Two days of gaming and associated geekery are wrapped up for this year’s edition of the Salt Lake Gaming Convention (SLGC) (website). A convention combining electronic and tabletop games is still in its infancy after only a few years of existence. This year, having lost some of their supplies to theft, presented a major hurdle they successfully overcame.

There were hardships that almost led to the convention not being held this year. I heard a few months before the regular convention date, this year wasn’t going to happen, and there might not be another edition of SLGC at all. Plans changed after the gaming community started enquiring about when and where the convention was going to be this year. The organizers responded to the fans and provided the event.

On a short timeline, a convention was put together. Knowing some of the limitations they were up against, I would call this year’s event a success. And, pulling it all together showed the ability to make a sustainable convention that fans can look forward to.

What did they accomplish?

Electronic Games

The electronic games area was the biggest draw, which is where the focus of the convention has been. Along with Microsoft having a showcase area, there were open areas for conventioneers to set up and play. Game pits for open multiplayer games were consistently full. There were large screen viewing areas for the competitive play, which included intercollegiate esports.

The electronics area hosted a number of tournaments, along with college teams going head-to-head. There were events for both amateur and professional players. The crowds were enthusiastic in support of their favorite players and characters. Conversations abounded through the audience about what was happening on the screen and the strategy they would have used if they were playing.

Pinball

Pinball alley returned from last year and was another place of overflowing use. New games and retro flippers were available for everyone young and old to step up and see if they had what it takes to work the digit counting ball. Standing and watching three generations of one family playing pinball together was a joy. A grandfather was standing with his grandson during his parent’s turns sharing a story of how he used to meet friends to play pinball because there weren’t video arcades.

Tabletop Games

St. George Tabletop Game Convention (website) provided a library of games for those who wanted to challenge their friends across a table instead of through a screen. I hope people extend a thank you to the organizers of the St. George event because it’s at least a four hour drive between there and Salt Lake City. Envoy/Double Exposure (website) ambassadors were on hand helping teach games and give recommendations to those who weren’t sure of what game would fit their style.

The tabletop games had their own tournaments. Both days hosted a couple dozen tables for Warhammer. Other miniature games included Star Wars and War Machine. Collector card games included Magic the Gathering, Star Wars, Pokemon, along with My Little Pony at dedicated tables.

Role playing games (RPG) were present in force due to the strong individual talents of the local Adventurer’s League (website) and Pathfinder Society (website). There were other free tables running games for those looking for something different. The RPG area kept two to three dozen tables regularly filled with players from beginning to end.

Kids Zone

SLGC again provided an area dedicated to the younger players. A pirate ship was available for exploring. A Nerf battle zone and a trike race course was a place for many young gamers to burn off some the excited energy they came with. The Lego building area and tables for creative design work were places that might not have been so energetic, but they were well attended. Some groups looked like the parents took the kids in so they could build with the blocks.

Live Action Area

The arena for battle was once again erected with opposing forces facing off with foam weapons. Epic battles were waged. There was also a smaller area set up for just the younger players learning to get their battle feet under them.

Vendors

In the midst of all of this was the market place, where conventioneers were able to pick up their remembrances of the event and support their fandoms. The area had a wide selection of memorabilia, artists, game designers, and promotional areas for other groups and events.

Guests and Panels

The guests and panelists were well received.

Great voice actors were there to share what they do and who they are. Charles Martinet (website) of Mario fame. The cast of God of War included Christopher Judge (Facebook), Danielle Bisutti (website), Jeremy Davie (imdb), and Robert Craighead (Twitter). The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was represented by Patricia Summersett (website), Elizabeth Maxwell (website), Andi Gibson (website), Bill Rogers (Twitter), Jamie Mortellaro (Twitter), and Joe Hernandez (Twitter). And, Chloe Hollings (Twitter) from Overwatch, Victoria Atkin (Twitter) from Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Jason Charles Miller (website) of Geek and Sundry, and Jason Hayes (composer) (Twitter) were also talked about their experiences.

The panels covered topics about all types of gaming and other areas of interest.

Cosplay

Cosplay wasn’t left out. There was a competition which was highlighted by Zabracus (Twitter) and Missy Mayhem (Twitter). These Two local talents provided insight for those who want to do cosplay.

Overall

These were two days packed with a lot of activities a person could get involved with.

I’ve had the opportunity of attending this convention every year since its inception. This year was a struggle. Even with the struggles, the organizers had the guts to push forward when others may have folded. That showed their strength and the power of the gaming community in SLC. My hat’s off to their success (and, yes, I wear a hat when I go to conventions).

