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WHAT I LIKED: A crime thriller with surprising depth; 'The Town' isn't just great edge-of-your-seat cops and robbers stuff - it genuinely makes you understand both sides too. That's a rare thing, and it's only possible with this mad yet successful story and script. I just love the idea behind the whole thing as it also allows for these surprisng social narratives and brilliant character interactions to come together really well. The reason the experience you have watching it is so great though is that it's all delivered so expertly, thanks to an excellent performance from Affleck behind the camera, and from his strong supporting cast in front of it. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: That 'mad' story is just a little too mad for you to genuinely get attatched to the core relationship. That isn't helped either by the lack of 'show not tell' when it comes to the characterisation. VERDICT: A thrilling ride that engages you with it's heart on one side and it's gritty elements on the other. Well done Affleck.

WHAT I LIKED: Like 'Tomorrow never dies,' this film is packed with fun, whilst Brosnan's severe persona balances out any Moore-like cheesiness. In this instance these contrasts feel even less at odds thanks to an all-round improvement on Brosnan's part. It also packs a few good character through-lines and some great action to match; accumilating at the end with a great pay-off and a nice balance between spectacle and stuff to make you care. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The plot is just so unneccessary, and as a result it requires a set-up as long and dissengaging as any in the series - and some of it's worst writing too. I'll bet you wont care for much until you're at least one hour in... VERDICT: The right balance between the fun of the previous, and the seriousness of 'Goldfinger,' It's just a shame Brosan's penultimate outing didn't have the plot to match.

WHAT I LIKED: I cried, I smiled and I laughed. 'Love actually' is the very peak of this genre; a classy, emotionally rewarding, thematic and genuinely hilarious ride. This is only made possible though because it's incredible cast all bring their A-games; bringing to life each well-developed character to the extent that you really care about each one. As a result this film could also be considered a lesson in handling multiple characters in one space whilst still making narrative sense, for it succeeds hugely there too. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Having said that (whilst you could argue that love is the grounding feature here) it's narrative has no obvious central points to grab hold of. VERDICT: It's a wonder it's so good when it's so chock-full, but this is by far the best rom-com I've seen in a while. What a surprisingly charming movie.

WHAT I LIKED: The entirety of 'Shallow Grave' drives for the darkest possible humour, and rather surprisingly it often lands. This is particularly the case in the slightly-more-subtle first half where great performances from this stellar crew shine through far more strongly. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Unfortunately you're left thinking things have gone a bit too far as it goes on because everything spirals out of control, even though very little actually occurs to get you invested. By the end the plot and humour is so off track that it struggles to make any sort of narrative sense at all. Payoff? A disappointing ending with a weak thematic through-line to match. VERDICT: There's no doubt Boyle is an able film-maker, but his efforts here are by no means his best. Shallow Grave largely dissapoints.

WHAT I LIKED: J.J. Abrams' 'Super8' is pretty much Spielberg on drugs, and I mean that in the best possible way. It's got all the emotion and heart in all the right places and is a family drama at it's core, but it also offsets any chance of that kind of cheesiness in the most incredible way - through sheer insanity. Seriously, it almost seems like a spoof of itself thanks to a completely zany plot and mad visuals a-plenty. I sure love how the steven-esque emotional through-lines and style help you engage, but it's the quirky vision that makes it something special. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Hmm... is it just a little too quirky? VERDICT: Super8 will make you smile, laugh and maybe even shed the odd tear. It's good film ripped apart and put back together again by a man who knows what the hell he's doing - Abrams has a golden touch and he sure as hell used it here.

WHAT I LIKED: We knew by this point that Ben Affleck can both act and direct to an incredible standard, but he still manages to surprise us with every great turn he makes. This time, he pulled out all the stops and as a result 'Argo' is one of the most inventively put together and well directed films of 2012 (and that's saying something by the way). He really grips you through each creative montage and scene change; it actually feels like the events are unfolding before your very eyes at points, and this journey is often aided by the contrasting performances and tones that the movie straddles. Somehow it's incredibly engaging and exciting, whilst also scarcastically mocking and entertaining at times... WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: As I said, manier contrast this film doth straddle - and whilst it mostly gels, it occasionaly doesn't. I feel the tonal confusion that this creates is mainly apparent in the lengthly set-up, but at least it's diminished by the end. VERDICT: What's most apparent is just how well-made Argo is, but that doesn't stop you from properly engaging and having a great time with it. Well done again Mr Affleck, you've outdone yourself.

