The New Original Wonder Woman

Now this movie is true to the Wonder Woman of the comics! Wonderfully made & written, casting was superb! Lynda Carter really does justice to the Wonder Woman role, and the supporting cast members were also wonderful. I highly recommend searching for this one to watch!

When Wonder Woman first appeared in the comics in 1941, her adventures at times seemed to resemble more of a Three Stooges adventure than an action hero, considering all the cartoonish and stereotyped villains she battled. That's what this film is like. It's interesting to see a comedic actor like Henry Gibson (from TV's Laugh-In) playing a Nazi who attaches messages to the legs of carrier pigeons. He's got to be the shortest Nazi I've ever seen! Also watch for Red Buttons, playing an undercover Nazi spy, yell "Heil Hitler!" into the phone with absolutely no trace of a German accent. Despite her history of comedy films, Cloris Leachman does an acceptable job in the role of Queen Hippolyte. The real star, of course, is Lynda Carter wearing that tight-fitting costume. Watch her shake her booty!!! I got a videotape of the movie from a guy in New York named G. Cocchiola. You can e-mail him at basestar1@aol.com

That said, if you're looking for tongue-in-cheek comic book fun, ala the 1966 Batman film with Adam West, this one is for you.

From deflecting bracelets to the lasso of truth Wonder Woman propels onto the tv screen. This pilot brings the first successful live action interpretation of arguably the most popular female protagonist to be adapted from comic to screen. Although it appears dated in comparison to nowadays this series still manages to bring a lovable warm charm and as Diana Prince (Lynda Carter) presses all the right buttons. There is a subtle difference in the way she transforms from a cute everyday woman to a sassy empowering goddess.

The memorable scene with Ashley Normans (Red Button) as a double crossing showman to a devious Nazi informant is quite intriguing to say the least. The idea that if a meta-human was to live in our world would they instantly be exploited to make money? It seems feasible to me.

(Lyle Waggoner) is Steve Trevor and anybody who knows anything of Wonder Woman would know he is the first man Diana experiences as they cross paths on the shores of paradise Island or more recently know as Themyscira. The Island full of beautiful women highly trained and skilled in combat seeking peace away from the world of man. Lyle Waggoner plays as good part and has good chemistry with Lynda Carter. There is a cuteness to Diana outside her alter ego as Wonder Woman. It's difficult to fault any acting in this early pilot although it does seem to take itself slight more serious than say Adam's Wests Batman. (Henry Gibson) is great as the babbling baddie Nikolas as well as being accompanied by Marcia (Stella Stevens) and Captain Drangel (Eric Braeden).

The direction is nothing too fancy but doesn't really need to be, although the stunts are very dated and show nothing more than Wonder Woman shoving and pushing her foes to the ground with force and strength. The physical presence of Lynda Carter is impressive she certain looks the part and is sexy doing it. You can tell they are working to a budget with some of the action sequences and keeping it more basic with what's possible for the time.

Story wise it's pretty much the opener, the narrative of Diana's journey venturing out to discover the world of man for the first time. All in all its the one I am most familiar with, this isn't a bad thing it's just I'm looking forward to discovering new stories as I haven't read many of the comics.

The title sequence is cheesy yet catchy, allowing the audience to not over analyse and hopefully escape reality as well as enjoying the ride.

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

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)!