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2/5★ The Walk Of Shame is on a mission to prove that yes, women can be just as freely promiscuous and foul mouthed as men, no judgment allowed. There are a few funny moments, and Elizabeth Banks has the comedy chops to pull it off, but as a whole, Walk Of Shame does nothing to further feminism, but instead is a shrieky, logic defying mess. Verdict: Meh

4/5★ A charming cuddle of a film in the quirky vein of Wes Anderson and his detailed set pieces, Paddington is a fun family movie about an unhappy family rescuing a talking bear who, in turn, rescues them from themselves by teaching them to be happy while being hunted by sadistic museum taxidermist Nicole Kidman. In all honesty, while he is an excellent actor, Ben Whishaw's voice is distractingly annoying. Verdict: Family fun

2/5★ An awkward title for an awkward film about the lives of Millennials in the big city. Played by inoffensively hot and up-and-coming actors, the film does nothing but drive home the difference between current and past young adults as portrayed by cinema that reflects some truth in the arrested development of the 20-somethings of today. Bro code and all that entails-its tiresome and condescending. What passes as witty banter does nothing to disguise the fact that it has nothing original to say. Verdict: Skip

2/5★ ABCD 2 Bollywood is famous for its "Item numbers" which are song and dance routines that can be complex and eye-catching. Contemporary Western dance flicks are known to have terrible acting and dialogue but pretty cool dance numbers (Step Up 2-5.) Mix the two together and what you get is a film that is pretty bad once the synchronized bodies stop moving. Verdict: Skip

1/5★I'll break it down to the level of Fanatic Four: This is dumb movie. Movie waste of my time, your time and must never be spoken of again. Did the director watch The Avengers, saw what made it good and go yeah, lets have none of THAT, and proceed to make a boring, lazy and sad film that would only serve as a contrast to better films? Verdict: Skip Plot: Don't care. Don't watch.

4/5★ Great casting, wonderful songs and the trademark Muppet humor all mix to make a fun film that is enjoyable to all but the most curmudgeonly of viewers. Verdict: Enjoy!

3/5★ While not as fresh and emotionally resonant as the first one, Despicable Me 2 offers enough laughs and visual delights to entertain and distract you from the fact that it just doesn't capture the spark its prequel had. Also: When it comes to cutesy animated sidekicks, more is less. Verdict: Enjoyable.

2/5★Maybe they tried to freshen the stagnant and unoriginal high school movie formula but feels like every other teen-oriented comedy, only with a contemporary twist. They even went with the time honored tradition of casting actors in their 20's as teenagers. Verdict: Its not a bad film, just totally forgettable.

2/5★ Manipulative from start to finish, Elysium is an unsubtle metaphor for a pessimistic view of where modern society seems to be headed. The 1% are literally living in the sky, disconnected from the reality back on Earth, where the middle class seems to have disappeared and all that remain are the desperate poor, who appear to be non-white for the most part, the oppressed classes building the tools of their own oppression until along comes the one white guy who sacrifices himself for justice. Elysium is very functional, moving from A to B to get to C, but in a checklist fashion, not in an organic flow. Its also incredibly miscast, has plot holes and a while it asks serious questions like all intelligent sci-fi should, it makes no serious effort to answer them. Verdict: Its ok, but no District 9.

3/5★ Beautifully animated and with contemporary themes (despite its mediaeval settings) Brave is a fun film, even a good film, but it is not up to Pixar standards. This is not a film I will remember or quote or see listed in "Greatest films of all time" list. Pixar films are adept at getting their message across without being preachy and Brave, while I appreciate its themes of female empowerment and choosing ones destiny, is uncharacteristically unsubtle. The biggest twist of Brave is not the mother turning into a bear, but with the twist of no happily ever after ending with her handsome prince for a Disney princess. It went with the theme of the film but I kept on expecting a romance with a peasant boy to be the surprise. Disney has ruined me. Verdict: Enjoy it as a Disney film, don't expect a Pixar.

4/5★ For fans of the series (myself included) and for mystery noir enthusiasts, Veronica Mars the movie offers more of what made the show great and throws out references and Easter eggs galore. We return to the characters and places we remember and see how they have, or haven't changed. On another note, the film is an example of the changing nature of Hollywood: The movie was funded through Kickstarter- regular people gave money to pay for the cost of making Veronica Mars. Verdict: Enjoy!

