Top 10 Greatest Wonder Woman (2017) Moments
#10: A Conversation Between Women ABOUT a Woman
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“Wonder Woman” was a groundbreaking film in a number of ways. At the time of its release, it was the biggest opening weekend in history (and total box office) for a female director. It also set a new record for superhero origin story films and remains one of Warner Bros.’ most profitable releases to date. Though these stats are impressive, what occurs onscreen is equally noteworthy. Because Themyscira is devoid of men, before the arrival of Steve Trevor, the film focuses exclusively on women talking to other women - and not just about men. You might not have realized it in the moment, but this remains disappointingly rare in blockbuster cinema. Antiope and Hippolyta’s discussions about Diana’s future and the responsibility of the Amazons are especially powerful.
#9: Diana Has to Blend In
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Before the events of the film, Diana has spent her entire life on Themyscira amongst her fellow Amazons. While these powerful women have numerous admirable qualities and skills, the ability to blend in is not among them. As such, upon her arrival in London, Diana needs a quick wardrobe change to better walk amongst mortals without drawing too much attention. Like that’s even possible! What makes this scene so great is that it accomplishes so much in so little time. It’s a great concentrated dose of comedy that also allows Diana to hammer home a number of stinging points about beauty standards and the treatment of women’s bodies. We also enjoyed the subtle nod to 1970s Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter, in the form of Diana’s glasses.
#8: Steve Trevor Reveals All
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Diana’s introduction to the outside world is very much a fish out of water story. But before she and Steve Trevor leave Themyscira, it’s the American pilot and spy who's out of his element. Director Patty Jenkins turns gender roles upside down all throughout the movie, but one of the most effective such examples is when Diana walks in on Steve bathing. In popular film, it’s traditionally been the female love interest whose body is objectified — by characters and the audience. This scene is set up in such a way, however, that it flips the script without reflecting poorly on our heroine. Diana assesses Steve’s physique and asks some uncomfortable questions, but because she’s literally never seen a man before, it’s totally forgivable.
#7: Smashing Gender Assumptions of Sex
Given his good looks, confidence and general demeanor, we get the impression that Steve Trevor probably does fairly well with the ladies. That is, until he meets Diana. Our heroine has grown up without any of the gendered sexual baggage of conventional society. Steve attempts to be chivalrous and respect her honor as a woman, but these are all foreign concepts to Diana who doesn’t understand his hang0ups - especially when he gives evasive, prudish answers typical of the time period. And it’s funny because when you look at it from Diana’s perspective, a lot of societal norms start to sound odd. There’s also this implied assumption on Steve’s part that Diana probably doesn’t know much about sex, which she shuts down like a TOTAL boss.
#6: Young Diana Imitates Her Idols
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Early in the film, we see a young Diana, played here by Lilly Aspell, watching the Amazon warriors train. The fight choreography is thrilling to watch — and Diana clearly agrees. Our young protagonist obviously dreams of being a warrior, as made evident by the adorable (and feisty) way in which she attempts to emulate their moves from afar. The whole scene feels very reminiscent of how young kids imitate the crime fighting moves of their favorite superhero from television or film. And now, in the years since its release, countless young girls and boys have surely done the same with this very movie. Diana is now the idol to emulate for a new generation. Isn’t it nice when things come full circle?
#5: Steve's Sacrifice
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Diana is the hero of this story. And thanks to an all-around excellent performance by Gal Gadot, she earns that spotlight many times over. That being said, it’s equally hard to imagine anyone other than Chris Pine having done such a great job in the supporting role of Steve Trevor. He and Diana develop a believable and beautiful connection throughout the film, which lends a real sense of weight to his dramatic sacrifice. Pine perfectly conveys the mixed emotions that Steve feels in that moment; he’s running on adrenaline, he’s overwhelmed and fearful but also strangely at peace with the decision. What makes this moment so poignant however, is the way Steve himself frames it: [“I could save today, you could save the world”.]
#4: The Strength of Diana's Belief
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Action cinema is chock full of gritty, determined heroes who know all too well the evils that humanity is capable of. Part of what makes Diana such a refreshing hero is that she believes in the inherent goodness of mankind. Of course, it’s a crushing blow when she discovers that Ares isn’t actually responsible for the war. Such a realization could have broken her and led her to turn her back on the mortal realm, but she doesn’t. And it’s this strength of character that defines Wonder Woman. All throughout the film, regardless of what she’s up against or the people involved, Diana always fights the good fight — even against a god she’s no longer confident she can kill.
#3: Wonder Woman Liberates the Village of Veld
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This is the first scene in which we really see Diana truly acting as Wonder Woman. The actual transformation arguably occurs in the previous scene -which we’ll get to- but this is Wonder Woman in her element, complete with her now-trademark theme music playing. After having shown Steve and his team what she’s capable of, Diana has assumed the role of leader and takes the fight to the Germans occupying the village of Veld. The action is absolutely exhilarating. It’s fast-paced, bone-crunching hand-to-hand combat with just new enough slo-mo to give the whole thing an epic feel. The camerawork further adds to the experience; Patty Jenkins and cinematographer Matthew Jensen really crafted a phenomenal action sequence here.
#2: The Beach Battle
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Steve Trevor might not pose a direct threat to Themyscira, but the Germans pursuing him are an entirely different story. The island home of the Amazons soon finds itself under attack. And while the soldiers aren’t nearly as well-trained as the Amazons, they make up the difference with firearms. Within seconds of the opening volley, the stakes of this conflict are made all to clear when the first Amazon falls to gunfire. The combat is epic and makes you realize that the Amazons were holding back during training; Queen Hyppolita and Antiope both showcase their formidable skills on the battlefield. Sadly, the latter falls to the German guns while saving Diana’s life. It's this careful combination of drama and spectacle that makes this moment so powerful. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Diana’s Strength A Tender Farewell Diana's Origin Story Diana Enters the Council Chamber What Diana Does
#1: No Man's Land
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This wasn’t just the best moment in “Wonder Woman”; it was among the most remarkable scenes to grace the big screen in all of 2017 - if not all of superhero cinema. “Wonder Woman” was a female-led comic book movie on a scale without precedent, and this scene feels like a perfect distillation of everything that makes the film so remarkable. Shot in slow-motion and employing CGI to great effect, Diana’s journey across No Man’s Land is action-packed, emotionally-charged and made all the more epic by the soaring orchestral score. In this moment, our heroine not only proved something to herself and the men in the film, but our world as well. And to think... Patty Jenkins had to fight to get this scene in the film!
