No Wonder

I just recently watched another Direct to Video animated release from Warner Premier. The Final Frontier was a piece of crap, while Gotham Knight was a mixed bag. Honestly, with Wonder Woman, I didn't know what to expect.

I was never fascinated with this character while I was growing up. I mean, I doubt if any kid classified as male would find female superheroes fascinating. With the way they were drawn--- with those insanely huge breasts and physiques of ridiculous proportions, female characters in most comic books seem to be nothing more than an outlet of repressed sexuality. Sure, for women, these female superheroes symbolize gender equality, women's liberation and whatnot. But women aren't really the target audience of comic books, right?

I only got to know the Wonder Woman character through the Justice League cartoon series. I never saw the live action TV series even on syndication. And the character seemed nothing more than an accessory in the Super Friends cartoon series that I used to watch when I was a kid. But in the Justice League series--- they showed the character in a different light. Wonder Woman appeared cool--- and her fight scenes weren't too shabby either. For the first time, along with Hawk Girl, I was rooting for female superheroes. In the Justice League series, they weren't just there for support, they weren't just mere accessories. They were vital to the whole team. They were heroes, just like the rest of them.

When i popped the disc into my DVD player, i was immediately in awe. WOW. That was one of the best opening scenes I've ever seen, be it in an animated or a live action movie. Intense. Gripping. With impalements and beheadings. I immediately wondered why Hollywood was having problems with the script for the live action Wonder Woman movie, when there's a perfectly good script right here! But after that great opening sequence, things began to mellow down. I was waiting for the action to build up again--- but it never did. Even the climax was unsatisfying. When the final action sequence was over... I said, "that's it?" There's a potential with this storyline, they just failed to sustain it. The Justice League series was successful in enriching the character, and the back story here was amazing. The problem isn't because the Wonder Woman mythos is deeply rooted in fantasy and mythology. It isn't because the back story is better suited for historical times, it can easily be adapted to present times as showed in this film. The problem is, they can't seem to find writers who can put all these good things into something that's cohesive. A bit of polishing here and there is all that's needed. The blueprint for a great movie is already here, they just have to furnish it with the proper materials. At this rate, no wonder the live action Wonder Woman movie is still years away from production. If ever that film finally receives the go signal from the studios, I hope they've already managed to create a great script by then. As shown by the Justice League series, the character has huge potential. It would be such a pity if they failed to deliver.

Up!

Yeah, I know this is a really late review. To be frank, I had no intentions of watching this movie. The only thing that the trailers showed was an old man in a flying house. With lots of balloons. Woohoo! That's as interesting as watching paint dry! Honestly this movie could have attracted an even bigger audience if they showed more of the movie, instead of being so vague about it. It had so much more to offer.

I'm glad I was dragged into this movie earlier this week. I can now honestly say that PIXAR IS BACK. Pixar used to be such a sure thing. Even when the trailers looked unappealing, I would always be proven wrong once I step inside the movie theater. It would always be an amazing experience. But then Cars came along, which was full of cliches it came off as generic. They almost bounced back with Ratatouille, but somehow, it seemed to be missing something. And then last years Wall-E, which was overly simplified. Some of the top critics said that was The Best Movie of The Year?! Man, they must be high on drugs when they watched that movie. Yeah, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't something to write home about. I understand how kids could appreciate the beauty of its simplicity, but I'd expect adults to look for a bit more complexity. And c'mon, how many times do you have to hear "Wall-E" and "Eee-va" before they get on your nerves. Simply put, Wall-E did not have that Pixar magic that used to leave me in awe. That's why I decided to forego this year's Pixar release. Never mind the fact that the trailer was simply unappealing to begin with.

And I was proven wrong. What they showed in the trailer was simply the tip of the iceberg. The whole plot is more complex, and the story went to places I did not expect it to go. I mean, a South American adventure? With talking dogs?! lol. A lot of scenes elicited genuine laughter from the audience. Several mature issues have been inserted in a way that they would not alienate the children from the audience. And the best part? The thing that separates Pixar's animated features from those released by other studios is present here... like most of the other Pixar releases, this film has heart. It manages to touch different facets of human emotions--- joy, grief, sadness, despair, triumph. Unlike other animated features that people tend to forget as soon as they leave the theater, the message that this movie conveys resonate. This movie doesn't just guarantee entertainment. With the proper use of emotional tools, this movie is a reflection of life in general. To some, this movie can even make one view life in a proper perspective, make one see things in a different light.

That's right. Just as I've said above. Pixar is really back.