What’s it about?
Before the outbreak of the American Civil War, slave Django (Jamie Foxx) meets dentist/bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Schultz frees Django and agrees to help him rescue his wife (Kerry Washington) from the clutches of seedy plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his sly house slave (Samuel L. Jackson). Also, racism.

What did we think?
Mitch says: Q-ball has done well everything he usually does well, and done poorly some things he usually does well, too. The humour and pacing is there – for the first half . Then Django transitions into territory that is dangerously close to being an outright two-dimensional mute.

I’ll skirt past the elephant in the room – the debate over whether Tarantino’s use of slavery and racism in pre-Civil War America amounts to anything meaningful or is just thinly veiled exploitation – because otherwise we’ll be here all day. Essentially, it’s the second one. And it’s violent as hell.

That said, Waltz, Foxx and DiCaprio are excellent and Tarantino has delivered a fitting tribute to the Westerns of old, soaked in irony and a genuine respect for the genre. It’s glorious, but no Inglourious.

What’s it about?
A talented chemical engineer is about to embark on a business trip across America to sell his new product. After a brief stop in to visit his heartbroken mum ,he invites her along hoping to reunite her with her new boyfriend.

What we think?
Elodie says: It reads more like a horror movie – a road trip with your mother! While the nagging might be a deterrent for some, Seth Rogan and Barbra Streisand work well together. Streisand’s overprotectiveness and the duo’s light banter fuels their journey across America in a way that’s entertaining enough albeit cliched. Light enough fare but I was reminded of my own sentimental moments as I left the theatre. Sometimes you have to smile and take their pestering as love – in fact, bring your mum along with you to see it.

What’s it about?
Gladiator pursues Wolverine who takes in a dying Catwoman’s daughter (Red Riding Hood) after liberating her from Borat and the mad woman from every second Johnny Depp movie.

What did we think?
Anthony says: Fans of the story will leave satisfied though diehard musical nuts will shudder a bit at the inconsistent quality when they hear the people sing. There are minor quibbles, but at the end of the day you can’t complain about a reasonably faithful screen adaptation. Fans unfamiliar with the musical may leave a little exhausted but I’m sure I’m not on my own when I say it was fun without being exceptional.

What’s it about? In a moment of triumph, Alfred Hitchcock’s relevance is questioned. He responds by attempting the unexpected and foolish.

“The only way to get rid of my fears is to make films about them” – Sir Alfred Hitchcock

Stephen says: Hitch had a lot of fears, and thankfully his greatest was self-doubt. It spurred him to create Psycho, which is the setting for this charming dual-focus biopic.

Full of wit, insights and fascinating anecdotes about the creation of Psycho, and the fiendish psyches of the masterful storyteller and his ingenious wife Alma as they battle the fears of Hollywood and each other … like a good Hitchock film, great fun, and not what you expect.

The acting is superb, and let’s just save time and give the Best Actress Oscar to Helen Mirren. She deserves it purely for her mesmerising ‘blonde speech’.

What’s it about?
Tempted by promises of untold gold, a group of film-makers are lured back to Middle Earth where they magically expand a small novel into three long feature films.

What did we think?
Anthony says: Despite being bloated and excessively drawn out, it turns out the first film of the Hobbit trilogy is actually fun. With familiar characters, backdrops and the obligatory NZ tourism shots there is a sense of relaxing into a comfortable chair while watching. Which is fortuitous because it’s a long movie and feels more like set-up than a story in its own right.

Having said that I have to admit the sense of fun does over-ride the cynicism and negativity. It’s enjoyable, interesting and a visual feast. Good characterisation combines with a sense of whimsy to provide more comedy  than LOTR which is a fair reflection of the original novel. I’m surprised but it actually is a worthy addition to the franchise*.

* even if the franchise will be unnecessarily long by the end of it.

What’s it about?
Tom Cruise plays Jack Reacher. A calm yet intense individualist reminiscent of Ethan Hunt, John Anderton, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and, let’s face it, Tom Cruise (pre-couch).

Jack casually struts and punches his way through what begins as a suspenseful procedural thriller. At some point a clerical error appears to have shuffled in every other film genre available. Jack is emotionally unaffected as he travels through Bond style action, Arnie one liners, Whedonesque banter, torture-porn and stooges slapstick before finally settling on eighties style buddy cop to round out the evening.

What did we think?
Dan says: Cruise manages to hold this shamozzle together like an affable tour host on a poorly written theme park ride. His dedication to ticking off the cliches no matter what aisle of the video store they come from is admirable.

Ultimately this adds up to a fun romp but try not to think about it too much on the drive home or you’ll just get frustrated.

What’s it about?
Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprise their roles as Pete and Debbie, aka “the other people” in Knocked Up, of which this entirely unnecessary but still kind of likeable film is a spin-off sequel. Pete and Debbie are turning 40, but Debbie’s not quite ready for the reality of what that means and Pete is dealing with mounting financial pressures like a hero by not telling his wife. Hilarity, arguments and reconciliations ensue.

What did we think?
Mitch says: Hey, remember that two-hour-long episode of Modern Family that featured an alarming number of middle-class white people and also Leslie Mann’s boobs?

Oh, wait. That was this. That was this film.

What’s it about?
A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor … a fearsome Bengal tiger.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Like a fine meal, Life Of Pi is better once you sit and reflect upon it. But there’s a fine line between satisfied digestion and an unsettling feeling in your stomach. Visually, this film is majestic and the characterisation wonderful. In fact the early stages provide an unexpected depth and layering that was both thought-provoking and had me salivating for more.

And then it hit the second act with our protagonists adrift and the layering simply disappeared. And suddenly it became quite two-dimensional before two distinctly unexpected moments late in the film – one surreal and one TOO real – left your mind racing.

Only time and reflection will tell if it leaves you a little empty after a few hours or if the platter Ang Lee serves up fills you to the brim. It’s probably not for everyone – and indeed will upset some – but it’s a thoughtful piece for hungry minds.

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.

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!