Movie review: Wonder Woman

 

 Princess of the Amazons, Diana was raised to be an unconquerable warrior and defender of her people. When American pilot Steve crashes on the Amazon island paradise and tells of the ongoing world war, Diana follows him from the island believing it her destiny to stop the war and save humanity.

Gal Gadot (Diana), Chris Pine (Steve), Connie Nielsen (Hippolyta), Robin Wright (Antiope), Danny Huston (Ludendorff), David Thewlis (Sir Patrick), Said Taghmaoui (Sameer), Ewen Bremner (Charlie), Elena Anaya (Dr. Maru).

Wonder Woman begins with some brief history about Diana, Steve, and the ongoing world war before the two of them are brought together, fully launching the Wonder Woman story. There is quite a bit of plot development in the film, but it is balanced well with the action and brief moments of comedy, morality, and romance.
Possibly more interesting is the approach of the film itself. Wonder Woman was a bit racy when I was younger but this version presents her as being a bit more modest and relatable to younger women. At the same time her naivety is preserved along with her humanity, resulting in a well rounded character with plenty of room for future growth.

Acting was pretty good with Gadot delivering nicely. Despite her energy and beauty however, she does not have the physical presence or obvious strength we expected of Wonder Woman. Pine was an enjoyable addition to the cast, delivered well as always, and appeared to have good chemistry with Gadot. Huston was solid as always and Thewlis made a good antagonist. The remainder of the cast added well to the film.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were somewhat larger than life and almost too perfect at times, but enjoyable nonetheless. Action scenes and CGI blending were good for the most part, though the big fight scenes presented obviously as unrealistic. Dialogue was enjoyable with reasonable depth. Sound and soundtrack exhibited good quality.

This highly anticipated delivery of the Wonder Woman origins story is surprisingly well done and thankfully relies on love for the story rather than sexualizing her for ratings. The result is a story that will continue to engage younger viewers without corrupting the morality and ethics of Wonder Woman we have all come to know.

While there is some mild sexuality, a bit of violence, and a potentially frightening scene or two, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2017
Reviewed: 11.20.17
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Superheroes, Action Sci-Fi & Fantasy

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Movie review: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

 

 When Arthur's father is killed, his brother seizes the crown, robbing Arthur of his birthright. As Arthur grows up in the hard back alleys of the city, he finally realizes he can never escape his true purpose.

Charlie Hunnam (Arthur), Astrid Berges-Frisbey (The Mage), Jude Law (Bortigern), Djimon Hounsou (Bedivere), Eric Bana (Uther), Aidan Gillen (Bill), Freddie Fox (Rubio), Craig McGinlay (Percival), Tom Wu (George).

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword begins with a bit of backstory and setup before jumping to the main plot. To young to know who he is, Arthur is robbed of his crown and ends up growing up poor and having to fight for scraps to survive. As he matures and realizes his true purpose, he tries to fight against it only to eventually take his place as King. This story is a unique take on the King Arthur legend, exploring how Arthur rose to become King and form the Knights of the Round Table.

Acting was enjoyable with Hunnam doing very well and appearing to work well with others. Frisbey was enjoyable but appeared constrained by her character. Law was solid as always and fit the film nicely. Hounsou, Bana, and the remainder of the cast were enjoyable and delivered well.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were well done with very good quality throughout. Action scenes were fun without becoming a focus or changing the feel of the film. Dialogue was good with nice depth and movement. Sound and soundtrack were light and enjoyable.

The legend of King Arthur is well known and has been presented many times but King Arthur: Legend of the Sword takes a different approach, showing us how Arthur found his humanity and the bumps encountered along the way. While dark in some ways, the film is actually fun, light, and moves along well. Those who enjoy mythological action and adventure should enjoy this one.

With some mild violence, a bit of gore, and a touch of foul language, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2017
Reviewed: 11.13.17
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Action & Adventure, Period Pieces, Fantasy, Drama

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Hidden Figures

 

 Hidden Figures is the story of three female African-American mathematicians that performed a vital role in NASA during the Cold War race to space. Their efforts were instrumental in launching astronaut John Glenn into outer space to orbit Earth.

Taraji Henson (Katherine), Octavia Spencer (Dorothy), Janelle Monae (Mary), Kevin Costner (Al), Kirsten Dunst (Vivian), Jim Parsons (Paul), Mahershala Ali (Col. Jim Johnson), Aldis Hodge (Levi), Glen Powell (John).

Hidden Figures is an interesting tale of three African-American mathematicians working at NASA before the use of computers for calculations. Integral to the U.S. space program, the three faced constant racial inequality in addition to concerns they would become obsolete with the implementation of computers. Add in some romance and family issues and the film ends up being a nicely done biographical drama that explores some of the racial tensions which impacted the early days of NASA.

Acting was pretty good with Henson doing a decent job despite her awkward presentations as a parent. Spencer was enjoyable throughout with good delivery and energy. Monae did fairly well though her energy felt off a couple of times. Costner and Dunst were enjoyable surprises and both did nicely. Ali was solid as always, as was the remainder of the supporting cast.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were all well done with a solid, realistic feel. Action scenes were fairly mild but enjoyable and blended well with CGI. Dialogue had nice depth and moved the story along at a good pace. Sound and soundtrack were fitting and fun.

Hidden Figures is an enjoyable film that presents enough history and personal struggle to engage the audience on several levels. The film moves between drama, racial issues, and action of the space program without dwelling extensively which keeps the story moving at a good pace.

With some mild violence presented by newsreel stock footage, and mild foul language, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 11.13.17
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Drama, Drama based on the book, Drama based on real life, Biography, History

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel