KryptonSite's DVD Review Column #7: Wonder Woman: The Animated Original Movie
Reviewed by Craig Byrne
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Read previous installments of the KryptonSite DVD Column:
#1 (10/08) Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 3 & Supernatural Season 3
#2 (10/08) Doctor Who: The Brain Of Morbius, Trial Of A Time Lord, & The Sarah Jane Adventures
#3 (11/08) Doctor Who: The Complete Fourth Series
#4 (11/08) Primeval: The Complete Series 1 and 2
#5 (1/09) Doctor Who: War Machines & Four To Doomsday
#6 (1/09) The All-New Superfriends Hour: Volume 2

Wonder Woman: The Animated Original Movie
Warner Bros. Animation
Starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Alfred Molina, Rosario Dawson, Marg Helgenberger, Oliver Platt, and Virginia Madsen
Release Date: March 3, 2009

For the past year or two, Warner Bros. has released DVD's based on popular DC Comics and stories. These direct-to-DVD animated features included the excellent Justice League: The New Frontier; an adaptation of Superman vs. Doomsday was also one of their creations. As good as The New Frontier looked on screen, though, it might pale in comparison to the excellent work done on the most recent DC Universe animated original movie, Wonder Woman.

The first thing to know before you see this feature is that the trailers don't do this justice. The second thing to know is you don't need to be a girl, a child, or a Wonder Woman fan to enjoy it. It's just an all-around good movie. The animation is solid, and the writing includes a very important element often missing from even live-action features - a sense of humor.

Keri Russell (TV's Felicity) provides the voice of Wonder Woman and Nathan Fillion of Firefly fame is her Steve Trevor. The movie starts with some background on how her home of Paradise Island came into being - background I never even learned in my years of reading comics! - and sets up worthy foes in folks such as Ares, God of War. Characters like Artemis also show up here, and she is voiced by Rosario Dawson.

The battle of the sexes, and relations between males and females and how it may be different from what Diana is used to on Paradise Island, are both themes that run throughout this. I know it's very difficult to create a Wonder Woman that is believable in this day and age but am thankful to say that the creators of this animated feature pulled it off with flying colors. It should be no surprise, really - one of the writers for this movie is Gail Simone, who is one of DC Comics' best writers. On that note, if Smallville should ever finally get permission to bring Diana back to television, they really should court Ms. Simone as they had gotten Geoff Johns for the Legion of Super-Heroes episode.

Bonuses on the one-disc set include commentary by the film's creative team. There's also a preview of the upcoming Green Lantern direct-to-DVD movie. GL also looks quite cool, although it's a shame more finished animation is not available to see yet.

This movie is rated PG-13 and there is a little bit of violence (like beheading) and some sexual innuendo that will likely fly over the heads of young ones.

If you're looking for an entertaining night with a well-produced animated film, and especially if you're curious about the mythology of Wonder Woman, this animated feature gets the highest possible recommendation. Five stars out of five.

Wonder Woman: The Animated Original Movie is available on March 3, 2009.

NOTE: There is a two-disc "Special Edition" version of the movie on Blu-ray and the standard format that is available; this review is, however, for the one-disc regular edition, as that was what was provided as available for review. The extras on the two-disc set sound really interesting, and for a few extra dollars might be worth checking out. Order your copy of Wonder Woman: The Animated Original Movie and support KryptonSite! Below is a preview, courtesy of Warner Bros.:

 

You can find more relating to the Wonder Woman animated movie at WonderWomanMovie.com.

Next up in the KryptonSite DVD Review column... the Watchmen motion comic! Want something reviewed? Send us an e-mail!