WHAT I LIKED: I expected run off the mill action movie, and what I got was certainly a mix of that, but also a far more sophisticated and surprisingly clever crime-film. Firstly it's full of detail, and that comes across not only in each brilliant fight/action sequence, but also in the characterisation and writing where Jack Reacher is pegged extremely well by Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise. Second though, there's a true 90's vibe; thanks to constant stylistic choices and another awesome score from Joe Kraemer. In the end, this is well above what I thought it would be. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Whatever genre these things fall into; you always have to be in the right mood. It may be one of the best of the bunch, but why are these plots always so goddamn complex? I get it's part of the appeal, but I just find it takes me out of some moments. VERDICT: Watch this with an analytical head and you'll be surprised at how clever it is. Want to watch and engage? You'll have a ball, but you'll be confused as hell...

WHAT I LIKED: The first Harry Potter film was a success because, like most good franchise starters, it set up a world and a group of characters extremely well. This is not only thanks to the source material, but also the film's faithfulness to it, and the cast that backs it all up. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Also like most franchise starters, it fails rather dramatically in some story departments. Instead of a compelling sequence of events, we're left with a group of magical obstacle courses where the stakes seem somewhat forced and the reasoning is weak - even for my small brain. VERDICT: It was a good start, but the franchise hadn't really got going yet at this point.

WHAT I LIKED: Alongside it's style and tone, the thing that this film does best is to establish a brand new set of brilliantly quirky characters in a way that makes it feel like you know and understand them allready. I suspect this is largely down to the meticulous character work of David Ayer (as well as some excellent performances from many of the stellar cast members) but what's so great about it is that you're genuinely engaged in the situations at play because of this. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The problem comes in the fact there just aren't enough 'situations' that play out at all. In fact, there's virtually no events or plot points to test these great characters, which in the end makes the movie feel somewhat thin at the centre. VERDICT: This is my favourite DCEU effort yet simply because the characters really engage you and give the film life. Once you're there though, there's precious few events to hold onto.

WHAT I LIKED: The final act of this movie is the real take-away, as the final battle alone is enough to warrant your money. It's emotionally heart-breaking and thankfully proves that Marvel aren't afraid to test the boundaries of their characters and relationships. The gravitas of this though, is only possible thanks to an efficient set-up that the Russos craft really well, that's littered with great action, exciting sequences and touching moments that all really click together. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: That super-efficient set-up does strip some life from the movie though, as the Russos don't give long enough in each moment to create real engagement or emotion. This in turn makes it feel a little manufactured, and less human than other MCU stories. VERDICT: Whilst not quite engaging on such a human level, Civil War is expertly made, and contains the best final act in any MCU movie ever.

WHAT I LIKED: The first Star Wars could have easily been a miss, but it's Lucas' focus on these incredible characters that makes it. It's a true joy seeing them interact with an amazing world and amazing scenarios, and it's for that reason that this film has stood the test of time and gone down in history. It truly changed film forever WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Compared to later films, this one doesn't quite live up in terms of plot, and Lucas ruins aspects of it with every special edition VERDICT: It kick started the best franchise of all time with a bang thanks to Lucas' creative flair and focus on character. 'Episode 4' changed film forever

WHAT I LIKED: '10 Things I hate about you' is actually a lot of fun because it doesn't take itself too seriously, but still manages to build characters that we can connect to and care about. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Striking the balance on that though is always going to be tricky, and thus this film can't get away from just how cringe-worthy it is, but in taking itself less seriously, it ends up fairly story-less VERDICT: For what it is it's one hell of an enjoyable ride - even if it doesn't quite hit the right balance between emotional moments, and spoof comedy.

