The story and the characters are bad enough to sink a ship, but this cinematic vessel powers on thanks to impressive effects and decent action sequences.

A big, bombastic, alien invasion film at sea by toy manufacturers Hasbro, Battleship is based on the board game Battleship.

It's a beautifully fashioned and, yes, Ealingesque tale of dreamers, madmen, terrorists and foolish but wonderful dreams.

Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor are charming in a romantic/comedy/drama that involves lots of fish.

What perfect timing! A biopic about Aung San Suu Kyi's personal struggle for Burma's political freedom.

A magical ride across Middle and Southern America, where giant deserted malls and collapsed motels are a backdrop to this beautifully shot paean to an America lost forever.

One of the most anticipated movies of the year turns out to be one of the most satisfying, thanks to a smart script and great direction from Joss Whedon.

So many Aussies run amok in South East Asia - this movie is a wake-up call for young Aussie travellers.

This uneven rom-com charts a rocky path and ends up being more Funny People than Bridesmaids.

Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Jackie Weaver

Wish You Were Here is slowly unwrapped like a Chinese puzzle, all jump cuts, and flashbacks, the colour palette rich, the camera angles skewed, the performances naturalistic and all too believable.

Johnny Depp makes a good vampire, but there really is no life in this lavish laugh-fest from Tim Burton.

Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green, Helena Bonham-Carter

Aladeen may rule Wadiya, but Sacha Baron Cohen won't be ruling the box-office with his latest comedy.

Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley, John C Reilly, Anna Faris

This lacklustre threequel should be called Men in Bland.

Robert Pattinson Kristin Scott Thomas Uma Thurman Christina Ricci Colm Meaney

If you like your French movies hyper-sweet, archetypal and a clear invitation to join a tour group at once, this is for you!

The popular pregnancy advice book becomes an all-star movie, but unfortunately with too many characters and situations, the stretch marks are visible.

Mel Gibson's Hollywood glory days are reflected in Get The Gringo where Mel plays a tough guy, ready for action with a sarcastic wit and all the right moves, just a little older.

Bel Ami proceeds at the pace of a frozen snail but always looks good and preserves the deeply cynical, brassbound, De Maupassant and ambiguous windup of an ending.

Ridley Scott returns to the world of science fiction with a bold, visually stunning film that offers some surprises and raises lots of questions.

Jennifer Westfeldt, Adam Scott, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Chris O'Dowd, Megan Fox

If you thought the first Alien (or the third for that matter) was scary and out of control... strap yourself in!

The Duel is delicately directed and elegantly shot as if in a fever dream.

Lars Von Trier is the writer and producer behind this look at the Danish court in the late 18th century during the time of enlightenment, the insane monarch Christian VII and political manoeuvrings and social change.

If you are easily offended, Ted is not the movie for you; but if you are not, it may be one of the funniest movies you will see in a long time.

Le Chef is a classic mismatched buddy comedy of immense charm and no little silliness.

Anna Paquin, J.Smith-Cameron, Jeannie Berlin, Mark Ruffalo, Jean Reno, Matt Damon, Matthew Broderick, Allison Janney

A Royal Affair is a wide ranging, beautifully shot (often hand-held) and superbly art directed film, that restores period movies to the realms of greatness that history well told deserves.

The creator of hit animated TV shows makes his way to the big screen with some help from a foul-mouthed teddy bear.

The comic routines set against the mindlessly violent men with their rages, competing religions and guns, offer no solutions, just a haunting sense of the inevitability of the tragedy that hangs over the region.

A darkly comic Australian film that hits the right note.

The web-slinger's franchise reboot is well-made and entertaining, but comes too soon after the last series, and has no sense of its own identity.

Witty and highly cinematically inventive, a stylized affair backed by an attractive cast (including at least six credited babies and maybe an animatronic or two - who can tell?) and with plenty of ironic narration.

Christopher Nolan's Batman series reaches its cinematic crescendo with a third act that fails to match the middle movement, but serves as a fitting farewell nonetheless.

Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman

Steven Soderberg gets his actors to shed their clothes in this stripper dramedy that's halfway between "Showgirls" and "Boogie Nights"

Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Cody Horn, Matthew McConaghey

'Why does God allow capital punishment?'

Beginnings don't get much more humble than veteran soul singer Charles Bradley's.

Equal parts sorrow and joy, Kauwboy is a treat.

A refreshingly honest and candid look into the pink elephant in the room

This action fantasy plays very fast and loose with history, but takes itself far too seriously to be really enjoyable.

A Scandinavian take on the comedy crime genre best typified by Quentin Tarantino.

Based on a true story and adapted from the stage play, The Sapphires is an over-the-top comedy/musical/drama that'll have you laughing, crying and celebrating the achievement of these four amazing aboriginal women.

This fun, joyful film is filled with great soul music and some delightful performances.

It's a hard transition to attempt to extend a well known trilogy by replacing its lead character, and writer/director Tony Gilroy almost pulls it off with The Bourne Legacy

Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones put the love (and sex) back into marriage in this touching dramedy.

A lacklustre tale of empty nester marriage dissatisfaction - but with a stellar cast!