You're a wonder, Wonder Woman!

Wonder Woman (2017)
Director: Patty Jenkins
Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis

It seems to have taken forever for this to hit the big screen from when we first heard that they were working on a film. I remember seeing different actresses in manipulated photos wearing the infamous red blue and gold costume that made Lynda Carter so famous, and wondering who would fill those marvelous Amazonian boots to perfection.

Well, they found the perfect Glamazon in Israeli born Gal Gadot. What a stunning looking woman. From the moment she graces the screen, she grabs your attention. This is a woman to be revered, worshipped and admired. 

I saw this with my daughter, two of her friends and some incredible women that I volunteer for a charity with. Just looking at the face of my 12 year old daughter watching intently at every move Gal Gadot made, was fantastic. She will become the idol of millions of young girls. 

The movie starts in modern day Paris, with Diana Prince on her way to the Louvre where she receives a delivery of a photo from Bruce Wayne. The sepia photo depicts Wonder Woman flanked by four men.

Before long we are led to a seemingly perfect island known as Themyscira, which was created by the Gods of Olympus. This island is inhabited by a race of Warrior Women, ruled by Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen). Diana, daughter of the Queen, looks on longingly as her Aunt Antiope (brilliantly portrayed by Robyn Wright) trains the women in the ways of war. The island is shielded from the outside world, to protect it's borders and the inhabitants of the island from the threat of man. As Diana grows, she trains in secret with her Aunt, and eventually becomes the fiercest among the warriors. But when Captain Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), crashes a German plane on the island, Diana dives into the ocean to save him. He finds himself on a beach surrounded by women, and tries to convince them to let him return to the War. Upon hearing of the atrocities that are being committed, Diana is convinced that Ares, the God of War, is behind the whole thing and she is determined to stop him.

Against her mothers wishes, Diana accompanies Steve to London, in the last weeks of World War 1, where she discovers he is a spy on a mission to find where the enemy is making a rumored new weapon that could have potentially devastating consequences. There are moments of humour as Steve and his secretary struggle to cover the obviously alien Diana, taking her to a department store to get her some more appropriate clothes. But the humour is blended in well with the darkness and bleakness of war torn London. 

The action sequences are stunningly choreographed, especially the Amazonian training sessions. Their sweeping leg kicks are graceful and deadly. The most intense and powerful scene comes when Diana steps onto the Front in France, where she is faced with the true horror of it all. The moment she climbs up that ladder is just breathtaking.

The most emotional moment in the movie comes towards the end when men, who moments before had been trying to kill one another, stand on an airfield comforting each other. It made me wonder exactly what these brave men would have felt as the War came to an end, how would they look upon fellow man who had been the enemy for so many years.

DC have definitely outdone themselves with the introduction of this popular heroine, and I have nothing but intense excitement now, as we wait for the release of the Justice League movie.

See this one with the strong, female influences in your life, it is truly empowering....................

Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell no Tales (aka: Jacks back baby!)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell no Tales (2017)
Director: Joachim Ronning, Espen Sandberg
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem, David Wenham

Wow! Who would have thought, all those years ago, that a two minute ride in Disneyland could spawn five feature length movies!
I've read varied comments surrounding the fifth installment of the franchise, some saying it's awful, some boycotting because of Johnny Depps personal problems, some just over the whole franchise. For me personally, I always ignore what I read, regardless of whether it's good or bad, and I go out and see it for myself. This was well worth the wait.

Fourteen years later, and Johnny is still delivering the goods. The story for this one revolves around young Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), who just happens to be the son of Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and the cursed Captain of the Flying Dutchman, Wil Turner (Orlando Bloom). Henry wants his Dad back and tries desperately to find something that will break the curse, allowing his Dad to break free and come back to land permanently.

While searching for an end to the curse, Henry meets young Carina Smyth, a budding astronomer, also searching for something by following the diary of her unknown father.

Before long the two cross paths with the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, and the adventure begins.
Henry faces off with Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), a Spaniard who leads a crew of the damned. Salazar blames Sparrow for their demise and is out to seek revenge. Javiers makeup is absolutely amazing, even though there is a huge amount of CG incorporated as well, it just works. He is downright creepy.

A fantastic cameo by Sir Paul McCartney, in full pirate regalia, and great to see most of the original Black Pearl crew back on board with Gibbs, Scrum and Marty.

We really enjoyed the whole movie. We laughed, we cried and we wanted to know where all the rum had gone! If you're curious, go out and see it, don't listen to anyone that tells you it's not worth it. Everyone has a different opinion and completely different taste when it comes to what is entertaining.