I'm just gonna cut to the chase:
Man, was the ending to this film BAD. It was SO BAD.
I agree wholeheartedly. I think the movie begins and ends rather poorly. I was disappointed to see so much CGI in the opening introduction to the amazons and their training. I'm not sure who is impressed by obviously-fake fight choreography and stunts, but it felt like a missed opportunity to actually show us how adept these warriors are.
It was unfortunate, too, that the trend would continue throughout the film. I quite like David Thewlis but if you've gotta CG the shit out of his body and movements just to make him seem like a menacing god of war, maybe cast someone else?
Still, thoroughly enjoyed the film for the most part. Liked the chemistry between Diana and Steve, the fish-out-of-water stuff when they first get to London, and the big set piece when WW saves the village. Refreshing to see something enjoyable coming out of DC and I honestly might have liked it more than Guardians 2
We obviously know that Wonder Woman is going to survive because we see her in the beginning of the movie. That being said, there was absolutely nothing interesting about her last battle (or the reveal who the villain was). She never seemed in danger of losing this fight and doesn't even win it in a way which shows that she has grown or learned anything.
This feels like a big problem for Superhero movies in general these days. It's a challenge to manufacture stakes when your main characters are basically (or literally in this case) gods, but they still seem to miss the mark rather often. Like you said, I don't think I worried about the outcome of the fight at any point during it, and the film similarly seemed to pay no mind to the bystanders at the base as they fly around blowing things up and hurling tanks at one another. Aren't Diana's friends just a few yards away off screen? What about all the soldiers that Diana wants to save because she believes they are innocents poisoned by Ares's influence? If memory serves, the establishing shots showed the base crawling with people. Where'd they go?