There will be more articles coming from my experiences at SLGC 2018. I look forward to seeing more of this convention in the future and watching it grow into what it is capable of producing for the gamers supporting it.

This article also submitted for publication to Guild Master Gaming and Big Shiny Robot.

The post Salt Lake Gaming Convention, 2018 Wrap Up appeared first on .

Rian Johnson

The film picks up almost immediately after predecessor The Force Awakens, with the Rebels being forced to flee yet another base (thankfully, Johnson quickly cuts loose, and fears of another quasi-remake like The Force Awakens are dispatched). At the same time, Rey (Daisy Ridley) gets an unexpected reception from Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) at watery Ahch-To. As The Last Jedi has more than its share of twists and surprises, I will say no more, aside from commending the film for a nice build from a meandering first half to a wild second, where danger seems real, and Star Wars tropes take a back seat to real characters.

Of course, a writer/director this daring is bound to make some missteps, and there are some surprisingly bad ones in The Last Jedi, particularly in a first half that struggles to maintain a consistent level of excitement across the typically bouncing-all-over-the-place narrative. One major subplot in particular involving new character Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) just does not get there, despite the best efforts of the cast. Another quibble is some laughable space science, even by Star Wars standards, starting in the opening battle and continuing throughout. Most in the theater on opening night probably could not have cared less.

What is exciting about The Last Jedi is how much Johnson gets right. The better second half of the film leans on the cast, and they do not disappoint. Ridley is more polished as Rey, and provides a nice counterpoint to Hamill in the extended sequence on the Jedi island. John Boyega as Finn and particularly Oscar Isaac as Poe are given quite a bit more to do than in The Force Awakens, with Isaac evoking some Han Solo – esque swagger. The star of the film, though, is Adam Driver as Kylo Ren. Ren did not seem to have much depth in the first film, nor did being defeated by a fledgling especially help his villainous menace. This time around, Johnson’s script does the character justice, and we see perhaps our first convincing turn to the infamous Dark Side of the Force. I do not put The Last Jedi in the same class as the original trilogy, but, by the end of this film, Kylo Ren is the most compelling Star Wars character since Darth Vader, and that is saying something.

UGeek Rating: (4.0 / 5).

The post Star Wars: The Last Jedi [Movie Review] appeared first on .

You can absolutely tell that Justice League is a transitional film, that DC was switching gears and that two very different people were at the helm. It isn’t quite the hope and light of Wonder Woman, but it isn’t overly dark like previous offerings. DC has been listening to their fans on this.

Humor is sprinkled throughout the film, but it’s pretty obviously been tacked on after the fact. Some of it is outright forced. Through judicious use of the editing room and re-shoots, they’ve managed to make most of the humor flow. Our entire audience laughed several times. The Flash is pretty slapstick, which is in line with his role in print. Aquaman and Cyborg both get in a few really good jokes as well. Batman’s jokes seemed off and out of character. Wonder Woman was the most serious member of the team.

The story was pretty straight forward and predictable. A team of disagreeing and disparate heroes forced together by an alien invasion. Tell me if you’ve heard this one before.

Everyone (even Batfleck) carried their characters well within the script/s provided. I’m still crushing on Wonder Woman as Gal Gadot continues to own the heck out of that role. I really like Jason Mamoa’s version of Aquaman. It truly makes him the powerhouse that he should be and makes a whole lot more sense than a Nordic fellow in orange and green. Ezra Miller’s Flash was a little forced and awkward, but that appeared to be on purpose. He is supposed to be very young and new to this whole superhero thing, basically this team’s Spiderman. Ray Fisher’s Cyborg was extremely stiff. It kind of worked for the man and machine mix of the character, but it made the emotional interactions unwieldy. Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill kind of phoned it in. If you liked them in the previous movies, you will like them in this one. If you didn’t, you still won’t.

I want to address a controversy that broke over the weekend about the Amazons. Other than a few (mostly in the background) characters, they eliminated Snyder’s bikini costumes. The Amazons are largely in versions of their Wonder Woman costumes. The bikinis that remain are in background roles or in places where re-shooting or editing the scene would have been prohibitively expensive.

Stay through to the end of the credits. It is a Joss Whedom film after all. There are two credit scenes.

Justice League is a formulaic, but fun superhero movie… which is a huge improvement over most of the rest of the Snyderverse. Wonder Woman still is the golden standard for the rest of DC to reach for or exceed. I give it a solid (3.0 / 5).

