Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Gal Gadot, Robin Wright, Chris Pine, David Thewlis, Connie Nelson, Elana Anaya, Lucy Davis, Ewan Bremner, Doutzen Kroes, Danny Huston, Mayling Ng, Eleanor Matsuura, Samantha Jo, Eugene Brave Rock, Saïd Taghmaoui, Emily Carey, Florence Kasumba.

Forget the Testosterone, the heroes of old who have dominated the screen since Michael Keaton first donned the Batman suit, with unbelievable results obviously, for there is a true dominant force on offer, a heroine for the age and one that strikes back at the tired old clichés of femininity and valour, of fearlessness and boldness. For in Wonder Woman, there really is a hero that everybody, boy and girl, man and woman alike, can truly admire and one which takes a huge swipe at the misogyny that has been rampant in cinematic heroes for far too long.

Ms. Gadot radiates throughout the film, she captures the exceptional limits imposed upon her by the character’s long illustrious past, both in D.C. Comics and on screen during the 1970s and turns them in a huge advantage, not a hindrance. Arguably the most exceptional of heroes turned out by the D.C. Comics stable, Wonder Woman has been much missed from the silver screen during the last 75 years, and it should be noted that not only is this a sense of cinematic cruelty, an obvious and some might say degrading ploy to keep generation after generation of young girls and women from having a dynamic and force for good hero as a positive and upbeat role model.

However, like the brilliant Lynda Carter who portrayed the Amazonian Princess in the 1970s on television, Ms. Gadot truly rises to the peak of the D.C. tree and her depiction of the woman in search of justice, adventure and truth, knocks socks off the very disappointing Batman Vs Superman affair, the film which introduced Ms. Gadot to the role and in all honesty proved to be the shining moment of the languid and almost intolerable beginning to the Justice League team

Not only is the film a spectacular, it is riveting, a feast for the eyes and one that has that all important ingredient in a superhero film, humour, pure and simple, humour. The interaction between Gal Gadot, Chris Pine and the superb Lucy Davis sets the film up for the more vigorous action that takes place later in the film and in which Gal Gadot excels alongside the dangerously cool David Thewlis and the terrific Danny Huston. If Batman Vs Superman was languid, then this was pumped up, been to the gym everyday for a year and still rippling in cerebral overtones brilliance; a feat made real, humour and action living side by side and as polished as fine cutlery on a silver service dining restaurant.

There will be calls for a second solo film, a stand-alone feature that explores more of the most inspiring character D.C. arguably ever produced, it will be calls that will be hard to dismiss; Wonder Woman is just that, a terrific wonder.

Ian D. Hall