Monday, June 5, 2017

Sure, Wonder Woman Is Good... But Let's Talk About Those STUPID HEELS


 
I did it again, peeps: I let the hype get to me.

With all the rave reviews flooding social media, the smashing of box office records, and friends telling me to get ready to cheer, cry, and generally lose my mind, I went to see Wonder Woman last night with my spirits high, and my expectations higher.

To be fair, maybe nothing could live up to all that.

And also to be fair, Wonder Woman is a good movie - no question. But to someone coming in with no real history with Diana Prince, someone who hasn't seen all the previous stinkers DC's been making (Bats vs Supes? Nuh-uh.) for comparison, Wonder Woman falls just shy of "great."

It has moments of greatness, though: a few scenes that punch through into the movie I hoped for, the movie I desperately wanted. We get to see Diana and the other Amazons kicking butt, and looking gorgeous and fierce while doing it. We get a little laughter and color, a nice change from all the "dark and gritty" that superhero flicks seem to choke on today. We get gods and World War 1 and a ragtag group of misfits taking on the world - only this time, a woman's in charge. HELLZ YES AND THANK YOU PLEASE.

But for all that, the movie drags. There's too much talking, too much flirting with the predictable - albeit adorable - love interest. There's not enough fighting. The Big Bad Guy at the end is kinda laughable. And the worst part - the WORST part - is that our Amazonian warrior goddess, the one raised in a society with no men, the one who spends an entire (hilarious) scene protesting when they put her in a dress, because "how do you fight in this?" - this confident, self-sufficient, powerful role model for girls and women everywhere - spends the entire movie in 4-inch heels.

WHUT.

Not gonna lie: those needless, hypocritical, impractical high heels - featured prominently in every fight scene, but surprisingly hard to find in promo photos for reasons that will soon be made clear - kinda broke the movie for me.


BONUS SIDE NOTE OF FORTUITOUS COINCIDENCE: 
 Preach, Mac Dictionary.

 


Now I'mma rant a bit. Buckle up.

Look, there's no denying Wonder Woman was made by men, for men. (Her own creator once wrote, "the secret of woman’s allure,” is that “women enjoy submission—being bound.” Um. EW.) But today we're told she is something different. Today she's been re-branded, reclaimed. Today Wonder Woman is supposed to stand for feminism and empowerment, not bondage and submission. We girl geeks rally behind her as the champion for our sex, the chief example in the comics universe we can point to and say, "See? Women can be superheroes, too.

And hey, I'm not saying Wonder Woman can't be sexy. HECK YEAH SHE CAN BE SEXY. The rest of Diana's outfit makes sense for battle, and is totally smokin'.

I'm also not saying wearing heels is bad, because rock what makes you happy, peeps. But let's not delude ourselves: heels are for looks, not comfort or practicality. Which of you straps on stilettos before going for a run? Maybe a kicky pair of pumps for Taekwondo? It's beyond laughable. Add to that Diana is a warrior who's never even SEEN a man, much less cares about attracting one during battle. Putting her in heels is practically character assassination; it literally goes against everything she stands for.

Besides, I defy you to put Gal Godot in flats and tell me she's one IOTA less attractive. So why do it? WHY?

And lest you think this was a height thing: Godot is 5'10. Chris Pine is 6 feet tall. Godot didn't need to be taller. In fact, she wore flats while filming, so she wouldn't be taller than Pine.


Because heaven forbid a leading lady ever be taller than her leading man, right, Hollywood?
 

 Almost done, I promise.

Of course, Godot also had to wear flats while filming because even pretending to be Wonder Woman was impossible in those shoes. Gal Godot was a combat trainer in the Israeli army, you guys. If anyone could do it, it would be her. But she couldn't. That's how ridiculous Wonder Woman's shoes are.

So get this: they CGI'd them in.

That's right, they went back and digitally added in the high heels; in reality, Godot was wearing sneakers under gladiator spats the whole time. So instead of giving her flat sandals that make sense and look almost exactly the same, the producers spent extra money, time, and who-knows-how-much effort to make the pointed statement that Wonder Woman must wear impossibly high heels while fighting. (I guess we should add that to her list of super powers?)


And here I am, feeling like a traitor, because every review I've seen by other ladies is going on about how different Wonder Woman is, because it was directed by a woman. That it doesn't "serve the male gaze," and that the Amazon's outfits are so refreshingly unsexualized, and I'm like

HAVE YOU SEEN THE SHOES

and

HOW COULD ANOTHER WOMAN MAKE THIS DECISION

but of course I can't say that because the movie is rocking my fellow geeks' universe, and I DO want them to have nice things, and I DON'T want to be the one tinkling in the Wonder Woman Wheaties, so to speak.

[plops back down, pats hair into place]

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Jen, CHILL. They're just shoes."

But are they? 

When Gal Godot showed up to the Wonder Woman premier in flats, the internet lost its mind.


