Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Year: 2017

Director: Jake Kasdan

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Nick Jonas, and Bobby Cannavale
Tagline: The game has evolved.
Synopsis: Four teenagers find themselves sucked into the video game world of Jumanji, where they must beat the game in order to survive and return home.

Review

I originally had no intention of seeing Jumanji.  The trailers elicited eye rolls from me.  I was also sure that all the funny parts were in the trailers and that critics would pan the film, questioning why a movie from 1995 needed a sequel/reboot/whatever.  I was wrong.  Critics were quite favorable toward the film, which put it back on my radar.  And having seen it, I can say that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a whole lot of fun.

This iteration isn't entirely a sequel or a reboot.  It does pay homage to the original version in a number of ways.  But this is a completely new spin on the idea.  And it really does work as a modern version.  Rather than bringing the world of Jumanji into ours, the teenagers are sucked into the world of Jumanji, which has transformed itself from a board game into a video game.

The story and action are pretty straightforward.  There are no shocking twists or turns.  The character arcs are exactly as you'd expect.  Everything wraps up tidily by the end.  And that's all fine.  It's a movie that wants to have fun, not break cinematic ground.  It holds together as an enjoyable story.

The film is a lot funnier than I expected it to be.  Quite a bit of the humor comes from the fact the characters are teenagers in the bodies of avatars.  So big, hulking Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is playing a scrawny teenager in a big, hulking body he's not used to.  It's amusing to watch him adjust to his newfound strength, height, and lack of hair.  Kevin Hart's character has the opposite problem and is a tall football player in a short, slow body.  The novelty of that situation remains funny throughout and the actors do a great job of making the premise work.

Additional humor comes from the fact the characters are in a video game and it follows all the typical video game tropes.  We have in-game characters who leave enigmatic rhyming clues.  The villain is over-the-top crazy.  There are levels to beat.  The characters have both useful and random strengths/weaknesses, like dance fighting or making margaritas.  Doctor Smolder Bravestone really does have "smolder" as one of his strengths.  It's goofy, but it's fun.  (Dear Hollywood, maybe this is how to do a video game movie.)

The film is rated PG-13 and isn't what I'd classify as a family movie.  There's a fair amount of swearing, mostly the "a" word in its various iterations.  There is violence throughout the film.  It's played up as video game violence and/or for humor.  There's also some discussion of male anatomy.  Jack Black's character is a teenage female in a middle-aged male's body.  She's obviously not used to the anatomy and that is used for verbal humor on a few occasions.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is by no means cinema at its finest.  But it's a fun adventure with lots of action and humor.  And it even manages to throw in a little heart as well.  If you enjoyed the trailers, you'll enjoy the movie.  I'm glad I saw it, though I doubt I'll ever feel the need to see it again (sorta like the original).


*** Spoiler Section ***
There is one logistical change from the original film.  In the original, Robin Williams' character ages at the same rate within the game as he would have in the real world.  Hence he and Bonnie Hunt's character are kids together and then adults together.  In this new version, time is much slower inside the game.  Alex says he's been in there for months, when really it has been 20 years.

The film's climax was clever and well done.  I figured out in advance what was going to happen, but I still thought it was a clever way to go.

The very end of the film, where all the high school kids meet up with Alex was also a well done scene.  I suppose it is a bit random from Alex's point of view, since he has lived his life for 20 years since being released from the game.  But if you don't think about that part, it's a sweet reunion.

Quotable Quotes

• "I got a backpack on.  Everybody knows you don't get in water with a backpack on!" -- Fridge
• "Strength is my weakness!  How does that make sense?!" -- Fridge
• [The ominous Jumanji drums sound] "I really don't want to do this!" -- Spencer
• "Maybe we should take the school bus."  "We aren't going to outrun them in a school bus!" -- Alex and Fridge
• "His strength is climbing.  I explode when I eat cake." -- Fridge

Darkest Hour

Year: 2017

Director: Joe Wright

Starring: Gary Oldman, Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn, and Stephen Dillane
Tagline: Never, never, never surrender
Synopsis: Winston Churchill's tumultuous first weeks as prime minister during WWII.

Review

If you haven't heard of Joe Wright's Darkest Hour, that's unfortunate.  The film is brilliant and already getting awards buzz.