WHAT I LIKED: The first hour of this film is excellent; featuring one of the best movie intros of all time, and some of the best scenes in Comic book movie history (though they are a bit oddly put together.) Because of all this great stuff, this first half is mostly gripping and tense, where time is also taken to set up yet another great character - this time in the form of Ben Affleck's awesome Bruce Wayne/Batman. One other thing that can certainly be said for 'Batman v Superman' is that it's got style too, as Snyder delivers one of the most well scored, beautifully shot and epic blockbusters in a long time. He also manages to peg a great tone thanks to a visual, gritty and unique style with plenty of jump-scares and horror influences. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: This set-up plants lots of seeds really quite well (even if it takes a little long to do so,) but then unfortunately the plot turns in a new and uninteresting direction. As a result, the central BvS fight is badly orchestrated and unbearably minimal, and then it's followed by an hour of stuff that entirely disconnects and disengages. Oh, and what happened with Superman? This is not the great character you set up so well before, Zack. VERDICT: Sadly, overall, whilst the film builds up nicely, when you finally get there it's extremely disengaging and dull. I came away craving some emotional engagement; just anything that might make me feel something.

WHAT I LIKED: This film has a famous reputation for a reason. Primarily, of course, its image is dominated by one of the best movie villains of all time, who not only serves as someone unhinged and terrifying, but helps to illustrate some very interesting themes. Amazingly, every situation played out by the Joker, brings Gotham (and the audience) onto a whole new desperate and frightening playing field, which in turns causes you to genuinely consider and question humanity all the more. In the end, it's this that makes 'The Dark Knight' the truly successful social commentary that it is, but it's not without some fun action either. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The themes and schemes are all very interesting, but the characters and plots aren't nearly developed enough for me to genuinely connect with the film. Instead, you watch from outside as Nolan uses characters and stories as a tool to portray his ideas; it's not a harmonious partnership between story and narrative, instead the themes exist at the expense of lots else. As a result, you'll be gripped be each scene, but in between you might feel a bit disconnected VERDICT: A darker, deeper Batman that brings excitement and social commentary to the audience. It'll grip you in the moment, but when you're out of it, you won't particularly connect.

WHAT I LIKED: The core achievement of this ambitious film truly is that it grips you with despair in each moment. This is thanks to some extremely touching character development that Nolan manages to protray perfectly (with help from some great acting.) It ticks the emotional engagement box just as well as it ticks the spectacle box too, because 'Interstellar' is visually stunning, and features yet another incredible Zimmer soundtrack. Also, as per Nolan, we get some extremely thought provoking themes explored, and this time it's truly mind-bending WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Mind-bending it is, because the physics and concepts in this film are very hard to get your head around, and that does come slightly at the expense of an understandable narrative yet again. VERDICT: Interstellar is incredible, and each moment is very gripping and engaging. It will leave you feeling thrilled and amazed, if slightly confused too.

WHAT I LIKED: Nolan yet again manages to showcase his ability to explore serious ideas, and this time through the membrane of genuinely human characters. As per, it's also great fun, and has a well established tone and direction. However, what's most unique here is that all those ideas crucially don't come at the expense of a really tragic and flowing story, where somehow the double-crossing and mysteries really add to the whole experience of the narrative. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It's very hard to fault indeed actually... VERDICT: The best Nolan film of all time, because the ideas don't come at the expense of anything else. It's the perfect balance, and a genuinely incredible piece of film.

WHAT I LIKED: Spielberg said it himself; this is the most honest comic book movie out there, because it truly knows what it is. I thought it would be funny and quirky, but James Gunn manages to exceed all my expectations by building something genuinely heart-felt and emotional. Really, it's not the awesome world-building and humour that make this film, instead it's the character dynamics, where each individual manages to bring something really unique and touching to the film. I was genuinely emotionally engaged, on the edge of my seat, and rooting for these heroes right from start to finish, to the point where I laughed and cried. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: There certainly are tiny moments where you sit back and question what the hell this is, but then I guess that just adds to it's overall charm. VERDICT: 'Guardians of the Galaxy' is a properly fresh, properly exciting comic-book movie with no shame. It's got soul.

