To quote a wise girlfriend, when I grow up I want to be Wonder Woman. She’s tenderhearted and fiercely powerful. She barges through closed doors into rooms filled with power-mad generals and boldly denounces their warped ideals. How could this war mindset be tolerated? This girl elevates the game all around.
Diana, Princess of Themyscira, has a sweet purity that fuels her desire to protect the innocent. As the movie opens, we meet our hero briefly as an adult and then track through her childhood as an Amazon princess. We see the forces that shaped her values: her strong mother, brave and honorable, but wounded and protective; and her warrior aunt who bears the burden of knowing the threat of war, and who secretly prepares Diana for her future role.
This majestic paradise is the protective island sanctuary in which Diana’s perspective was formed. We see her both discover and live out her life purpose that comes from deep within her spirit. Challenging her mother’s desire to keep her safe on the island, Diana asks, “What will I be if I stay?”. From that moment, we leap forward with every step of her quest, completely inspired.
Her quest is to protect and love the world, and compel others to love. Indeed, it is love that becomes the ultimate force behind her power, which is how this movie brings us together. There are themes of creation and sacrifice and devotion that are fun to talk about with my older kids. Alicia Cohn wrote for Christianity Today, “She defines herself more by her ideals than her invulnerable powers.”
It’s a war movie with lots of explosions, murder and mass carnage, though not very bloody. There’s a bit of language and some definite sexual references. The maturity of the film kicks it out of Family-Approved range, even though there are many positive messages to talk about with friends and family.
