Now Showing: Wonder Woman: Labyrinth

 

Wonder Woman: Labyrinth

Genre: Action / Superhero / Fantasy

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Writer: D.R. Cobb

Based on DC Comics characters

Cast: Alexandra Daddario, Josh Hartnett, Antonio Banderas, Julia Roberts, Jake Weary, Paula Patton, Christopher Lambert, William Petersen, Camila Mendes, Tracy Spiridakos, Harry Hamlin, Ralph Ineson, Ashley Romans, Liam Cunningham

Plot: Ares (Antonio Banderas), having been freed from his tomb beneath the surface of Themyscira by Artemis (Tracy Spiridakos), begins causing mayhem and conflict on the island. Just his mere presence as the God of War compels the Amazonians of the island to begin fighting with each other. Ares smiles as he makes his way through the fighting towards the throne of Hippolyta, the Queen of Themyscira. Hippolyta (Julia Roberts), Nubia (Ashley Romans) and Donna Troy (Camila Mendes) fight their way through the chaos. Hippolyta makes it to the Horn of Apollo. She blows the horn, which echoes throughout the entire globe. Enchanted by Apollo himself, the horn can be heard from every single spot on Earth as a warning or signal that danger has found its way to Themyscira. Hippolyta then grabs the Eye of Antiope. Artemis leads a group of Amazons working with Ares throughout the island to hunt down Hippolyta after Ares tells her that he needs Hippolyta if he is going to control Diana the Demigod. Nubia stands up against Artemis to allow Hippolyta to find their way to a secret underground shelter to avoid being influenced by Ares. Donna is caught up in the chaos and is unable to follow Hippolyta. Nubia fights Artemis, first in hand-to-hand combat, until Artemis pulls out a sword. Nubia draws hers as well. They have a sword fight with Ares watching intently. Artemis manages to knock Nubia off her feet. Artemis holds her sword at Nubia’s throat. Ares offers Nubia the chance to work with him to try to make people once again know and respect the Pantheon of Gods, but Nubia refuses. Artemis then executes Nubia. Donna watches this from a hiding place, knowing she is not skilled enough to defeat Artemis. 

Diana (Alexandra Daddario) and Steve Trevor (Josh Hartnett) are in a small sailboat off the coast of Gateway City. Diana hears the Horn of Apollo and immediately realizes that there is trouble back in Themyscira. She tells Steve that they need to get there as soon as possible. Steve steers the boat back toward the shore. Once they dock the boat, Steve calls his superior US Army General Philip Darnell (William Petersen) to ask to borrow a jet. Darnell asks what it is for. Steve simply says that Wonder Woman needs it. This is enough for Darnell, who assures Steve that a fueled up jet will be waiting for them at the airbase. As they fly over the Atlantic Ocean, Steve asks Diana about the horn. She confesses that she isn’t sure what is wrong but that her mother told her once long ago that the horn means trouble on the island. Diana tells Steve to fly over the island and she will jump from the jet to investigate. Steve gives Diana a radio earpiece so that she can contact him when she is done. Until then, he tells her that he will fly over the Aegean Sea. Diana leaps from the jet, down to the island below, landing cleanly. 

Diana finds Themyscira in a state of destruction. She sneaks through the island until she sees Ares sitting on her mother’s throne. She is about to confront the God of War, when she is stopped by Donna, who tells her that Ares and his followers, led by Artemis, have taken over the island by force, killing all those who opposed. Diana asks about her mother. Donna says that they were separated, but that she believes Hippolyta made it into the safety of the secret chamber. Diana leads Donna to the secret chamber where Hippolyta is hiding. Diana asks why she hid rather than fighting Ares and killing him. Hippolyta informs Diana that Ares, as a God, cannot be killed by any mortal means so fighting him is a suicide mission. Diana asks how Ares can be defeated then. Hippolyta tells Diana that long ago, Zeus commissioned a weapon that could kill a God from Hephaestus - a sword named the Godkiller. Diana asks where she can find it, and Hippolyta tells her that only Hephaestus himself would know how and where to find it. Diana reminds her mother that Hephaestus was killed by Vandal Savage, but Hippolyta reminds her that a God, even a minor one, does not truly die but is rather taken down to the Underworld unless they are slain with the Godkiller. Hippolyta tells Diana that they will need to retrieve a map to the Gates of the Underworld from the Library of Themyscira first. 

