21 & Over (out now) has been made from the same mould as last year's Project X. This is a little better though. We follow 3 guys who go on an epic bender to celebrate a 21st birthday. There's not a single shred of new material here but a few timely laughs save it from being a total write off. Grade: C+.

Oz The Great & Powerful (out Mar 7) is a prequel to the famed Wizard Of Oz story and is flashy, coloured, family-friendly. James Franco is nice as the Wizard but Zach Braff steals the show as an animated flying monkey. While it looks good on screen, the film needed much more in terms of back-story. What we get feels far too simple and doesn't explore the witches very well. Grade: B-.

Great Expectations (out Mar 7) is a fresh adaptation of Charles Dickens' popular novel. It's a rich, intricate story and writer David Nicholls and director Mike Newell are to be commended on the many subplots they explore. Olly Alexander is the pick of the cast and this should satisfy those who enjoy a complex period-piece drama. Grade: B+.

The Last Stand (out now) was surprisingly entertaining. It turns out that Arnold Schwarzenegger has still got it! Yeah, it has a few familiar clichés from the action genre... but it comes with a bunch of great characters (especially Luis Guzman) and a terrific sense of humour, particularly in the final third. Grade: A-.

I Give It A Year (out Feb 28) in an English rom-com that tries to win laughs by being offensive. A shame there's no wit or charm to go with it. I hated every single character (no exceptions) and would rather drink bleach than watch it again. For the purposes of full disclosure, some in the audience did seem to find it humorous. Grade: C-.

Side Effects (out Feb 28) starts out as an intriguing drama but develops into a silly thriller where logic and common sense is thrown out the window. It revolves around a young woman battling depression who is prescribed drugs by her doctor that, as the title promises, come with side effects. Grade: C+.

Save Your Legs (out Feb 28) is an Aussie film based on the true story about a group of hopeless cricketers who go on a tour to India under the guise that there's actually quite good. The cricket scenes aren't very realistic but there's a nice undercurrent to the story that explores the different personalities within the team. Grade: B-.

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away (out now) would look better on stage than on screen (some of the slo-mo stuff doesn't work) but it's still hard not to be dazzled by the film's colour, music and incredible acrobatics. Grade: B.

Cloud Atlas (out Feb 28) is a monumental piece of cinema that will take time to digest. There are 6 stories spread across 500 years that include 13 featured actors playing 61 different characters. Confused? Not sure I grasped everything on a first viewing but was impressed but film's bold vision and attempt to offer something different. Grade: B+.

Amour (out Feb 21) is a sad tale about the battles we face, both physical and mental, when we reach a ripe old age. It's a little drawn out but I was still impressed by the precise direction of Michael Haneke. The lack of music creates an uncomfortable vibe & the deliberate decision to not show certain events adds an element of mystery. Grade: B+.