Everyone applauded this bold statement for comfort and feminism, apparently oblivious to the fact that the actress was now better equipped to go sprinting through a battle field than her character was. Think about that. Think about the enormous opportunity lost here. About what a coup it would have been for women everywhere if "our" superhero - the one I hope will help usher in a new age of female leads - didn't have to sacrifice her own character integrity for the sake of sex appeal. Think about what an example that could be to kids, to geeks, heck, to cosplayers. (WILL NO ONE THINK OF THE COSPLAYERS??)



Wonder Woman was a good step forward, it was. I love it for every battle scene, for every roundhouse kick, for every time Diana led the charge. I love how many of you were deeply moved and inspired, and I'm beyond thrilled reading all the stories of little girls putting on capes and practicing their punches, and of grown geeks rediscovering their love for a childhood icon. I want more of that, and I know Wonder Woman will help pave the way.

But dangit, they really screwed up with those shoes.


Ok, sound off: who didn't even notice she was wearing heels? Who doesn't care? Who's had their entire feminist perspective shifted by my oh-so-convincing diatribe? [elbow nudge] Eh? EH??

84 comments:

  1. This makes me sad. I had hoped you would be moved by the movie like me. I didn't give a rat's hiney about the shoes. I was too busy being happy that they didn't screw it up and that my daughters were cheering.

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    1. I hoped that, too - but no need for sad! We all get moved by different things, and if I had daughters cheering I'd be over the moon, too.

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  2. I noticed the wedge heels, but they didn't actually seem that high to me. I didn't find them distracting. The other Amazons also wore similar wedge sandals, so the idea seems to be that those are just the kind of shoes Amazons wear. But I get what you're saying.
    But I do want to make a point about Gal Gadot's choice of footwear: she injured her back recently, and has said publicly that she can only wear flat shoes because of it. She's worn flats in all her publicity appearances for the film (and in some cases, didn't even sit down for the interview) because of that.

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  3. I haven't seen it yet (opening weekend... crowds... eeeeewww) but the heels annoy me, too. While we're at it, the strapless costume pisses me off. What woman thinking "I will need flexibility and freedom of movement for really intense fighting" then thinks "strapless seems like the best call here."??

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    1. I can give them a pass on that one, because they were going for the traditional, easily recognizable costume, with some minor updates. I grew up with Wonder Woman comics, so that outfit really screams WW for me.

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  4. I really look forward to seeing it. But Xena wins. She wore flats and was still taller than all the men!

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  5. I can honestly say I didn't notice the shoes at all the first time I saw the movie. (Beyond "awesome boots." I didn't notice the heel part one way or another.) I only noticed the second time I saw it, because people had mentioned it. (Though I swear there are a few times that showed flats.) But it really doesn't bother me either way. High heels were originally worn by men as a symbol of power and wealth and were developed by horse-riding cultures for keeping feet in the stirrup. It doesn't throw me out of the illusion at all that she'd be wearing heels in a non-sexual way.

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    1. I'm thinking functional heels (for stirrups) were between 1 and 2 inches, not 4 inches. 4 inches is in the fashion, not function range.

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  6. I haven't see the movie yet but the shoe thing and the height thing bug me. shes a freaking amazon she is supposed to be taller then Batsy and Superman and all the guys! *sigh* maybe someday we will have tall supergals but today they are still forced to be average...

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  7. I honestly didn't notice the heels at all, beyond what they're selling at hot topic.

    I really liked the movie myself. I mean, not really "best movie ever" levels, but I thought it was a solid start. Mainly because I DID see batman vs superman, and suicide squad, and they were AWFUL. Like..."i'm trapped on a plane watching this, i have literally nowhere else to be right now...and i'm still mad i wasted my time watching this" bad. So i was SO RELIEVED that Wonder Woman was not that level of terrible, I think I forgave it a lot of things.

    My biggest qualm was why Chris pine basically had an American accent if he was a British spy? I mean if he can't pull of a British accent, and they MUST cast him instead of an actual British actor....why not throw in a throwaway line that he's an American who couldn't stand by while fighting was going on, and became a British spy. or SOMETHING.

    My other qualm was a spoiler involving the plot twist, so I wont' go into it.

    Mostly I'm just happy that it did well at the box office, so Hollywood doesn't have the "well, women led superhero movies don't sell" excuse anymore. Since CLEARLY THEY DO.

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    1. Chris Pine was supposed to be British?? LOL - yes, totally onboard with you, then. I assumed from his accent he was just working with them as an American.

      And you've reinforced my lack of desire to see Suicide Squad, so bless you. ;)

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    2. He is American. During the scene with the Amazons in which Steve is wrapped in the lasso of truth, he states that he's an American assigned to work with British intelligence as a spy.

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    3. Yeah, don't do it Jen. It was not the movie the previews made you believe you'd be getting. Sadly, I'm hearing WW won't surpass it at the box office-I hope they're wrong though.

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    4. I'm pretty sure he said he was a Captain in the US Army who was sent to England to work with the British as a spy.

