What’s it about?
It’s the early ’60s, and Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz) is famous for his kitsch, sentimental paintings of big-eyed children. But it’s all a con – the paintings were actually created by his wife Margaret (Amy Adams), and she’s had just about enough of living in his shadow.

What did we think?
Amy Currie says:  Director Tim Burton dials down his trademark spooky-quirky to make a biopic, and there’s not a Depp or Bonham Carter in sight. Adams finds the sweet spot between downtrodden and determined, and Waltz manages to be both the comic relief and a genuinely menacing presence.  There’s still enough Burton-ness to make the world seem just a little larger than life (and the gorgeous sets and costumes make the audience want to run away to the ’60s) but it trails off into a made-for-TV ending.  Worth seeing, but cross your fingers it doesn’t start a big-eyed art revival.

What’s it about?
A former mob hitman gets caught in a web of conflicting loyalties and goes on the run trying to protect his estranged son from his good friend and boss.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Run All Night is edgy, gritty, character driven and fun – everything you want in an action thriller. But despite a solid Liam Neeson performance he’s actually the biggest problem with it. His very presence robs the film of any unpredictability turning it into a by-the-numbers Neeson film (albeit an interesting one). The exploration of loyalty and the complexity of friendship and family is probably worth the price of admission but with someone else in Neeson’s role you’d truly be on the edge of your seat. Great performances and intriguing plot are let down by an eventual lack of tension.

What’s it about?
In presumably the not too distant future, crime is patrolled by a robotic police force. When one droid, Chappie, is stolen and reprogrammed, he becomes the first machine with the ability to think and feel for himself.

What did we think?
Casey Moon-Watton says: As a 120-minute music video for Die Antwoord its not great, as a movie exploring the potential of a learning robot, its even worse. The visual effects that bring Chappie to life are amazing, and visually the film is quite pretty to watch. It has some good one liners and showcases a solid performance by Dev Patel. Overall though I didn’t care about any of the characters, just felt like a platform for Neil Blomkamp’s mates (Ninja and Yo-landi) to show off. It’s a shame… There is a good movie burried in here somewhere.

What’s it about?
Set in the 1970s, a drug-fueled LA detective Larry “Doc” Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend alongside a star-filled cast.

What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: You know when you get invited to a party at a really swanky looking house – I’m talking super stylish – with all these “it” people and you’re thinking, “This is gonna be a helluva night”, but then everyone else proceeds to get really high except you, and while everyone else is uncovering the mysteries of the world hidden in their navels, you’re looking at your watch wondering when it would be polite to leave? Yeah. That.

What’s it about?
When the scout fairies grow fearful that the mysterious NeverBeast will destroy Pixie Hollow, friendly Fawn must convince Tinker Bell and the rest of the locals that the creature is in fact a gentle giant.

What did we think?
Despite the title this movie centres around Fawn the animal fairy and it’s a welcome change of focus for a franchise that can do both light and heavy in it’s increasingly growing canon. It may lack the clever Peter Pan referencing that The Pirate Fairy had but instead provides a heartfelt tale about not judging a book by its cover. At a short 67 minutes there’s no concern over wandering attention and Executive Producer John Lasseter’s influence shines through as you’d expect. What you wouldn’t anticipate however is the bittersweet and almost too honest ending which might leave parents answering a few tough questions. But don’t deny your kids an enjoyable, emotional film that they will want to rewatch. 

What’s it about?
Celebrity comedian Andre Allen (Chris Rock) yearns to be taken more seriously.  With a new film to promote, he spends a day with reporter Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson) – and the interview quickly gets personal.

What did we think?
Amy Currie says:  Written and directed by Rock, Top Five feels very autobiographical.  The film is very funny, and somehow even its most wildly anecdotal scenes manage to stay just on the side of believability.  Things get quite Woody-Allenish-in-a-good-way as Rock wanders the streets of New York cracking wry jokes and having feelings – and after watching, you’ll feel like you’ve just spent a weekend there yourself.  A string of excellent cameos adds to the appeal.  See it.

What’s it about?
Actor Damon Gameau goes all Super Size Me and eats the equivalent of 40 teaspoons of sugar a day in a doco that warns of the dangers of excessive sugar consumption.

What did we think?
Despite the fact it looks like he stole Morgan Spurlock’s idea and ran with it, this still has a lot of good things to say. The major difference between the two docos is that Gameau chooses to eat his sugar through a variety of foods most of us would consider healthy. Innovative in it’s storytelling methods, this flick will make you not only rethink that chocolate bar, but that low-fat yoghurt too.

What’s it about?
Elite con-man Nicky (Will Smith) agrees to tutor Jess (Margot Robbie) on the ways of deception and money-making, beginning an affair in New York that brings them hurtling back together years later in Argentina.

What did we think?
Dominic says: Smith and Robbie are exactly the charismatic couple you want, and it’s easy to watch them pull off big steals together in grand locales such as Buenos Aires and the American Super Bowl. It’s less easy to remember the plot, not because it’s too complicated but because the constant lies and illusions fail to distract from the fact that they’re playing uninteresting characters. It’s sort of funny, sort of pretty, but in the end sort of not very good.

What’s it about?
An evil witch (Julianne Moore) seeks revenge in a war between supernatural and humankind. The only hope of her demise lies with the Seventh Son – an inexperienced boy who soon becomes a chosen apprentice.

What did we think?
Elodie says: Good, not great. There’s a decent storyline and convincing CGI dragons help with special effects. However, all this only hits the mark if you can understand the mumbling of drunkard “Spook” and trainer of the apprentice, Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges).  If you can’t, you’ll scratch your head wondering what on Earth is happening. I left wishing I’d read the book instead.

What’s it about?
A creepy sociopath manipulates a stupidly innocent girl into becoming his sex toy. But it’s OK because he’s very good looking. And because housewives everywhere say so.

What did I think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Not even flashes of nudity and titillation can disguise a hodgepodge of two-dimensional characterisation and cliche. The lead male lacks any real presence and his youth only adds to the unbelievable nature of the plot. The dialogue is poor (but to be fair it was in the book as well and a lot of people didn’t mind) and the overall themes are irritating. Even the sex scenes have been toned down, robbing the movie of any real appeal. A poor man’s Pretty Woman but without the charisma or charm. To be honest it’s not quite bad but it’s certainly not good. It’s actually 50 shades of beige.