What’s it about?
A gorilla gets infected with a virus of some sort and some other animals get big and aggressive and the Rock is a primatologist(?)

What did we think?
Nick says: This movie is garbage. There is absolutely nothing redeeming about it. The action is boring, humour doesn’t work, and the Rock tries too hard. Gee whiz. Just watch anything else.

What’s it about?
In the near future the dogs of Japan are diseased and dangerous. Every dog is sequestered on a trash filled island off the coast. Six months later a young boy steals a plane in a desperate attempt to rescue his beloved pet.

What we thought
Dan says: Wes Anderson’s film-making is exceptional but I find his stories chaotic and unsatisfying. In Isle of Dogs his art is recontextualised by the sublime stop motion puppeteering and the Japanese locations. It makes it much easier to settle in and appreciate a performance, rather than a story. The narrative is thin on the ground but that’s not what you’re watching for. The theme of lost dogs is so beautifully crafted that I can only urge you to get out and see this film.

“They’re good dogs Brent”

What’s it about?
The creator of a virtual reality empire dies and leaves behind a treasure hunt. The winner gets billions of dollars and control of the entire game.

What did we think?
Sarah Taviani says: While some parts feel a bit clunky, Ready Player One is a blockbuster event that will have you chuckling over the endless pop culture references. And thanks to its engrossing concept and visual effects you’ll be happy to overlook the small issues of complicated world-building and consistent characters. Whether you’ve played one video game or hundreds, it’s not hard to get sucked in and wish you could be part of the OASIS.

What’s it about?
Monsters that hunt through any form of sound prey amongst the living (and Jim from The Office needs him and his family to survive).

What did we think?
Nick says: 24 hours after seeing this my heart is still beating well above what is medically okay. A Quiet Place establishes the rules of its universe really nicely and adheres to them perfectly, delivering its thrills and tension from the first minute. A terrific debut from Krasinski who delivers a horror film that consistently keeps you on your toes and is emotionally affecting in every way.

What’s it about?
Meg is an adorable tween struggling with the loss of her father and her own battle with poor self-esteem. She is then visited by some do-good fairy types who enlist her to save her father, her universe and her own self worth.

What we thought
Dan says: Like Labyrinth or The Wizard of Oz this tells the tale of a young girl defeating evil by having a bunch of visually charged and unrelated experiences. Set piece after set piece assaults your senses and any one of them could be removed and you’d never know.

This is a bold risk by Disney. Sometimes risks pay off, but there’s a reason it’s called a risk. I love that this film exists and I adore even more that it finally ended and I don’t have to watch it again.

What’s it about?
GIANT ROBOTS fight GIANT MONSTERS!! But this time they DO IT FOR A SECOND TIME!!

What we thought
Dan says: This is Pacific Rim ‘Lite’ and the one thing the original had going for it was that it was ‘heavy’: big characters, strong acting, imposing composition. They’ve replaced that with shrill teens, frenetic CGI and the goofy guy from Star Wars.

The first Pacific Rim film was far better than it had any right to be. This film takes that masterfully realised universe and splashes around the shallow end.

What’s it about?
Three parents really, really do anything to ensure their daughters don’t have sex on prom night.

What we thought
Nick says: A little subversive and very poignant when it needs to be, Blockers is an incredibly effective and funny film that blends its adult comedy nicely with a story of a group of young teens making smart and empowering decisions.

What’s it about?
Simon is a normal kid in his final year of high school. But Simon’s about to tell someone a secret that he’s been harbouring for a very long time. He’s gay.

What we thought
Dan says: You’ve seen this film before. It’s the hollywood teen romance film that you’ve already delighted in. It’s 10 Things I Hate About You. It’s She’s All That. It’s Can’t Hardly Wait. You’d think that the fact that it’s a boy who’s crushing on another boy might make it something different. The cool thing is, it doesn’t. It doesn’t matter at all that it’s a gay relationship instead of a straight one.

And that’s what makes this film matter so very much.

Also, by God it’s funny.

What’s it about?
You know all those 007 villains who seduce and manipulate James Bond? Well this is the film that shows you the training and life circumstances that lead them to that point.

What we thought
Dan says: Imagine if La Femme Nikita had a gun that shot not bullets, but sultry eyes, glistening lips and yearning genitals. This film reads like a 14 year old boy’s private fanfic. And not an emotional healthy boy either. The story telling is a mish-mash of torture-porn, normal porn, and deus ex machina.

The sad thing is there is a clever conceit and a decent storyline hidden deep within this cascade of lazy tropes and rape threats. The only thing going for it is Jennifer Lawrence in the nude, and if that’s your thing then I’m sure it’ll be on Mr Skin in a matter of weeks.

Now excuse me, I need a shower. Ugh!