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    5. I... have a weak spot for Suicide Squad. Mostly for what it COULD HAVE BEEN than what it actually was. (Possibly also because of the interactions between Harley and Deadshot and how terribly wonderfully terrifying Viola Davis made Amanda Waller) I will never say it was good with a straight face but it was almost-good and definitely better than BvsS or Man of Steel.

      Also Steve was an American on loan to the British Intelligence Agency. :)

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  8. I'm gonna blame Zack Snyder and Warner Bros execs. They are the ones that made that ridiculous brown promo picture of Wonder Woman that you featured. I'm sure Patty Jenkins had to fight with them about far too many issues. I could be wrong, but I'll remember your post and just pretend she's still wearing warrior boots.

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    1. Jenkins has said she wanted Wonder Woman to be "hot as hell" with "really long legs" - so I think the heels were her idea. :/ I'm with you on pretending they're not there, though.

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  9. I absolutely noticed and sighed. I believe I said to my patner "at least they were wedges?" I don't know they seem slightly more pratical I guess Hahaha

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  10. I haven't seen the movie yet, but female superheroes/action heroes in heels has ALWAYS pissed me off beyond most rational measures. THANK YOU for calling this out!

    10/10 Quality rant would rage again :)

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  11. I know it's a tiny difference, but those are wedges, not heels. With wedges, the support goes the entire length of the foot, providing stability and support. She wasn't running through No Man's Land in stilettos or anything. Were they necessary, no. Could I run in them, yes, if I was a person inclined to run which I'm not. It's not like Catwoman's stilettos of doom.

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  12. Put me in the "I didn't notice" column. I was watching her be awesome, not looking at her shoes. I do think it's silly - and clearly added to the cost, which makes NO sense. She's Greek (kind of). They went to battle in, basically, sandles. How was that not an option? Still, at 44 I was way more moved by seeing a female superhero than I thought I would be. I'm an official fan (bought my POP! already - almost bought all 3!).

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  13. I'm with you, sister! The shoes ruined the whole new image for me. But I still enjoyed the movie. Just had to imagine Diana in a kick-a$$ pair of kicks.

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  14. I've got to admit I didn't even notice the heels. I was to busy focusing on everything else.
    But now you have pointed it out, it is very frustrating. There was recently a petition that got debated in UK Parliament about companies forcing women to wear high heeled shoes. So this is still such a relevant problem.

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  15. There is actually one activity that high heels are good for- horseback riding. Due to this association from Mongolian times, heels were viewed as athletic and strong. Now, I still don't see how heels and knee high socks make a 18th century man look athletic but ok. Even army boots had a modest heel. Cue the 20th century when heels became a fashion item for women and turn into this ridiculous mess as illustrated in the above article. Honestly guys, smh

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  16. I did not notice her shoes at all (granted, I saw a very late showing after a *very* long day and missed a lot of details) and I'm disappointed to learn of their existence - especially the bit about the heels being CGI'd in. Like... what the heck? It would be dumb even if they weren't spending extra money on it, but to pay extra to make her gear look *less* practical? Whyyyyy?

    Overall, I definitely enjoyed the movie, and I'm looking forward to seeing it again (especially to catch all the plot details my friends are saying were so great that I apparently missed because I was just fighting to stay awake by the climax (not because it wasn't exciting - it was - it was just past midnight at that point for me and I'd been up since 4am).

    I also don't have any real familiarity with Wonder Woman's comic / TV show history and haven't watched the other DC movies, so this was my introduction to her, really. It was a lot of fun, for sure! And I loved seeing her fight so fearlessly and effectively. But I've secretly been more excited about the upcoming Captain Marvel movie than this one, just because I'm way more familiar with Captain Marvel and the MCU than anything from DC.

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  17. I didn't even notice them but I think it makes her more badass. She can kick butt in heels!

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  18. I'm a feminist and as such I respect choice and some people happen to like bondage etc., it doesn't make them a lesser feminist, and it doesn't make Wonder Woman "less" by having that in her history.

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    1. Of course - and I don't think I said it did? Only that Wonder Woman no longer represents bondage & submission today; her image has changed.

      True, I'm not a fan of a man saying women should be bound and submissive - I'm guessing that's the line you're referring to. If someone's into bondage, that should be a personal choice, not something they project onto an entire sex. So my disgust was more with the quote than his rationale for the character.

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  19. Noticed...I went with the family. The four girls noticed. The three guys didn't. Wrote it off as female super hero costume detail that is just for guys. It was better than the Wonder Woman I grew up with :) I had more of a challenge that they had to put the physical romance stuff in. Dianna was a goddess who was known for her chastity. Oh well, I guess again I have to right that off as female super hero detail.

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    1. To be fair, Wonder Woman is not the goddess Diana, just named the same. She's technically a demi-god, Hercules would be her half brother. Aside from that, I kinda understand why they gave her a love interest, but I wish we could just have a movie where no love interest is involved.