WHAT I LIKED: This is the best of the 'Mission: Impossible' bunch; the action franchise has been refreshed, and as a result this film is a much more enjoyable affair. Largely because it takes itself less seriously, it's suddenly less cliched and brash, but more subdued and stylish. That also means any character development feels less forced and more engaging. Sure we get some more awesome action, but it's not too much because it's almost tongue-in-cheek (which this crazy stuff should be.) At the end of the day, it'll make you smile because of it WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The plot is still borderline baffling, and unnecessarily so VERDICT: Finally the serious cheese has been knocked off, in favour of a more stylish Mission: Impossible adventure.

WHAT I LIKED: The Mission: Impossible formula begins, and it's one that largely works. Get a super, over-complicated plot, then get Ethan and his team to crack the mission before the ticking clock stops. It's a pretty simple idea each time around, but it is a fun formula to watch thanks to some awesome action, crazy stunts, tense moments, and the occasional emotional beat. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: This formula has it's cons too. The plot is extremely over-complicated, to the point where it feels like a badly collected group of really great scenes. VERDICT: 'Mission: Impossible' begins - and it's pretty enjoyable, but nothing more than that.

WHAT I LIKED: Mission: Impossible returns, and it's just as gripping as before. This time the anti is upped thanks to the addition of some (albeit cheesy) character development and a higher-stakes story. It's big, brash and exciting stuff, and is exactly what we will come to expect from this franchise (especially where the first 3 movies are concerned.) WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It's also just as confusing and ridiculous as the last movie, thus it feels like it asks us to take it a little too seriously when it's so cliched. Style over substance describes this one in particular down to a tee. VERDICT: Mission: Impossible is always just a bit of fun, but it is a confusing and cheesy bit of fun. This time around is nothing new, but it's still pretty enjoyable too.

WHAT I LIKE: It's a real back to basics classic Superhero film, 'Captain America' is a real classic. Perhaps most shockingly, the WW2 theme really works here - certainly being more authentic than many expected. What's more is there's a genuinely emotional part at the end that provokes a very rare sadness amongst a Marvel audience. Think it's all gone soft, though, and you'd be wrong, because Johnston packs this full of well-choreographed action scenes and exciting moments that make this a film to remember. WHAT I DON'T LIKE: It's not the most mature affair if I'm honest! VERDICT: This is a classic Superhero film with a touch of emotion and thrilling action. Phase 1's best solo film? Quite possibly.

WHAT I LIKED: After the spectacular Avengers and a brilliant phase Two, Whedon pulls out all the stops to make Age of Ultron even better. And wow does he succeed; achieving this by grounding the character's and their stories, creating a deeper and more philosophical undertone, whilst still building an even bigger, explosive action spectacle. This combination of beautifully grounded character detail, philosophies and crazy action makes it a hell of a roller coaster. But does it just collapse under it's own weight? Some think so, but I disagree. Whilst it does jump around, you get enough time at each point to get really involved, and the story's writing even lends itself to the jumpy nature, each scene beautifully setting up the next. It flows. And that's largely down to Whedon. So whilst it is certainly an ambitious roller coaster ride of pop-corn entertainment with great, explosive action, special effects and setup, Whedon manages to pull all that enjoyable stuff together in a way that the movie still feels personal; a roller coaster in terms of the way it makes you feel. I really cried, laughed, sat on the edge of my seat, got the goosebumps and had an absolute ball. It's got even more heart than the first. It's got soul. Nothing like it brings together everything great about all the films and comics we love like this does with such detail. Well done Whedon, you will be sorely missed. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: In a film of this ambition, there are bound to be **** (Thor's cave scene, anyone?) But the beauty of it is that these minute issues hardly take away from the overall experience at all. VERDICT: The MCU's best film is a thrilling, beautiful roller coaster. Whedon steers it with perfection - and achieves a blockbuster with real soul.

WHAT I LIKED: One of the most tense thrillers out there, this film has you gripped and desperate to watch the situation unfold. It's gritty, yet moving, with bags of character and emotion. Serious psychological themes are developed so well thanks to a great plot that not only serves the themes and the characters, but also itself; telling a great mystery story that has you on the edge of your seat throughout. Great direction and performances guide 'Seven' to an absolute win WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It's not actually that memorable - it'll grip you whilst you're there, but it wont have a lasting effect on you unlike many thrillers of the time. Perhaps that's because it's still a touch 'loud 90s,' 'bash it round your face' kind of cop stuff VERDICT: One of the most gripping and exciting thrillers you'll watch in the moment. It's the perfect match between cop action and tense thriller.

