It’s difficult to find good comic book movie villains. Most are hell-bent on taking over the world, their definitive trait being their evil. Of course, there are exceptions here and there, but only a few.
This is just another issue the DC Extended Universe needs to confront. Others include the editing, the stories, and even the studio’s meddling. But Wonder Woman, the next installment in the shared universe, has apparently found a way around these issues, and this has earned it high praise from the critics.
During a recent interview with Collider, director Patty Jenkins talked about how her villains are unique and explained what pushes them forward. She limited her comments to Doctor Poison (Elena Anaya) and General Erich Ludendorff (Danny Huston), and didn’t mention Ares, who’s rumored to be the movie’s main villain.
The challenge was to see both the good and the bad of mankind. And, you know, Steve really ends up, like, representing the good and the complexity of mankind. But Doctor Poison and General Ludendorff are great examples of the bad of mankind. And they're also great examples of how it’s not a conscientious choice to be a villain. Every villain has a belief system that makes perfect sense to them (via Screen Rant).
Creating relatable villains with whom the audiences can empathize is another step forward, and it further distinguishes Wonder Woman from other comic book movies.
Combined with the first Twitter reactions to the movie, this has raised our expectations even further.
Wonder Woman opens in the US on the 2nd of June.
