What’s it about?
After his legendary labours, Hercules and his band of friends work as mercenaries to save enough gold to forget the past. Along the way they train a bunch of greeks who wear red and yellow Iron Man armour.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Despite a lacklustre and seemingly cliched trailer, Hercules is actually a surprisingly fun action romp. It doesn’t reach any real heights but what is there will keep you entertained. Ratner’s decision to start the movie AFTER the mythological labours really works especially considering the rather intelligent sub-plot of spin doctoring. The fight scenes are well done and Dwayne Johnson does well after a slow warm-up but what really makes the movie is the strength of the supporting cast with Rufus Sewell, John Hurt and Rebecka Ferguson impressing. Not excellent but a whole lot of quality small parts combine to make a fun movie.

What’s it about?
A couple make a sex tape and it accidentally gets uploaded to a bunch of synched ipads. They frantically chase the ipads.

What did we think?
Anthoney Sherratt: A sex tape is often a source of entertainment, cringe worthiness and titillation. This one certainly has all three but not in any large quantities.

There are certainly laughs here – though possibly not enough to sustain 94 minutes – but there was an odd chemistry between Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz that didn’t quite mesh. It’s a B Grade comedy about sex feels long. Some interesting commentary on sex inside marriage but nothing overly original outside of some blatant iPad promotion. Not bad but, like most sex tapes, perhaps wait for the DVD or download editions.

What’s it about?
Smart Simeons look mad and carry guns, and chase humans who also look mad and carry guns. There are a few bad eggs… well, not bad so much as scared. Then everyone is scared of everyone and the shenanigans begin.

What did we think?
Ape vs human war is fun to watch, but as well as kick-ass explosions and lots of shooting, this story manages to subtly show what makes the characters and communities tick. Feelings and Firearms: an A-grade mix.

What’s it about?
You’ve heard of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons… But did you know they had mob connections and were mates with Joe Pesci?

What did we think?
Not heavy enough to be a mob movie, and not musical enough to be a musical. The history of the Four Seasons makes for a ripping yarn but with Clint Eastwood pumping it full of grit, it doesn’t quite reach the joyous heights of the stage show until the last scene. Back away from the musicals, Clint. And get off my lawn.

What’s it about?
The plot is ridiculous to explain and a waste of time. Just think Michael Bay, explosions and giant robotic fights that are never-ending and repetitive.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Quite simply the latest Transformers is an unwieldy and overly complicated plot populated by shallow, cliched characters.

I enjoyed Mark Wahlberg’s performance but so little of this movie feels necessary or important it ends up grating. At 165 minutes it’s actually about a full hour too long and the final act appears to be present only to satisfy the Chinese investors. For a 3D movie it was ridiculously two dimensional in nature but those merely seeking explosions and fights might get through it if they have enough caffiene. Or focus medication.

What’s it about?
Yves Saint Laurent: the maestro at his best and worst, darling.

What did we think? 
Cindy says: This film is sublime. I should have more words but I don’t. If you love cinema, if you love art, if you love storytelling, then see this film. It’s a love story, it’s a masterpiece, it’s just beautiful. No words. OK, a few words. Did I mention see this film?!?

What’s it about?
A small Viking Community has embraced their former nemesis’ into their lives but there are bigger dangers than just Dragons lurking in the unexplored seas.

What did we think? Dan says: HTTYD2 presents itself as a film with a moral compass but that compass is spinning like a roulette wheel. The characters empower strong women by letting men rescue them. They instill a sense of duty by showing the value of rebellion. They pursue the idea of non-violent conflict resolution by blowing characters into smaller pieces.

Despite this there are enough bold decisions made by the director to keep children amused and adults from ducking off to the bar. It could have done with some better jokes and less reliance of the power of love.

Or perhaps I’m just jaded.

No, I was right the first time. The power of love is just lazy storytelling.

What’s it about?
Remember they made a comedy movie based on that TV show, which launched Johnny Depp’s career, about undercover cops infiltrating a high school? This is the sequel paying homage to all sequels. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back and they’re off to college to do “exactly the same mission” they had to do in the first movie.

What did we think?
Tom Harrison says: The movie plays to sequel tropes and works best with its self-aware humour. When it works it works but, with Hill and Tatum bickering about their friendship it quickly falls into the same rut every Judd Apatow “bro-love” styled movie seems to. The humour and pacing are solid and it’s much more enjoyable than the first outing. In the end it does what any good sequel should do, which is be bigger, funnier, and generally better than the first one.

What’s it about?
A series of highly implausible coincidences sees a widower (Adam Sandler) and his three daughters forced to share South African holiday accommodation with a divorcee (Drew Barrymore) who he went on a terrible blind date with and her two sons. Predictable hijinks and the titular “blending” of the families ensue.

What did we think?
It’s not often one thinks to use the term “poor man’s Brady Bunch” but that pretty much sums up this painfully unfunny vehicle. For some reason it seemed a good idea to pair Sandler – doing his wisecracking, sad-sack buffoon shtick yet again – with Barrymore for a third, worst outing. Racial stereotypes and way too many gender-based “jokes” abound. Best to avoid.

The Cherry Ripe I consumed during the screening was quite nice, though, so silver linings and all.