Wonder Woman 1984 premiered in the Philippines via HBO GO on April 21. I finished watching it last month. A big YES. It took me almost a month to finish a two-and-a-half hour-long film.
For someone who enjoys watching films in theatres and at home, that is tragic. I would like to send my apologies to Queen Hippolyta and the Daughters of Themyscira. But cinemas remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, online streaming is the new norm.
Ready, set, stream!
Online screening has its advantages. Based on my Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and JFF Plus: Online Festival 2020 experience, the online edition is not awful. It, in fact, saves you time as there is no need to line up. Moreover, having a relaxing space for your theatrical peace of mind is bliss.
But we have to admit that it also has its disadvantages. For instance, Wonder Woman 1984 is a huge movie and part of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
Back in the days (Yeah, I said it!), people would line up to catch the FIRST screening. Remember the effect of Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019)? There was even a #ThanosDemandsYourSilence campaign to prevent major spoilers.
Streaming new movie releases under a cinematic universe, MonsterVerse or in DC's case, extended universe is crucial. Normally, films would be released simultaneously in different countries. NOW you have to wait months before that film is streamed on HBO Go. Well, your lucky if you're in a region with HBO Max. If not, then embrace a thing called waiting game.
Waiting Game
With all the waiting, a surge of reviews has been posted online. The only thing you can do to avoid it, is avoid the Internet. But whether or not you read them, the reception will certainly affect a viewer's decision to subscribe to the platform.
If the film was able to outperform its predecessor, then there is nothing to worry about. Sadly, Wonder Woman 1984 failed at that.
The Review
The sequel is missing the passion from Wonder Woman (2017). Yes, all the 80s colour, fashion, music and issues were there. But the story was all over the place. It did not feel like a Wonder Woman film to me.
I do; however, appreciate the inclusion of Kirsten Wiig's character Barbara. Diana and Barbara seemed to be a pretty good pair in my opinion. How I wish they teamed up. For the story, it became more tangled and confusing by the second half. Too many events are thrown one after the other that I could no longer focus.
It's worth mentioning that Pedro Pascal as Maxwell Lord stole the spotlight with his performance. Pascal carefully but surely takes Lord's chaotic character progression to a different level which is great. With a character like that, you need a great actor to release its potential.
Unfortunately, Wonder Woman 1984 as a whole was not able to show its full potential as a sequel. No wonder I kept dosing off when I watched it. I guess this is the effect of the waiting game and the impact of streaming huge films online.