You're Next (out now) is about a family in a secluded holiday home who are attacked by masked assailants. The characters don't always act in a believable fashion... but this is still much better than the clichéd horror films to which I have become accustomed. There are some nice twists too! Grade: B+.

Stoker (out now) is a thriller from director Chan-wook Park (Oldboy) about an 18-year-old girl who is visited by her mysterious uncle after her father passes away. It's gloriously beautiful to watch and it held my attention but it was a battle to grasp its strange setting and characters. Grade: B+.

Jobs (out Aug 29) may be of interest to those unfamiliar with the founder of Apple Computers... but it's unlikely to amaze anyone else. By glazing over his personal life, this warm and fuzzy look at the early career of Steve Jobs doesn't offer anything that couldn't be gathered from a simple internet search. Ashton Kutcher isn't too bad in the lead role. Grade: B-.

The Rocket (out Aug 29) is one of the best Australian films in recent years... and it's not even set in this country! It centres on a mischievous 10-year-old boy from Laos who is trying to prove to his family that he doesn't always bring bad luck. Blending comedy with drama, the film brings together the country’s history, its curious traditions and its beautiful landscape. Grade: A-.

Red 2 (out Aug 29) felt more like a bunch of set action/fight sequences than a film with an interesting, free flowing story. It's a standard affair where our heroes keep extracting themselves from ludicrous situations and try to stop Russians/Iranians from detonating a bomb. There are a few decent gags but there's also a lot of repetitive humour. Grade: C+.

The Best Offer (out Aug 29) is a Geoffrey Rush led mystery about a wealthy art valuer/auctioneer who falls in love with a young woman suffering from agoraphobia. I was scratching my head a few times during the film. It was a little strange but perhaps it was heading somewhere interesting? Nope. It culminates with a dumb, nonsensical ending. Grade: C+.

The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones (out Aug 22) has potential but you can't help but feel this teen-orientated fantasy world flick, complete with demons, vampires and warlocks, is targeted only at those who have read the novels. It's hard to keep up and more frustratingly, many subplots are left unresolved for the inevitable sequel. Grade: C+.

Upstream Colour (out now) is beautifully shot and impeccably edited. So what's it about? Well, I'm not too sure. There are worms, pigs, orchids, thieves and samplers. My intrigue starred to wain during the later stages but it's nice to see a film that keeps you thinking throughout. Grade: B.

What Maisie Knew (out Aug 22) is the story of a fractured family told through the eyes of a 6-year-old girl. I grew tired of the film's narrow focus. It's hard to gain a full understanding of Maisie's situation when you're only seeing parts of the story and only listening to parts of conversations. Still, there's an emotional impact in the final 30 minutes that is quite effective. Grade: B-.

Kick-Ass 2 (out Aug 22) misses the mark. This story of ordinary people putting on masks and taking justice into their own hands could have illustrated the thin line between heroes and villains. Instead, it's a "black & white" action film with nothing to say and only a splattering of funny gags. Grade: C+.