2/5★ Blatantly manipulative from start to finish, with child friendly colors, shapes and bubble pop tunes (its usually more subtle). Add Rihanna for a cheap "cool" factor and what you have is a zippy but forgettable film that is basically a Rihanna introduction to the last of the youngest generation that haven't heard her music. Home isn't bad but I expect better from the studio that gave us the likes of Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon. When the dialogue's sentence construction is the most interesting thing about the film, you gotta rethink your concept. Verdict: For when you've already watched everything better.

2/5★ Its all very adequate, but it feels...indulgent. Its not a bad film just dull, and with a story that is actually quite interesting, I wonder what a better director could have done with it. The tone is proudly old-fashioned and there is a mini-series feel, a splintered focus on too many characters and locations. Despite a fantastic cast, Cate Blanchett is the only actor who gives a serious performance. Verdict: For a really rainy day.

5/5★ Rare is the sequel that is almost as good as its prequel but DreamWorks does it, expanding on the world and characters without falling prey to the dreaded terrible two. The movie, like its hero, has more mature themes, and successfully entertains a mass audience without pandering to them. I would like to point out that it lacks the emotional resonance as the first film, and the finale is too big and too blockbuster actiony but an interesting twist- unlike many movies, the director chose not to make the relationship between the young couple,Hiccup and Astrid, a big plot point. Instead, the touching romance was between a married couple that had been apart for many years. Verdict: Enjoy!

5/5★ Combining all the right elements, HTTYD offers beautiful animation, edge of seat action sequences and a compelling message. The characters aren't one note and their world is bursting with colors and detail. How to Train Your Dragon is about an intelligent boy and his best friend, which happens to be a fierce dragon, who questions the status quo. He rebels against the accepted view and changes it. Verdict: Enjoy!

4/5★ A tale of greed, debauchery and excess that played to the publics worst fears of Wall Street. Scorsese is the master of the visual story telling medium, never missing a beat during a 3 hour marathon of unlikable people descending into an ever more hedonistic lifestyle. Leonardo DiCaprio's performance as Jordan Belfort is all encompassing, committed and totally entertaining. Verdict: Watch at your own discretion

4/5★ Dark, grungy and uncompromisingly violent, Dredd veers at times close to mockable B-movie territory, only to be pulled back by Urban's sheer force of will and strong chin. Olivia Thirlby is perfect as the empathic psychic paired with the uncompromising, unchanging Judge Dredd. The comparisons to The Raid: Redemption, both of them similar in setting and take on anarchy, is understandable but both are good films with different aesthetics. The drug infused slo-mo sequences are beautifully horrifying and in sharp contrast to the dark and frenzied action sequences. Verdict: Watch

4/5★ I loved Director John Carney's Once. That movie is a gem. Begin Again, while good in its own right, does not measure up to Once. It's a charming movie, with complex characters and a non-edginess that is refreshing, but part of the charm of Once was the anonymity of the cast, the lack of preconceptions made the movie more enjoyable: I was distracted, thinking about the fact that that was Keira Knightly, singing better then I thought she could: Was she being dubbed? And was Adam Levine just playing himself? All this was distracting me from fully enjoying the movie, which is too bad because it is a good film. Another comparison with Once: A plot point in Begin Again is authenticity vs. selling out. I'm not saying the Carney sold out, but Begin Again does have a whiff of over-producing, of mainstream focus. Not a lot, but enough to make a difference. Verdict: Enjoy.

3/5★ The Robocop reboot, updated and made more relevant to current issues, is not awful. Oddly antiseptic and forgettable, yes, but it does address issues that we will probably, given the pace of human-cyber research, be seeing more of in the near future. The original was dirtier and more shocking then the reboot, and in the end, its the superior movie. Verdict: Watchable but a missed opportunity.

2/5★ Coming off of Breaking Bad, Aaron Paul stars in the video game adaptation of Need For Speed. Uncreative and logic defying, and when not focused on cars driving insanely fast, is boring and overly long. Cut out the talking and forgettable characters and ramp up the stunts and what you got is beautiful cars doin' the fast and furious tango. Or you could just play the game. Verdict: Car stunt enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies.

5/5★ Based on a true story, director Paul Greengrass infuses the film with a sense of realism, story telling at its best: The steps leading up to the event and how it went down. It helps that the performances were excellent all around, with newcomer Barkhad Abdi receiving a well deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Verdict: Watch.

