Question of the Day? What is the significance of 1984 in this sequel to Wonder Woman (2017)? A good question with several potential answers. The biggest answer? Well, you'll have to see it for yourself. I hope you get to do that in a theater as watching at home would be very Ho-Hum. That may be where the split may come in, those who see it on a big screen v. those who don't.
Gal Gadot returns as Diana Prince. When we last saw her she was fighting in World War I (1917) and now it is 1984. She hasn't aged a bit, still a beautiful movie star. Her love of Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) still burns but he is long gone. But wait, it's the 80s, it must be a dream just like the Dallas TV show!
So Chris Pine returns, in a bit of time travel fun, a reverse Back to the Future, complete with a Marty McFly costume. The villain here, the Lex Luthor of his time Max Lord (Pedro Pascal) seeks to take over the world. A counter villain, Barbara Minerva (Kristin Wiig) becomes the Cheetah and there is of course a climactic battle a la Iron Man between the two.
A complex plot, but very much a superhero movie from a woman's point of view, much different shows of mercy than in other renditions. Violence is not the answer is an overriding theme which makes this a fresh look with a old premise.
See if you can find these 80s movie homages:
Back to the Future
Superman
Batman
For Your Eyes Only/Octopussy/A View to a Kill
Working Girl
No Way Out
And there is a lot of DC Film Universe working here as well. Be sure to stay for the credits.
One note: original music by Hans Zimmer is cool but it would have been nice to have more recognizable 80s music to dance along with.
**** of 5
I have not seen a Comic Book / Super Hero movie in years. Super powers, flying people, and gratuitous violence do not interest me. Based on this review, I want to see Wonder Woman 1984. I think I can suspend disbelief and enjoy this movie.
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