Diana, Hippolyta and Donna sneak through the main streets of Themyscira trying to avoid detection. When they make it into the library, they find Ares and Artemis waiting for them. Ares attacks Hippolyta, taking the Eye of Antiope from her. Diana and Donna freeze with Ares in possession of the artifact. Ares then uses his Godly strength to destroy it, essentially rendering the Amazons as mere mortal humans. Donna and Hippolyta fight Ares and Artemis. Hippolyta urges Diana to get the map and get off the island as she is their only hope. Diana runs through the library, dodging arrows fired by Amazons under Ares’ control, until she finds the map to the Gates of the Underworld. She calls Steve, telling him that now would be a good time for him to fly back over the island. Steve turns the jet around toward the airspace over Themyscira. Diana is finally cornered outside by several Amazons with their bows drawn, but Diana leaps straight up into the air, landing on the wing of the jet piloted by Steve. Ares sees Diana’s jump off the island. He orders Artemis to take Hippolyta and Donna prisoner in the same dungeon he used to be kept in while he furthers his goals away from Themyscira.

Steve lands the plane at a US Air Force base in Italy. Diana shows him the map, which shows a large volcano as the location of the Gates of the Underworld. He pulls up satellite imagery of the region and is able to pinpoint the location of the Gates as Mount Etna on the island of Sicily. Steve reports in to Gen. Darnell from Italy, telling him that Wonder Woman still needs his help. Darnell informs him that he must meet up with DEO (Department of Extranormal Operations) agent Etta Candy, who is currently stationed in Italy, if he is going to continue work outside of the United States. Steve promises to check in with Etta before leaving for his next location. Steve and Diana go into the nearest village to the base to meet Candy and explain their mission. They are greeted by Etta Candy (Paula Patton), who does appear to be impressed by Diana the Wonder Woman, but clearly takes a shine to Steve. Diana explains that she needs to go into the Underworld to talk to Hephaestus in order to locate the Godkiller and finally kill Ares. Etta eventually cuts her off and asks Steve if everything she says is for real. Steve says that everything Diana said is legitimate. Etta sighs, saying that’s what she thought. She then explains that the US government has essentially loaned her and her regional assets out to assist in any way Diana and Steve need, whether she likes it or not. Etta calls in some favors to get them permission to fly to the island of Sicily.

With Hippolyta and Donna imprisoned in his former dungeon, Ares announces to Artemis and his other followers that he is going to leave Themyscira as his ultimate goal cannot be completed while marooned on a no man’s land. Ares sails away from the island, across the Atlantic Ocean. The shroud from the island goes away as Ares leaves, as the island is no longer under the protection of Zeus.

When Diana, Steve and Etta arrive at the base of Mount Etna, Diana tells them all to stay there as their souls will not be safe from Hades. Steve is confused, but reluctantly agrees to stay at the base of the volcano with Etta. When they arrive, they are attacked by the Cerberus - a large three-headed dog. Steve and Etta both draw their guns and prepare to fire upon the creature, but Diana tells them to lower their weapons. She slowly approaches Cerberus and pats it on the side. All three heads of the creature calm down from Diana’s touch. Cerberus lays down next to Diana’s feet. She explains to Steve and Etta that the Cerberus’ job is to keep people from leaving the Underworld, not entering it, so they are safe. Diana then leaps into the crater of the volcano, with Cerberus following. She falls down fast the layers of magma and down into a dark cavern below. She finds a row boat, which she takes across the River Styx with Cerberus at her side. As she rows, skeletal hands reach out from the waters of the Underworld as their souls scream out in anguish. Diana becomes nervous, but continues rowing the boat along until she makes it to the other side. Diana climbs up tall stairs made of bones and skulls until she finds Hades (Christopher Lambert) at the top. Hades greets his niece and asks what brings her down to the Underworld. Diana is taken aback by Hades’ demeanors and knowledge of her lineage. She explains that she needs to speak with Hephaestus. Hades tries to claim he has never heard of him, but Diana calls his bluff and demands to see him. Hades relents, insisting that Diana now will owe him one favor in return for him leading her to Hephaestus. Diana agrees. Hades leads Diana through Asphodel Meadows, a region of the Underworld that looks like a dead forest.

Meanwhile on the surface, Steve and Etta are comparing their military backgrounds when they are confronted by a group of angry Sicilian villagers. Etta, in Italian, tells the villagers that she and Steve mean them no harm and are simply waiting for their friend to return before they leave. The villagers step back, but are still watchful over the outsiders on their land. Etta tells Steve that Wonder Woman better work fast or they may have some trouble with the locals.

Hades leads Diana to Hephaestus (Ralph Ineson). She tells Hephaestus that she needs to get ahold of the Godkiller to defeat Ares and some Themyscira. Hephaestus laughs at Diana’ request, but decides to help her as a way to get back at Vandal Savage in the afterlife. Hephaestus informs Diana that she will need to make it to the center of a deep, complex labyrinth patrolled by a monstrous minotaur in order to find the Godkiller. Diana asks how to find the labyrinth. Hephaestus tells her that she will need her brother Jason’s help as no one ever understood how he worked as well as Jason did and he will be able to lead her to the labyrinth. Hephaestus tells Diana where to find Jason. 

