Wonder Woman (DVD)

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In classical mythology, the Amazons were a race of female warriors said to dwell somewhere around the area of the Black Sea. In WB's 2009, full-length animated "Wonder Woman," we get the original back story of the famous superheroine, which explains to us that according to the comic books in which the character's history first appears, she came from this venerable lineage.

Psychologist William Moulton Marston created the character of Wonder Woman in 1941, wanting to make a superhero who would use his brains and his love (as well as, presumably, his superpowers) to defeat evil. When Marston's wife heard the idea, she suggested he make the character a woman. It was only fair: Males had their superheros; females needed one, too. Wonder Woman has continued to be popular among both sexes ever since, although I have a feeling it's for different reasons.

Anyway, this direct-to-video adventure begins sometime in antiquity, before ancient Greece, where a battle is raging between the Amazons, lead by their Queen, Hippolyta (voiced by Virginal Madsen), and the army of Ares (Alfred Molina), the god of war. It appears that men have enslaved women long enough, and the women are fighting back. Ares is the villain of the piece, dedicated to battle, fear, hatred, bloodshed, destruction, and chaos. You know, a typical man.

The head gods, Zeus and Hera (David McCallum and Marg Helgenberger), intervene as Hippolyta is about to slay Ares, who, incidentally, was an old lover of hers. In return for sparing Ares, Hera gives Hippolyta and her female followers their own mystical island paradise, Themyscira, invisible to the outside world, and Hera gives Hippolyta a child, Princess Diana (Keri Russell). Meanwhile, Zeus and Hera shackle Ares and leave him for Hippolyta to guard. She throws him in a dungeon, where he bides his time, plotting his revenge.

Years go by. Like thousands of years to the present day, during which time the Amazons have been living contentedly on their island without men (don't ask) but never, apparently, growing old. Well, most of them are contented; Artemis (Rosario Dawson), never seems too happy. In addition to their being ageless, they are all gorgeous and curvacious. Life is good. Diana grows to womanhood and learns the warrior creed of her people, becoming the toughest and most talented among them in terms of her martial-arts prowess.

Then a jet fighter pilot, Col. Steve Trevor (Nathan Fillion), downs his plane on the island, which was hitherto unseen by mortal men but made visible by Hippolyta for the good of the plot. Coincidentally, at this time, Ares persuades an Amazon guard, Persephone (Vicki Lewis), to help him escape. When Ares leaves the island, it is with the intent of creating havoc among Mankind, so Hippolyta needs somebody to go after him. And, what the heck, to return Col. Trevor home, too.

The task of finding and defeating Ares and returning Trevor home falls to Diana, who, when she reaches Trevor's hometown, New York City, becomes the superheroine we all know as Wonder Woman. She must defeat Ares (who finds a whole cult army waiting for him to lead), save the world, and carry on an annoying romance with the lunkheaded Trevor. But first she must kick a little ass, starting with some would-be muggers.

Lauren Montgomery directed "Wonder Woman," which is billed as the first-ever full-length animated version of the comics. Ms. Montgomery's previous directorial experience was in doing the animated "Legion of Super Heroes" and "Superman: Doomsday," both video productions like this one, so I guess she's qualified. However, that doesn't mean "Wonder Woman" is all that much of a movie. The filmmakers appear to have intended it for hard-core "Wonder Woman" fans only, because there isn't much for anyone else. Mostly, what we get is a rather hard-line feminist diatribe, with women strong and clearheaded, and men, including the U.S. President, stupid and chauvinistic. It gets old pretty fast.

The 2-D art work shows up nicely detailed in the background scenery, but the character drawings are rather limited. Like most other made-for-video or made-for-television animated productions that try to save money, this one displays limited character movement, usually just the lips working and the figures remaining stationary, with persons walking in awkward, jerky motions. In other words, it has the look of a television cartoon.

Also, I was not particularly bowled over by the voice characterizations. Obviously, the movie has a big-name cast with people like Keri Russell, Virginia Madsen, Alfred Molina, Rosario Dawson, and others doing the vocal work. Yet I was never aware of any of the voices being particularly recognizable or memorable. Russell, for instance, doesn't sound authoritative enough as the superheroine, and Molina, as fine a character actor as he is, doesn't sound menacing enough for a super-villain or commanding enough for a god. I'd say that a good part of the movie's budget went for these voice talents. Oh, well....