Movie Review - Wonder Woman (1975)

Wonder Woman

The New Original Wonder Woman [Pilot]

1975

Production Companies:  Douglas S Cramer & Warner Bros. Television

Back in the days of my youth the comic books and their relevant television shows were lighter in emotion and humour and were aimed at the youth market.  These programs usually aired between six and eight in the evening.  And I will hasten to say was better for it.  Though there were adult matters expressed in the story there were watered down so we had good family entertainment.  Something I think the DC Universe is missing at the moment.

And at the top of the pile of superhero shows on offer was Wonder Woman.  I was happy to watch the pilot movie once again and it brought a smile to my face once more.  There are some cringe-worthy moments in the show.  For example the Amazon's view of men, which today doesn't ring so true as it's not just men who commit evil and atrocious deeds.  Then there's the invisible plane.  I loved the concept of the plane, though you can see Wonder Woman in the pilot seat; it's more like a plane of glass than invisible.  As a kid I saw nothing wrong with it now with adult eyes I see it for what it is and though it makes me laugh it still fills me with nostalgia.

However, the story pretty much sticks to the Origin Story that was in the comic books at that time, before the Greek Gods became involved in the Wonder Woman Mythos.  Steve Trevor (ace pilot) crashes in the Bermuda Triangle while engaged in a dog battle with a German pilot.  He is found by Diana on Paradise Island (no Thymiscira at this point in history) and his wounds are tended to until he is well enough to travel.  Queen Hippolyta decides he needs to leave the island as soon as possible, to keep the island and its inhabitants secret from man and the outside world.  She then holds a "games" where the winner will be charged with returning Steve Trevor back to his life and to make sure he is well.  Diana, in disguise, takes part in the games and wins.  When she drops off Trevor at the hospital she finds herself pitted against the Germans and their scheme to bomb a secret base in the heart of Washington DC.  

The way that Leonard Horn directs this story is to keep it light, full of humour, and to make it resemble a live-action-comic along with dialogue boxes.  This makes it a rip-roaringly-enjoyably movie to watch.  Horn is also great at using differing camera angles to help with the fight scene's and to create more believable Wonder Woman effects as well as give interest to the viewer.  This is one well-crafted movie. 

As for the cast; I totally forgot how good an actress Lynda Carter is.  There's a reason why she made this role hers and why she will be remembered fondly for it and it's not because she fit the costume so beautifully, it's that she actually brought the character to life and made her appear realistic and believable, even in the face of some absurd lines and, at times, goofy story telling.  Lynda Carter will always be Wonder Woman for me.  Lyle Waggoner is perfect as Steve Trevor, who has just the right amount of ego and charm for the character.  This is a guy you can believe has a girl in EVERY port.  The other surprise in this pilot movie is Red Buttons as Ashley Norman.  He pulls the character off perfectly.  However, it's John Randolf as General Blankenship that start to let the film down a little as his character is more like a jovial uncle rather than a General.  Then there's Stella Steven, who fluctuates between being really good and really wooden.  It really is a strange thing to witness and does hinder the film as it breaks the link between movie and viewer.  Though, besides Lynda Carter, my favourite actor and his character in the movie is Nikolas who is portrayed brilliantly by Henry Gibson.  His portrayal of a faithful German Soldier come Butler come American Spy is well crafted and so funny to boot.

There are some faults in this version, though for me, they are all forgivable as the movie is such good fun to watch.  I would recommend this to everyone as it may just put a smile on your face as it did mine.  Well worth a watch.

An extended Network Promo for the full series.

Movie Review - Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Avengers

Age Of Ultron

2015

Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Pictures : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

5.5 / 10

Oh, dear!  What happened here!  This had the possibility to be a great film with depth... so what does Joss Whedon give the audience - a formulaic action film lacking in characterisation and an awful lot of changes to origin stories and ongoing characters, which didn't make sense.  It felt so forced into being something big and spectacular that only helped in hindering my enjoyment of the film and story.

Usually, I'd say that a movie is worth watching due to the story or the action but in this case, things don't seem to gel just right and the whole thing is messy and disjointed.  This is definitely not the best in the Marvel Movie Universe...  This is nearly on par with Iron Man 3 (another film which could have been awesome).

I was having doubts in the opening action sequence as some of the CGI is sloppy, giving the scene an untidiness.  You can easily tell which sections are CGI'd.  Thank God things get tidier as the film progresses.

Then there's Bruce Banner; a scientist with a clinical and logical mind who only wants to help people and would never hurt anyone...  but suddenly is all too happy to let Stark activate an unknown AI though they know the dangers involved.  This goes against the core nature of Banner but Whedon doesn't care.  What would've been more in character would be Stark being his usual egotistical self and activating the AI on his own accord, only for Banner to find out and come in to keep an eye on things so nothing goes wrong, being too late to stop Stark  It's such a little thing, but the devil's in the details

When Ultron finally appears, nicely voiced by James Spader - though a little more creepiness and menace was needed (The "I have no strings" vocal is actually more menacing in the trailer than in the movie scene), you think okay here we go, but it's over too quickly and feels more like a damp squid than impending doom and throws the pace of.  In fact, there's a lot of stops and starts in the pace of this film, I'm not sure if that was Whedon's intention but it doesn't work.

Even the one-liner quips between the team were lacking in humour and feel thrown in to lighten the sequence and entertain.  The trouble being if it feels thrown in it loses its power and the feeling of reality the filmmaker is trying to create.  Once that happens then the viewer breaks away from the film and it's not as entertaining for them.

Two-thirds of the way through I'd pretty much given up on the film but decided to stay for the ground shaking final fight scene.  Which wasn't really too special as it was just loads of Ultron's minions fighting on his behalf (though he had previously stated that they were all him).  The thing is if Ultron was such a Bad Ass and believed himself superior to humans and the Avengers then he should have taken them on one on one, as they were helping the stranded people to leave.  Then when he does attack he lets his drones do it for him and you have an epic battle with epic music, which doesn't feel so epic, then it only takes four Avengers to dispatch Ultron in... less than a minute!  What a baddie!... another damp squid.

Hey, maybe that should have been the title - Avengers:  Age Of The Damp Squid!

As I said in the review for Guardians Of The Galaxy Marvel are in serious danger of stereotyping themselves and following a specific formula, which is even more evident in this film than in that one.  This could be the slippery slope to failure if they don't beware.

If you've liked the previous films in the Marvel Movie Universe then you may be able to get through this one, though I wouldn't recommend watching it as a stand alone film since there are better offerings out there.  If you're a fanboy of the comics then it's probably best to stay well clear of this film, especially if you don't appreciate new interpretations as this isn't a good one.  This movie could be a turning point for fans.

The Teaser Trailer with more eerie "No Strings On Me" Ultron Quote, which didn't work so well in the film.