21 Jump Street: Forget a trip |down memory lane, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum go undercover on a rollercoaster ride to modern day high school. Just like the original TV series. **** HH
All Things Fall Apart: Who knew 50 Cent can pull off acting as a football star with a debilitating disease almost as well as he raps? **** HH
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: Seven British retirees discover a newfound lust for life when they retire to India. Beautiful character study, even if the plot is a bit clichéd. *** TS
Carnage: What played brilliantly on stage doesn’t come alive on film even with a brilliant cast. The usually adept Roman Polanski doesn’t change anything to transform the conversation between two couples, which |should disintegrate dramatically yet colourfully, for film and the Oscar-winning actors don’t get a grip on their characters. ** DdB
Comedy of Errors: Shakespeare play recorded live at the National Theatre in London, starring Lenny Henry. |(Not reviewed)
Our Idiot Brother: Paul Rudd does |a good job convincing the audience|and his screen sisters that he is an |idiot. Obvious, but saved by his convincing performance. *** TG
The Lorax: Dr Seuss’ tale about caring for the planet features the voices of Zac Efron, Danny DeVito, Taylor Swift and Betty White. *** HH
Alvin & the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked: The third film about the animated chipmunks sees them go on a cruise and get shipwrecked with the Chipettes. (Not reviewed)
Big Year: Owen Wilson, Steve Martin and a typecast Jack Black in a forgettable dramedy about watching birds for sport. ** HH
Contraband: Mark Wahlberg is a better smuggler than his brother in law… plus a better actor too, but even Giovanni Ribisi can’t help save this clanger. ** TS
Ghost Rider 2: Nicholas Cage returns to the big screen – and in 3D – as a cheesier Johnny Blaze. *** HH
Hugo: Martin Scorsese’s love of cinema shines through in this ode to the work of Georges Méliès which makes gorgeous use of 3D. **** TS
Jack and Jill: Adam Sandler plays himself, and his twin sister. Badly. * TS
John Carter: Based on Edgar Rice Burrough’s old school sci-fi pulp, heavy on the CGI with gorgeous locations, multi-limbed aliens and skimpily clothed heroes. What more do you want? *** TS
Journey 2 Mysterious Island 3D: The Rock shows off his pecs in an adventure in which he is teamed up with Michael Caine whose charm and whimsical quips are the best thing about this movie. ** TG
Material: Serio-comedy set in the Muslim community of Fordsburg, with stand-up comedy alternating a family drama from the director of Jozi. *** TS
Melancholia: An intriguing sci-fi drama about two sisters struggling with their strained relationship against the backdrop of a blue planet, Melancholia, threatening to collide with Earth. Kirsten Dunst is a highlight. **** KM
My Week With Marilyn: Michelle Williams brings Marilyn Monroe to life in this sweet, insightful drama about the icon’s week spent shooting The Prince and The Showgirl in London. **** HH
Project X: Teenage high school debauchery is had in a massive party blowout that causes the biggest mayhem in town. ** TG
Rampart: Woody Harrelson does a brilliant turn as a man who is losing everything he holds dear and there’s nowhere to go but down, swiftly. Something of a character study would have brought more depth to his particular tale. It won’t appeal to either the action-driven junkies or those who want to grapple with the complexity of the story. ** DdB
Safe House: Denzel Washington as a CIA agent gone rogue and Ryan Reynolds tuning SAPS in Afrikaans – all in Cape Town. What’s not to love? **** HH
Semi-soet: This is the second time round for the director and producers and a first attempt at an Afrikaans romantic comedy. Great idea with |some cool rhythms, but they need to keep up the hip factor and not fall back on the tried and tired for laughs. *** DdB
The Artist: Black and white, silent, Oscar winner about an actor at the height of fame, who struggles to adapt to the advent of talkies in the 1930s, as a fellow actress’s star takes off. **** TS
The Devil Inside: This demonically derivative faux documentary scares up phony hysterics. * HR
The Sitter: Plays like an R-rated homage to the 1980s comedy Adventures in Babysitting, with some Date Night and lots of filthy humour thrown in. ** WP
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: Excellent ensemble cast and tight directing turns John le Carré’s Cold War spy novel into a classy puzzle of a thriller with a great soundtrack. **** TS