The post Justice League [Movie Review] appeared first on .

Over the past movies people have been giving up on the Marvel story being told because it was becoming weak in the telling. Thor: Ragnarok shifts back to a stronger storyline and tells the story in a fun, compelling manner.

Credit should be given on many levels to those involved in the production.

Directing

The feel of the movie has changed from some of the recent installments and part of that goes to bringing on Taiki Waititi as director. Waititi is probably best known for his mocumentary What We Do in the Shadows. He brings his comedic ability timing to the new Thor installment. This was an element that worked in the earlier movies which was lost.

From the open sequence of Thor: Ragnarok you know this movie is set differently with its comic element. Of course there was humor in the other Marvel movies, but in Ragnarok the comedy feels like it’s happening from a natural place without the forced setup that has become so popular in so many movies. I was grateful that there wasn’t the whole “we are going to tell you a joke,” then “here’s the joke,” followed by “did you get the joke?”

Comedy

Instead, the humor is allowed to play out from the characters. This adds to the flow of the scenes, instead of taking away from them. There are different levels of humor throughout, but none is ever particularly called out to the audience allowing everyone to enjoy it at their level.

Interactions between the actors were relaxed. It really looked like everyone was into the characters and having fun doing what they do so well. In some of the recent Marvel releases this feeling was missing. Yes, I know the topics were more involved with serious issues taking place, but they are still in the Marvel comic universe. And, when there is a tension between the actors it comes across as a more rigid performance. This movie was fluid.

The comic relief of the movie allows the storyline to continue without overpowering it. There are even times when you are expecting the joke because of earlier setup and it isn’t given. Which gave a greater effect because it didn’t break the tension, which we have seen in recent installments. For me some of the best lines came from the sideline characters just being allowed to be themselves.

Acting

Here we have Helmsworth, Hiddleston, and Goldblum playing off scenes that were improvisation. Their interaction is perfect. Unless I had saw the interview with Goldblum telling that they were playing off-the-cuff I wouldn’t have known it. From other work we have had a glimpse at Helmsworth’s and Hiddleston’s comic ability, In Ragnarok Waititi sets up his actors (and not just this trio) with the ability to play in a universe where we all want to play around a bit.

Story

Thor: Ragnarok is still a super-hero action movie. It gets back in touch with so many of the elements earlier comic hero movies were for me, fun. There are still the fights and special effects. In Ragnarok it felt like the fight scenes were trimmed down. I didn’t time them, so I am not sure. But, I didn’t get to the point of saying, “Got it, can we move on now?”

The overarching story taking place through the series of movies is here. We learn in the very beginning Thor has made an effort to find the infinity stones. Thor meets Dr Strange, and we are introduced to just how much he has grown since our last meeting. We are given the timeline of events in subtle ways to let us know everything is still moving.

All of this is done with superb writing. There are a few points where we dip into backstory. And, when we do, it is not poured out on top of us, but given in tasty bites to build what is happening.

When new events are introduced we are given the depth of the characters without being pounded. Many of the points are introduced with an element of humor that is fitting to the character. Again, a situation that allows for the humor to flow unforced and without being slapped about.

Characters

I mentioned earlier how the actors seemed to have the fun interplay. This also applies to how the actors were portraying their parts. There was more depth to the characters. Our leads are back from earlier movies and they keep true to who they were. We also get more depth from them know, a greater understanding of their motivations.

It takes a great villain to make these movies work and we get one in Hela played by Cate Blanchett. The writing of the character gives us a backstory to why Hela is who she is and why she is doing what she is doing. Blanchett takes Hela to a level of villainy that shows how bad she is with intelligence. There is reason to have empathy and sympathy for this character. you might not want to be there with her at that level, but at the very least you have an understanding that she is doing what she considers to be the right thing to be doing.

Even the new characters have stronger feeling about them. We are given a lot more depth to the characters that aren’t even going to be carried forward in the story. Background action taking place in the scenes and the short lines delivered provide fuller characters who propel the story at a better pace. Even in the moments of narrative, the characterizations kept the action, suspense, plot, and intrigue moving.

Theme

I’ve been told you have to set the theme of a movie early on and carry it through to the end. Success. Where all of the other things keep the Thor: Ragnarok working on the level of entertainment. The themes in the movie are going to keep people talking about this one more than what I have heard in conversation about the recent movies of this storyline.

The writers (Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle, and Christopher Yost based on the comics created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby) make a promise at the beginning of the movie and they deliver the goods throughout—right to the end. (Speaking of which, there are two end scenes, one mid credits, and one at the end of the credits—after all this time I was shocked to see people leaving the theater when the credits started rolling).

