The New Original Wonder Woman

This is the pilot film to the popular ABC (and later CBS) TV series about the world's greatest superherione. Although some aspects of this film are dated, it's still a lot of fun and holds up quite nicely. In my opinion, it's probably the best comic book adaption ever made for television.

Lynda Carter may not ever be considered the best actress in the world, but that's just fine. She is simply amazing as Wonder Woman, bringing the perfect mix of warmth, sensitivity, and innocence to the role. I can't imagine anyone but the fabulous Lynda in the title role. Whoever lands the lead in the new WONDER WOMAN movie has some pretty big boots to fill.

The rest of the cast is also very good, Lyle Waggoner is especially charismatic and likeable as Steve Trevor. The production values are high, but some of the special effects naturally look dated. However the "bullets and bracelets" trick still looks impressive.

WONDER WOMAN is guaranteed to delight even the most harden cynics. Lynda Carter's heart-felt performance will easily win you over. My score: 8 out of 10 (the highest I've ever given a made for TV film)!

Considering that it's budget was miniscule compared to the Superman and Batman films, this TV movie is fun from the get-go. It is true to the spirit and tone of the 1940s comic, has a great supporting cast and, of course, Lynda Carter. Yes, it's campy at times, but it's in good fun. Cloris Leachman is not exactly Hippolyta, the warrior queen, but she has her fine moments too, especially when her masked daughter wins the tournament.

Back in the days of my youth the comic books and their relevant television shows were lighter in emotion and humour and were aimed at the youth market. These programs usually aired between six and eight in the evening. And I will hasten to say was better for it. Though there were adult matters expressed in the story there were watered down so we had good family entertainment. Something I think the DC Universe is missing at the moment.

And at the top of the pile of superhero shows on offer was Wonder Woman. I was happy to watch the pilot movie once again and it brought a smile to my face once more. There are some cringe-worthy moments in the show. For example the Amazon's view of men, which today doesn't ring so true as it's not just men who commit evil and atrocious deeds. Then there's the invisible plane. I loved the concept of the plane, though you can see Wonder Woman in the pilot seat; it's more like a plane of glass than invisible. As a kid I saw nothing wrong with it now with adult eyes I see it for what it is and though it makes me laugh it still fills me with nostalgia.

However, the story pretty much sticks to the Origin Story that was in the comic books at that time, before the Greek Gods became involved in the Wonder Woman Mythos. Steve Trevor (ace pilot) crashes in the Bermuda Triangle while engaged in a dog battle with a German pilot. He is found by Diana on Paradise Island (no Thymiscira at this point in history) and his wounds are tended to until he is well enough to travel. Queen Hippolyta decides he needs to leave the island as soon as possible, to keep the island and its inhabitants secret from man and the outside world. She then holds a "games" where the winner will be charged with returning Steve Trevor back to his life and to make sure he is well. Diana, in disguise, takes part in the games and wins. When she drops off Trevor at the hospital she finds herself pitted against the Germans and their scheme to bomb a secret base in the heart of Washington DC.

The way that Leonard Horn directs this story is to keep it light, full of humour, and to make it resemble a live-action-comic along with dialogue boxes. This makes it a rip-roaringly-enjoyably movie to watch. Horn is also great at using differing camera angles to help with the fight scene's and to create more believable Wonder Woman effects as well as give interest to the viewer. This is one well-crafted movie.

As for the cast; I totally forgot how good an actress Lynda Carter is. There's a reason why she made this role hers and why she will be remembered fondly for it and it's not because she fit the costume so beautifully, it's that she actually brought the character to life and made her appear realistic and believable, even in the face of some absurd lines and, at times, goofy story telling. Lynda Carter will always be Wonder Woman for me. Lyle Waggoner is perfect as Steve Trevor, who has just the right amount of ego and charm for the character. This is a guy you can believe has a girl in EVERY port. The other surprise in this pilot movie is Red Buttons as Ashley Norman. He pulls the character off perfectly. However, it's John Randolf as General Blankenship that start to let the film down a little as his character is more like a jovial uncle rather than a General. Then there's Stella Steven, who fluctuates between being really good and really wooden. It really is a strange thing to witness and does hinder the film as it breaks the link between movie and viewer. Though, besides Lynda Carter, my favourite actor and his character in the movie is Nikolas who is portrayed brilliantly by Henry Gibson. His portrayal of a faithful German Soldier come Butler come American Spy is well crafted and so funny to boot.

There are some faults in this version, though for me, they are all forgivable as the movie is such good fun to watch. I would recommend this to everyone as it may just put a smile on your face as it did mine. Well worth a watch.

I remember the time as a child watching Dukes Of Hazard, Space 1999 and the most closely to Wonder Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, although The Bionic Woman is closest. Were as the Six Million Dollar Man is still believable and watchable it becomes really fast clear that this was a low budget series based on old comics and even filmed in comic style but with a lot of cheesy and campy moments.

But the pilot starts rather good with some real footage of WOII and especially on the part of the Nazis. It becomes clear that the Nazis want to destroy a hangar full of new techniques. But the US army picks up what is going to happen and sends out Steve Trevor to destroy the German bomber. But things go wrong in the first campy moments (Germans speaking English and explaining let's talk English so no German can understand our secret mission). and Steve crashlands on an uncharted island in the Bermuda triangle. An island full of women. But the queen wants to send Steve back to the US asap because otherwise the females could fall in love and could have sex. Guess who has to take Steve back, Wonder Women, in her (cheesy) invisible airplane.

The score makes it all watchable but it's more a big laughter due the fight scene's and the way the story goes but cult classic, don't get me wrong. No high tec here to see or special effects. Pure old school entertainment.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 1/5 Story 2/5 Comedy 0/5

After an entanglement with a Nazi plane, Steve Trevor crash lands on an island inhabited solely by Amazonian warriors. (One does start to wonder if a man wrote this.)

I came in expecting Wonder Woman, and what did I get? Nazis lurking in dark rooms with accents that are more 'dodgy village fair' than 'menacing.' For a pilot episode, it is outrageously over the top, but it achieves its goal: we're introduced to Wonder Woman herself, played with a surprising mix of strength and charm.

The island sequences are gloriously camp, with enough glamour and eyebrow-raising moments to keep the attention. The action is solid if occasionally awkward, and the dialogue swings between witty and unintentionally hilarious. The show leans heavily into spectacle, which works, mostly because the lead has enough charisma to carry it through.

Not a subtle show, not a nuanced show, but certainly an entertaining one. Worth watching if only for the sheer audacity of it all.

7/10.