The Godfather: Part II (1974)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071562

An epic sequel that matches its predecessor for sheer scale and running time. The prequel scenes about Vito's early life I loved, but Michael's journey to cement his place at the head of the Corleone crime family left me feeling detached and a bit bored. Epic performance from Pacino again though!

Three stars

The Godfather (1972)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/

Beautiful to watch with a very engaging and tragic plot about an Italian-American crime family. Covering such gritty topics as threats, murder, gambling, drugs, family honour and revenge, this three-hour epic is not to be undertaken lightly (and does go on a bit) but is fantastically rewarding.

Four stars

Rogue One (2016)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3748528/

Almost everything you could wish for from a Star Wars movie. A pure, noble and desperate rebel mission carried out by a likeable ragtag crew with a brave female leader. Epic battle scenes and a hilariously sarcastic droid, no love story (upside) nor lightsabers (downside), but definitely a must watch!

Five stars

The BFG (2016)

http://gb.imdb.com/title/tt3691740/

This adaptation fell far short of my expectations.  Not nearly scary enough and actually quite boring for the most part.  Excellent motion capture effects, some amazing looking sets and an endearingly scripted giant but the little girl is entirely tiresome and the plot lacks any sense of true peril.

Two stars*

* Or three if you're under the age of 8.

Zootropolis (2016)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2948356

Very funny with real heart, true intellect and an important moral, Zootropolis is as smart and exciting as many grown-up detective stories out there.  A bunny cop and a fox con team up to investigate shady goings on and encounter many fantastically memorable characters along the way (FLASH!!). Great stuff.

Four stars

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1843866/

Enjoyable enough but very forgettable, this was at least an improvement on the first Captain America movie.  It's got thrills and action and a lot of Black Widow (who I love) but overall not one of the Marvel series's best.

Three stars

The Big Short (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596363

"The 2008 Financial Crisis for Dummies".  An excellent insight into the fraudulent economic clusterfuckery that let to the US banking collapse, told through the stories of a few guys that saw it coming.  Funny on the surface but deeply disturbing at its heart, this was educational and a good watch.

Four stars

High Rise (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462335/

Tom Hiddleston vs. a dystopian skyscraper.  As society crumbles within his new apartment block a troubled doctor fights to find his place. What starts out as interestingly creepy and claustrophic soon becomes garbled and confused.  The surrealism didn't work for me; a good-looking film but too messy to be enjoyed.

Two stars

They Live (1988)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256

It's slow to get going and incredible cheesy, but using human slavery at the hands of aliens to represent the subjugation of the American poor is pretty genius.  Politically subversive satire aside, it also has some hilarious fight scenes, an enjoyable soundtrack and a 90 minute runtime. Perfect hangover fodder.

Three stars

The Lobster (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3464902/

A hotel where single people are forced to find a partner in 45 days or are turned into an animal forever... what's weird about that? Everything, obviously.  The Lobster is ultra-creepy and excellent in its first half, but later the restrained and almost childish dialogue becomes a bit boring.

Three stars

Hail Caesar! (2016)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475290

Another hilarious triumph from the Coen brothers.  Brolin is fantastic as a harassed and conflicted movie studio fixer in 1950s Hollywood.  The "threat" of communism and the troubles of the film industry provide the backdrop, whilst a sterling script, cracking cast and relatively short running time provide the fast-paced funnies.

Four stars

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951266/

I SUPPOSE this was a satisfactory conclusion to the series, and I SUPPOSE it had nice strong messages about rebellion and not being afraid and friendship and stuff.  But seeing as the whole saga has failed to invest me in the characters, it all felt a bit hollow.

Two stars

Deadpool (2016)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431045/

Completely, rip-roaringly, profanely, violently and hilariously fucking fantastic! Best Marvel film ever. I was laughing out loud the entire time, and it's so meta it hurts. I wish I could give it more than five stars.

Five stars

4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days (2007)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032846

Absolutely horrific from start to finish, this hyper-real portrayal of a Romanian student helping her friend get an illegal abortion is not for the faint hearted.  The acting is impeccable but the subject matter and plot are so entirely harrowing and bleak that it's difficult to recommend you watch it.

Four stars

2 Guns (2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1272878/

Badass criminals, dirty authorities, WAY more than two guns, and lots of wanton destruction of property.  At the centre of it all are Washington and Wahlberg, carrying the whole thing with zinger after zinger.  It's funny, entertaining and violent, and self-aware enough of its own daftness not to be annoying.

Three stars

Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282744/

British humour and car-crash cringe combine for an enjoyable watch.  Mediocre football manager Bassett is thrown in at the deep end and tasked with leading England through the World Cup.  Some of the footy jokes were over my head but I still found it very funny, and Tomlinson is fantastic.

Three stars

Grandma (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4270516

Rather boring emotional "comedy" drama.  A pregnant teenager and her grandma bounce around town from one eccentric character to the next trying to get money for an abortion.  The disjointed scenes give the feeling of a weak amateur theatre show and despite feminism, vulgarities and some laughs it's still pants.

Two stars

The Martian (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3659388/

Warm, funny and much less serious than I thought it was going to be.  The Martian is long but doesn't feel it, bleak without being miserable, and epic in scope and scale.  Damon is magnificent as the stranded astronaut who refuses to give up. Supporting cast also great. Thumbs up!

Four stars

Ant Man

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478970/

Oh dear.  What should have been amazing was instead laughably disappointing.  Paul Rudd is inoffensive enough as the titular burglar-turned-miniature-superhero, and some of the action sequences are pretty cool.  But the jokes are SO BAD, and the dialogue is SO BAD that overall it's a total waste of time.

Two stars

The Revenant (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663202/

Harrowing, gruesome and not at all enjoyable, The Revenant is still undeniably an excellent film.  DiCaprio is sublime as the horrifically wounded hunter who must fight for survival in seriously bleak conditions.  It's fairly unbelievable in parts, and too much of a slog to ever rewatch, but absolutely fantastic nonetheless.

Four stars

Spy (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3079380

Melissa McCarthy doesn't get into full swing until about halfway through, but once she does, everything that comes out of her mouth is hilarious.  Miranda Hart and Jason Statham provide excellent support and the tone is an enjoyable balance between ridiculous comedy and cracking spy action.

Four stars

Get Hard (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2561572/

Characteristically stupid slapstick Will Ferrell comedy.  Way too many race jokes for me, but it's laugh-out-loud funny in parts and Ferrell is as excellent as ever (if he's your cup of tea).

Three stars

The Hateful Eight (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3460252

Not one of Tarantino's finest.  Fairly boring for the first hour, much too long, and almost a parody of his now well-known character style.  That said, the gun-slinging characters are great fun, the acting as high calibre as you could hope for and the direction just as we like it.

Four stars

John Dies at the End (2012)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1783732

Entirely surreal and mostly incoherent tale of two young Americans who time travel a bit and fight beings from other dimensions.  Sort of.  I was never quite sure what was going on, which I'm sure was entirely the point.  Gory and darkly funny you'll either love it or hate it.

Four stars

It Follows (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3235888

This nail-biting, nerve-shredding horror follows a group of teenagers trying to escape a curse that literally follows them.  The creepy basis of the story, jarring soundtrack, masterful horror direction and authentic script and acting all combine to make It Follows an utterly enjoyable and completely terrifying triumph.  Full marks!

Five stars

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2488496/

Old resistance helps new resistance against new baddies reminiscent of old baddies.  Droids tag along and hide secret information. Family matters. Whilst this much anticipated episode is in no way original (quite the opposite in fact!) it will definitely satisfy your yearning for adventuretastic swashbuckling Jedi funtimes.

Four stars