Radio Ra Ra: Coast Lunchtime - Top Tracks & Wonder Woman Review

Wonder Woman is the film which had the most to lose and everything to gain - and it more than delivered.

*** Spoiler Warning ***

Diana (Gal Gadot), Princess of Themiscyra , is something of an innocent at the start of the film- albeit a fully trained Amazon - optimistic she can stop the war by killing her one true nemesis, Ares the God of War (David Thewlis). Anyone vaguely familiar with comics knows that whilst Wonder Woman is truly iconic, there's no one Wonder Woman story that stands out as definitive to the wider population- no "one true" villain such as a Joker or a Luthor. Cleverly, this is turned into a strength. Experiencing the reality of World War One, Diana begins to doubt that her own nemesis even exists, and begins to question the futility of helping mankind when it becomes clear that there are no "good guys" and "bad guys." There's also something refreshing in how her innocence isn't mocked or demeaned but used to expose absurdities in the real world.

This is definitely a homage to the first Captain America film - through more than just the blond haired blue eyed Steve played by an actor named Chris (Pine) and the band of misfits that could stand in for the "Howling Commandos." However, it's opening sequence and presence of Gal Gadot's portrayal that really sets itself apart. After years of Iron Man, Batman, Spider-Man... Wonder Woman going over the top of the trenches was something we needed to see. It meshes one of the darkest periods of humanity with a sense that optimism in the best of us is not just ok, but essential. Whilst the centre of the film drags a little, the action was well done if not groundbreaking. The only odd directorial moment I thought was at the end was when Diana retrieves her sword after Ares reveals himself, which probably could have been smoothed over as it didn't have any dramatic significance.

The first female-led superhero movie since the less than stellar outings of Catwoman and Elektra had high expectations- it could kill hopes for another ten years, or it could prove that it's not just a niche market and the appetite is there. Surpassing both fan and critic's expectations despite the slightly weak end, it remains to be seen if the Justice League, the next big challenge for DC and Warner Bros, will live up to this new bar.