Ares makes it to Gateway City, Wonder Woman’s home away from Themyscira. His presence immediately begins causing chaos around him. As he walks down the city streets, random citizens begin attacking each other. Ares reaches his sights for higher targets as he sees a political rally for US President Marston (Harry Hamlin) nearby. He uses his powers of persuasion to get past all of the security and sits beside the stage as Marston gives a re-election campaign speech. After the speech, Ares puts his hand on the President’s shoulder and tells him there are things they must discuss.

Diana finally emerges from inside Mount Etna to find Steve and Etta still waiting at the summit. Together they leave Sicily and travel to the island of Crete. In the city of Heraklion, they find Diana’s brother Jason (Jake Weary) helping to repair the homes of poor residents following a storm. Jason tells them that he is trying to help people in need to make up for his past misdeeds, even if he didn’t know any better at the time. Jason is uneasy around his sister, having never really spent any time with her. Diana asks Jason for his help finding the labyrinth. Jason is initially reluctant, but Diana says that Hephaestus himself sent her to seek his help, having talked to him in the Underworld. Jason agrees to help and leads them to the ruins of Knossos. There, among the ancient ruins, Jason leads them to a secret entrance, which he activates. Suddenly, they are attacked by several skeleton guards. Jason explains that they were guards assigned to protect the labyrinth thousands of years prior. The guards were so loyal to the cause that they continued to hold their posts even after their bodies long turned to dust. The four heroes fight off the skeleton guards: Diana with her sword, Jason with his spear, and Steve and Etta with their guns. Steve soon finds that guns have very little effect on the skeletons. He instead breaks a stone shield off of a statue and uses it to crush one of the skeleton guards’ skulls, defeating it. Diana uses her sword to slash the bones of the guards to pieces, while Jason uses his spear to puncture their skulls. Etta finally takes a cue from Steve and grabs a rock and smashes it over the head of the final guard, crushing its skull and defeating it. With the skeleton guards defeated, the four go down into the secret entrance of the labyrinth.

President Marston, with Ares at his side, presides over the US Congress, pleading with them to give him the authority to rid the Earth of the Amazons and Themyscira using the nation’s nuclear arsenal. Ares’ presence makes everyone more war-hungry and the Congress agrees to give Marston permission to go to war against Themyscira. Ares smiles and gives the President a pat on the back to congratulate him on a rousing speech. Marston has clearly already forgotten what he said, unable to remember what he has been manipulated by Ares to do, but thanks Ares for the encouragement and kind words.

Diana, Steve, Jason and Etta make it to the beginning of the labyrinth. They soon find that the walls and floors are constantly shifting, making it impossible to follow a simple path. Steve suggests they stay close together so that they don’t get split up by the shifts. As the group continues moving through the ever-shifting maze, they finally hear the roar of the minotaur. They move further away from the direction of the roars. After a long period of trying to navigate the labyrinth, they find a door requiring a large key. Diana is angry that Jason didn’t tell her that they needed a key. Jason inspects the keyhole and says that he believes the minotaur itself is the key. The walls shift again, separating Diana from the others. Steve pounds on the wall that shifted between them and calls out for Diana, but she cannot hear him. Jason suggests they stay next to the door so that it doesn’t shift away from them. Diana moves toward the sounds of the minotaur. 

Gen. Darnell hears about the President’s plan to nuke Themyscira off the face of the map and immediately tries to get in contact with Steve Trevor. The call continuously fails to go through. Darnell orders his staff to keep trying until they get an answer while he goes to try to stall the President’s plan. Darnell rushes to the White House where he demands to see the President. Darnell finally makes it through security and into the Oval Office, but finds Ares sitting behind the desk instead of President Marston. Darnell demands to know who he is and what he has done to Marston. Ares laughs and tells Darnell that the so-called leader of the free world is now a mere pawn for the God of War himself. Darnell pulls a gun on Ares, but Ares attacks him. Ares rips Darnell’s gun away and knocks him to the ground. Ares is about to kill Darnell with his own gun when Darnell says that Wonder Woman is not going to let him get away with his plan. Ares smiles, deciding to let Darnell live long enough to see just how wrong he is about that.

Diana eventually finds the minotaur - a half-bull, half-man monster. The beast towers over Diana in size. It rams her with its large horns, pinning her up against a wall. Diana wraps her lasso around the minotaur's horns and rides on the back of the beast as it bucks and rams into walls trying to knock her off. Diana is about to stab the minotaur in the back, when she is finally knocked off and her sword goes flying away from her. The minotaur once again charges at Diana. She grabs the creature by the horns and holds it back. Finally, Diana breaks off one of the minotaur’s horns and uses it to stab the beast in the heart. With the minotaur defeated, the labyrinth finally stops shifting. Diana takes the minotaur’s horn with her to find her way back to the door. She finally finds the door and the others. Steve hugs her. Diana inserts the minotaur’s horn into the keyhole, unlocking the door. Diana and the others then walk into a chamber containing a sword on display - the Godkiller. Diana takes the sword, leaving her old one in its place.

