"WONDER WOMAN" REVIEW
by Antony Coukos

Bruce Timm’s production of “Wonder Woman” is an adrenaline rush from beginning to end. This animated feature combines superb artistry with a brilliant screenplay and excellent voice talent. With complex themes, intense action sequences, brilliant sexual tension and ample humor, director Lauren Montgomery gives us a “Wonder Woman” that rivals its live action peers setting a new standard for feature length animation.

In the film, writer Michael Jelenic explores the origin of Princess Diana (voiced by Keri Russell), daughter of Queen Hippolyta (voiced by Virginia Madsen), ruler of the Amazons. In a masterful opening battle sequence, Queen Hippolyta and her Amazons defeat Ares, God of War (voiced by Alfred Molina), and his armies bringing peace to the world. As a reward for their deeds and their obedience, the Amazons are given custody of Ares along with the secret island paradise of Themyscira. There, Queen Hippolyta is honored with a daughter, Princess Diana. Diana is raised on Themyscira and, like many of the Amazons, longs to know more of the outside world. That wish is granted when fighter pilot Steve Trevor crash lands onto the island. In a contest of skill, Diana triumphs and is selected to return Steve to his world. She is also entrusted with a critical mission to capture Ares, who has escaped Themyscira and is plotting to plunge the world into a new era of war and chaos.

As the story develops, Diana’s love-hate relationship with man’s man Steve Trevor evolves. Eventually, the two establish a mutual trust that plays out as the story reaches its climax in a battle sequence between the armies of Ares and the Amazons. More than one warrior looses their head in this epic fight that sees much of Washington, D.C. lain waste. Princess Diana’s triumph over Ares proves to her mother and the other Amazons that she is a true warrior. As a reward, she is allowed to return to the outside world as Amazon Ambassador with the mission of re-establishing links between Amazons and the world of “men”. There, we leave Diana, but in one final sequence, a new nemesis appears….as a costumed Diana rushes to a face-off, a little girl yells, “look mom, it’s Wonder Woman!”

“Wonder Woman” is sure to be seen and appreciated by both die-hard superhero fans and newcomers alike. Early buzz by those at the screening is that this is the best DC Universe direct-to-video release to date. Girl-Power devotees fear not – this title character kicks some serious butt!

“Wonder Woman” arrives on 1-disc and 2-disc DVD and Blu-Ray disc on March 3, 2009. For more information, check out ETW’s earlier coverage here.

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