Episode 150: Wonder Woman

“I’m such a believer in the genre because I’m a believer in mankind turning stories into about what it means to be a hero and what would I do if I was a hero and how would that feel...And this is such an important time in the world for people to think about what kind of hero they would want to be and what we’re going to do to save this world that I was honored to get to join in the dialogue.” — Patty Jenkins, speaking with Screen Rant on May 31, 2017 “Gal Gadot is a revelation; she fully owns the role as much as Robert Downey, Jr. owns Iron Man or Chris Evans owns Captain America. She is Wonder Woman, and it’s impressive to watch her walk the fine line between naiveté without stupidity, sexually aware without being sexualized, a warrior bred for battle who still retains a compassionate heart.” — Alisha Grauso of MoviePilot, on May 30, 2017Modern film has become a dynamo for discussions about our world, our culture and our humanity. This role has been especially prominent with the release of a Wonder Woman film, starring Gal Gadot. Audiences have come out en masse to marvel at her superhuman strength, commitment to justice and to appreciate her role as a female superhero in a comic landscape which often highlights male narratives. As many critics of the film have pointed out, it serves as a tent-pole of sorts, one which may determine the market viability of future female-led superhero movies. This week we're joined by Aayesha Siddiqui to examine the commentaries made by the film and to explore its unique and widespread influence.Talk to us on Twitter, Facebook and leave us a review on iTunes! We would love to hear your thoughts! Further Reading:Salon, "'Wonder Woman' reviews: See what the critics are sayingNPR, "The Man Behind Wonder Woman Was Inspired By Both Suffragists And Centerfolds"Glamour, "Gal Gadot Is Wonder Woman: 'She Is Not Relying on a Man, and She's Not There Because of a Love Story'"Slate, "Here's What Critics Have to Say About Wonder Woman"Jill Lepore, "The Secret History of Wonder Woman"Rioghnach Robinson, "Poker Face: Wonder Woman's Invulnerabilities and Kryptonites"The Mary Sue, "Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall, Which Man Wrote the Worst Wonder Woman Review of All?"Empire Online, "Talking Wonder Woman With Director Patty Jenkins"Smithsonian Magazine, "The Surprising Origin Story of Wonder Woman"Marie Claire, "No Small Wonder: Gal Gadot Takes Summer by Storm"Screen Rant, "Wonder Woman: Patty Jenkins Wanted to 'Make Something Beautiful'"The Hollywood Reporter, "The Complex Gender Politics of the 'Wonder Woman' Movie"NPR, "Remember That Time When Wonder Woman Was A U.N. Ambassador?"Collider, "Patty Jenkins on Wonder Woman's Age, Flying Abilities, Deleted Scenes, Rumors, and More"