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  20. I watched the movie twice (saturday and sunday) and never noticed the heels. It makes me sad that they went through all the trouble of adding that in post.
    Having said that, I really liked the movie, it's fun, it has great action great dialog, everyone should go see it.

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  21. I cannot thank you enough for writing this!! It has been driving me insane since I saw the first preview! Wedge heels?? Are they serious??
    It doesn't take anything away from the film for me but the fact that they CGI'd them in is just more insult to injury. I couldn't agree with you more. What a complete waste of time and effort. Especially when you consider how popular gladiator sandals have been in the past-missed opportunity to bring those back if you ask me....

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  22. I haven't seen it yet, but I have seen many detective shows with the female lead wearing high heels and I find it distracting every time. There's always a scene with them running after bad guys that just seems ridiculous cause you can tell they're having a hard time in those shoes :P

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  23. I have to say that I'm NOT with you on the complaints about the boots. Mostly because you still could kick butt in wedge heels like this, especially if you are an Amazonian Goddess :) And since all the OTHER Amazons are wearing them, I assume that it's just a fashion trend there. I'd be ticked off if they were stilettos, or even kitten heels, but wedges are very stable for moving around in. I'd have been OK too if they went with sandals to some extent, though they provide less support and protection than those boots do, I guarantee.

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  24. Well, it depends. Did you know that heels came about for men before women? Mostly for horse riders. The heels helped keep their feet in the stirrups; so they wouldn't slip forward through them and cause problems.

    So yes, both male and female warriors would have worn heels.

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    1. Absolutely! It's a relatively recent thing in history that only women wear heels!

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  25. I DID notice it, as I often notice impractical fashion choices made for women in superhero movies (Black Widow tie back your hair for goodness sake!) BUT I appreciated they were AT LEAST wedge heels and not stilettos!

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  26. Just brings back my disgust as a teenager where in all the Nancy Drew books, she runs around in "pumps". I never really liked Nancy Drew for that reason (among others). I was more of a Trixie Belden kind of girl - practical, down-to-earth, wearing jeans and sneakers, not afraid to get dirty to find the clues! Same with WW - wear whatever the heck you want, especially if it's comfy, and kick butt while doing it!!!

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    1. Sounds like you were reading the "redone" editions of Nancy Drew. :) The original versions featured a much more sensibly-shod, active, and sassy AF Nancy. The second and third versions of the stories were shortened and tweaked and edited to meet the tastes and "guidelines" of the times when they were reprinted. Random FYI.

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  27. I feel like it was just a waste of CGI expertise. If the sneakers showed in a scene, they could have just CGI'ed the flats, but heels? Waste of time, waste of talent... Just. A. Waste.

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  28. I've been so annoyed with those stupid heels and I haven't even seen the movie yet. I didn't know they used CGI for them though. Working in VFX, I know how much work that takes and it's just ridiculous.
    However, unless the director specifically mentioned that she wanted the heels, you'll have to consider that this might have been one of those trade-offs to get the executives on board. She might have fought quite a few battles and decided in the end that if they wanted her in those blasted heels and pay through the nose for them, they could have them and she'd be able to stand her ground on other aspects. Meanwhile Gadot will go to red carpets and undermine their stupid vision so she might just wear flats in the sequel.

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  29. Thank you. God. Everyone LOVED this movie. The trope of Naïve Beautiful Woman with Experienced Man made me puke, and the sexualization was something I (unrealistically) thought wouldn't happen in this woman-directed movie. Presumably Diana has been alive for centuries, since she was given life by gods who have been gone that long: presumably she has had relationships and knows about sex, and is the opposite of naïve, but we still had to sexualize her for men. And all of those outfits were for that purpose. Dammit.

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  30. I have to admit I didn't notice the heels, but the part that killed the feminist vibe for me was when Wonder Woman was bemoaning the cruelty of the German army by saying "They killed innocents...women...and children..." Since when would a female warrior who spent the entire movie talking about how she expected human women to be warriors, too, think that women were any more in need of protection than men? Why couldn't she have just say "children"? Or "old women"? Or "men", for that matter? I found that a very distracting and easily rectified mistake.

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    1. Of course the women and children meant more than the men to her. Remember what her book had concluded on the matter of men. Men killing each other is sad, but killing innocents, precious children and valued women is terrible.

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  31. I haven't seen it yet, but as a woman who has officially given up on heels, I'm with you. Give Wonder Woman some practical combat boots!

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  32. I completely failed to notice her footwear. Personally I can let the stupidity of it go but respect it being the hill you want to plant your flag on. I'm planting my flag on the hill of boob-plate armor (armor that separately "protects" one's boobs) because it is impractical and would kill you. See http://www.tor.com/2013/05/06/boob-plate-armor-would-kill-you/ for explanations.

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  33. I haven't seen it yet, but the fact they CG'd in the heels just disturbs me. Like, honestly people.

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  34. Oh, and I literally snarked to a friend during the movie when she took her hair down before kicking butt. Like, that's exactly when you should be putting it up to keep it out of your face!