WHAT I LIKED: This movie pretty much defines fun. Fancy some fairly light-watching, whitty and action-packed entertainment? Well not much can beat 'The Kingsman.' It's developed and involved enough to keep you engaged, but it's got just the right amount of fun and self-awareness to make it this easy and fun to watch. A great cast bring everything to life, and great direction guides the story, and the incredibly bad-ass action, to an explosive finale. It's bloody good fun. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: There's nothing to really dislike about this film. It's just not particularly intense or gripping - but that's not really the idea. For something like that, go somewhere else VERDICT: For what it is it's almost perfect: light, fun entertainment that has you grinning from the off and throughout. Take it for what it is and you'll have a ball.

WHAT I LIKED: The Batman story concludes, this time it's even more epic, Nolan engaging us with a higher-stakes story, as well as continuing the deep and themeic beats of it's predecessor. Improved cohesive writing and a more established tone make for a film that fits and flows much better too. What's more, the whole final action sequence will have you gripped on the edge of year seat. All the great things from this epic franchise amalgamate here, and the coming together had me close to tears. It's the grittiest, most engaging and well-balanced film in the trilogy. This'll make you think, but it also makes you feel something WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Does Nolan really have to go quite this far to explore the themes that he wants to? It's sure told better here than in 'The Dark Knight,' but the actual story makes even less sense than before. And whilst I complained before about sloppy storytelling, this actually gets extremely bogged down in the middle of it's expansive run-time. VERDICT: Batman goes full circle. 'The Dark Knight Rises' masterfully combines the best of the first's storytelling, and the second film's ideas. The result just could have been a bit more grounded. And shorter.

WHAT I LIKE: 'The Avengers' defines the comic book movie. It's explosive, fun, action packed, pop-corn entertainment taken to the next level. The feeling of seeing the characters you love, interact for the first time can never be repeated. The confrontations, the jokes, the teamwork, it all feels so real. How? Well, the acting is class A stuff, but Whedon's direction here is nothing short of amazing - it gives the movie heart. Really, it's a wonder it doesn't collapse under it's own weight. But but thanks to a mix of smart writing and exciting action it really, really doesn't; Whedon recognises the equal importance of some great scenes without all that fighting to ground the team dynamic and character relationships. So thankfully their dynamics are pegged perfectly, the tone of the humour and lightheartedness overall is well done, and the new characters are all great too. Oh, and that final action scene just makes it. Wow. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Some bits are a teeny bit cringe-worthy if I'm honest like the goofy costumes, cheesy lines and the odd bit of bad CGI. But it arguably adds to it's ballsy comic book charm. VERDICT: It might not be flawless, but I haven't felt this way since Star Wars. It's monumental in how it makes you feel - proud, thrilled and downright happy.

WHAT I LIKED: This is an odd mix of the amazing and the awkward, Iron Man 3 is full of the character stuff that makes Marvel films so great. Forget the rubbish of Iron Man 2, Tony Stark is developed really well and we really feel like we know him here. This is largely thanks to Robert Downey Jr being stripped back to basics and he really showcases his acting abilities here. Not only that but there's some really excellent opportunities for great action scenes (as the mark 47 is properly cool!) WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: There are a few odd **** that you really can't ignore. For example, the confusing plot, and the baffling villain situation (which is even confusing after multiple viewings,) and the fact the movie doesn't really seem to fit in the whole Cinematic Universe. VERDICT: Iron Man 3 is arguably the best film in the Iron Man franchise, it's darker than the first but still a lot of fun. Robert Downey Jr is just great in this role.

WHAT I LIKED: 'Thor' is majestic, fantastical yet heart-filled. Really, it's a shock it's so good, but thanks Kenneth Brannagh's Shakespearean characterisation, we get one of the better hero origins we've seen. Branagh's attention to detail is perfect for this world and these characters, as are the incredible cast who are all perfect for their roles. This film will make you smile, triumph, and it'll even tug at your heart strings. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It could have done with a touch more action and a more interesting plot to add to it's overall impact. Oh, and, what was Loki's plan exactly...? VERDICT: A fantasy take on Superhero films, 'Thor' is sadly Marvel's forgotten gem - it's actually very good.

