Samsara
What’s it about?
Sequel to the award-winning Baraka, Samsara explores the cyclical nature of life – through birth, growth, decay and death – without words but utilising the most vivid landscapes, people and constructions our planet has to offer.
What did we think?
Stephen says: If you share amazing or inspiring images and videos on social media, you’ll be well-prepared for Samsara: the ultimate visual feast. Taking five years to shoot across 125 countries, this film is a mesmerising visual journey through some of our planet’s most beautiful and thought-provoking vistas.
For the majority it is simply breathtaking, but occasionally the imagery takes you by surprise and opens your eyes to the hidden, but undeniably darker elements of our world.
Wreck-it Ralph
What’s it about?
A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
What did we think?
Anthony says: You could speak about how Wreck-It Ralph is wonderfully intelligent, cleverly cast, full of easter eggs and video game references but it’s just easier to say this movie is awesome fun. Truly for all ages and demographics, this is a flick that will leave you smiling for hours, if not days, afterwards.
I left the cinema buzzing and with a strong desire to play one of the video games featured in the movie. And I think I may have a new favourite Disney princess. See it!
Red Dawn (2012)
What’s it about?
Noth Korea invade the US. A group of teenagers get trained in a montage and fight back in a vigilante group.
What did we think?
Anthony says: With a flimsy plot, poor characterisations and giant leaps of credibility, Red Yawn (see what I did there?) has very little going for it. Chris Hemsworth does a good job if you ignore an inconsistent accent but everyone and everything else is highly forgettable. This collection of cliches is a terrible movie whether you’ve seen the original or not.
Rise of the Guardians
What’s it about?
When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world.
What did we think?
While very clever, the storyline in this animated flick is more for adults than children. Not to say they won’t enjoy it, but it’s not something they’ll rave about or even remember a day or two later. Interesting but not engaging. Grown-ups should find the plot intriguing and name-the-voice good fun.
Celeste and Jesse Forever
What’s it about?
Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) are the perfect couple. Well, except for the fact that they are getting divorced. Screening at selected cinemas.
What did we think?
Liz says: For all the cheesy romantic comedies that Hollywood churns out, there are those films that invert the genre with aching honesty and richly drawn characters. This is definitely the latter. A smart and original flick written by Jones herself, this is an intensely human portrayal of what comes after the happily ever after. There’s no big, romance-conquers-all, orchestra-swelling finale; no big, looking-back-on-moments-past-only-to-realise-you’re-really-in-love-with-your-ex-who-is-just-about-to-get-married-to-someone-else montage. This simple film needs no bells and whistles to prove that time really does heal all wounds.
The Man with the Iron Fists
What’s it about?
Heads, limbs and plausibility go bye-bye as a soundtrack of phat beatz bludgeons away in this homage to classic kung-fu cinema, written and directed by rapper, producer and Wu-Tang Clan merchandise seamstress RZA. In a jungle village, the confusingly named Jungle Village, where the hip-hopper strains – unconvincingly – to play a humble blacksmith, named Blacksmith, an old chap, Gold, is offed by his crooked henchmen, Silver and Bronze. A knife-brandishing English soldier, named (groan) Knife, turns up, oh, and there’s a big bloke who can turn his body into brass, and he’s named Brass Body, and … no, sorry, this is pointless.
What did we think?
Ben says: There’s no doubting RZA’s long-held passion for chopsocky – but he hasn’t created a film. This is as authentic as glupping Red Bull with Sushi Train. This is his indulgent mess of a wet dream. And it’s utter wank.
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Chappie
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.
Inherent Vice
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.
Tinkerbell and the Neverbeast
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.
Top Five
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.
Editor's Choice
Chappie
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.
Inherent Vice
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.
Tinkerbell and the Neverbeast
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.
Top Five
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.