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  35. I didn't notice them, but my 10-year old daughter did. She's a huge superhero fan, and a little feminist. We both absolutely loved the movie (I openly wept through several scenes). When she asked about the heels, I asked her if she remembers why high heels were invented in the first place (for men in battle, so they could stand up in their stirrups). She did remember, and said, "The Amazons are amazing warriors and fight on horses, so that makes sense. She knows how to fight in those shoes." We rolled with it.

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  36. I haven't seen the movie yet, but want to let you know that I most definitely did not read this blog post and think to myself "Jen, chill, they're just shoes." Because you're right! They are not just shoes! It says so much that the creators felt that heels were necessary. That they went to such great lengths to add them in. Anyway, I still plan to see it and am looking forward to it, but am glad to have your perspective. Thanks for ranting!

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  37. Jen - one thing Wonder Woman was not fighting Nazis, German does not equal Nazi, this movie takes place around 1917-1918 at least 5 years before the start of the Nazi party in Germany. I am just happy there is finally a major movie that really does pass the Bechdel test, where women are talking to each other about things besides men, what actions to take irregardless of the men and that the main male protagonist does not try to hold Wonder Woman back besides the village gas scene. I had no action hero like this Wonder Woman growing up and was in tears seeing all the strong women and Wonder Woman claiming and not apologizing for being strong. I will complain about shoe choice when there are as many Wonder Woman movies as there are Superman and Batman movies, and they don't change the shoe choice.

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    1. Ah, thanks for catching the Nazi thing - I've amended the post. And HERE HERE for the day we're drowning in Wonder Woman movies!

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  38. I didn't notice the heels. I saw a woman kicking ass without breaking a sweat. It's a fun, feel-good movie. We enjoyed it immensely (along with the kids wearing WW pjs in the theatre :)). There are times when I have to stop reading into everything and let my brain and heart enjoy the moment. She's wearing a leather swimsuit to fight evil for crying out loud (wearing a tiara no less) :). Doing it in a pair of leggings or shorts would've given her the same freedom to fight. So the heels are the least of our worries.

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  39. I understand we all see things and interpret them differently, that we all have our own experiences and priorities that skew our opinions. I always look forward to your movie reviews, and often agree with them, but I'm going to have to adamantly (but politely and with much love) disagree with you here. (And I feel really bad about that for some reason?)

    1) The boots. Like has been commented here before, the boots are wedges, not the standard super-stiletto. They offer support and I know many women who prefer a wedge for solid arch support over a flat shoe. In addition, high heels used to be for battle. They were created for warriors. (http://knowledgenuts.com/2014/05/19/high-heels-were-originally-made-for-soldiers/)

    Based on the timing and and culture exchange, it would make total sense for the amazons to wear heels, especially considering the amount of horsemanship they were doing. I liken it to the fact that there was an island full of woman in miniskirts and/or with slits up to their crotches and not ONCE did that come across as skimpy or revealing, it was obvious those choices were made for the warriors because they needed the range of motion. (The "makeover" scene in the shop demonstrated that beautifully.) The teacher and the doctor if I remember right I think they wore flats, and their clothes were the more drapey grecian style. But it made sense, those decisions made sense.

    2. I'm actually not a huge fan of Wonder Woman. I've never really liked her, I know quite a bit about her, but the only reason I saw this film was because a friend wanted to go to the movies this past weekend, and we figured that was the best option. I sobbed through a surprising amount of it, parts I never thought would give me an emotional impact. Decisions like abstaining from the traditional "Pan up the legs, hang out on the butt, spin around the waist, zoom into the cleavage, pull out to the whole body before we get to the face" super lady costume reveal were physically jarring for me. Something I didn't even realize was so ingrained until it wasn't there and my brain broke. So many moments where small choices were just as monumental as large ones, I found it beautiful.

    3. I do have issues with it. The whole origin story makes me angry and is one of the places where they took away women's agency (In the comics, Hipolyta was going to kill Ares after he had enslaved her and her sisters and abused them, including forcing her to give him a son, and Zeus stopped her because he loved Ares too much. Hera stepped in and said that Ares would be punished and she would try to help Hippolyta become whole and gave them Themiscyra and breathed life into Diana. Hera did that, not stupid whiny pants Zeus, and I'm beyond salty about this whole thing.)

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    1. Don't ever feel bad about disagreeing with me! I expect it, and in the confines of this amazing community, I actually learn from and enjoy our debates.

