Wonder Woman--
Someone might call this, "Wonder Woman: The First Avenger" as it took a wealth of plot and scene set ups from Captain America: The First Avenger...but that is not such a bad thing in this case.
Quick comparison--
CA: The origin story begins and concludes during one of the great wars of the 20th century.
WW: The origin story begins and concludes during one of the great wars of the 20th century.
CA: A young, inexperienced person seeks to enter a war as a way of stopping it, with others doubting his potential to be effective. Steve Rogers is presented as a young man with--almost--a physical revulsion of man's abuse of other men.
WW: A young, inexperienced person seeks to enter a war as a way of stopping it with others doubting her potential to be effective. Diana is presented as a young woman with--almost--a physical revulsion of man's abuse of other men.
CA: Enemy agent trying to retrieve a vial of the Super Soldier formula is attacked, ultimately committing suicide with a cyanide capsule
WW: Enemy agent trying to retrieve Dr. Poison's book is attacked, ultimately committing suicide with a cyanide capsule.
CA: The main villain--The Red Skull--repeatedly tells the hero that he's not living up to his true potential, which would include being a conqueror at his side.
WW: The main villain--Ares--repeatedly tells the heroine that she's not living up to her true potential, which would include being a conqueror at his side.
CA: Dr.Erskine--who saw Steve's true, inner good, and believed that he had the right potential to become the Super Soldier (and all that the position means for the world)--is killed by a Hydra agent. His death (and faith in Steve) adds to Steve's already morally solid resolve to do whatever he can to work toward ending the global conflict.
WW: Antiope--who saw Diana's true potential is killed by a German soldier. Her death (and faith in Diana) adds to Diana's already morally solid resolve to do whatever she can to work toward ending the global conflict.
CA: The Red Skull relies on brilliant scientist Arnim Zola to apply the Tessaract's energies to various advanced weapon designs. Though Zola has abilities that would (in theory) make him arrogant, his personality is clearly kept in a submissive position by The Red Skull. Of the two, he is the only one to survive the war.
WW: Ludendorff relies on brilliant scientist Dr. Maru / Poison to develop advanced chemical weapons. Though Maru has abilities that would (in theory) make her arrogant, her personality is clearly kept in a submissive position by Ludendorff. Of the two, she is the only one to survive the war.
Here's where main and supporting character actions are split--in Wonder Woman's case, given to the supporting character, but the events are the same:
CA: Captain America assembles a select team of racially diverse specialists with equally diverse personalities.
WW: Steve Trevor assembles a select team of racially diverse specialists with equally diverse personalities.
CA: Captain America boards The Red Skull's advanced aircraft, fights enemies (ultimately taking control of the ship). The aircraft is armed with equally advanced, Tessaract energy-based weapons of mass destruction, which the villain intends to use as part of his mission of conquest.
WW: Steve Trevor boards Ludendorff's advanced aircraft, fights enemies (ultimately taking control of the ship). The aircraft is armed with the advanced form of mustard gas, which Ludendorff intends to use as part of his mission of conquest.
CA: Captain America purposely crashes the Skull's aircraft as the only means of stopping its bombing run.
WW: Steve purposely destroys Ludendorff's aircraft as the only means of eliminating the gas bombs / bombing mission.
CA: Steve Rogers' first, real romance is with an agent--Peggy Carter--the woman he also fights alongside, but their romance is short-lived.
WW: Diana's first, real romance is with Allied spy Steve Trevor--the man she also fights alongside, but their romance is short-lived.
Although present day Cap wistfully looks back to his lost love Peggy in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (and visits the ailing, elderly Peggy), Wonder Woman's present day framing sequence of Diana and the WW1 photo places her in the same, emotional place.
Despite that wealth of clear inspiration / similarities, Wonder Woman--like The First Avenger--was a grand film that added a necessary foundation to the (partial) origins of their respective film universes, using the worst of conflicts to catapult them to hero status. Gadot carried the film on her shoulders, having to create a character (that never had much of a competent filmed inspiration to draw from) and made it--as in Dawn of Justice--her own. The one and only Wonder Woman, and the greatest filmed female comic character--all others (movies & TV) are left in the dust.
Wonder Woman now occupies another space--that of second moral pillar of the DC film universe, along with Superman. Like Captain America & the Vision in the MCU, no matter the troubles faced, or decision which might brick wall their convictions, they will never sink to the base of belief/behavior (e.g. Tony Stark on several occasions) to win at any cost. Each is so dedicated to doing what is right that they will often come into conflict with those who micromanage duty based on an advantage of some kind.
The one present day bias (from the producers or writers) creeping its way into the film was Trevor mentioning going before a judge as part of marriage process, when it can be easily argued the majority of marriages during the WW1 era (particularly for Americans--Steve's POV/rearing) were officiated by a religious figure, whether in a house of worship or elsewhere.
Despite her warrior status, the producers (wisely) never felt the need to strip Diana of her femininity as a point of self-identity, her relation to men (Trevor in particular) , or avoid behaviors certain present day critics and/or audience members would find allegedly "stereotypical", such as Diana instantly, happily drawn to the sight of a baby.
While anything is possible in a comic book movie, right now, I will miss Themyscira--it was a fascinating location with characters we barely knew, but were interesting enough to want to know more.
As reveled in the teaser, the welcome Superman the Movie tribute--Diana blocking a bullet meant for Steve in the way Clark protected Lois (city alley included) was perfect. Respect for a film that's still one of the best of all superhero productions.
DC's film universe has the right, serious tone--free of the MCU's sometimes overflowing jokiness / quips that often come at the wrong time, and with the DC Big Three now all successfully established, I can only (eagerly) look forward to Justice League--and beyond.
GRADE: A
