What it’s about:
Veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Oscar winner George Clooney) and medical engineer Dr Ryan Stone (Oscar winner Sandra Bullock) on her first shuttle mission must help each other to survive after speeding debris from an exploded Russian satellite leaves them adrift in space.

What did we think:
Hilary says: If you have always wanted to visit outer space, seeing Gravity is probably as close as you are going to get to the real thing, such is the spectacular nature of its visuals and effects. The seat-grabbingly tense moments are well dispersed throughout this compact, 90-minute thriller, filling in for a fairly lightweight plot and lackluster script. Director Alfonso Cuaron has made a film that feels unlike any space movie that has come before it, and if you only catch one blockbuster at the cinema this year, Gravity should be it – preferably in all its 3D glory.

What’s it about?
An ethically shady young college boy gets the offer of a lifetime when he’s employed by a big shot casino owner. Richie (Justin Timberlake) soon discovers that in order to become the world’s biggest douchebag he must first learn from the master (Ben Affleck).

What did we think?
Dan says:  This film presents itself as a very clever mathematical thriller stirring memories of The Bank (2001) but every time there’s a clever bit they skip ahead to the bikini girls and the brooding ex-pop star. If you threw James Bond into this film it would be a great Bond Film but that’s because you’d be watching James Bond.

Timberlake puts in a solid performance but the pacing is slightly off and the romance unconvincing. Ben Affleck never manages to come across as villainous. He gives the impression that he’s about to wink at the camera and then run off and high five Kevin Smith.

You won’t be bored in the process of this film failing to make a lasting impact.

What’s it about?
Most of the characters from the first film do stuff as they ‘grow up’. None of it is anything other than puerile and immature.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: If you made ‘fingernails on a blackboard’ into a film, this would be that movie.

What’s it about?
A New York socialite (Cate Blanchett), deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks a million, but isn’t bringing money, peace, or love…

What did we think?
Blue Jasmine is proof that you can appreciate a movie while simultaneously disliking it. There are very strong performances (despite being mostly unlikeable characters) and the plot is good on paper but it simply doesn’t translate to the screen. There’s very little to relate to and even the ‘twist’ (note air quotes) is predictable and robs you of what little character sympathy you have left at the end of this torturous film.

Abrupt endings normally annoy me but this one simply came as a relief.

What’s it about?
A number of people (including Mark Ruffalo and Tim Robbins) are learning to face a challenging and often confusing world as they struggle together against a common demon: sex addiction.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Thanks For Sharing is a truly earnest movie that neither glorifies or condemns sex addiction. Instead it explores the ‘disease’ through various shades of grey and development. It’s engaging, thought-provoking and, although flawed in some respects, its raw honesty overcomes the shortcomings.

Strong performances from Robbins and Ruffalo combined with some sex that is sad rather than erotic take it to a more cerebral – and entertaining – level.

What’s it about?
Five young men from various socio-economic backgrounds are employed by a faceless corporation on the same day. They discover that the service they have been hired for, when intelligently manipulated and directed, allows them godlike powers over the weak minded.

What’s it about?
[ Dusty ] is a [ crop dusting plane ] who longs to be [ a racing plane ]. With the help of his friends and [ a cranky old war plane ] he tries to achieve his dreams, but will the dastardly [ Ripslinger ] foil his plans? And will [ Dusty ] manage to overcome his greatest weakness?

What’s it about?
A recently slain cop joins a team of undead police officers working for the Rest in Peace Department and tries to find the man who murdered him.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: It’s simply Men In Black with ghosts instead of aliens. And without as many laughs. Jeff Bridges has and is great fun while Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Bacon simply play the characters they normally play.

It’s actually not deserving of the scorn it received in the US as it’s not too bad a popcorn flick. It’s entertaining enough but to be frank, at the end of it there’s very little that will stick in your mind. Except Mary Louise-Parker and her boots. Mmmmmmm.

What’s it about?
Generic action schmo John McClane – sorry, John Cale (Channing Tatum) – is the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time: the White House, on a tour with his daughter, when terrorists take over. It’s Die Hard with a President.

What did we think?
Ben says: You’ve seen Die Hard, right? Siege. Guns. Explosions. Wisecracks. Singlet-clad hero plays cat-and-mouse with baddies, keeping in touch with the world outside through walkie-talkie chats with a fellow law-abiding rebel who’s been told by superiors to go home. Head terrorist has fearsome and unhinged machinegun-happy lieutenant. Bespectacled tech geek terrorist cracks security while a Beethoven symphony plays. There’s a bit where John hides on top of an elevator; there’s a part when gung-ho helicopter dudes are shooting at John on the roof, mistaking him for a terrorist. There’s barefoot stuff; there’s a scene where a shard of glass is being removed painfully while the characters take a moment to reflect. Anyway, all that went down in that other movie. I can’t remember a thing about this one.

What’s it about?
Retired C.I.A. agent Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) reunites his unlikely team of elite operatives for a global quest to… well, does it really matter why?

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: There’s always an inherent risk in making a sequel to a quirky surprise movie. Can they sustain the charm without the unexpected character twists of the first film?

Well RED 2 starts off well as a jaunt that doesn’t take itself seriously. The action is fun, the premise of the character development is plausible and the laughs are present. However a flat middle means the movie drags a bit and the ending is bland. But Helen Mirren steals the show whenever she’s onscreen, mitigating the damage somewhat. We’re left with a movie that’s entertaining enough I suppose but it really lacks depth, emotion and re-watchability.