      Now I'm going to throw in a quick counterpoint to the high heels for battle thing: the purpose of those shoes was to catch and hold the stirrup in horseback riding, so the heel itself was a separate element, not a wedge. The article you mention doesn't have photos, but you can see a few historic examples here. Wedges like what Wonder Woman wears would slip right out of a stirrup, with no conceivable benefit for riding. If they were a separate heel like Linda Carter's classic boots, then you'd almost have me convinced, because the Amazons do ride horses. But as it is? Nope, I'm still in the "purely for sex appeal" camp. ;)

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    2. I think it would be much cooler for the producers to do the next movie with super smart convertible boots - ones with heels that could be used for riding, wedges for whatever you need them for, and flats for when you need a flat. And, I bet given some creative room, a costume department could have a lot of fun figuring out what they could look like. I get your point and I think it's a good one to remind us that small details make the character real and relate-able. Little girls are going to wear sneakers and coverings, rather than four inch heels; cosplayers are going to either go with the something that matches the movie, sacrificing comfort and movement, or design something that works more to let them actually be the powerful character. For the next movie, and there will be a next one, let's hope that this detail gets an upgrade! Good point, fair point, glad you are making it!

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    3. I didn't notice them either but when I read your rant I, as a rider, thought it was a nice authentic detail. Anyone getting on my horse with flats is not allowed to use the stirrups for risk of the heel slipping through and getting stuck around the leg (slipping out isn't a problem, you'll just catch them again). The more you move around on the horse (like fighting) the higher the risk gets and the higher the heels need to be to prevent it.
      That is, until I looked closer at the picture and noticed that, even considered that, they're way higher than necessary and ALL IN ONE PIECE!!! Which, ironically, makes it necessary for them to be that ridiculously high to prevent the heel slipping through.
      It makes absolutely no sense at all not to make them heels! It would be both more adapted for fighting AND sexier! I don't care about the sex appeal, but why they would make the boots "uni-soled" is beyond me. Wouldn't the much more sensible and functional divided sole, with an actual heel, also have MORE sex appeal? It makes no sense! Whatsoever!
      Still, with that said, if I ever had to engage in combat-like activities on horseback I'd much prefer her boots, uni-sole and all, over flats.

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  40. I noticed the heels--although it took me until almost the ending of the movie to do so--but I was also disgusted and disappointed when I did, for the same reasons you list above.

    Ugh.

    Sigh.

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  41. I hear you, Jen. I feel the same way. And I'm the woman who used to twirl around with a sheet on her shoulders singing the WW theme song in the 70s and whose pillow was blue with white stars on it because I loved the show. I want to love this movie with every fiber of my being. And I hope I will (I'm about to go!). But those shoes....oh, how I wish they had not been heels.

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  42. I didn't notice the shoes. I was too busy watching a strong woman kick ass on screen and not spending the whole time apologizing to men.
    I also find your rant as being a naysayer for the sake of being naysayer. Too be honest, I'm disappointed in your post.

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    1. I hate being negative, and will never naysay for the sake of naysaying. These are my honest thoughts and reactions, shared because it's relevant and I thought they might spark some good discussions - which they have. I won't apologize for that, but it does make me sad you think I somehow enjoy irritating so many people I like and respect. I wanted to love this movie. Instead I got sidetracked by shoes. But we can disagree and the sun still shines, right?

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    2. You have posted many times about women and girls and their strength, creativity, and courage. And then you post a rant about a character's shoes. Their shoes. Your expectations, or better yet, your level of expected feminism wasn't met. I can understand the disappointment you may feel. However, what I'm most disappointed about in your post was the lack of "Hooray" for so many things that you so freely give to others (and their cosplays or successes) but how you have restrained that here...because of her shoes?

      I do still think the sun shines. I do still think that this movie is an amazing move forward for women in the genre and hopefully more. But let's not champion that discussion, instead let's talk about her shoes.

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    3. Stepping in here (hopefully politely & respectfully) to come to Jen's defense. She did write "hoorays" at the beginning & end of this blog post for Diana's general level of bassass-ery. But no, she did not dole out the same level of "hooray" that she does for cosplays or other internet success stories because this is an entirely different situation. This movie is part of a male-dominated multi-million dollar industry, so I disagree that it should be held to the same standard as cosplayers at a con. When this many people see your work, and you have the power to influence so many little kids, I do believe that you should be held to a higher standard. I think Jen is right to call them out. And she doesn't need to champion the discussion about how this movie is, still, on the whole, an amazing move forward for women in the genre - the rest of the internet (and the box office records!) are doing that. So if Jen wants to bring up a little-discussed issue, which raises some valid points and generates discussions like these, then I'm proud of her.

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  43. Thanks for inspiring me to wear flats (walking and standing all day at Denver comic Con) in my 1920's-inspired Wonder Woman cosplay! (My feet especially thank you.)

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  44. I noticed (and loved) the wedges. My husband actually nudged me and said something about the heels, too (Feminist wife win!)

    I'm more upset by the lack of logical plot development with Diana ready to leave the island so quickly (felt super rushed after such a strong young-Diana intro).

    Also upsetting, to understand the power of "love" had to have a one night stand with a guy she'd known for around a week. In some ways, Chris Pine felt like more of a traditional hero at the end than Diana did. (trying to avoid spoilers).

    Despite the female director, I still saw heavy male gaze. It wasn't truly a woman's superhero movie.

