Major Theatrical Releases December 2018

Major Theatrical Releases December 2018

Here are the major motion pictures being released in December 2018.

**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**

Also, dates are subject to change

Mary Queen of Scots

December 7

"Mary Queen of Scots" tells the story of distant cousins Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I, and the rivalry they faced when one became pregnant and threatened to rule both England and Scotland.  While I'm not expecting an entirely accurate history lesson, what I am expecting is a tremendous, powerful film featuring two stellar actresses - Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, both Academy Award nominees - as they face off against each other.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

December 14

Until now, the general superhero film has been rather linear - not really exploring the concept of multiple dimensions.  "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" explores the concept of several universes, each one having their own Spider-Man (or Spider-Woman, or Spider-Pig, and so on).  In the main universe, we meet Miles Morales, who is Spider-Man in his universe - until a wormhole opens and several other Spider-Men enter his world.  Together they must find a way to set everything right so they can all get to their respective worlds.  This animated movie looks fantastic, with top-notch animations and a talented voice cast.

Mortal Engines

December 14

Based off the classic novel by Philip Reeve and the screenplay written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson, "Mortal Engines" focuses on a dystopian future where entire cities have been mounted on wheels and prey on one another.  The premise of the film seems interesting, and the effects look spectacular, but it moreso seems like a live-action adaptation of one of Miyazaki's many beloved films. 

The Mule

December 14

Clint Eastwood returns to the screen (as well as behind the screen) in "The Mule," the true story of Leo Sharp, who, at age 80, became a drug courier for the Sinaloa Cartel.  Having not served as the best father and husband, Sharp puts his job in front of everything in his life, and faces the consequences as he's hunted by officer Colin Bates, played by Bradley Cooper.  Eastwood looks to deliver another powerful performance, just one more added to his unparalleled career.

Mary Poppins Returns

December 19

It's been 54 years since Mary Poppins graced the big screen, so it's more than time for her to make a return, and just in time for the family-friendly Christmas season.  Emily Blunt plays Mary Poppins, who returns to help the Banks children once again after a family tragedy, and shows them how they can be happy in the midst of sorrow and turmoil.  Blunt looks made for the role, and with a strong supporting cast including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury, and Dick Van Dyke (who's the only actor from the original to return), this looks to be a fantastic, fun film the whole family can enjoy. 

Aquaman

 December 21

 To say the DCEU is failing is an understatement, as only "Wonder Woman" so far has lived up to the hype.  With turmoil occurring behind the scenes (such as Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill leaving the franchise), it looks that the DCEU will always be the underling to the more successful Marvel Cinematic Universe.  While "Justice League" was a huge letdown, Jason Momoa's Aquaman was one of the small highlights, and now he gets to shine in his own origin film.  While many people make reference to the fact that the trailer greatly resembles Marvel's "Black Panther" - and the overall theme does as well - I am cautiously optimistic that this will be good, as we find Aquaman returning to Atlantis to stop his brother from waging war on humanity.

Bumblebee

 December 21

 Originally, I groaned at the idea of a spinoff movie featuring Bumblebee, and after the first trailer, I wasn't impressed at all.  Michael Bay butchered the world of "Transformers," and for a kid of the 80s, that's an unpardonable sin.  Now under the direction of Travis Knight (who directed the awe-inspiring "Kubo and the Two Strings"), I must say I'm cautiously optimistic.  The second trailer released was spectacular, reverting my classic childhood heroes back to their original forms (Bumblebee being an actual Bug, the classic Autobots and Decepticons looking like their classic selves, the actual transforming sound from the animated series), and I'm looking forward to see how the "Transformers" franchise works without the meddling Michael Bay.

Second Act

December 21

Jennifer Lopez stars as a middle-aged woman who has a dead-end job, but finds the career of a lifetime after her friends make up a fake Facebook account detailing her life as something glamorous and compelling.  Everything about this romantic comedy screams generic, and after watching the trailer I told my friend pretty much everything that will probably happen.  I won't give it away, but suffice it to say I doubt she'll be able to keep up her charade throughout the film, and there'll be a big coming-out moment where she's revealed for the fraud she is, but will have enough goodwill to keep working for the company.  Just my hunch though.

Welcome to Marwen

December 21

Steve Carell has had a stellar year in cinema, first with his tremendous tour-de-force performance in "Beautiful Boy," and now in "Welcome to Marwen," the Robert Zemeckis-directed film that finds Mark, a former artist, the victim of a vicious beating.  To cope with the trauma, he creates a miniature World War II village and places himself in it, along with a gang of tough women who serve as his support.  These women parallel the real women Mark knows who's been helping him through his tough time, and they serve as the butt-kicking action heroes in his story.  With a strong supporting cast, dazzling animations, and an emotional story at its core, this looks to be an emotional thrill-ride that I'm very excited to see.

Holmes & Watson

December 21

Will Ferrell is slowly becoming the new Adam Sandler - an actor who maintains a typical role that used to be funny but has become increasingly stale to everyone but himself.  Here, he re-teams with "Step Brothers" co-star John C. Reilly (who's way better than this, just see "The Sisters Brothers" instead) in a comedic telling of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detectives Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.  Here, they attempt to stop the evil Moriarty from killing the queen, and obviously they're both going to bumble their way around for laughs.  Basically, this will be "Step Brothers" using classic literary characters, but will probably not deliver many laughs.

On the Basis of Sex

December 25

Felicity Jones will undoubtedly earn an Oscar nomination for portraying Ruth Bader Ginsberg in "On the Basis of Sex."  As she starts her stellar career, Ginsberg finds herself at odds with the male-centric world where women can't get a break, and has to fight her way to be heard.  She takes the case of Moritz v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue to show the radical sexual discrimination that's been going on in America for centuries, and Jones looks like she'll absolutely nail her performance.  

Vice

 December 25

 Last year, Gary Oldman totally transformed himself into Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour," and it earned him an Academy Award.  This year, Christian Bale totally transforms himself into Dick Cheney in "Vice," and it looks like he'll be a strong contender for an Oscar.  The film follows Cheney's rise to power as George W. Bush's Vice-President, and looks to be filled with powerful performances not just from Bale, but from supporting cast members Sam Rockwell, Amy Adams, and Steve Carell.

So there are the major films being released in December 2018.  

Here is the order in which I want to see them:

#12 - Second Act

#11 - Holmes & Watson

#10 - Moral Engines

#9 - Bumblebee

#8 - On the Basis of Sex

#7 - Aquaman

#6 - Mary Poppins Returns

#5 - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

#4 - Vice

#3 - Welcome to Marwen

#2 - The Mule

#1 - Mary Queen of Scots