"Here’s Why ‘Wonder Woman’ Changed Diana’s Origin " Topic

"As ‘Wonder Woman‘ heads to theaters this weekend, audiences near and far will be coming to watch the cinematic tale of DC's most prominent superheroine. Longtime fans of the Amazonian princess, however, may be wondering why Diana's background story was changed to have her emergence into our society coincide with World War I, and not World War II as was originally written in the comic books.

Director Patty Jenkins and screenwriter Allan Heinberg recently address the change in an interview. The genesis of the idea seems to be pretty well-thought-out and rationalized; as Heinberg says:

"We are in a very WWI [type of] world today, with nationalism and how it would take very little to start a global conflict. [WWI] was the first time we had an automated war; the machine gun was a new invention. Gas was used for the first time. New horrors were unleashed every day."…"
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Amicalement
Armand

"pretty well-thought-out and rationalized"

Er, no, it's not.

"World War I is the first time that civilization as we know it was finding its roots, but it's not something that we really know the history of. Even the way that it was unclear who was in the right of WWI is a really interesting parallel to this time."

QED.

+1 nvdoyle

"Machine guns were a new invention" Really?

"Gas was used for the first time" Got some people would disagree with that.

"With nationalism today and how it would take very little to start a global conflict"… I assume this is some sort of USA tabloid held view of the world?

Still might be a decent flic'.

Lol. So just more internationalist propaganda bombardment to bury or minimize the accomplishments of the greatest generation ever, and to completely avoid that whole Post WW2 struggle against the Reds (whom Hollywood never portrays as ever doing anything bad these days).

These remakes will never capture the Pulp flavor of those characters if they keep changing the message to suit new narratives, the kind of messaging that would have been seen as defeatist or treasonous back then.

Which begs the question … why do they keep re-making these Pulp Era superheroes?

Dan

I think the worst review I've heard so far was still pretty positive, but I don't know if any joyless rivet counters have written reviews, so there is that.

For rivet counters, Captain Kirk steals an Eindecker. Get back to me in that one.

"We changed it because we didn't want to make a "Captain Amazon fights nazis in WWII" movie." There fixed it.

Hollywood is not where you look for educated, thoughtful adults, but it has some decent story-tellers, actors and special-effects people. Check reviews. If the movie is decent, enjoy the movie and pay no attention to interviews.

"We are in a very WWI [type of] world today, with nationalism and how it would take very little to start a global conflict.

Clearly never read a book on the period.

Personally, I thought it was to try to differentiate WW from the first Captain America film.

They didn't want to offend any nazi fanboys?

It has one of those huge Zeppelin bombers in it as well. Didn't have time to count the rivets.

It's an OK film. Gal Gadot is almost impossibly photogenic and suitably heroic. The support cast do their jobs well. The bad guys get their come uppance.

The source article is pretty light, but I kind of agree that the international community is less cohesive than any other point in the last 70 years.

It's such a cool time.

Tell that to the millions of people who lost their lives or the millions who lost their homes. Plus, WWII is just WWI pt 2.

I agree that the real reason that they didn't do it in WWII was because of Captain America.

The movie was good though…

When it comes to TV, I'll watch it … looks like an entertaining movie. But obviously it is not a documentary, has little historical accuracy, etc.

Just take in for what it's worth. Like CPT America – entertainment with a war as a backdrop. Like many, many movies, etc., … And no … war is not entertaining to the majority/all involved, etc. But this is only a "movie".

I wonder if this would fly (pardon the pun) in that part of the world:

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Dan

Those are scary.

I saw on the news just now. About some of the media is making a point to say something about she's not in the traditional red, white & blue based "uniform", etc. Ala Lynda Carter. link Some pro … some not.

Regardless, it looks like an entertaining movie. And looks like it's making a lot $$$$ . Which really is the bottom line when making a movie, I'd think …

I liked it. I'm not a comic-book fanboy, though – well, not of the spandex special kids, anyway.

It had the benefit of not being a Hack Snyder movie, so it was points ahead of the previous DC JL stuff in that regard.

Although I find the marvel troop of films to be equally as tiresome as batman/superman et al.

I have seen the movie (a good prerequiste for comment).

Setting was interesting and well done. Starts on the Amazon island and has a very good battle sequence between Amazons and German "marines". Rifles v. quick shooting bows – of course a bit over the top but at least both sides took losses.

WWI stuff looks gritty and authentic (for the most part) has a bit of diesal punk feel. Battle scenes look good (though a bit heavy on the slow mo).

Theme was Ares (God of War) interference with and goading humans into wars. WWI seems like a playground for Ares and the theme of modern mass destruction wars (MGs, Gas, massed artillery even a bit of aerial bombardment).

Amazons pledged to destroy Ares hence reason for their suspcion Ares is manipulating the conflict justifying their intervention.

Costume represented "magic" amazon armor so would have made no sense being a US flag turned into culots (and not all that respectful of our flag).

Final segement a bit disappointing but getting their lots of fun and great visuals. Gadot makes a fine athletic female heroine and makes earnest sexy.

Of course some will decry the effort because its not a flag pin wearing super US star spangled beauty bashing red menance commie stooges. Perhaps after the Crystal Skull the film makers wanted to take a different direction.

TomT

I'll be interested in seeing her in other movies as well. Either in another Wonder Woman or any other role. But she like many may be "type cast" as an Action Hero, or more accurately, Heroine. But even with that, she can complain all the way to the bank !

Depending on if you classify the Fast and Furious movies as action, Gal Gadot was in 4 of them as Gisele.

And she served two years in the Israeli Defense Force if the IMDB bio is correct.

Oh I didn't see those ! Yes, I heard on some TV show/news(?) she is of Ukraine decent(?) and yes was in the IDF. Not that any of that really matters she is a new fav actress on my list ! But it is always interesting to know a little about some actors' backgrounds, etc. Certain parts of the media makes a lot of $$ just reporting on those "facts"(?) and taking photos.