The new releases this week include Justice League (action adventure with Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot) and Wonder (drama with Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson).

Justice League is a superhero film based on the DC comics about a team of heroes like Batman (Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gadot), and Superman (portrayed by Henry Cavill in the last 2 films). Following Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League is directed by Zack Snyder who adapted other graphic novels into the films 300 (2006 with Gerard Butler), and Watchmen (2009 with Jackie Earle Haley). The Justice League is a super villain and crime fighting team that first appeared in comics in 1960, (3 years before the Avengers appeared in Marvel comics). Co-written by Joss Whedon, who last made Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015 with Robert Downey Jr.), and Chris Terrio, who also wrote Batman v Superman and Argo (2012 drama also with Ben Affleck), continues the DC cinematic world since Wonder Woman was released in June, (directed by Patty Jenkins who has also signed on for a sequel). The film has a huge ensemble, including Ben Affleck (Live by Night), Gal Gadot (Keeping Up with the Joneses), Jason Momoa (Once Upon a Time in Venice), Ezra Miller (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), and Ray Fisher (only his second appearance in a film other than a brief cameo). Rated PG. 2h.

Wonder is a drama about a boy entering the fifth grade, going to a public school for the first time, who has facial differences starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay. The film is based on the novel by R.J. Palacio and the screenplay is co-written by Jack Thorne (The Last Panthers), Steve Conrad (Unfinished Business), and Stephen Chbosky (who also directs). Chbosky last co-wrote Beauty and the Beast (2017 fantasy with Emma Watson) and last directed The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012 drama with Emma Watson). What looks to be an emotional and inspiring movie, Wonder was filmed primarily in Vancouver, British Columbia. Owen Wilson was last in Lost in London (2017 comedy with Woody Harrelson) and Masterminds (2016 comedy with Zach Galifianakis), Julia Roberts was last in Money Monster (2016 thriller with George Clooney) and Mother’s Day (2016 comedy with Jennifer Aniston), and Jacob Tremblay was last in The Book of Henry and Shut In (both with Naomi Watts). Rated PG. 1h 53m.

Links

Justice League

IMDB – 8.2

Wonder

IMDB – (not yet rated)