Director: Lauren Montgomery
Writers: William Moulton Marston (creator: Wonder Woman), Gail Simone (story)
Stars: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Alfred Molina, Rosario Dawson, Marg Helgenberger, Oliver Platt, Virginia Madsen

It’s safe to say that ‘Wonder Woman’ (2009) may have been a bit overshadowed by the high-profile ‘Batman: Gotham Knight,’ primarily due to its release during the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight Trilogy era. Even though the live-action blockbuster from 2017 grabbed all the headlines, it’s pretty clear that the 2009 animated rendition, produced by Warner Premiere, contributed significantly to the plot. If it were up to me, I’d use the animated version as my storyboard, considering that many sequences from the 2017 film can be traced back to this gem from 2009. This isn’t meant as a slight to the 2017 filmmakers; it’s simply my perspective based on observations.

‘Wonder Woman’ (2009) follows the story of a modern man, Steve Trevor, who survives a harrowing mid-air battle only to crash on the island of the Amazons. His arrival inadvertently leads to the escape of the imprisoned war god, Ares. Princess Diana, also known as Wonder Woman, is tasked with recapturing him. Unsurprisingly, ‘Wonder Woman’ (2009) is a well-crafted film that combines energy with thought-provoking themes. In my opinion, it deserved more recognition upon its release. The opening sequences immediately drew me in, offering an intriguing glimpse into Diana’s backstory. The ancient battle, won by the Amazon women as a divine reward, unfolds before us. Queen Hippolyta is granted a child fashioned from clay by the gods. The Amazons flourish in isolation on Paradise Island, where Diana matures into a formidable young warrior. Yet, a part of her yearns for adventure beyond the island’s confines, resembling the narrative arc of Moana in some ways.

A contest among the Amazons to decide who will accompany Trevor back to the USA serves as the backdrop. Simultaneously, an Amazon traitor releases Ares from captivity. Diana wins the contest, and her main mission shifts from seeing Trevor off the island to tracking down Ares, who harbors a sinister plan that could spell doom for the world and the extinction of the Amazons. She’s now joined by Steve Trevor in her quest.

The film’s writing, credited to Gail Simone, is commendable. The dialogue between the characters is clever and witty, staying true to the spirit of the comic books while offering a level of maturity that can make you almost forget you’re watching an animated feature. One minor critique would be the visuals and animation. I’m not well-acquainted with Moi Animation, the Korean studio behind this work, but some of the fight scenes felt less dynamic, marred by excessive cuts that could leave the audience slightly bewildered at times.

One highlight of ‘Wonder Woman’ (2009) is its outstanding cast. Keri Russell (Wonder Woman), Alfred Molina (Ares), Nathan Fillion (Steve Trevor), Rosario Dawson (Artemis), Oliver Platt (Hades), and Virginia Madsen (Hippolyta) form a powerful ensemble of talent. They truly inhabit their characters, making you forget that these familiar voices belong to established live-action actors. Nathan Fillion, in particular, fits his role like a glove, delivering his lines in the most natural way and sharing remarkable chemistry with Russell.

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Wonder Woman’ (2009) and was pleased with the effort put into bringing this iconic character to life. My only minor gripe would be the animation at times, which occasionally made certain characters look too similar, particularly on the island of the Amazons. Ironically, the film’s most captivating part is the beginning, where we delve into the origins of the Amazon warriors. It’s not forced or drawn out, providing just enough to comprehend the Amazons and how Diana’s story evolves from a naive, sheltered princess into a true warrior and hero. ‘Wonder Woman’ (2009) is a typically 75-minute DC film, which, if you’re enjoying it, feels like it ends too soon. But in this case, the storyline is simple and works effectively.

Highly recommendable.

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