Waititi took the writing and prepared, with the efforts of the rest involved, an enjoyable visual sensation.

Overall

This is one of the best, if not the best, Marvel movies. The settings bring a greater feel of the original works. The cinematography was grand. The directing worked with the talent of the actors to allow the individual influences to show through. Timing was superb.

It would help to have seen the earlier movies, but they are not required. This is a self-contained chapter.

I give Thor: Ragnarok  (4.5 / 5)

The post Thor: Ragnarok [Movie Review] appeared first on .

In the film, actress Amanda (Paola Bontempi) is headed to a ceremony where she is to receive an award for an illustrious career. As her husband is delayed returning from a trip, she boards the limousine arriving at her house alone. She is unable to make any contact with the driver, then she slowly realizes that the drive is taking too long. It is perhaps not that surprising when a filtered voice comes over a speaker telling her there is no escape from the vehicle, and she must comply with whatever the voice asks.

The Glass Coffin is almost entirely confined to the limousine, and this setup is both strength and weakness, as the single, small location concept is more than a little familiar. The demands over the speaker lead Amanda where one might expect, but Zubillaga does show some admirable restraint in depicting the more unpleasant happenings inside the limo, and they are unpleasant indeed. The antagonist is also fairly easy to unmask, although the bizarre showdown in the third act defies convention. Writer Aitor Eneriz and Zubillaga mostly work around the inherent limitations of their scenario, and the director especially is up to the challenge. The limo feels appropriately small, but Zubillaga finds enough interesting places for his camera to keep things moving.

The real star here is Bontempi, and not just because she plays a dual role in a film with a cast that can be counted with a few fingers. Bontempi keeps the film on the rails, even during the out-of-control ending, and alternates between strength and vulnerability both believably and heartbreakingly. Zubillaga marches her into a real war, and she does not hesitate. Her performance as Amanda is key in sharpening the film’s question of how far we would go for personal gain, or revenge.

UGeek Rating: 7/10

The post The Glass Coffin [Movie Review] appeared first on .

Who Was At The Con

For many of the people coming to Salt Lake Comic Con it was a place to have the opportunity of meeting the media stars they have come to enjoy. For many this means thinking of those who perform on our favorite television programs and movies—and there were a lot.

For three full days we had the opportunity of meeting, getting autographs and photographs, and spending a few minutes with those entertain us on the big and little screen. Along with those who are well known there were those getting started. Independent film makers were there sharing their visions. Other forms of art were also well represented.

The artist alley was comprised of artists who have worked on major animated productions and books along with those who are just starting out. I think every art form was represented (I’m not going to try to name them all because I know I will miss somebody’s favorite). I talked with some of the artists who were impressed with the attendance of Salt Lake Comic Con. A couple who travel between conventions were really enjoying the level of knowledge and courtesy their fans have in Salt Lake City.

This was not just in the form of two-dimensional art work. There were a number of crafters sharing what they create. There were all the accessories you could be looking for to complete an outfit for out on the town, or at the next cosplay event. There were those who had items to show your fandom in more everyday items like pens and blankets. If you were unable to find what you were looking for, you could talk to people and they would help create what you wanted. One shop was laser etching on the spot.

There were other fandoms in attendance. Books are strong forms of entertainment and there were some wonderful authors sharing their thoughts and their books. Forewarning: I am biased about books. They are my first love of entertainment (second is games). I talked with authors covering a wide range of genres and they, like the artists, were impressed with the people they were meeting. A number of authors were selling out of their stores and I know a couple who were frantically coming up with extra copies for Saturday because they had sold out on Friday.

The gamers were not left out. Both electronic and tabletop games had strong showing, both in providing products and in looking for games. Salt Lake Gaming Convention had a location where people were able to sit and play console games.  There were also game shops with items so fans could show which games are their favorites.

Tabletop games were also available. Along with the game shops, I know there were a half-a-dozen developers showing their games. There were also accessory companies with dice, bags, and boards. An open gaming room was there with the Adventurer’s League hosting tables and open table space for everyone to use. Some people found this a nice reprieve from the volume of the general floor.

I am also happy to say there were organization in attendance who help the community at large. There were cosplay groups and other organizations who were there raising awareness and support for people in need. I am even more happy to report those organizations said they had great support from the people they came in contact with, either at their booth or out and about throughout the convention.