WHAT I LIKED: The core asset to this film is the mystery, and how tension is built so well. You really don't know what's going to happen, and it grips you more than you might expect. But this is only possible because you care for the lead - which you do thanks to a fleshed-out character and a great performance from Liam Neeson. It's pretty gritty, edge-of-the seat film making. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The edge of your seat stuff is all well and good, but when the tension is finally released, the ending is pretty poor. Whilst you can suspend disbelief for the bulk of the movie, the appalling CGI and cringey final 20 minutes will leave you feeling that the excellent build up was a little bit wasted VERDICT: It's a truly gripping and occasionally moving film until the end, where it kind of falls apart.

WHAT I LIKED: Marvel goes thriller, this timely adaptation of the MCU's boy scout is fresh, sleek and gritty. A 70s style political thriller is not something you'd expect from the MCU, especially not one that works. But insane action, a great original soundtrack and a developed plot with some serious themes makes it all possible (as does a bloody excellent performance from Chris Evans.) The Russo brothers craft the characters and the villain really well, but unusually the action is what has you most gripped here. It's so gritty, it'll have you on the edge of your seat WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Does the heavy plot and action take away some of the 'Marvel soul' that make these movies human? VERDICT: One of the MCU's best without a doubt. The grittiest comic book film in a long time.

WHAT I LIKED: Batman is set up really well here, the character gets a fully fleshed-out and suprisingly smart origin that actually makes you think. For the most past, it's a really grounded film that focuses on the characters, with some great, gritty action and fun moments to make a very enjoyable film WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The long origin part had me wanting it to hurry up to get to the meat of the story, then once you're there, the actual plot is a touched cliched compared to the really gritty set-up VERDICT: 'Batman begins' starts off the franchise with excitement and an excellent origin. Roll on the sequel.

WHAT I LIKED: 'Deadpool' is hands down the funniest comic book movie I've ever seen. It's own self-awareness, Ryan Reynold's brilliant sense of humour and the hilarious script make for constant laughs and comic relief. But this is only made possible by a suprisingly good story with a well-developed lead character. You actually care for Wade Wilson and his goal, and the character's use of humour can even be viewed as his own coping mechanism. It's great bloody fun and well worth a watch WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It doesn't really have a 'middle,' it has it's long first act, and a great last act, but there's nothing in between to flesh the story out. Could they not have cut the first act down a bit to flesh out the story a little? VERDICT: 'Deadpool' is funny and fresh. It's self-aware humour makes it the funniest comic-book movie out there.

WHAT I LIKED: Another blast from the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise, everyone returns in a film that has you on the edge from the off. It's a huge ball of fun; exciting, thrilling tense... nothing surprising from this franchise now. Great action, gadgets... it's all there. Overall this is a good summer blockbuster experience WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Once again, we shouldn't expect anything particularly fresh here, and this does drag out a little compared the previous installment, thanks to the somewhat baffling plot and extra ending. Don't think about it too hard, just enjoy it - because it's great fun VERDICT: It's another Mission: Impossible film so it makes you smile from ear to ear. And for that it deserves big credit.

WHAT I LIKED: It's fast paced, luxurious and well-scored cinema that offers bags of mystery and smiles. The characters are brought to life well with great acting, too. It's just indulgent and fun. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Overall, it's not particularly impactive because it flits about so much, one minute it's tense, another it's dull and stagnant or disengaging. Really, the flaw is the weak and changing plot that gets too little set-up in the first place. VERDICT: 'Now you see me' is packed with good moments and mystery, but the plot lets it down.

WHAT I LIKED: How do you introduce multiple characters in one movie, who's relationships and situations all feel real? Bryan Singer knows how, thus 'X-Men' is a big achievement. Thanks to his direction and a great script, your connection to each mutant is established expertly from the outset, to the point where you're so engaged with Wolverine and his associates, that I even got a bit emotional at the end. This connection you feel to everyone makes for an engaging movie, and it also ensures the whole film is more tense because you're so involved WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Whilst the characters are served beautifully, the actual plot is fairly poor and confusing, as are some of the gimicky sets, action pieces and special effects VERDICT: A sensetive and character driven superhero movie that begins a franchise (and arguably a genre) in the best way possible.

