Christmas was right on time for strong women everywhere when the movie “Wonder Woman 1984,” directed by Patty Jenkins, premiered on HBO Max free for HBO Max subscribers Friday.
Otherwise, a good $15 will get you subscribed for a month to view it.
It was packed with two hours of meaningful gifts for all to reflect upon, stay true to themselves and ask themselves, “Would I retract my wish?”
In the first film, Wonder Woman Diana Prince, played by actress Gal Gadot, found out her true identity while falling in love for the first time with a pilot, Steve Trevor, played by actor Chris Pine, who sacrificed himself to save the world.
This new movie’s setting is, as the title suggests, 1984, in Washington, D.C., with colorful headbands, flashy clothes, leggings, curly, full hair, and lots of other ‘80s things.
Yet Diana looks like a cool woman from 2020, which was the goal of the film in the beginning. This movie will pull your emotions, get you reflecting on your own life, and possibly make you learn a thing or two.
As I was watching it, I could relate to Diana instantly. Besides staying strong and saving the world (mommy duties), I have never fallen in love with my soul-mate yet.
Somehow, I know that lonely feeling she was feeling. She was so strong, yet at times she would long for Steve’s company. I also knew what it felt like to have other women want what I have, and now I’m asking myself what did it cost them to get it?
Because, like so many strong women who truly know their truth, I am OK with what I have, and know blessings will come if I keep my faith and do good to others. This is why I’ll rate this movie five stars out of five.
I don’t want to give out too much, although you probably guessed it or have seen the reviews, but Steve, Diana’s lover, does come back. But at what cost to Diana?
This movie got many women also thinking about their insecurities, and while some like myself (a single working parent) could relate to Wonder Woman, other women might be able to relate to geologist and cheetah Barbara Minerva, played by actress Kristen Wiig, who was not naturally cool, sexy and strong like Diana.
Although they started out as new friends having lunch together, what was admiration for Diana’s strength quickly became an obsession for Barbara to be just like Diana. But could Barbara just be enough for herself, or could her greed get her into trouble?
Like Barbara, evil villain Maxwell Lord, played by actor Pedro Pascal, had many insecurities from his childhood that made him seek more, even when he was blessed with his son Alistair, played by young actor Lucian Perez.
With greed comes power, and if that wasn’t enough, this film shows you what can happen if one bad apple finds something magical to influence the world. The world, of course, would be in chaos.
Halfway into the movie, I found myself asking what I would wish for? Of course, this movie is spot on. It talked about everyone’s truth, and I had always thought that we should always be grateful for what we do have, and that is enough.
Yet this movie doesn’t end the way Diana would like it. Nor does it end the way Maxwell and Barbara would like, either, but their truth taught them how to let go of their pain, let go of all of their wishes and just be grateful with their truth.
Now let me ask you a couple questions. What would you wish for if you could have it come true? And if it were to save someone you love or the world, would you be able to retract your wish?
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Stephanie Shinno, features, education, business, and community reporter can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
Source: The Garden Island
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