By: Miurel Zamora, Contributing Writer
When the first “Wonder Woman” film was released in 2017, it made a massive impact on young women. Female superheroes are often out-shadowed by the larger variety of male superheroes in the industry. However, the new “Wonder Woman 1984,” released on Dec. 25, brings back the essence of a powerful, intelligent, and emotional woman hero.
In “Wonder Woman 1984,” director Patty Jenkins did an exceptional job portraying a balance between action and charming romance. Jenkins’ sequel also showcased a more realistic version of the modern world of today.
In the film, Diana Prince—played by Gal Gadot—tries to live a simple life among mortals. Though she performs heroic acts as Wonder Woman, Diana maintains a low profile while working as an artifact investigator. As the film progresses, Diana must take on Pedro Pascal’s Maxwell Lord and Kristen Wiig’s Cheetah, a villainess who has lost herself in avarice and possesses superhuman strength. However, Diana must also fight against her own interests and feelings in order to save humankind.
The film often emphasizes the destructive nature of greed and the importance of honesty. At the beginning of the film, the audience sees a young Diana competing in a challenge of strength and skills against women twice her age and height from the magical island of Themiscyra. Here is where Diana learns an important lesson in honesty and humility as she considers others before herself. This childhood experience has an emotional impact on Diana, and it will influence her when she is forced to make other difficult decisions.
In “Wonder Woman 1984,” Diana is portrayed as a confident, intelligent, and emotional woman, yet she is also insecure. Despite having superhuman abilities, Diana has a humanistic side where the audience can see her being joyful, fearful, sad, and angry.
The movie also avoids any stereotypical female and male roles, allowing Diana to showcase her independence as she takes care of others. Even though World War I pilot Steve Trevor—played by Chris Pine—is back in this sequel, the main focus is not on his and Diana’s love story, though Steve’s appearance does bring humor and emotion into the film.
“Wonder Woman 1984” also gives a nostalgic tribute to the 1980s, with pastel-colored polo shirts, the classic Centipede game in the arcade, and a three-story mall.
In conclusion, what made “Wonder Woman 1984” such an inspirational movie was that girls could look up to Diana. This film opens the field to new female superheroes and, more importantly, empowers young women.
