Holiday Movie Guide: 'Wonder Woman 1984' And More

This holiday weekend, DC Comics fans are in luck as the highly anticipated "Wonder Woman 1984" comes to life on the big screen, starring Gal Gadot in the titular role alongside Chris Pine as the Amazon Princess's love interest.

Also headed to theaters is the provocative revenge thriller "Promising Young Woman," in which Carey Mulligan plays a traumatized woman who leads a double life.

In the mood for a Western film? Look no further than "News of the World," starring Tom Hanks as a former Civil War soldier who agrees to escort a 10-year-old girl (Helena Zengel) to her last remaining family in South Texas.

Finally, Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone’s take on Carlo Collodi’s classic novel, “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” comes to life in “Pinocchio," in which Federico Ielapi plays the titular character alongside Roberto Benigni as the wooden boy's creator.

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Here's what to see and what to skip this weekend:

“Wonder Woman 1984” — Gal Gadot, Chris Pine; directed by Patty Jenkins

The iconic DC Comics superheroine returns to the big screen in Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman 1984,” with Gal Gadot reprising her breakout 2017 titular role as Wonder Woman.

Nearly seven decades after the events of the original movie, the saga continues in the year 1984 with Diana (Gadot) still mourning the death of her soulmate, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine). These days, when our heroine is not out in the streets as the warrior goddess, she spends her time as an antiquities specialist at the Smithsonian museum, where she meets a fellow colleague, gemologist Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig).

Soon, the two women start investigating an ancient gemstone that can grant one’s wish to come true. Too good to be true, isn’t it? Well, little do they know that there’s actually a catch to the hocus-pocus — and that is: For every wish granted, there’s a personal price to pay.

It is just a matter of time before the mayhem erupts on a global scale, and Wonder Woman must now save the world from the hands of two menacing foes: the sinister businessman Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal), and the powerful feline villainess Cheetah (also portrayed by Wiig).

Will Wonder Woman prevail as the entire world teeters on the brink of destruction?

See it. “Wonder Woman 1984” rocks; however, it pales in comparison to the original movie in terms of script and execution — especially during the second half, when you might feel that the movie’s charm is about to dwindle to a trickle.

Watch the trailer:

“Promising Young Woman” — Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie; directed by Emerald Fennell

Sheer retribution pervades Emerald Fennell’s feature directorial debut, a feminist thriller about a traumatized woman seething with rage and vengeance. And that woman is none other than Cassandra “Cassie” Thomas, a 30-year-old who was once a promising young woman.

Apparently, a traumatic college incident upended Cassie’s life, forcing her to drop out of med school and move back into her parents’ suburban home. Over the years, she has led a double life spending her days morosely working at a coffee shop, and her nights meticulously exacting revenge on men who take advantage of helpless women.

Will Cassie ever snap out of self-destruction? Perhaps, Ryan (Bo Burnham), her former med-school classmate, has the answer.

See it. Mulligan’s Oscar-caliber performance further elevates Fennell’s stellar direction and screenplay.

Watch the trailer:

“News of the World” — Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Steve Boyles; directed by Paul Greengrass

Tom Hanks stars as a Civil War veteran in his first-ever Western, Paul Greengrass’ road movie based on Paulette Jiles’s 2016 novel about moral principles, honesty and decency.

Set in 1870s Texas, “News of the World” opens with former Confederate Capt. Jefferson Kidd (Hanks), who now earns a living by reading newspapers aloud to a group of people willing to pay a dime each for his services.

As the 71-year-old vet hops from place to place, he crosses paths with Johanna (Helena Zengel), a 10-year-old girl who can’t seem to get a fair shot in life. At the age of 3, her biological parents died. And now, her adoptive Native American family have just all been murdered. Luckily, she has a biological aunt and uncle who live in South Texas, where she can stay. The crux of the question, however, is how she can get there.

Capt. Kidd agrees to escort the young girl to her next-of-kin’s farm. Still, it will not be an easy feat, as dangers loom ahead.

See it. Hanks and Zengel radiate powerful onscreen presence, though the movie is too predictable.

Watch the trailer:

“Pinocchio” — Federico Ielapi, Roberto Benigni, Rocco Papaleo; directed by Matteo Garrone

Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone’s take on Carlo Collodi’s classic novel, “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” comes to life in “Pinocchio,” a story about a living puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy.

In the film, Federico Ielapi plays Pinocchio, the nasally challenged wooden boy who constantly disobeys his father, carpenter Geppetto (Roberto Benigni). One day, when the selfish brat skips school and runs away to join a puppet theater production, Pinocchio learns the hard way that the world is not necessarily a bed of roses. People can be cruel out there.

In the end, with the help of Blue Fairy (Marine Vacth), Pinocchio learns to be kind and considerate to others.

See it. Garrone’s take on the classic tale is magical and inventive in its delivery of a rousing moral lesson. However, audiences might find the film a tad long.

Watch the trailer: