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

Aquaman
Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, and Nicole Kidman
Synopsis: I wasn't a huge fan of the character Aquaman (Momoa) when he first appeared in "Justice League," so I was skeptical of his stand alone film. That hesitation combined with the fact that D.C. movies haven't been that great—aside from "Wonder Woman"—was reason to wonder what this film would hold. And yet, I was pleasantly surprised. Momoa and his take on Arthur Curry grew on me, and this story was a lot more fun and engaging than most of the D.C. films. It wasn't on the level of "Wonder Woman," but I'd argue it's a step up from the other entries. The colors popped and the world did, too. And it was a movie that wasn't afraid to include a little humor, something often in short supply in "Justice League" and the two movies built around Superman. This is a fun action film that doesn't seem to take itself so seriously. And the performances were decent, which is also a step up. This is a fun film to watch during this holiday season.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Bumblebee
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., and John Cena
Synopsis: When the first "Transformers" film debuted in 2007, I thought it was a fun film that was an enjoyable watch. Through a couple sequels things tailed off a bit, then a new wave of sequels began in 2014 and continued in 2017, and it felt like the franchise had far out-stayed its welcome. But with "Bumblebee" we get sort of a fresh start. It's a pre-quel that shows the war on Cybertron and how everyone's favorite Autobot reached earth. It's set in the 1980s, features some fun and a good performance from Steinfeld in the lead role. And unlike the bloated sequels of late that stretched well over two hours, this one clocks in at about an hour and 45 minutes. It tells an original story, builds its characters and has some fun. That's likely why it boasts an incredible score on Rotten Tomatoes. While franchise fatigue might make some audiences weary, I really enjoyed this film for what it is, and it's a more family-friendly action adventure than "Aquaman" for those looking for that kind fo thing this holiday season.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action violence.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Mary Poppins Returns
Starring: Emily Blunt, Ben Whisham, Emily Mortimer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Meryl Streep
Synopsis: Some films are classics you just can't' touch. "Mary Poppins" burst onto the scene in 1964 and captured hearts and imaginations for generations of moviegoers. It also won five Academy Awards, including for Julie Andrews as the titular character. Understandably the idea of re-visiting the character or world puts some off. And yet, P.L. Travers, who wrote the novel upon which the film is based, wrote several follow up stories. And "Mary Poppins Returns" captures on those stories. it comes more than 50 years after the original, and Blunt assumes the iconic role, but the film tries to pay homage to the original in spirit and style while adding a little something more. And for me, it works. I love Blunt as a performer, and I thought she was excellent in this role. Miranda, a gifted song and dance man himself, is also great in his role. And there are a number of musical pieces in the film that had me drawn in and appreciating the talent of the cast and the craft. Streep has a small role, but she's also delightful. And original star Dick Van Dyke makes a cameo that is also wonderful. Some will quibble with the idea of this character returning, and I get it. But I appreciated this movie for what it is and the great performances, and it was one of the better ones I've seen in 2018. That's quite a feat to pull off for a movie as highly anticipated, and scrutinized, as this one.
Rating: PG for some mild thematic elements and brief action.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Mary Queen of Scots
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, and Guy Pearce
Synopsis: Historical epics can be a tough trick to pull off. "Mary Queen of Scots" captures the story of Mary Stuart (Ronan) and her cousin, English Queen Elizabeth (Robbie). They were two powerful women in a time ruled by men, and they were at odds in part because of their countries and the advisors that pitted them against one another. This film features two very powerful performances from Ronan and Robbie, two of the most talented actresses working today. But the film itself is overly long and dull at times as it winds to its inevitable conclusion. The damp and rainy countryside and the harsh circumstances of the story certainly don't help that. Beau Willimon, who created "House of Cards," offers the screenplay here, and it's meant to be a showcase for these performers, but it's just not entirely engrossing as a film. It's fine, but that's about it, which is a shame for the actresses who give it their all.
Rating: R for violence and sexual content.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse
Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Zoe Kravitz, John Mulaney, Nicolas Cage, and Lily Tomlin
Synopsis: By now, we've seen the Spider-Man narrative play out dozens of times. In fact, in just the last 20 years there have been six stand alone Spider-Man films featuring three different Spider-Mans, complete with origin stories. And so it seems hard to believe that anything new could come into this universe. And yet, "Into the Spider-Verse" is an animated film that does just that. It thrusts a new player (Moore) into the role, and opens a portal to different dimensions so that five veteran Spider-people are there to teach him the ropes. And it turns into a beautiful, fun and fascinating ride. This film was nominated as among the best animated films of the year for the Golden Globes, and will likely be in play for that at the Academy Awards, too. For me, it is one of the best films I've seen this year, period. It was an awful lot of fun and breathed life into the Spider-Man story and into the genre as a whole. This was one of the most pleasant surprises of the year at the movies for me.
Rating: PG for frenetic sequences of animated action violence, thematic elements, and mild language.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Vice
Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Pill
Synopsis: Adam McKay is a talented writer/director who has delivered some engrossing and fascinating films. One of those was "The Big Short," which was an Oscar contender a few years back. With "Vice," which tells the story of Dick Cheney (Bale) and his family, McKay tries to do the same kind of thing. He offers a (mostly) historical story, but tries to do it in a fun and entertaining way that, at times, breaks the fourth wall. And he gets some great performances, starting with Bale. Bale is a very talented actor, and he sinks into this role with vigor. Adams, Carell, Rockwell and everyone else do a great job, too. And there are some wildly creative pieces to this film. One of my favorites was when the Cheneys break into a Shakespearean style discourse. But this didn't work as well as "The Big Short." It didn't think it was quite as engrossing from beginning to end, and some of the humor doesn't quite land. And it's even possible it's not intended to be humor. Despite good craft and acting, this film didn't quite come together for me and I don't think it will be viewed as fondly as "The Big Short." It's also possible that it's darkly political narrative isn't something that folks want to hear during this difficult and subversive time in history.
Rating:  R for language and some violent images.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.