2/5★ Seth McFarlane has an odd obsession with combining an old school Hollywood sentiments with modern crassness. It doesn't mesh well. There are moments of hilarity but Ted 2 was mostly boring. On a more philosophical note: What would Seth McFarlane do without the last 100 years of pop culture to reference, and potty humor to fall back on?

4/5★ If you are a fan of The SpongeBob, as I am, this film will tickle your fancy. Zippy, crazy and meta to the max, the mix of animation styles meshed with live action will please the pop culture enthusiast and the kids alike. It did feel like there were two movies, one focused on the Bikini Bottom crew, and the other is Antonio Banderas doing his Jack Sparrow impression. Verdict: For fans of the show and kids.

2/5★ A step up from its cartoonishly awful prequel, Retaliation is just bad. Its got a few good action scenes, and a laconic Bruce Willis is always a pleasure, but otherwise its a rather loud, stupid movie. Verdict: For mindless action fans and GI Joe nostalgists.

5/5★ Fast and Furious set in post apocalypse horror, the film grabs your attention from the get go and doesn't let go, with the not-stop action and sense we are along for the ride, that we are in the middle of the action and it is exhilarating and terrifying and beautifully bizarre. Perfectly cast, directed and shot, with a harsh palette of colors and memorable imagery (the guitarist, eh?) Mad Max: Fury Road is a film that will stand on its own. Verdict: Watch

5/5★ I usually watch teen films with a cynical eye for a few reasons but for the purpose of discussing The Spectacular Now I will mention only two. First off, its hard to enjoy a film when I'm distracted by the fact that the cast usually looks nothing like most teens I meet, and in fact are usually in their mid 20's and even early 30's (Glee, Grease, 90210) with rare exceptions (Freaks and Geeks, at least part of the cast in John Hughes films.) The Spectacular Now features a cast in their 20's but actually look their movie ages, which leads me to my second point: Appearance. Its not unthinkable that a teen should be as attractive, put together and pimple free as so many of these teen oriented films and shows would have you believe but still, most teens don't have stylists and makeup artists polishing their look, so yeah, Gossip Girl and its ilk feel inauthentic to the average teenage experience because of something as basic as looks. Shailene Woodley's bare, makeup-less face is not the only refreshing thing in this coming of age film that has great acting, writing and casting (Bubbles! Coach! Saul!). Most noteworthy of all, the film avoids the clichés usually associated with the genre and is an intelligent study of youth standing on the precipice of adulthood, hesitating to move forward, something most teens can relate to. Verdict: Watch.

2/5★ An obvious imitation of other, better heist films, the film does have a strong cast but its wasted on this B-level forgettable film. Verdict: Timewaster.

4/5★Will Cinderella mark the end of subversive and what might be called the 'Nolanesque' style of movie making? Has Kenneth Branagh exemplified a way to modernize classic tales without trying to make them about gritty and tortured antiheroes in an attempt to modernize them? It worked for Batman but TMNT was a misfire. Cinderella is a good, if slightly boring film, with an excellent cast and outstanding performances by Cate Blanchett and Lily James. The costumes are beautiful, the prince handsome and the girl charming: Are we witnessing a return of the romance to Hollywood or was Disney just being respectful of the enduring legacy of one Fairytaledom's most beloved characters? Only time will tell. Verdict: Watch.

4/5★A man searches for a cure for his fathers Alzheimer's, and in the process a new intelligent species is created to rival humanity and a humanity killing virus is released to finish the job. The part that struck me as I was watching was how I was rooting for the apes to win. There is a not so subtle condemnation of animal testing clinical trials and animal captivity and casting Draco Malfoy as a cruel guard drives the point home: Humans bad. Verdict: Watch

4/5★ Bollywood has many variations, but they mostly stay within excepted conventions. Finding Fanny breaks those conventions and brings Wes Anderson style quirkiness to Bollywood. There is a studied quietness, in contrast to the constant frenzy in Bollywood films. The cinematography is all pastel and natural light, the cast, for the most part, restrained. The films is by no means perfect, but it is charming. Verdict: Enjoy

