NEW RELEASES
Annie: This remake of the musical-turned-movie stars a very cute Quvenzhané Wallis and a bored Jamie Foxx. Bland material for adults, but little fans of Frozen will lap this up. *** TS
Fury: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf and a band of other known faces star as US soldiers in World War II whose lives are endangered by an inexperienced member of the pack. It’s a fast-paced and surprisingly heart-wrenching 134 minutes of blood, guts and gore. **** MV
Kite: Ralph Ziman directs Samuel L Jackson, who e-mails in his performance from somewhere else, in this manga exploitation movie set in dystopian Joburg. ** TS
No: A throwback in storytelling style, this film tells the story of the overthrow of Chilean dictator Pinochet, underlining the more things change, the more they stay the same. Brilliant performance from Gael Garcia Bernal. **** DdB
Tracers: Sharkboy has a bike and he’s gonna use it. There’s supposed to be parkour in here somewhere, but it’s mostly a heist gone wrong story with Taylor Lautner. ** TS
ON CIRCUIT
Barbie in Princess Power: Computer generated Barbie is Princess Kara who has an alter ego with super powers, Super Sparkle. (Not reviewed)
Best of Me: The divide between fans and detractors of films adapted from Nicholas Sparks books grows deeper, helped along by this melodramatic, mawkish offering. ** HR
Big Hero Six: This bright, smart and just a little scary animated adventure story has something for everyone. Plus, a very cool robot that just wants to be your friend. **** TS
Birdman: Alejandro González Iñárritu directs an ambitious technical showcase powered by a layered story and outstanding performances from Michael Keaton and Edward Norton. **** WP
Exodus: Gods and Kings: If you know nothing about Moses and the cursed Egyptians, this might float your boat. If you’re even vaguely familiar with the Bible story though, it’s not going to sit right. ** TS
Foxcatcher: A chilling true crime drama which gives Steve Carrell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffallo very meaty roles to dig their teeth into. **** WP
Into the Woods: Appealing, fun, funny Disney musical with huge, well-choreographed singing sequences and gorgeous visuals. And, Johnny Depp as a singing wolf for all of five minutes. *** TS
John Wick: Keanu Reeves in a black suit, kicking ass and not bothering to take names, because someone killed his dog. Great action sequences, beautiful cinematography but don’t expect much from the otherwise clichèd script. *** TS
Maps to the Stars: David Cronenberg is unashamedly brutal in his expose of the lifestyles of the rich and famous in Hollywood. Magnificent casting, an incredibly sarcastic script underscored by a Joan Rivers-esque wittiness, makes for disturbing viewing. *** DT
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb: Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) and his motley group of historical characters embark on a new (mis)adventure – this time in London – as they try to save The Tablet of Ahkmenrah that keeps the magic alive. Shabby plot, limp gags and, overall, a disappointing farewell to the franchise. ** DT
Paddington: The marmalade-loving bear from Peru is realistically brought to life on the streets of London, amidst gorgeous art design, bringing home the idea that there is a home for everyone. **** TS
Pride: Feel-good, poignant crowd-pleaser which neatly balanced heart and formula. It is a little bit funny, a little bit sad, and a whole lot of entertainment. **** TS
Seventh Son: An over-designed, under-conceived fantasy epic which doesn’t capitalise on the talents of Jeff Bridges or Juliane Moore. ** HR
St Vincent: Bill Murray is excellent in this character study about a hard-drinking, cantankerous old man who agrees to babysit the kid next door. **** TS
Taken 3: Badly edited action sequences, clichéd characters and worn-out plot for an action film with no thrills or spills. Even Liam Neeson looks bored. ** TS
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast: Cute, sweet animated kids’ movie in which animal fairy Fawn teaches Tinker Bell and friends not to judge an animal by its fangs. *** TS
The Humbling: Al Pacino as a washed-up stage actor falling in love with Greta Gerwig as an unrepressed young lesbian. The wildly uneven tragi-comedy gets its act together midway to become entertaining. *** HR
The Imitation Game: Benedict Cumberbatch is compelling in this haunting biopic about Alan Turing, the mathematician widely credited as the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. **** TS
The Judge: Robert Duvall gives an understated performance as the gruff, firm titular character opposite Robert Downey Jr’s cocky lawyer in this family drama about fathers and sons. *** TS
Unbroken: Well-made, well-intentioned bio-pic which hits all the expected notes a would-be epic wants to hit, directed by Angelina Jolie the story of Olympian Louis Zamperini is rousing, if rather heavy-handed. *** IND