    That said, I did enjoy it. One wedge-heeled step for WonderWoman; One giant leap for Womankind

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  45. Long time reader, first time commentor and THANK YOU! This is an issue that boils my blood in every female super hero portrayal. Poor Black Widow suffers from the same problem. She's forced to wear heels and wedges on all her shoes that are simply impractical for running and fighting. I did a google search on it, and the one redeeming quality to come from it is that most cosplayers do away with the terrible heel issue. And more power to'em!

    And for those claiming that it's accurate or okay because heels were originally designed for men to better ride horses, let me point something out to you. (And please try to read this in not a sarcastic, snarky voice, but a calm, reasonable voice). Wonder Woman's heels are not the type meant for horseback riding. They are too tall, and they are flat on the bottom. The types of heels meant for horse back riding had a high arch and then a short heel, two inches at the most, that could hook onto the stirrup to help keep the rider in place. WW's heels are flat along the bottom and then wedge up. So no, those aren't going to help at all in horseback riding. Go ahead and google "men heels riding horses" and you'll see the difference between the heeled shoes meant for horseback riding and the completely impractical wedged boots Wonder Woman is forced to wear. You'll even see a picture of the actual heeled shoes the Persians developed for horseback riding, for comparison to good old Wonder Woman's.

    tl;dr: I agree with you, Jen. And the "those heels are for horse back riding" argument is crap. Google it.

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  46. Just think of the missed merchandising opportunity, had the shoes been flats. Even I! Hater of shoes that are not flip flops, would have bought a pair!!!

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  47. The chick can nose-dive off high buildings, climb up sheer walls, and battle gods. I'm pretty sure running and fighting in heels would be achievable for her.

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  48. This was actually one of the first things I noticed and appreciated about the DC Superhero Girls web series, and it's why I was totally on board with getting my daughter some of the dolls (especially since she asked for the pants-and-flats version of Wonder Woman since "it's easier to fight crime in that outfit") - they're ALL in practical shoes.

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  49. I agree that the shoes are above a practical height and I've been on the stupid shoes bandwagon in the past(hello, Jurassic world) but I also bristled when reading this post for two reasons:

    First, I actually do seek out heeled shoes when I'm going to be doing something outdoors or particularly active. I usually look for a solid two inch wedge or chunky heeled boot. The pitch of the heel really helps my back (I have spinal arthritis) and makes me a lot more stable and sure of my steps, and a lot less likely to roll my ankles than I am in flats. Maybe I'm the only one, maybe I'm not, but they do actually help me, like corsets (another sexy "why would a woman wear it except for a man" thing) help you in unexpected but wonderful ways.

    Second, I'm personally getting tired of the "heels (and makeup and all else) are for the male gaze". WHO CAME UP WITH THIS? Does my husband like when I wear those things? Yes. Does he like it when I choose not too? Also yes. The reason I wear them: MYSELF. I would still wear exactly the same sexy things on an all female island because I like them. Period. I like wearing heels.

    I do agree that adding them with CGI is over the top, and the height is probably beyond the point where they could be beneficial for her. But they also had decades of comics, movies, and shows to pay respects to, all of which has featured her gorgeous heeled boots, which I have always ALWAYS wanted, and would absolutely kick butt in. I'm not sure there's anything else I'd WANT to kick butt in as much as those boots.

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  50. heeled boots do have a practical use... they keep your foot in the stirrup if you are riding a horse. So, if you happen to be riding, sure wear the appropriate heeled boots. Otherwise, spare your feet the agony and just wear something comfortable.

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  51. I hear you. Been on the fence myself. Growing up, Wonder Woman was my gal, just the way Supes was Jerry Seinfeld’s guy. The movie has gotten rave reviews and I feel somehow, I “should” see it. Isn’t that what a loyal fan does? And if we want more movies about heroic women, aren’t we obligated to show our support by going to see them, flaws n’ all?

    Except that I’ve been disgusted with the (brutal, joyless, sleazy, and often dehumanizing) direction DC has taken its characters (both in comics and in film), and it’s been my goal to protest in the only way that counts – by not spending money on their merchandise, films included. It’s going to take more than one movie to change my mind.

    And that “I’ll figure out love through a one night stand” thing would definitely tick me off.

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  52. Hi Jen! I love this post because I also find details like this important. I barely know about the movie (I have two young kids. I never get out and the only movies I've seen in a long time are Cars, Frozen, and Toy Story 2. It actually surprised me that this movie had live actors because the poster is so CGI'd that it looks like it's animated! And also mom brain. Wah-wah (sad trombone)

    But I am going to dust off my old Minor in Women's Studies to back you up here and call bull on all the "heels were invented for horseback riding" comments. We all know that clothing evolves and the function and purpose of items change over time. What something was originally created for can have basically no bearing on its use in the current culture, and heeled shoes are a nice example of footwear that has evolved far away from its origin. The use of high heels in late 20th century marketing and media culture has been largely to sexualize women and also add to the common marketing concept of always presenting women as literally off-balance; not as strong as a man standing squarely; easily pushed over (literally) and therefore vulnerable- look at almost ANY advertisement and see how the models are standing. Women are almost always a little off-balance or are leaning over, cocking their head to one side, viewed sideways, are laying down or sitting down, etc. Very rarely do we see female models in a full frontal, legs straight (and flat feet or not in heels or on tip toes). It seems like a little thing and it's easy to say, oh that's how the photographer poses them. RIGHT! Why? Because it is ingrained in American marketing culture to show women as off-balance, which is a physically weaker position to be in.