5/5★ One of those rare films that despite catering to a wide audience is genuinely entertaining to all, from classic arcade games nostalgists to little kids enjoying all the candy and colors on display. Ralph has so much going on in each frame that repeated viewings are never boring but a chance to discover previously missed gags. The originality is a breath of fresh air, and the obvious effort and care that was put into creating the film is on full display but most surprising of all is the heart- it never feels forced. Too many other animated films try too hard and never quite capture that elusive...Pixarism is the word for the magic Pixar weaves into their films. Verdict: Watch

1/5★ The Farrelly Brothers have not made a good movie in years. Their particular gross-out brand of humor has faded in popularity and their gags are more miss than hit. The titular characters, played by the indefatigable Jim Carrey and Jeff 'Will McAvoy' Daniels, are as idiotic as ever, but they are wrinkled, out of date and a little bit sad. Verdict: Skip

3/5★ Fantastic animation, creative world building and nonstop action aside, the film is not as clever as the prequel. I know its a kids movie, but kids movies today have to cross the high bar Pixar films have set. We have seen what is possible and wont settle for less. Verdict: Keeps the kids entertained

2/5★A visually striking mess of a movie better enjoyed with the sound off. A cross between Star Trek, a bad young adult fantasy novel, and with a bunch of references to other, better films, Jupiter Ascending's convoluted plot offers Channing Tatum in makeup, anti-capitalism and some really cool special effects. There is so much going on the screen the viewer is distracted from the fact that the dialogue is cringe worthy, the leads have no chemistry and a lot of money was spent on something that brings shame and embarrassment to anyone who was involved. On the other hand, in an original plot twist, Sean Bean didn't die. Verdict: Watch if you like cool SFX.

3/5★ Taking a page out of Pixar's book, Reel FX Creative Studios created a film with stunning animation and detailed worlds that dazzle the eye. Unfortunately, they missed the chapter about having a plot deserving of the visuals. The lackluster dialogue and uninspired plot distract from the wonderful backgrounds and colorful scenes. The Book of Life deals with death, an unusual subject for a children's film not directed by Tim Burton. Verdict: Watch if you like great animation.

5/5★ Mathew McConaughey owns Dallas Buyers Club. I didn't know he could give such an incredible performance. He brought Ron Woodroof to life, fully inhabits the character, and humanized the AIDS epidemic of the 80's, the fear and uncertainty surrounding the disease and those living with it. There is a tragic aspect to the film, because we as the viewers know that there is no cure and the Woodroof is desperately scrambling to find something that at most will let him live a little longer, and do something that will give him back a little human dignity. In any other film Jared Letos' Rayon would have stolen the show. He is unrecognizable and completely committed to the role. Dallas Buyers Club does not ask for pity but demands attention and understanding for what was and continues to be a serious issue. Verdict: Watch

4/5★ Big Hero 6 A very good film that recycles a lot of the best parts of past Pixar films. Big Hero 6 is moving, entertaining and although not a classic, will hold up well. The Jimmy Neutron meets the love child of WALL-E and EVE plot has moments of darkness kids films tend to avoid. Its also wonderfully animated and full of detail and touches that dazzle the eye, right up to the last act of good guys vs. bad guy battle that is a bit jarring and out of place. Verdict: Watch

2/5★ Even the power of the Pegg couldn't change Hector into anything but a rather boring film with pat life lessons and contrived moments that don't dig into anything real and authentic. All surface and charm, no substance. Still, its better then Eat, Pray, Love. Verdict: Meh.

1/5★ Shades of 300 aside, the film is bad on so many levels, from the awful dialogue to the terrible acting by the entire cast. The action is a bright point, but if I wanted to watch men in costumes fight WWE is a better option: The acting is better and there are less cringe worthy moments. Kellan Lutz is a good looking guy. He's built like a Greek god. Both strong points. Acting, however, is his Achilles heel, which falls under the Situational irony category. Verdict: Watch Ben Hur. Watch 300. Skip this.

2/5★ Blah Dracula. There is nothing too good or too bad about the film. It's inoffensively bland and boring. Luke Evans' intensity elevates the film from B-movie status but he is hampered by an uninspired treatment of the origins of a legendary monster. Verdict- Skip

5/5★ Drawn in a delicate watercolor style that bleeds from the edges and utilizing simple charcoal-like lines to convey complex emotions, this Studio Ghibli film is a wonderful example of how film can be art. Princess Kaguya's tale is told in a frank and realistic manner and with an un-Disney like lack of cutesy characters. It's a film that treats its audience and subject matter with maturity and respect. The care in every moment is obvious, the story is heartbreaking and proof that it's the films that don't have a happy ending that are most memorable. Verdict: Watch.

