When Joss Whedon took over the production of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the original vision for the film was drastically altered. It was initially unclear how much Whedon had changed in the final product, but it became evident that Wonder Woman’s character was heavily influenced by him. Unlike any other appearance she has made in the DCEU or throughout her history, Wonder Woman’s role in the movie was altered in a way that did not showcase her strength and dignity as a female superhero. Unfortunately, Whedon’s tendency to poorly direct women was reflected in his treatment of Wonder Woman, diminishing her character in ways that were blatantly obvious on screen. One example of this was the use of camera angles specifically intended to exploit her body, adding further insult to injury.
In the recent Justice League film directed by Joss Whedon, Wonder Woman’s wardrobe choices left little to the imagination. The tight and skimpy clothing, along with numerous upskirt shots, seemed designed solely for the male gaze. Even during action sequences, there was no shortage of gratuitous body shots featuring Diana’s thighs, butt, or cleavage. Unfortunately, this trend extends beyond just Wonder Woman, as the Amazon warriors were also given impractical armor that seemed more for show than protection. Overall, the focus on sexualizing female characters detracts from the storytelling and undermines the strength and capabilities of these powerful women.
Even before the release of Joss Whedon’s Justice League, people were already criticizing the impractical clothing worn by the Amazons on Themyscira. Despite some arguments that Amazonian loungewear also exposed torsos, the movie ultimately showed that even when fighting in armor, the Amazons had very little protection and exposed torsos. It’s difficult to find a justifiable reason for the warrior women race to wear such impractical armor, especially when fighting against monsters, aliens, or gods. Diana, who lived among men, would have been the last person to unnecessarily expose herself in battle. In fact, the costuming team even seemed to give up on giving Diana appropriate armor altogether.
Diana Prince, the iconic Wonder Woman character, has been known for her stunning outfits in both her solo movie and in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The detailed costumes were designed to fit every character, from soldiers on the warfront to the classy streets of London and the practicality of Themsycira. However, in Justice League, her fashion sense seems to have taken a step back. Diana is seen wearing dull and unflattering clothes that expose unnecessary skin. This is not what we would expect from a character who has always had an impeccable sense of style in the DCEU. Even her armor looks impractical. Moreover, it is surprising to see Diana, who is usually confident and strong-willed, wearing clothes that seem out of character. On the other hand, in a surprising twist, there seems to be a spark between Wonder Woman and Batman in the movies.
In the movie, Dawn of Justice, Diana Prince and Bruce Wayne shared a mild flirtatious interaction, but it wasn’t intended to lead towards romance. Rather, it was a form of manipulative charm that they both used on each other. Towards the end of the film, it became clear that Diana, Clark, and Bruce were on the path to becoming close friends and comrades, as is often depicted in Justice League adaptations.
However, when Joss Whedon took over Justice League, he completely changed the romantic interests of the characters. Bruce and Diana were forced into multiple instances of uncomfortable flirting, with both parties appearing aggressive towards each other. Bruce even went so far as to bring up Steve Trevor in a bitter attempt to upset Diana, which did a disservice to both Batman and Wonder Woman. As a result, Diana was reduced to just another nagging female presence, bothering the male characters.
In Joss Whedon’s Justice League, Wonder Woman is portrayed in a way that contradicts her character and defies gender equality. Despite her lack of reason to conform to gender stereotypes, she is reduced to becoming a nagging mother figure to the male members of the team, critiquing their every word and action. This portrayal is especially unfair given that she is the only woman present and has the most experience of all the members. It is disappointing to see such a strong and capable character be diminished in this way. Furthermore, Batman is inexplicably positioned as her gruff mentor despite her seniority in the team. It’s important to challenge media representations of gender roles and ensure female characters are given the respect they deserve.
It’s worth pointing out that Joss Whedon, the director of Justice League, doesn’t seem to have a lot of regard for female characters, even those as iconic as Wonder Woman. Despite her centuries of combat experience and her status as a goddess, Diana is forced to defer to Batman as the leader of the Justice League for no real reason other than his willingness to take charge. Even Wonder Woman herself admits at one point that she’s too emotional to lead the team effectively. This treatment of the character is frustrating and disappointing, especially given the unnecessary fanservice shots thrown in during her action scenes. All in all, it’s a disservice to both the character and the film as a whole.
Wonder Woman’s involvement in the action sequences of Justice League left much to be desired, as she did not appear to be the skilled warrior that her home of Themsycira had groomed her to be. Unfortunately, it seemed that the primary focus of Diana’s fight scenes was to capture as many alluring battle poses as possible, rather than showcasing her true abilities. This treatment is reminiscent of the way Black Widow was portrayed in Joss Whedon’s Marvel Cinematic Universe films, such as The Avengers. Additionally, some may find Wonder Woman to be too rigid, uptight, and aggressive in her demeanor.
Diana’s character in the DCEU has always been portrayed as enthusiastic and fascinated by the world she lives in. From observing combat training on her home island to exploring the polluted streets of London, Diana finds joy in all aspects of life. However, her demeanor in Joss Whedon’s Justice League is quite different from her previous appearances. Diana appears uptight and aggressive, which is a stark contrast to her previous happy-go-lucky personality. Furthermore, there seems to be no real reason for Diana to want to work with the Justice League in this film.
Wonder Woman was among the top superheroes in the world even before the events of Justice League. Her heroic actions during World War I, where she defeated the God of War, earned her a prominent position. Although her first interactions with Batman and Superman were not smooth, they eventually learned to work together by the end of Dawn of Justice. In most stories, Diana enjoys working with a team and values her position in the Justice League. However, her experience with the other male members in Justice League is quite different. Apart from Batman, who has practical experience, the others tend to ignore her and treat her like a mom. Unfortunately, even a superhero as popular as Wonder Woman couldn’t escape feeling unrelatable when directed by Joss Whedon.
Essentially, the issue with Wonder Woman in Justice League stems from Joss Whedon’s shortcomings. Diana does not come across as authentic or relatable, unlike Bruce and Barry. Whedon has a history of struggling with writing and directing female characters, and it was unrealistic to expect him to excel with such an important role. This is not the first time he has demonstrated his inadequacy in this area, having previously struggled in the MCU.