    My point is that Jen's point is valid and that referring to the origin of high heels doesn't change their association now.

    Point 2. BUFFY WORE BOOTS. THE END.

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    1. YES to all of this! Thank you Ellyn. I agree wholeheartedly. What heeled boots' origin was has nothing to do with why they were CGI'd into this movie.

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  53. Jen, you are a talented crafter. You could take some sparkly tennis shoes that you already have and put them with a Wonder Woman outfit and it would be the fastest cosplay you've ever done. (Also, I'm not sure I agree that her bustier-and-swimsuit-bottom outfit is "fit for battle". Too many exposed areas) Thanks for sharing your movie review and boots rant, seriously.

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  54. Loved the discussion, I'm not into superhero movies, but this was interesting.
    Heals on women who are suppose to cops on TV, drive me
    crazy. So this would bug me throughout the movie.

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  55. Love it when you rant, Jen. Chances are you're saying something a lot of people think but don't say. :D

    As for the heels, I wasn't too off-put. It was a male item of clothing for a long time--Persians, Louis XIV, etcetera--and while it doesn't seem sensible to wear, it is, I suppose, excusable. Also, I know personal experiences aren't the most relevant thing here, but a nice solid wedge heel is actually great for playing floor hockey in. You can catch the puck by trapping it in the gap between the ball of the foot and the heel, rather than having to stamp on it or risk it rebounding. If a normal person can goal-tend in heels, I'm sure a goddess could kick ass with no problem.

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  56. I noticed, and internally sighed about, the heels almost right away and also the fact that she still ended up in a skirt after she said she couldn't fight in one. I was so swayed by "Who will I be if I stay?" that I was willing to overlook the annoying stuff. I look forward to the day when we can say this Wonder Woman movie paved the way for future female hero stories that don't require her to wear silly wedges & skimpy costumes, and sleep with a dude after knowing him only a few days.
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for providing a forum for a respectful debate.
    -Cheri

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  57. This was my EXACT reaction to Claire in Jurassic World. I'm so, so tired of it.

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  58. Didn't notice. Normally impractical shoes bother me, but not in this particular case-- she's a demigoddess, she can handle high heels.

    Add to that Diana is a warrior who's never even SEEN a man, much less cares about attracting one during battle.

    Who says she wasn't trying to attract a woman during battle? Or just likes looking pretty?

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  59. I think this is such an odd detail to fix on. I think we can all agree one of the more important aspects of feminism is a woman's choice and agency. To presume that a woman chooses to wear a pair of heels for men is a little sketchy, no? I personally can't walk in heels, but I also have friends who will wear heels exclusively, no matter what the situation is. They are not wearing them for men, or to be sexualized by men, or even to have other women look at them and determine that they are trying to appear sexual for men. This anger and argument does not seem unlike the "i'm not like most girls..." mentality. That somehow what is traditionally "feminine" is also antifeminist and/or inferior. If nothing else I can appreciate the fact that a female director decided to cgi the wedges in, and that it was not a decision made by a man on a woman's behalf.

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  60. YES!! I haven't seen the movie yet but even her outfit still awfully sexualized for something that people are getting so dang excited about. I 100% agree that high heels defy the whole point. Now when I see the movie all I am going to see are those heels because I agree with you SO MUCH.

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  61. I haven't seen this movie yet, but I definitely will. I loved Wonder Woman as a little girl and having heard this movie is good, I'm looking forward to it. I'll certainly notice the shoes now and impractical footwear irritates me. If heels make sense in context, I don't have a complaint. Battlewedges, though? I'm not sure about that. More practical than stilletos, sure, but as a practiced horse-faller-offer, lemme tell you wedges on horseback will get you killed and more than a couple of inches of flat heel causes different problems. Interestingly, just the other day I was watching the "Cyberwoman" episode of Torchwood and was utterly flabbergasted that the half-cyborg lady was built with cyborg heels. I mean, seriously? I like to give a lot of leeway to story and when I'm feeling charitable I can think of plausible reasons why heels could possibly be explained in lots of different situations, but putting heels on a cyberwoman just makes zero sense to me. Much like battlewedges (which is now a word I'm infatuated with). All I want is the world to make sense. Is that too much to ask? ;)

    All that being said, I think that this movie existing and succeeding, flaws and all, is an amazing step forward toward the insane idea that people are just people and can do whatever people stuff they want. I'm excited and hopeful! (But sometimes it is a struggle.)

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