The story follows the first few weeks of Winston Churchill's first term as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.  Neville Chamberlain has resigned after a vote of no confidence.  Hitler's armies are steadily taking over all of Europe.  British and French troops are retreating to Dunkirk.  Some parties in the government believe a treaty with Germany is Britain's only hope of survival.  Into this scene strides fiery and tenacious Winston Churchill: the right man, in the right place, at the right time.

The story primarily rests on Winston Churchill, portrayed by (a completely unrecognizable) Gary Oldman.  I will be stunned if Oldman is not nominated for Best Actor.  He fully embodies the role.  His intellect, charisma, temerity, vulnerability, and wit carry the film from start to finish.  For a film entitled Darkest Hour, there is a surprising amount of humor, much of which emanates from Churchill's keen wit.

As some of the characters freely admit, Churchill is a somewhat fearsome, offputting individual.  His wife regrets that others don't see him as she does or love him as she does.  This is where Lily James' character, Elizabeth Layton, comes in.  Elizabeth was one of Churchill's personal secretaries.  In the film, she not only serves to typewrite his speeches, she serves to be his link to the common people.  She provides his first glimpse at the strength and resolve of the British people.  She also provides a way for us as the audience to approach the seemingly unapproachable Churchill.

It's always interesting to watch a story like this from the safe side of history.  We know the outcome.  That the film remains engaging and gripping is a tribute to the filmmakers and actors.

I'll admit, there were times when I wanted to take Neville Chamberlain and Lord Halifax (both proponents for negotiations) by the lapels and shout at them that a treaty with Hitler and Nazi Germany would be ludicrous, dangerous, and ultimately disastrous.  They had no idea what Hitler and the Nazis were truly up to.  And they didn't know.  But we know from this side of history.  WWII was not a repeat of WWI.  Our modern perspective can make some characters' reasoning appear baffling.

Although the events of Darkest Hour took place almost 80 years ago, the story is ever relevant.  It is a story about leadership, true leadership.  It is a story about standing up for what is right, rather than what is easy.  It is a story about raising a light in the darkness.  And it is inspiring.

One random note: director Joe Wright clearly loves the visual nature of typewriters.  There were many extreme closeups for dramatic emphasis.  Typewriters and Winston Churchill were both about words and the placement thereof.  It works well.  (It's a bit sad how visually boring modern technology is by comparison.)

The film is rated PG-13 for thematic material and some swearing.  It also shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Churchill spends large portions of the film smoking and/or drinking.

Darkest Hour is a really good film that turns into a great film by the third act.  It deserves the awards buzz it is getting.  And it deserves a view.  It also pairs nicely with another of my favorite films from this year: Dunkirk.  (Operation Dynamo -- the code name for the evacuation of Dunkirk -- was a crucial part of Churchill's first few weeks in office and helped him gain the approval he needed.)  If you enjoy WWII dramas or good dramas in general, don't miss Darkest Hour.


*** Spoiler Section ***
There are two scenes in the film which turned it from being a really good film I was glad I was watching into a great film I look forward to owning and watching again.

The first scene may very well have happened.  It starts with Churchill -- who battled with depression -- being comforted and encouraged by his wife.  She then lets in a visitor: none other than King George VI.  What follows is a terrific, honest exchange.

The second scene probably didn't occur in reality.  But it works brilliantly in the film.  On his way to meet with the War Cabinet, Churchill goes rogue, leaves his chauffeured car, and takes the Underground instead.  What follows is a humorous but stirring scene between Churchill and common Londoners, all of whom are ready to fight on and never surrender.  Fictitious it may be, but it is great nonetheless.  It's the kind of scene we wish had really happened.

Quotable Quotes

• "How do you drink during the day?"  "Practice." -- King George VI and Winston Churchill
• "Will you stop interrupting me when I'm interrupting you!" -- Winston Churchill to Lord Halifax
• "What just happened?"  "He mobilized the English language and sent it off to war." -- Parliamentarian and Lord Halifax
• "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!" -- Winston Churchill

Ferdinand

Year: 2017

Directors: Carlos Saldanha

Starring: John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Day, David Tennant, and Jerrod Carmichael
Tagline: Built to fight.  Born to love.
Synopsis: Ferdinand the bull just wants to enjoy the flowers, but the world sees him as a fighter.

Review

I've always sort of known the character of Ferdinand the bull.  I probably saw the Disney animated short as a kid.  But all I remembered through the years was the image of a bull, sitting under a tree and smelling the wildflowers.  I didn't know how well the short story would transition to feature length.  The answer is: tolerably well.