Who Was Really At The Con

The largest group at Salt Lake Comic Con were the fans, you who are reading this. Throughout the event I heard speakers claim if it wasn’t for the fans, none of this would matter. It’s true. Not in the way that a cynic would claim because of ticket sales, but because it is the energy and enthusiasm of the individual fans coming together that make conventions exciting and fun to be at.

There was no point during the entire convention where cosplay was not occurring. There were cosplayers in strollers to those with walkers. There were cosplayers for every area of fandom. I like to think I have a good understanding of the different areas and I met players I didn’t recognize. And, yet, along with those of us not in costume, we were all sharing in the event.

I enjoy seeing how people were gracious in their play. People of all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities were good to each other. We were having fun. We recognized those who had done something we appreciated and we were gracious in being appreciated.

Conventions are hard on the body. I know people who are most likely sleeping away this afternoon (I am writing this on the Sunday after) and I am there with them. Others are still cleaning up from the merriment. While others are making their way home, or to their next engagement. Event fans in attendance will most likely take some time to allow themselves to recover from the time spent at the convention center. We attended knowing the physical consequences.

This convention is about reviving the spirit of creativity and fun. We went because we were seeing not only the people involved in the creation of the stories or bringing those stories to life, we were seeing the characters they represent. Many were becoming the characters to show our appreciation for what they have given us. We go because it gives us the memories of past stories, and the hope of new ones.

It is the people I meet that make conventions so great, and all the people who were part of Salt Lake Comic Con 2017 made this event a wonderful memory. This goes to the organizers, the guests, the attendees, the workers in the booths, the workers of the convention center, and the volunteers.

I tip my hat (it was either a cap or bowler depending on which day) to everyone. Now, I think I will take a nap and start getting ready for the next event.

The post Salt Lake Comic Con 2017 appeared first on .

Utah Geek Magazine Issue 16

 is

Available NOW!

Find Utah Geek Magazine at your favorite local game stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and more!

Click HERE for a list of all 170+ locations!

PDF Download LOCKED

Can’t wait for the new issue?
Subscribe NOW and be among the first to get your print copy of future issues.

Utah Geek Magazine Issue 16

• In this issue:
• Convention and Event Calendar
• Feature: Dan Farr
  Salt Lake Comic Con Co-Founder and Salt Lake Super Hero
• Feature: Utah Haunted Attractions
• Cosplay Centerfold: Missy Moody, Heartless Alice
• Raising Geeks: Halloween Imperfect and Amazing
• Game Reviews: H.I.D.E and Planet Mercenary
• Geek Cred Pop Quiz
• The Zombie Nation

So why aren’t PDFs available at the same time as print?

Utah Geek Magazine is first and foremost a free community print magazine. In order to keep true to our identity, we thought we’d encourage readers in the community to visit their friendly local game store, or any of our 200+ locations, and pick up a copy. That way, readers can read it the way it was meant to be read. If you can’t visit on of our locations, or can’t wait a month or so for the PDF, you can always subscribe here.

The post Utah Geek Magazine Issue 16 appeared first on .

Utah Geek Magazine Issue 15

 is

Available NOW!

Find Utah Geek Magazine at your favorite local game stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and more!

Click HERE for a list of all 170+ locations!

PDF Download UNLOCKED

Can’t wait for the new issue?

Subscribe NOW and be among the first to get your print copy of future issues.

Utah Geek Magazine Issue #15

In this issue:

• Convention and Event Calendar
• Feature: Crimson Quidditch
  How the University of Utah’s fantasy sports team became a reality
• Feature: Who Needs Blood when You’ve Got Family?
  A Look into Harry Potter Family Dynamics
• Cosplay Centerfold: Zach Pickard, Quantum Entanglement Props
• Raising Geeks: Proud to be a Geek
• Game Reviews: Forbidden Island and True 20
• Geek Cred Pop Quiz
• The Zombie Nation

Errata

Well, I guess it was bound to happen at some point. We’ve made some minor errors in the past, but we overlooked some silly things this issue. We’re aware, we’re embarrassed, we apologize, and corrections have already been made on the online version available below.

The Cover – Yes, the cover. We misspelled the title of one of the feature articles. The text at the bottom right should read: “Who Needs Blood when You’ve Got Family?” instead of “Who Nees Blood when You’ve Got Family?”

Cosplay Centerfold – We didn’t place the usual cosplayer, character, and photographer credits. The credits are as follows: Cosplayer: Zach Pickard, Quantum Entanglement Props; Character: Destiny Titan (from the Destiny video game); Photographer: Chance Day, Day Media Photography

Board Game Reviews – The game titles are incorrect. We copy the previous issue’s source file and use it as a template, and we didn’t update the game titles to match the current reviews. The game titles should read: “Forbidden Island” instead of “Flash Point”, and “True 20” instead of “Swords & Wizadry”.

