Wonder Woman 1984 - Recovery Mode

 

My daughters and I enjoyed watching the movie on Christmas Day on HBOMax

From the outset of the much-anticipated Wonder Woman 84, during the exciting flashback to her childhood experiences and through the camera pans across the keepsakes on Diana’s shelves in her Washington DC apartment, there is a bittersweetness. She’s a valiant, active, super hero and dedicated museum curator with a wounded heart. She’s in recovery from the tragic loss of dearest friends. And she’s vulnerable.

Wonder Woman is a valiant, active, super hero
and dedicated museum curator with a wounded heart.

This vulnerability is one she shares with the world she has adopted and has sworn to protect. It is this vulnerability of the population that is exploited by the movie’s main antagonist, Max Lord —a master manipulator of uncanny influence who acquires supernatural expansion of his powers to do maximum harm.

To make matters worse, her new friend and co-worker (at the Smithsonian), Barbara, has been manipulated by Lord to become his powerful, deadly protector against accountability for his deeds and all efforts to stop him.

This is not to say that through all the action, drama and suspense in the film, Wonder Woman 84 is lacking winsome moments of character interaction. The chemistry between Diana and Steve that was enjoyable in the first Wonder Woman movie is renewed again —with a bit of a twist as Diana is now the one introducing Steve to late 20th Century USA just as he introduced Diana to early 20th Century London. But, as the movie unfolds, she still learns from Steve in very significant ways.

The chemistry between Diana and Steve that was enjoyable in the first Wonder Woman movie is renewed again —with a bit of a twist

Among the many layers of plot, symbolism and nuance in Wonder Woman 84, I think I enjoyed most the resistance to demonize the villains. Everyone was caught in a similar web. Compassion and empathy undergirded the struggle against the foes as the heroes sought to protect those caught in the crossfire and in the deception.

Sure, there were some plot contrivances that I thought didn’t work as well as others. And, I can see why one critic felt that film director Patty Jenkins did not do enough to highlight women’s rights struggles in a movie about a woman super hero. But Wonder Woman's symbolism still inspires as I could see while watching the movie with my enthusiastic adult daughters on Christmas Day. And the message that “No truth can come from a lie” and the warning of the cost of using a “Monkey’s Paw” as a shortcut for the aggrieved to get what they want (and feel that they deserve) is a clear and appropriate signal as we are in recovery mode from the Post-Trump Era.

My daughter and a Cosplay Wonder Woman at a Comic Con years ago. Symbols are important.

I hope the next Wonder Woman movie takes place explicitly after the events of the #JusticeLeague movie. And that it incorporates all the abilities she shows in WW84 -- PLUS having tons Justice League Member cameos ( #Batman #Superman #Aquaman & #TheFlash )