What’s it about?

In the racist-fueled days of the late ‘60s, a quartet of young indigenous singers and their rambunctious Irish manager launch from the outback to Vietnam to entertain troups as Australia’s answer to The Supremes.

What did we think?

Stephen says: A feel-good Aussie musical with heart & soul. If the dialogue and plot were less clunky in places, it would easily be a 4-star movie. Knowing it’s based on a true story makes the humour, romance & tales of self-discovery more poignant, especially the fleeting references to racism, the stolen generation & the horrors of war the group experience in Vietnam.

Chris O’Dowd balances pathos & levity in his central role, while Deb Mailman confirms her national treasure status, and yes, Jessica Mauboy sings like an angel. It’s a toe-tapping good time.

What’s it about?

In small-town Texas, the local mortician strikes up a friendship with a wealthy widow, though when he kills her, he goes to great lengths to create the illusion that she’s alive.

What did we think?

Cindy says: Like the title character, this film is short and sweet, and a little bit dull, and leaves me in two minds.  Appearing as a cross between a mockumentary and a midday movie, the big-name stars (Jack Black, Matthew McConaughy and Shirley MacLaine) seem a little out of place among an outstanding cast of unknowns featured as the townsfolk of Carthage, Texas. These unknowns totally steal the show as they narrate the plight of their small-town hero. Based on a true story, this is a comic murder mystery with not a lot of shock, but plenty of “awww”.

What’s it about?
An expansion of the universe from Robert Ludlum’s novels, centered on a new hero whose stakes have been triggered by the events of the previous three films.

What did we think?
The Bourne Legacy is an oddly flat addition to the franchise. It has an interesting enough story and indeed the first act is set during the first Bourne movie. But even that provides some jarring moments and simply makes you wish you’d re-watched the original before you sat down.

The characters are likeable and Jeremy Renner and Ed Norton put in very good performances, but the action sequences are a little lacking especially when compared to the outrageously frenetic fight scenes we’ve previously seen. Unfair comparison? Possibly but it is quite a contrast.

It’s good enough to warrant a continuation of the series – and doesn’t rule out a return of Damon – but it’s simply entertaining without reaching any great heights.

What’s it about?
Liz says: Apparently vampires nearly took over the US, but for the superior axe-wielding abilities of one bad-ass action-hero president, Abraham Lincoln. Who knew?

What did we think?
Ben says: Even in the US Civil War era, American politics was full of horrific bloodsuckers. Honest Abe hacks up the undead in this silly Saturday-night schlocker of camp acting, balletic bloodletting and ubiquitous “This is Sparta!” digital slo-mo. Not likely to be seen on the History Channel, then.

I enjoyed the absurdity of it all but wished it took itself even less seriously. The healthy dollop of beheadings definitely helped.

What’s it about?
It’s been eight years since Batman was last sighted but will he return when his beloved city is once again threatened? This time on an unprecedented scale? Well duh.

What did we think?
A triumphant – though somewhat bleak – return of the caped crusader, Dark Knight Rises is a gripping roller coaster ride full of action, explosions and metaphors. And it’s simply stunning in its scope.

That’s not to say there aren’t problems – a few sideplots are painfully predictable, the pacing is awkward to say the least , the last act is bloated and the sound editing guy should be shot – but the passion and the characterisations simply mean you don’t care. Anne Hathaway’s Selina Kyle is pretty true to the comics and adds an interesting dimension to a wonderfully convoluted plot.

Nolanverse fans will love the end of the trilogy. Believe the hype – it’s everything you want from a gritty superhero film.

What’s it about?
A whimsical look at how Dr Mortimer Granville devised the invention of the first vibrator in the name of medical science.

What did we think?
It’s true doctors used to diagnose Hysteria as a catch-all for women in the 19th century and true that sometimes manual manipulation of the vulva was prescribed as a treatment, so why not make a romantic comedy about it? 0_o Hysteria takes liberties with history but never pretends to be anything but playful so it’s easy to forgive especially in the light of the performances of Maggie Gyllenhaal and Rupert Everett.

Despite my dislike of  anachronistic events on film, I quite enjoyed this titillating comedy that managed both laughter and solid characterisations.

 What’s it about? 
A male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money.

What did we think?
I was ready to have the pants entertained off me, and the first half hour did just that.  There was so much eye candy early on – special mentions go to Matthew McConaughey’s on-screen bravado and bongo playing and Channing Tatum’s body moves.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Yes.

But, the sugar high simply wore off.  Like being sober at a hen’s night, at first it was exciting and fun and a little bit naughty, but the longer it dragged on, the more you wished you were drunk off your ass.

Needed less romance, more bromance.  Left the crowd wanting less talking, more stripping dancing.  P.S. I need a teacup piglet.

What’s it about?
Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father’s former partner.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: My dad summed it up with: “the only thing I got out of that movie was sore eyes from the glasses”.

The plot has more holes than a spiderweb, Peter isn’t as likeable as previous incarnations and it feels as if the director was chosen merely because his surname is Webb. Not even strong performances from Emma Stone, Martin Sheen and Sally Field can save a film that only teens unfamiliar with the character will like.

What’s it about?
It’s officially described as a documentary that chronicles Katy Perry’s life on and off-stage.

What did we think?
While I’m not sure it counts as a movie, this PR-based-image-piece-masquerading-as-a-documentary actually wasn’t too bad a watch.

It might be easy to bag but it’s really only meant for current fans and , most importantly, they will actually get a lot out of not only the behind-the-scenes stuff but the music and concert.