So why aren’t PDFs available at the same time as print?

Utah Geek Magazine is first and foremost a free community print magazine. In order to keep true to our identity, we thought we’d encourage readers in the community to visit their friendly local game store, or any of our 200+ locations, and pick up a copy. That way, readers can read it the way it was meant to be read. If you can’t visit on of our locations, or can’t wait a month or so for the PDF, you can always subscribe here.

The post Utah Geek Magazine Issue 15 appeared first on .

Dunkirk, written and directed by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception, The Martian), succeeded.

The events are told from three different perspectives, one from the beach, one from the water, and one from the air. The three stories intertwine around a set of events to tell a greater story. The audience eventually sees the main events that tie the stories together from different points of view. Because the set points tie the stories together at the end there is a little bit of time-jumping when the story goes from what has been happening on the beach over the previous day to what is happening on the day of the evacuation.

Dunkirk plunges you into the story without the now traditional scrolling of titles of who made or is it. This sets the emotion from the beginning. This is not an action-packed movie. Here you have the steady build in tension. It builds and then there is a minor release of pressure and then back into building the tension of the situation. When you get to the end of the movie the release of the tension in the film is reflected by the audience. The build in tension was almost overwhelming at times. The points where you can catch your breath are short.

Recently the trend has been to show the gore of war. The direction in Dunkirk is towards the emotional impact and the horrors of war are not portrayed by showing the splattering of men, but by the weight on their spirits. This doesn’t mean death is not shown, it is about WWII. The randomness and confusion of war is shown throughout. The audience is drawn in by the connection on the emotional level to the characters.

The acting, directing, editing in Dunkirk were outstanding in developing the emotion. There is little dialogue, but the expressions and scene development tell the story in a stronger way. Expressions captured tell more in the scenes than the words spoken. At a few points, there was enough background noise, from the war, that made dialogue hard to hear.

Overall, I expect to see Dunkirk recognized when the award ceremonies roll around. This is not a movie I would take younger viewers because of the subject matter, and sudden explosions. The film brings the feeling of being there, in the situation with the men on the beach, and not just watching it from the comfort of a seat.

The post Dunkirk [Movie Review] appeared first on .

Wonder Woman is a character driven story. The hook at the beginning of the movie ties in with the last DC movie, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which for one friend was the first nail in this movie’s coffin (they brought forth their dislike of that movie and started applying it). Once the tie in is made, we are taken back into Diana’s origin. The first section of the movie shows her growing up and training. Because she grew up in isolation from the rest of the world, this is not an action sequence.

The fight scenes are restrained. This is not to say there aren’t any, there are, and they do some amazing special effects. But, the scenes play out in a shorter time frame than other movies in the genre. This allows for the story to move along and cover a lot without getting so closely tied into how the fight went.

Characters are portrayed for the time frame of the movie. Two people who expressed their displeasure of the movie was because to them Diana wasn’t the character they grew up with from the Justice League cartoons. They wanted a strong, intelligent leader. Instead you are presented with a naive woman who is discovering the larger world of men after four years of World War I. She is still presented as a strong woman upholding the ideals she has grown up with, she is faced with the atrocities of war. She is forced to face her own standards and come to a decision of what she is willing stand, and fight, for.

The characters are true to themselves throughout the movie. The on-screen work of acting, directing, editing, all worked well together to present character who are relatable and gain the sympathy of the viewer. Several people I know expressed how the story presented brought them to emotional states, drawing them deeper into the characters and the movie. Good acting is needed for this to work and actors need good writing.

The story is well written. I noticed some wonderful foreshadowing that set up later parts of the movie. Along with that there are false leads and a good twist that kept me guessing. I had an idea of what was coming, but not enough to make the ending obvious.

The thematic elements were carried throughout the movie. This is one of those elements of story that lies beneath the storyline. It gives the story a feeling of wholeness. When we left the theater that is what I had. Yes, I know there is another movie coming with Wonder Woman, hopefully more than one. But, this story stands on its own.

We did not leave the theater on an adrenaline high, or fatigue, from the past paced action movie that many of come to expect from a comic book based movie. We left on a high from feeling good that there is a chance to overcome the bad in the world and do something worthwhile to help one another.

The post Wonder Woman [Movie Review] appeared first on .