Rust & Bone (out Apr 4) has merit as a character study but the fragmented story and abundance of subplots makes it hard to fully invest in. This French-Belgian film follows the up and down relationship between an aimless kick boxer and a woman who is injured while training whales at a theme park. Grade: B-.

The Croods (out Mar 28) is the latest from DreamWorks - a prehistoric animated flick about a family trying to escape earthquakes and adversaries. The themes are nothing new (see last year's Ice Age 4, Brave) but there are some nice Flintstones-like gags along with a quality cast. Grade: B.

Return To Nim's Island (out Mar 28) is like one of those kids shows that airs on commercial TV at 4pm in the afternoon. I realise I don't belong in the target demographic... but this is pretty ordinary. Young Nim (played by Bindi Irwin) teams up with a new friend to save her island from poachers and developers. Grade: C+.

The Loneliest Planet (out now) is a curious one. The lack of a clear narrative adds intrigue. Picture a Terrence Malick made travel documentary. Stars Gael Garcia Bernal and Hani Furstenberg trek across the mountains of Georgia and through the film, you'll asking the question - is something going to happen? Grade: B.

Hyde Park On Hudson (out Mar 28) is based on actual events - a weekend in 1939 when the King & Queen of England travelled to the United States to sure up support from President Roosevelt before WWII. This is an unfulfilling movie. It's an insignificant story told the perspective of a boring individual (Roosevelt's mistress) and provides little insight into the characters. Grade: C.

A Good Day To Die Hard (out Mar 21) has plenty of action but it's void of plot, suspense, comedy, dialogue and excitement. When you compare this to the original Die Hard, it's easy to see the deficiencies. Grade: C.

Barbara (out now) creates a compelling story in a period of history I find fascinating - East Germany in the 1980s. The lead character is a doctor looking to flee the country but when she realises such an action will affect the lives of those close to her, it becomes a tougher choice. Grade: B+.

Jack The Giant Slayer (out Mar 21) takes the Jack & The Beanstalk fairy tale and turns it into a fun, easy-to-watch adventure. The dialogue is cheesy but there are decent special effects and a few surprise deaths. In the leading role, Nicholas Hoult creates a likeable hero. Grade: B+.

Performance (out now) revolves around a successful string quartet battling a number of personal issues in the lead up to their next concert. It's a nice cast but I wasn't particularly enthused by these characters. Felt like the film was "plodding along" for large chunks. Grade: B-.

Mama (out now) is pretty damn freaky. It's a horror film that comes with an interesting premise, creepy ghoul and some nice cinematography. Not all of it works but this puts a slightly different spin on the genre with horror enthusiasts should enjoy. Grade: B+.