1/5★ Eddie Murphy is a funny, talented guy who can play several distinct characters in one film. Norbit is a disgusting, how was this made, why am I laughing film that is a mean and crass misfire that makes Big Momma look like Shakespeare. I have no doubt the cast in this film: respected actors like Thandie Newton and Cuba Gooding, Jr. wish that Norbit fade away, never to be spoken of again. Verdict: Skip

3.5/5★ Animated films used to be treated as kids fare but with studios like Pixar, Laika and Studio Ghibli releasing complex and engaging films that engage children and adults both, animated films are no longer only light entertainment to keep the kids busy. A Letter to Momo is a difficult film that at its core deals with loss and regret- issues that Hiroyuki Okiura handles with sensitivity and attention to detail that creates a visual delight and emotionally satisfying story. Verdict: For all ages.

3.5/5★ Pixar, Disney and Studio Ghibliy all have a unique style and content. Laika, a stop-motion animation studio, has branded itself as the studio with movies that explore the darker aspects of human nature. Films like Coraline (a personal favorite) and ParaNorman explore themes that aren't Disney bright or Pixar precious. The Boxtrolls, Laika's newest film, is a continuation of that direction. There are truly awful people, a sense of unbalance(The henchmen have a continuing philosophical discussion as to the dubious nature of their activities) and there are no cutesy creatures to delight the eyes- if anything, The Boxtrolls are anti-cute. The amount of detail is fantastic, almost to the point of distraction, but the story is a little weak and there's a lot of social class commentary under the surface that can be too obvious. Verdict: Watchable.

2/5★ Not since Kim Kardashian has so much been made out of so little. The Interview offers little that is truly intelligent and if you are familiar with the movies that Seth Rogen and James Franco make together then you know what to expect: vulgarity, immaturity and sophomoric humor that we feel a need to apologize for laughing at. The irony is after all the reports of the horrors of North Korea that have been given little notice, the headlines and furor caused by this stupid Hollywood film has brought more attention to the matter then anything else and if that isn't the ultimate satire and sad commentary on the world today I don't know what is. Verdict: For the Franco & Rogen fan.

4/5★ There is an undercurrent of something shifting in China as the country moves forward into a sometimes fighting future. Four very different tales of people experiencing and reacting to the vast changes happening around them, to them and with little control over any of it. The violence is shocking and graphic, with little to soften the blow. Zhang Ke Jia is making a statement and he isn't sugarcoating it. Verdict: Watch.

2/5★ Sequels are tricky, and boy did this one miss a trick. The cast is great but the film turns them into annoying, stupid and unlikable people that I didn't feel like rooting for. The only one who really made me laugh was Kevin Spacey's David Harken who, incidentally, was the bad guy from Horrible Bosses 1 and that should have raise some red flags. The trend of comedies with men stuck in arrested development has hopefully peaked with this pointless sequel. Verdict: Ok if there's nothing else to watch.

4/5★ The Heat. Odd couple buddy cop films are a genre done to death. The Heat changes that up by making the cops female and casting two of the funniest and likable actresses in showbiz. Bullock as straight woman to McCarthys wild haired antics proves to make for explosive chemistry. The plot is old and tired but boy is the journey entertaining. Verdict: Watch.

4/5★ Hawking He is the most celebrated scientist of our time, and will be mentioned in the same breath as Newton and Einstein, but he remains a optimistic, modest and hardworking man. He did not allow a crippling disease stop his work and has lived decades past what doctors said he could. Hawking cannot speak and must use an electronic speaking voice to convey his thoughts, but his good humor and passion comes through the robotic voice. The film is a little too brief yet informative and touches on the important points of his life and career. There is no self-pity, just an enthusiasm for life and all its mysteries. Verdict: Must see.

1/5★What a great example of a film that wastes a great cast with an awful plot, worse directing and coma inducing boredom. One of Robin Williams last films, even he couldn't save it: the bad sitcom humor, unlikable people and the depressing thought that this piece of garbage is one of Williams last films just ruins it. Verdict: Ho Ho Horrible.