WHAT I LIKED: For a movie to just while away a couple of hours - you could do much worse than 'The Duff.' There's just enough fun humour, character development and good acting to keep you engaged - it's just a bit of fun that carries a slight whiff of serious theme and relationship development to carry you along. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Overall, it's by no means the most exciting, funny or interesting film out there by any stretch of the imagination. It's plot is unbelievably one dimensional and cliched, and the ending is horrible - but these are all things which won't really affect you if you don't get too into it (which I certainly didn't) VERDICT: You can have a bit of fun with this movie, but you'll forget about it as soon as you've seen it. 'The Duff' is a thoroughly average teen flick with little exciting to offer.

WHAT I LIKED: A fun, classic origin of one of the most iconic superheroes stands the test of time. It sets up a character well, taking time to build Superman himself far better than many subsequent attempts - it really does this throughout with great care and attention. But in the end, the reason it's enjoyable now is because it's cliched. It makes you smile WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It's so far-fetched in places, that you can't particularly get into it or feel emotionally attatched to the story. This isn't helped by the dated special effects (that are albeit still ahead of their time) VERDICT: It's cliched, and ridiculous. But parts of it really work. 'Superman' is a classic that makes you smile.

WHAT I LIKED: This film is a unique experience. It makes you feel in awe, tense, excited and confused - somehow it absorbs you in the world (or rather out of it!) to the point where you forget about anything else. It's just so real. This is because not only are the visuals stunning and awe-inspiring, but there's a suprisingly excllent performance from Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, who manage make it personal and play these roles with conviction, and the changing emotions you might expect. This movie constantly flits moods and emotions, which is why it doesn't drag or bore (when it easily could have) and just when you think 's okay, something always happens to catch you off guard, maintaining the tension perfectly. 'Gravity' is bloody amazing WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The sheer tension and bleakness does take away some of the potential for emotion - you don't neccessarily feel sympathy towards the characters, more for the situation itself, but this is still thanks to great acting VERDICT: It's nothing sort of bloody amazing. Gravity is a bleak, scary, brilliant space adventure like no other. Just wow.

WHAT I LIKED: This film is about characters, and the message behind their stories. This focus on their confusion and situations really makes you think and empathise with them - helped by an incredible acting performance from Redmayne WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Somehow you leave the cinema not quite emotionally satisfied. Sure it makes you think, but the focus truly on 2 characters for 2 solid hours, where little really "happens," means its slightly dragged out. Perhaps that's just me, but by the ending I wasn't particularly emotionally involved VERDICT: 'The Danish Girl' proves Redmayne isn't planning on stopping being amazing any time soon - it could just have been a more emotionally engaging story overall.

WHAT I LIKED: Some of the acting is very convincing and erm.... WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Serious messages? They're there, but are mostly to buy into, not think about - these characters represent something so wrong. 'Clueless' is a commercialised, cliched-American, very run off the mill rom-com with very few funny moments. I suppose this film is supposed to be all that, but that doesn't make it enjoyable for me VERDICT: It's terrible. Really. Nothing redeems this film in any way.

WHAT I LIKED: Jim Carrey somehow plays this character with conviction, which certainly deserves credit WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Unfortunately, it's a pretty cheesy, very ridiculous and far-fetched project that's dragged out beyond it's max half hour plot length. You'll sit there bored, uninterested and occasionally cringing at the so-called 'morality,' and that's the worst place to be as a movie VERDICT: **** performance can't save it, you know it's bad. Christmas films can get away with being cheesy, but they can't get away with this.

WHAT I LIKED: A film that's overall an improvement over it's predecessor, 'Spider Man 2' has much more character and relationship development that makes the film appear more realistic, you can empathise more with Peter in this film too, and the special effects and action are well improved over the first. The villain is also feels more dangerous and less bizzare and comical as the Green Goblin did in the first. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It's still very cheesy and cliched, and it's not excatly the most interesting of plots. It also lacks character arcs and sub-stories that could make it more layered. VERDICT: A successful sequel to say the least, this is much improved over the first thanks to it's new focus on emotional elemtns and character relationships.