Ferdinand is one of those likable animated movies that entertains you in the moment but is largely forgotten soon thereafter.  It didn't feel long, but there were certainly scenes thrown in to expand the run time and to appeal to the kiddos.  But overall the story is straightforward and true to the source material.  It's enjoyable.

Ferdinand himself, voiced by wrestler-turned-actor John Cena, is the best part of the film.  He's a great character and Cena really brings him to life.  He's charming, lovable, and funny.  Ferdinand carries the weight of the movie and keeps it on track.

As for the rest of the characters, well, they seemed like the stock characters you get in most kid's movies.  Lupe the goat actually got on my nerves pretty quickly.  The only unexpected character was Angus, a Scottish hairy coo who can't see well because his hair is in his eyes.  (I suppose I liked him simply because he's a Scottish hairy coo.)

Ferdinand is sweet and funny, but sometimes it tries too hard in the latter category.  The horses (with stereotypical German male model accents) were unnecessary and there only for added humor.  Ditto for the random "dance off" between the horses and the bulls.  Mildly amusing, but mostly filler.

The biggest problem with Ferdinand is that all the best parts of the movie were in the trailers.  There were very few surprises and even fewer additional jokes.  If you've seen the trailers, you've basically seen the movie.

That said, Ferdinand was enjoyable enough and kids will like it.  The message of being true to yourself comes out without feeling forced.  If the kids need a movie and they've already seen Coco, by all means, see Ferdinand.

*** Spoiler Section ***
I'm not sure it's much of a spoiler, since the scene is hinted at in the trailer, but the scene in the arena with El Primero is pretty good.  Ferdinand is poked and prodded to fight but ultimately refuses, choosing instead to sit down and face the matador's sword.  That scene was well done and hit the right emotional notes.

Quotable Quotes

• "If this rock moves before I count to three ... [a bird swoops in and takes the rock]  What could you possibly need that for?!" -- Ferdinand
• "Your turn!" -- Ferdinand to the other bulls about resuscitating the rabbit
• "Face on fire!" -- Ferdinand

Approaching the Manger with Confidence

In the classic Christmas film Mr. Krueger’s Christmas, the titular character has a dream that finds him as a visitor to the Nativity scene.  As he approaches the Christ child – the only one aware of his presence – he notes his own humble attire and lack of any gift.  Still, he approaches.  He approaches with expressions of gratitude and love.  But he also approaches the manger with confidence.  As he kneels at the manger, Willie Krueger kneels before not only his Savior and King, but also his trusted and beloved Friend.

A few years ago, Elder Jorg Klebingat taught us ways to approach the throne of God with confidence.  At this Christmas season, can we not also think on ways to approach the manger of Christ with confidence?  In doing so, we can take guidance from those who were there.

Mary approached with deep reverence as she “kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”  Joseph approached with obedience as he “did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him” and protected both Mary and the Christ child.  The shepherds approached with gratitude, “glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.”  The wise men approached with sacrifice, traveling far and bearing treasures to offer a King.  Moreover, they each approached Christ and the manger with humility.

Reverence, obedience, gratitude, sacrifice, and humility: these were the gifts they brought to lay before the manger.  In doing so, shepherds and magi, handmaid and carpenter could also approach with confidence.

The final verse of “In the Bleak Midwinter” reads: “What can I give Him, poor as I am? / If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. / If I were a wise man, I would do my part. / Yet what I can, I give Him – give my heart.”

Before we start rockin’ around the Christmas tree, before we dream at a Yuletide fire, before we assemble for our family feast, let us first remember to gather at the manger.  And may we, like Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men – and yes, even Willie Krueger – kneel there with gratitude, humility, and confidence.

Merry Christmas!

The Man Who Invented Christmas

Year: 2017

Director: Bharat Nalluri

Starring: Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, Jonathan Pryce, Anna Murphy, and Justin Edwards
Tagline: How Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol and created a tradition
Synopsis: After three flops, Charles Dickens decides to write a Christmas story, which leads him on a personal journey as well.

Review

The title of the film is a bit misleading.  The story is more about how Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol than it is about how doing so reshaped the traditions of Christmas in Victorian England.  Some sense of the latter comes across.  But that may be because I've read about Dickens' influence and could read between some of the lines.  Title aside, The Man Who Invented Christmas is an enjoyable holiday film.

