The Shallows (out Aug 18) is a shark thriller shot here in Australia. Blake Lively stars as a young woman who is attacked while surfing at an isolated beach in Mexico and becomes stranded on a tiny rock. There are "splashes" of excitement but a few plot developments feel forced (such as the ending). Jaws this is not. Grade: B-.

Kubo and the Two Strings (out Aug 18) is a rich, beautiful stop-motion animated feature that was made in America but is set in a strange Studio Ghibli-type world. It's the tale of a boy with magical powers who learns about his unusual past. The comedic elements didn't win me over but the film explores interesting themes (which young kids may struggle with). Grade: B+.

Tickled (out Aug 18) doesn't have enough material to warrant a 90 minute film but it's still an interesting documentary about a New Zealand journalist who looks into the world of "competitive endurance tickling" and makes some startling discoveries. Grade: B.

Truman (out Aug 11) is one of the best films I've seen that covers the subject of death. It follows a man dying of terminal cancer who spends 4 days catching up with a old friend. Ricardo Darín and Javier Cámara and it's easy to see why this emotional piece won the Goya Award (the Spanish Oscars) for best picture. Grade: A.

Sausage Party (out Aug 11) doesn't have enough material to last 90 minutes but it's still a witty comedy that uses talking food as a metaphor for religion (you'll know what I mean once you've seen it). A rare animated feature for adults only, it also features one of cinema's most creative sex scenes. Grade: B+.

Bad Moms (out Aug 11) is shoving its simplistic message a little too hard but the comedic chemistry between Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Bell provided some of the best laughs I've had all year. It's the tale of 3 mothers who aren't afraid to admit that they're not perfect. Grade: A-.

Down Under (out Aug 11) is a dark comedy set around the 2005 Cronulla riots that follows two groups on a collision course. I was worried during the early stages (a few too many laughs) but the ending packs a strong emotional bunch and asks us to take a good, hard look at ourselves. Grade: B+.

Embrace (out Aug 4) is a discussion-generating documentary that looks at the increasing pressure on today's females to conform to a certain body type. It would have been nice to see someone try to defend the opposing view (not that I'm saying I'd agree with them) but there's still a good mix of interviewees who all have something to offer. Grade: B+.

Suicide Squad (out Aug 4) is a tiring film that is low on laughs and high on confusion. It offers some great performances with Will Smith and Australian Margo Robbie getting the most screen time and the best of the one-liners. Unfortunately, the broad premise is weak and the keynote villain couldn't be any less interesting. Grade: C+.

As It Is In Heaven 2: Heaven On Earth (out Aug 4) is a disappointing sequel to the popular Swedish film from 2004. Following the death of the town's popular choir conductor, Lena tries to carry on the tradition and bring music into everyone's lives. Grade: C+.