fills in all the fuzzy details that created that adoration.
On the first point: see this film. It's worth the price of admission. Yes, I usually prefer smaller, independent and *gasp* even foreign films (see "Samba" immediately if you haven't already). But Top Gun, Independence Day and even Rocky IV are some of the best cinematic experiences of my life. Imagine the best, great Hollywood action movie you have seen and double it. Plus, LOVE saves the day!
I saw this movie on my own, on a Tuesday morning, with about 10 others in the theater. The movie ended and I was filled with such joy, I couldn't move. I finally got up, made it to my car and burst into tears. How thrilling to have one's childhood fantasies of the legit female superhero so utterly fulfilled? Now THAT is why we love the movies.