I don't know how many liberties the film takes with the truth.  Dickens did write A Christmas Carol in a pinch.  His last three works hadn't sold well, and by the time he had the idea to write a Christmas story, it was about six weeks until Christmas.  It's likely unknown how much inspiration Dickens drew specifically from the world around him or from encounters he had.  But even if fiction strays from the facts, the gist is there.  And it helps bring A Christmas Carol to life in a new way.

The more familiar you are with A Christmas Carol, the more you will enjoy The Man Who Invented Christmas.  I've read the story many a time.  I loved seeing all the details that would show up in the story (like the brass door knocker and the chain-clad safe) and hearing words that would eventually come from Scrooge's mouth.

The story centers on Charles Dickens himself, and Dan Stevens brings the author to life with energetic zeal.  Dickens is almost manic-depressive as he feverishly tries to write the story only to be interrupted left and right.  The chief distraction is his own father: a kind and generous man who is also an incorrigible spendthrift.  Dickens characters also take on lives of their own in his imagination.  Ebenezer Scrooge -- brilliantly portrayed by Christopher Plummer -- follows Dickens around as both inspiration and critic.

The heart of the film is the climax of A Christmas Carol.  It's almost frustrating to watch Dickens wrestle with the ending of his tale, which for us is a foregone conclusion.  Can a "covetous old sinner" like Scrooge really change?  Yes.  He can.  He must.  But Dickens isn't so sure.  And in order to write that redemptive ending, Dickens must first come to terms with his own ghosts of the past and the shadows he can't let go of.  Thus Dickens and Scrooge find their redemption together.

It doesn't entirely work, but it works well enough to be satisfactory in the film.

The film is rated PG for thematic reasons.  I don't remember any swearing.  There are a few dark/scary moments.  Any child who can handle A Christmas Carol can manage this take on it.

Unfortunately, the film didn't get a lot of press.  Nor did it get a very wide release.  You may have to hunt a little in order to see it.

The Man Who Invented Christmas doesn't quite live up to that title.  Nor does the "making of" capture all that makes A Christmas Carol the timeless literary masterpiece it is.  But as a fresh take on a familiar tale, it is an enjoyable film.  It will get you in the holiday spirit, even if it doesn't fully explain how Dickens' work revived that spirit.  I enjoyed it and will likely watch it again next Christmas.  But now I need to go watch Muppet Christmas Carol again.


*** Spoiler Section ***
Dickens gets A Christmas Carol published in time and it becomes a huge success that helps rekindle the spirit of Christmas in Victorian England.  OK, that's not really a spoiler.

Quotable Quotes

• "I'm the author!"  "Allegedly." -- Charles Dickens and Scrooge
• "People will believe anything if you are properly dressed." -- Charles Dickens and John Dickens
• "No life is useless that lifts the burden of another." -- Charles Dickens
• "No!  You can't kill Tiny Tim." -- Tara
• "I knew you and I would make something great together." -- Charles Dickens to Scrooge

Coco

Year: 2017

Directors: Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina

Starring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, and Alanna Ubach
Tagline: The celebration of a lifetime
Synopsis: In following his dream to become a musician, Miguel finds himself in the Land of the Dead where he must uncover the truth behind his family's ban on music.

Review

Before the feature film is a (not-so) short film: Olaf's Frozen Adventure.  It was a bit twee at points.  It was much longer than it needed to be.  But by the end, it was better than I'd expected and it made me smile (mostly because of Sven and a hawk).

On to Coco!

In a return to what it does best -- original stories that tug at your heartstrings -- Pixar has crafted yet another winner.  I've seen it twice already and look forward to seeing it again.

Although it didn't strike me immediately, I later realized that Coco is Pixar's first musical.  Others of their movies feature songs in the soundtrack, but they don't have the characters themselves breaking into song.  Well, there is Mike Wazowski's "Put That Thing Back Where It Came From," but that doesn't really make Monsters, Inc. a musical.

Coco is a realistic musical.  By that I mean the characters sing in a way that wouldn't be strange in the real world.  Miguel sings at a talent show.  Ernesto sings in a musical production.  This isn't the kind of musical where a character breaks into song to express their emotions and the entire village joins in with harmony and choreography.  Not that there's anything wrong with that kind of musical, but the realistic approach suits Coco, which has enough non-realistic things going on.

The songs are short and fun and suit the film and the characters.  The main song of the film is "Remember Me," and it has been stuck in my head since I saw the film.  There are actually three versions within Coco, two of which will tug at your heart.

