What’s it about?
The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. Or the story of a dictator who is stranded in the America – the country he hates – without his identity but all of his attitude.

What did we think?
Intermittent laugh-out-loud moments don’t disguise the fact that this is a hit-and-miss affair. Imagine Coming To America with outright vulgarity: it’s sort of funny but not always in a good way.

It’s essentially re-heated Sacha Baron Cohen so his fans will lap it up while the rest of us will be hoping for an actor re-boot for his next project.

What’s it about?
An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free after 200 years and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection. Hijinx ensue as he ‘adapts’ to the modern world of 1972.

What did we think?
Despite the wacky premise, this self-indulgent movie takes itself far too seriously. Some wicked performances but to be frank, you should watch the first 20 minutes, go out for a coffee/shop/lunch/whatever for 70 minutes and then come back for the final 20.

Maybe that way you’ll enjoy it.

2.5

What’s it about?
The original cast rejoin the war with Jim, Michelle, Stifler, and their friends reuniting in East Great Falls, Michigan for their high school reunion.

What did we think?
Now there’s an EIGHTH movie in the series. On the bright side, it’s the best since the original movie but let’s face it that’s not really saying much given the quality of numbers two through seven.

Diehard fans will enjoy the characterisations and misadventures but most of us have seen it all before. Too many times.

What’s it about?
In a dystopian future society, the ruthless Capitol forces one boy and one girl from each district to fight to the death in an arena as punishment for past uprisings. Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister’s place when she is chosen as the District 12 sacrifice.

What did we think?
Liz says: Having missed the bandwagon of The Hunger Games book series, I went into this film completely blind and came out a convert. The film is impressive in its scope and scale, and the alternate world created by the writers is intriguing and imaginatively detailed. The pace of the film never lags and the story had me interested right from the word go. Great performances from a relatively unknown young cast, with some older talent providing a nice anchor: I particularly enjoyed Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy and Lenny Kravitz as the futuristic stylist Cinna.

See the movie. Buy the books. Repeat.

What’s it about?
Violet (Emily Blunt) and Tom (Jason Segal) meet, fall in love and get engaged. But something always seems to come in between them and their big day.

What did we think?
It’s never a good sign when you find yourself thinking that a film feels long while you’re still watching it. However, a great beginning and great ending mostly make up for the pace problems in the middle. The chemistry between Blunt and Segel is a delight to watch and Alison Brie steals the show as Blunt’s hilarious sister (demonstrating a ‘so cute it’s ridiculous’ British accent in the process).

Despite the fact that the movie isn’t quite gross enough for Apatow fans and will be a little too silly for those expecting a straight-up rom-com, it’s still worth a watch, especially for Segal/Blunt fans.

What’s it about?
This flick follows the key people at a financial investment firm over a 24-hour period, during the early stages of the financial crisis.

What did we think?
The reviews that call this “the best Wall Street movie ever made” are not unfounded. It’s a taut, fast paced thrill of a film that has you shaking your head in disbelief at just how the hell Capitalism ever led to this.

Loved the fact that the positions of the actors in the company reflected their Hollywood cred from the big boss veteran Jeremy Irons, through middle man Paul Bettany, right down to underlings Penn Badgely and Zachary Quinto. Powerhouse performances by all.