Led by the impressive Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman succeeds as a culture clash meets superhero action extravaganza, director Patty Jenkins successfully blending all the films various elements to satisfying results.

The recent slate of DC Film productions has consistently failed to reach expectations. While Marvel Studios continues to dominate the superhero sub-genre both critically and box office wise, many were waiting to see exactly when and how DC will deliver their own knockout blow. Try as Superman and Batman did, it was up to perhaps the most famous of all female superheros to get the job done, with Wonder Woman delivering not only the best film in the rebirthed DC Film slate yet, but also a ground-breaking entry into the superhero movie cannon.

Set during the early 20th century, Wonder Woman follows the adventures of young Amazon princess Diana (Gal Gadot), as she is raised on the secluded island of Themyscira to be a fearless warrior by her mother Queen Hippolyta (Connie Neilson) and auntie General Antiope (Robin Wright). When U.S. military intelligence officer Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) literally comes crashing into her world, Diana learns of the Great War taking place within the world of men and volunteers to help defeat a great evil plaguing mankind.

It is the scenes where Diana is first introduced to the outside world where Wonder Woman firmly separates itself from the ultra-serious tone of other DC Film productions, Gadot bringing the right amount of wide eyed naivety and curiosity to her character. This leads to humorous scenarios especially revolving around gender politics as a woman of strength, intelligence and fierce independence does battle against the 20th century constraints against her sex. One scene where Diana crashes a meeting of high ranking generals and politicians is worth the price of admission for their clenched teeth, red faced reactions alone.

That is not to say that Wonder Woman is not filled with action scene ass-kickery of the highest standard. Perfectly balancing style and thudding impact, the action scenes of Wonder Woman work as both visual eye candy and a tool for story progression, as Diana learns more about her super abilities during every engagement with the “enemy”. One sequence where Diana leads the charge across a dreaded “No Man’s Land” is fist pumping good in its choreography, visual and sound effects, and that ever-important element of stakes raised and matched with its engrossing, heart pounding delivery.

Front and centre of all of this is, of course, Gal Gadot, who follows up her scene stealing turn in Batman vs Superman with one of the best portrayals of a superhero character put on screen. Striking in look and undeniably charismatic, Gadot also brilliantly portrays the unflinching candour that is integral to Diana’s relationship to a world where the beauty and ugliness of humanity are constantly jockeying for position. Good also is Chris Pine who plays Diana’s love interest and guide to all other things “mankind”, Pine delivering on those well-seasoned action chops and much in the way of humour.

Wonder Woman is the first feature from director Patty Jenkins, who wowed with her debut Monster back in 2003. While a successful career in TV followed, it is hard to foresee Jenkins not getting her feature film career on track again. Successfully blending action movie, war film, coming of age drama and culture clash comedy within a superhero movie package, Jenkins has not only delivered for DC Films the film that can match against the competition, but a milestone achievement that is sure to raise the bar.