When Diana, Steve, Jason and Etta finally make it back to the surface of Knossos, the phone call from Darnell finally goes through to Steve. Darnell quickly tells Steve that a nuclear missile is going to be fired at Themyscira. Ares rips the phone away from Darnell, crushing it with his bare hands. Ares then orders Marston to push the red button. Steve tells Diana what Darnell said. She says that she must get to Themyscira immediately in order to help lead the surviving Amazons away from the island and to safety. A missile silo opens up and the nuclear missile is launched into the air. Jason volunteers to go with Diana to help on Themyscira, while Steve and Etta plan to use the jet to shoot the missile and destroy it before it strikes. As Steve and Etta fly away, Jason tells Diana that he has a way to get to Themyscira without a plane. He leads her to a stable where he keeps Pegasus, the mythical flying horse. Together, Diana and Jason fly off on Pegasus toward Themyscira.

When they arrive on Themyscira, Diana and Jason fight through some of Ares’ followers until they get to Ares’ dungeon. Diana rips the door off, freeing Hippolyta and Donna. Jason and Donna begin leading some of the Amazons that went into hiding and did not join Ares toward the island’s boats so they can get as far away from the island as possible in case the missile hits. Artemis emerges from the shadows and stabs Hippolyta in the back. Hippolyta falls down in a pool of blood next to Diana, who attacks Artemis in a rage. Artemis is no match for Diana physically, and quickly falls in battle. Diana holds her foot over Artemis’ neck. She points out to Artemis that Ares does not care if she lives or dies, evident by him launching a missile to destroy the island she is on. Artemis is in denial, claiming that Ares loves her. Diana kills Artemis before returning to her mother’s side. With her dying breath, Hippolyta calls Diana a “wonder”. Diana wipes away a tear and goes to help Donna and Jason.

Up in the skies above the Atlantic Ocean, Steve and Etta manage to locate the missile. Steve fires on the missile, destroying it. When Ares and President Marston are informed that the nuclear missile was destroyed before it reached its target. Ares says that he should never have trusted the weapons of men to do the work of a God. 

Diana, Donna and Jason all see a large explosion in the sky. Soon, Steve and Etta land the jet on the island of Themyscira. Steve informs Diana that the missile has been destroyed and that Themyscira is now safe from nuclear annihilation. Just then they see a ball of fire coming toward the island fast. Steve says that he might have spoken too soon. The fire is not from a missile though, it is Ares himself. Steve and Etta open fire with their guns, but they have no effect on Ares. Jason attacks Ares with his spear, but throws Jason away from him with little effort. Ares asks Diana if she knows why he is trying to kill all of the Amazons. Diana says that she thinks it is petty revenge for keeping him prisoner. Ares smiles, telling her she is correct. Ares then charges at Diana. He uses his powers to grab a giant marble pillar and swing it at Diana. She isn’t quick enough to defend herself and is sent flying. Ares then tears apart the main square of Themyscira, sending all the brick and marble piling on top of Diana. A bolt of lightning strikes down on the pile of rubble resulting in a large explosion. When the dust settles, Diana stands with the Godkiller sword, charged with the electrical powers of Zeus himself. Diana leaps at Ares, stabbing him in the heart with the Godkiller. Ares stares at her incredulously before dying in front of her. Another bolt of lightning crashes down on the island, this one carrying Zeus (Liam Cunningham) himself down from the heavens. Zeus tells Diana that Ares will now be Hades’ problem down in the Underworld. Diana is angry at Zeus for allowing Ares and his followers to kill her mother. Zeus explains that he is not supposed to meddle in the affairs of mortals, which the destruction of the Eye of Antiope made the Amazons. Diana looks around at the destruction caused by Ares on Themyscira. Zeus tells Diana that the Amazons need a new leader. a strong queen to replace Hippolyta, and asks her to take the post. Diana agrees but makes it clear to Zeus that Themyscira will no longer hide from the outside world. Zeus nods in agreement before vanishing in a bolt of lightning. Steve smiles and jokes that his girlfriend is a queen.

When morning comes, Diana, Steve, Jason, Donna and Etta all help clean up the destruction from the night before. Jason prepares to leave on Pegasus, stating that he doesn’t want to overstay his welcome on Themyscira considering his past actions there. Diana stops him and invites him to stay permanently since he is her brother after all. Jason smiles and continues helping clean up. Diana takes a seat on her mother’s former throne as the new Queen of the Amazons.