Setting the film in 1984 was just an excuse to cut a synth-heavy trailer (music we never got in the film, by the way) and let Pine make stupid jokes about fanny packs. Even if we forgive Diana – who’s supposedly the embodiment of moral good – for overlooking the fact that her wish temporarily traps a living soul in limbo and other such ramifications in a Freaky Friday swap, it’s debatable how much Steve’s character moves Diana or the story forward.
Read MoreSet against the rage-inducing structure, annoying performances and embarrassing scripting of Batman v Superman, Justice League initially feels like a major step forward from its predecessor. At the very least, the new film has some internal logic and the ability to sustain a train of thought about a character or a plot point. But this is a limp improvement – being mostly functional doesn’t create a lot of thrills.
Read MoreHappily (despite persistent rumours to the contrary) Patty Jenkins’ picture is a sturdy, involving piece of work on its own merits. It uses the broader DC universe as a stage for a reflection on the causes of war – is it something inherent in human nature, or something we can struggle to avoid? And it does so from the unique perspective of a woman being introduced to real combat (and the 20th century) for the first time. While Wonder Woman isn’t immune to the usual genre tropes (uninspiring villains, a messy climax), it’s still a great place to start; not just for female-led comic-book movies, but for the DC franchise as a whole.
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