Reel Talk: Wonder Woman & Empowerment

Surprising absolutely no one, DC's Wonder Woman was a massive box office hit earning high praise from critics and audiences. As such, this week has been something of a victory lap for the filmmakers and the audience who have reveled in the film's feminist themes, portrayal of strong female characters (aka Princess Buttercup playing an Amazonian General), and of course seeing Wonder Woman in action. So much so, that some naysayers or viewers have wondered whether or not they were allowed to be critical of the film or if something was wrong with them for not having the same reaction. The short answer is no, and the reason why is pretty clear.

Personal Perspective is Everything

Much like this winter's Get Out, Wonder Woman is a great movie that means much more to a specific audience. Speaking with my own friends, the divide is fairly obvious. While I thoroughly enjoyed Wonder Woman and appreciated seeing a female hero on screen, many of my female friends said seeing Diana storm the trenches brought tears to their eyes and made them feel exceedingly hopeful and ready to kick the world's ass. For them, seeing this level of representation in the superhero genre was an all-consuming joy that could easily override any small plot hangups. Many of them grew up wanting to be Jedi's or play superheroes and for years the culture and society has failed to put said jedis and superheroes on screen...until now.

That, has never been my experience. I grew up idolizing superheroes in an environment where the only way I would receive sideways glances is putting on a Wonder Woman costume (which I shouldn't have either way but that's the times I grew up in). I could picture myself as Spider-Man or Batman and the action movies I loved are all full of different kinds of men capable of amazing things. Hell, the only moderately close comparison I have is the joy I felt when Daniel Craig was cast as James Bond, because he'd be blonde now.

As such, I'm fully aware that my experience makes me more likely to critique Wonder Woman than many of my female peers. And that's fine. It's ok if you were happy that this is the first good movie in the DCU. It's also ok if you're a female audience member who wasn't brought to tears. Your individual experience and expectations will greatly shade your opinion and reaction to this film before you see a single frame. But should studios embrace more representation if it doesn't provoke this lionized response in everyone? Absolutely.

Memory and Resonance Increases Longevity

To my mind, if this film is able to entertain me and invoke an amazing emotional response from other people, who the movie is essentially made for, than the movie is doing its job. That kind of immediate and rabid fandom will also pay off huge dividends for the studio.

First and foremost, if people continue to talk about your movie, be it via obscure movie blogs or other social media outlets, than more people will come to see it to see what all the fuss is about. Likewise, movies end up staying in theaters longer due to repeat viewings and nothing ensures repeat viewings like an enthusiastic, previously untapped, fanbase.

That added connection can also pay off when the film leaves theaters. It means fans are more likely to buy it. It means that future generations will want to share the movie with their kids or remember it and talk about the experience of seeing it in the theater. It means the movie's shelf life has dramatically increased. 

Let me put it another way. Ten years from now do you think people will still being talking about and watching Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice or Wonder Woman? My money's on the Amazonian Demigod.