WHAT I LIKED: The character of Peter Parker is relatively well established and the ending is excellent, the cast are generally great too. But truly this film's best feature is how well it stays true to the comics, it feels like a comic book film more than any other. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: This is one of the cheesiest films in the history of comic book films, and the green goblin feels odd and is hard to take seriously. It also lacks focus on character, or even humour, which it feels like it needs in places to lift the cheesy tone and make fun out of itself a little. VERDICT: Not a bad attampt at establishing Spider Man on the big screen, but this film does little else in terms of plot or excitement. It's very cliched and thus takes itself too seriously.

WHAT I LIKED: The plot has more layers than other Spider Man films, plus it shakes some of the cheesier aspects of the previous ones. The acumilation of everything at the end is great too. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: All the good work with chacters and relationships in Spider Man 2 is undone, and Peter seems to have gone back to his old self. It also felt like 2 films were going on at once for the most part, and some of the elements of the plot are completely ridiculous. It's great that they explored Parker's inner demons, but the black Spider-Man thing isn't neccessary and feels comical, the damsel in distress ending seems familiar as well... VERDICT: The Spider Man universe is starting to feel very samey in tone. Raimi's Spider Man 3 is an okay film, and arguably not as bad as it's generally made out to be, but it is a bit of a mess until the end.

WHAT I LIKED: Eddie Redmayne, Eddie Redmayne, Eddie Redmayne. This amazing actor and the excellent cast all excell in this incredibly moving and tragic tale of one extraordinary man. The emotion feels so real and the story is beautiful, and condensing one man's life story into 2 hours is an incredible achievement. Plus the beautiful cinematography and the way in which themes were protrayed were excellent. WHAT I DIND'T LIKE: Perhaps this film's weight falls onto the main two cast members a little to much, and the soundtrack was a little cheesy. VERDICT: One of the best emotional tales of 2014, 'The Theory of Everything,' pays tribute in an amazing way to an amazing man.

WHAT I LIKED: At the end, its a thrilling gripping rescue tale with amazing special effects, plus the cast set up the characters well WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It was just collapsing building after collapsing building, and it's not particularly inventive or fresh. But mostly it's VERY cheesy and cliched, plus it takes ages to get going. VERDICT: A cliched, dull, uninventive story packed with CGI that only gets exciting at the end.

WHAT I LIKED: It's a very personal tale of two desperate situations that come together in the most beautiful way, the cast are all excellent too. Also, it wasn't over dramatised yet the effects (and cinematography) are still great. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It could have been a little shorter to maintain full audience interest throughout. VERDICT: This is what a disaster movie should be, a desperate and heartfelt tale of some beautifully protrayed characters.

WHAT I LIKED: It's a film for both adults and kids that explores some serious themes, as well as containing some light hearted humour and action. 'The Incredibles' is the best all-rounded kids film we've seen in a long time - with gripping action a very solid and detailed plot, a great mix of real characters and a decent villain, it's one of the funnest rides Disney has to offer. And that soundtrack... WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: For what it is, it doesn't get much better than this VERDICT: It's funny how a kids film can exceed on so many levels - 'The Incredibles' is truly incredible. What more could you want?

WHAT I LIKED: It's overall a well plotted sit com with a great group of male actors and protagonists WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It's not actually that clever in its humour, and is a very typical and cheesy American comedy with some ridiculous bits of humour. Plus the character's problems don't feel real enough for the 'comic relief' effect VERDICT: Really this just boils down to what you find funny. Like stupid and random situations taken to the extreme with a bunch of slap stick moments? This is for you

WHAT I LIKED: It tackles some serious themes with a great light-hearted tone, the 3 main guys are all funny and their humour feels real WHAT I DIDNT LIKE: It's not a particularly interesting plot and the characters are fairly bland with little development VERDICT: It's supposed to be a fun family film and it fulfills there, but it's not particularly exciting or clever and does bore after a while