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Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week.

Justice League
Starring: Henry Cavil, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, and Amy Adams
Synopsis: They all come together here. In 2008, Marvel kick started its cinematic universe. It all culminated in 2012 with "The Avengers," a superhero team up that brought people to the cinema in droves. Not coincidentally, a year later DC tried to do the same thing with "Man of Steel." And four years later, it, too, has culminated its superhero team up with "Justice League." In this one, a follow up to "Batman vs. Superman" a year ago, Batman (Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gadot) are trying to honor the memory of Superman (Cavil) by putting together a team to defend the world. This is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, and one that people became more hopeful about after the success of the "Wonder Woman" movie this summer. "Justice League" continued the vision begun by Zach Snyder, who worked on most of this movie before having to step away thanks to a personal tragedy. Joss Whedon, who helmed "The Avengers," stepped in to finish the film and did some re-shoots. It is obvious when watching the film that this is a movie that is split, in part, thanks to two creative visions. There are segments that capture the best of what Snyder does well and what Whedon does well, but it doesn't create the most cohesive final product. I liked this movie fine, but I'm a fan of superheroes and Batman is by far my favorite. I'm also prone to give Affleck a break, as I think his performance has been fine even if not excellent. I love Gadot in this role, and she's a ray of light even in an uneven film. I also liked Fisher as Cyborg. Momoa and Miller didn't work as well for me, but that's personal preference. As with other installments in this DC Cinematic Universe — aside from the excellent "Wonder Woman" film — there are moments that are great, but this movie doesn't work as a whole. It's decent and entertaining, but not incredible. There's potential here, and I remain hopeful DC will realize it as some point, but for now this just isn't it.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

The Man Who Invented Christmas
Starring: Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, and Jonathan Pryce
Synopsis: This film, perfectly timed for the holidays, centers on the creative process of author Charles Dickens (Stevens) as he created the classic novel "A Christmas Carol." Stevens has had quite a year, and he does a great job in this role. "A Christmas Carol" is a beloved holiday classic that's been the inspiration for countless movies, and indeed changed the way we think about the Christmas season. The film beautifully chronicles the inspiration for Dickens, and the challenges in bringing this story to life. I was drawn into the process and found the story of its creation moving and inspiring in ways I didn't totally expect. Christmas season is a wonderful time for movies and bringing people together, and stories like "The Man Who Invented Christmas" does that perfectly. It tells an inspiring tale and certainly gets you in the holiday spirit.
Rating: PG for thematic elements and some mild language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.