Pixar has raised the bar once again in terms of animation.  Coco is breathtakingly beautiful.  The lights, the colors, the marigold petals, the alebrijes, all are gorgeous to look at.  Think back to what Andy and Sid looked like in Toy Story.  Then look at Miguel and Hector.  Animated humans have come a long way since Pixar's early days.  Even the differences in hair and water textures from The Incredibles to now are amazing.  And if that wasn't enough, I read that the animators took the time and effort to ensure that all guitar playing in the movie is accurate.  Miguel is correctly fingering the music when he plays.  Impressive.

I love the humor of Coco (and, let's be honest, of most Pixar films).  The jokes aren't forced, manic, or crude.  They flow naturally from the characters and the situations.  We chuckle at Miguel's family because we recognize ourselves and our own families.  Dante (the Xolo dog) is also fun.  He has some great facial expressions.

Coco would be a good film if it were simply beautiful and funny.  But it's more than that, which is what has long set Pixar film's apart.  Coco has heart.  It's not about Miguel hanging out with skeletons on the Day of the Dead; it's about Miguel connecting with his family in both the living world and the land of the dead.  Miguel's passion is music.  But as his journey continues, he realizes that family is most important of all.  Coco is about treasuring the family we have and remembering the family that has gone before us and the legacy they left us.  Honestly, Coco is like one brilliant, poignant plug for family history work.

The film is rated PG for thematic reasons.  It is a movie that deals unashamedly with death after all.  If your kiddos were OK with The Incredibles they'll be fine with Coco.

Coco is all about what Pixar does best.  It's not quite up to the same level as Finding Nemo, Up, or WALL-E, but it comes pretty close and is a fitting addition to the Pixar lineup of heart-tugging films that take us where we've never been before.  Go see Coco.  Then go home and call your parents/grandparents.


*** Spoiler Section ***
That Hector is actually Miguel's great great grandfather didn't surprise me.  I'd put that together when Hector first showed himself to be a musician.  The fact that Ernesto never questions that he has a great great grandson, and never asks about his family, says quite a bit about Ernesto's character in life and in death.

I went into the film wondering why it was named "Coco."  As the film unfolds, it becomes clear.  Mama Coco is the link, the link between the living and the dead.  She is the link between Miguel and Hector and between Hector and the world of the living.  Coco is why Hector did some of things he did.  And Coco is why Mama Imelda did some of the things she did.

Quotable Quotes

• "I asked for a shoe shine, not your life's story, kid." -- Mariachi player to Miguel
• "I'm terribly allergic."  "But Dante doesn't have any hair."  "And I don't have a nose, yet here we are." -- Clerk and Miguel
• "We need to borrow your guitar."  "Like how you borrowed my van, and my mini fridge, and my femur?!  Where's my femur, Hector?!" -- Hector and Chicharron
• "Aw, that's such a sweet sentiment.  And such bad timing!" -- Hector to Miguel

Justice League

Year: 2017

Director: Zack Snyder

Starring: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Jeremy Irons, Amy Adams, Ray Fisher, Diane Lane, and Ciaran Hinds
Tagline: You can't save the world alone.
Synopsis: With an otherworldly invasion already beginning, Batman must enlist Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Flash, and Cyborg to unite and save the world.

Review

I grew up watching iterations of Batman and Superman.  I knew their backstories inside out before I'd ever even heard of Iron Man or Captain America.  So as Justice League drew closer, my hopes were high that it would turn out.  Batman v. Superman had filled me with doubt, but Wonder Woman gave me hope that DC could pull it off.  In the end, some of Justice League worked well and some of it didn't.  It's not a great film, but it is an enjoyable one.

First, let's start with some of the problems.  Then we can end on the highlights.

Lego Batman once said, "I only work in black.  And sometimes very, very dark grey."  We get it, he's the Dark Knight.  But the dark and gloomy aesthetic of the DC films is getting old.  Every scene feels moody and visually subdued in blues and greys.  This feels true even when we have colorful characters like Wonder Woman or Flash.  The dark aesthetic is especially jarring when compared to Thor: Ragnarok, which I had seen a few days before.  I understand that DC wants to show itself different from Marvel ... but this might not be the way.

Batman has one of the greatest rogues galleries (villains who oppose him) of any superhero.  Clearly, DC can do excellent, memorable villains.  Steppenwolf isn't one of them, at least not in this iteration.  He wants to take over the world (typical) and reform it like his own (which sounds a bit like General Zod).  He's powerful, without question.  But Steppenwolf is bland.

Another problem with Justice League is that it feels way too similar to Avengers: Age of Ultron at times.  Steppenwolf's parademons are similar to Ultron's army of robots: plentiful and expendable.  They are the perfect fodder for our heroes to show off their skills.  Further, both villains make their base of operations in eastern Europe.  And both villains are bent purely on the destruction of all life on earth.

There are other similarities with Age of Ultron, and other problems with the story, but they are in the Spoiler Section.  Suffice it to say here that the story is enjoyable, but not great or memorable.  Justice League brings nothing new to the superhero table.

The music in Justice League is a mixed bag for me.  I didn't like the choice of songs that were used a couple of times.  Some of that is my own musical taste, but they didn't seem to fit.  The score itself was interesting.  It borrowed the themes from the recent Wonder Woman and Man of Steel films.  But it also subtly incorporated at times some older themes.  Superman's theme from the Christopher Reeve movies is used briefly.  And there are hints of the Batman theme used in the Tim Burton films.

Despite the film's flaws, it is undeniably fun to see these heroes come together and learn to fight side by side.  The film focuses mainly on the motives and histories of Batman and Wonder Woman.  They have some good moments together as they learn from each other and prod each other forward.  The Flash brings some much-needed humor to the film.  He's socially awkward.  As he says: "I need friends."  He's also new to heroics, which makes him a nice balance for the more mature and seasoned Batman.  Aquaman is the tough cynic (who has a great scene involving Wonder Woman's lasso of truth).

Cyborg, though, felt like the weak link.  At times he seemed more like a convenient plot device than a character the film knew what to do with.  His personality seems to have one side: angst.  Yes, his backstory lends itself to being angst-filled.  But he felt the least-developed of all the characters.

In addition to the heroes, we've also got Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, Lois Lane, and Martha Kent.  Each of them play their parts well.  And all the roles (superheroes and allies) feel like they have the right actors.

While Justice League can't begin to compare to the humor found in most Marvel films, Justice League does attempt to have more fun and doesn't take itself as seriously as previous DC films.  Batman and Wonder Woman both have a subtle humor to them.  Alfred offers some great sarcasm and droll wit (as only Jeremy Irons can deliver).  But much of the humor centers around the Flash.  And it mostly works.  The film is a step in the right direction, but it's still missing the humor and heart that made Wonder Woman a winner.

The film is rated PG-13.  I don't remember much language.  The rating is almost entirely for the superhero violence, which might even be a bit less than the previous DC installments.

I enjoyed seeing Justice League.  And I will likely buy it so I can watch it again.  Is it a great film?  No.  But it's got some fun moments.  And it's a step in the right direction.  The movie is partly about not losing hope.  I believe there is still hope for DC films.

There is a mid-credits scene for fun.  There is also a post-credits scene to tease future films.

*** Spoiler Section ***
Superman returns.  That should come as a surprise to nobody.

This is where Justice League is again too similar to Age of Ultron.  Bringing Superman back to life is highly reminiscent of bringing Vision to life.  There is even an almost identical conversation about the wisdom of such a plan.  Some heroes are all for it, driven in part by their own guilt.  Other heroes are against it, because bringing beings to life or back to life is pretty serious stuff.  And in both films, the doubters eventually acknowledge that it was a good idea (as Superman and Vision do the heavy lifting of defeating the villain).

Another qualm I had with the film was, why was Lois Lane plan B and not plan A?  They are bringing Superman back from the dead.  From the dead.  Having four armed strangers (well, Wonder Woman is only a near-stranger) confront him when he first comes back seems like a bad idea from the start.  Why not go straight to the one person he would most want to see?  Then maybe the heroes could have focused on protecting the Mother Cube of World-Destroying Power rather than let Steppenwolf just lazily pick it up off the ground.  Just a thought.

One last thing.  They can explain Superman coming back from the dead.  But how do they explain Clark Kent coming back from the dead?

Quotable Quotes

• "I don't believe it.  Who are you?"  "A believer." -- Terrorist and Wonder Woman
• "Save one person."  "Then what?"  "You'll know." -- Batman and Flash
• "I miss the days when one's biggest concern was exploding wind-up penguins." -- Alfred
• "This wasn't the plan."  "No.  It's the team." -- Batman and Alfred
• "I work with children." -- Wonder Woman (in reference to her teammates)