The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Director: Peter Jackson
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1170358

Review: Ends on a very dissatisfying note despite being far too long with an odd mix of excellent and ropey special effects.

Watch it if: You've been to the bathroom.

And if you liked: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Saving Mr. Banks

Director: John Lee Hancock
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140373/

Review: Runs a bit long and has some score issues but manages to convey a genuinely moving and sweet story.

Watch it if: You're ok with some sentiment in a film.

And if you liked: Mary Poppins, Radio Flyer

Legally Blonde

Director: Robert Luketic
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250494

Review: Takes a few easy ways out storywise but moves along at a brisk pace and stays enjoyable throughout.

Watch it if: You're not too worried about plot and just want something light and fun.

And if you liked: Mean Girls, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, Bridget Jones' Diary

Check this out: Legally Blonde

Don Jon

Director: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2229499/

Review: Takes a few easy ways out towards the end but overall holds up as an original and funny story that's well cast and edited really nicely.

Watch it if: You're ok with a lot of explicit sexual imagery and conversation.

And if you liked: Shame, The Way Way Back, Superbad

The Counsellor

Director: Ridley Scott
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2193215/

Review: An absolute mess without any sort of clear through-line filled with silly symbolism that somehow manages to be both heavy handed and unclear.

Watch it if: You thought Prometheus was a bad film.

And if you liked: Breaking Bad, No Country for Old Men

Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D.

Director: Gordon Flemyng
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060278/

Review: Shows its seems a bit and very daft but a lot of fun with some impressive special effects and stuntwork.

Watch it if: You're into Doctor Who I guess?

And if you liked: Doctor Who, Dr. Who and the Daleks

Check this out: The Dalek Invasion of Earth

Dr. Who and the Daleks

Director: Gordon Flemyng
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059126/

Review: Dated and silly in a few places but decent fun nonetheless with some pretty great performances.

Watch it if: You're into Doctor Who I guess?

And if you liked: Doctor Who, Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D., Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Check this out: The Daleks

Gravity

Director: Alfonso Cuarón
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/

Review: A really beautiful technical achievement that really holds attention and stress levels all the way through.

Watch it if: You're not prone to claustrophobic panic attacks.

And if you liked: 2001: A Space Odyssey, 2010, Moon, Children of Men

Thor: The Dark World

Director: Alan Taylor
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1981115/

Review: All over the place in the middle and feels a bit inconsequential but fairly enjoyable and romping overall.

Watch it if: You are just so damn into concept art.

And if you liked: Thor, The Empire Strikes Back, The Lord of the Rings

The Mummy

Director: Karl Freund
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023245/

Review: A good story with really nice special effects and a great spooky lead performance.

Watch it if: You can handle a few outdated and now offensive tropes.

And if you liked: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Frankenstein, Dracula

Bad Milo

Director: Jacob Vaughan
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2274570/

Review: Fun enough with a few good laughs and a reasonably tense third act considering how (intentionally) silly the premise is.

Watch it if: You can handle a fair amount of fart humour.

And if you liked: Office Space, Gremlins

Paperhouse

Director: Bernard Rose
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098061/

Review: A great creepy premise brought to life well with a spooky atmosphere and nicely surreal art direction.

Watch it if: You're looking for something a bit atypical.

And if you liked: Candyman, Tideland, The Truman Show, The Lovely Bones

Check this out: Marianne Dreams

Hell Baby

Director: Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2318527/

Review: Not many really big belly laughs but still plenty of fun with a lot of great comedy people.

Watch it if: You're ok with a film essentially being just a bag of jokes.

And if you liked: Tucker and Dale vs Evil, This Is the End, My Name Is Bruce

House on Haunted Hill

Director: William Castle
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051744/

Review: Tense and creepy with a fun plot and a brilliantly spooky Vincent Price performance.

Watch it if: You're ok with a nice slow pace to build tension.

And if you liked: The Woman in Black (2012), The Devil Rides Out

Patrick (2013)

Director: Mark Hartley
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2147459/

Review: Ridiculous and loaded with odd choices and dodgy special effects but still a lot of fun to sit through.

Watch it if: You can embrace the absurdity in something despite it not being particularly strong.

And if you liked: Shutter Island, The Exorcist III, American Horror Story: Asylum

Check this out: Patrick

Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1

Director: Lloyd Kaufman
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2279922/

Review: Needs to be far funnier to justify the amount of crass, stupid and juvenile humour.

Watch it if: You're ok with a large amount if gratuitous nudity.

And if you liked: Street Trash, Scary Movie

Check this out: Class of Nuke 'Em High

Rituals

Director: Peter Carter
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076630

Review: Grueling and scary with beautiful scenery and suitably intense performances.

Watch it if: You like a good tense atmosphere even when the story isn't the strongest.

And if you liked: Deliverance, The Blair Witch Project, Straw Dogs

V/H/S/2

Director: Simon Barratt, Jason Eisener, Gareth Evans, Gregg Hale, Eduardo Sánchez, Timo Tjahjanto and Adam Wingard
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2450186/

Review: A huge step above the first film with some really strong moments and some great production even when the ideas aren't as good.

Watch it if: You're ok with some gory violence.

And if you liked: V/H/S, Paranormal Activity

Eyes Without a Face

Director: Georges Franju
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053459/

Review: Tense and distressing plot with a dreamlike atmosphere and a haunting set of performances.

Watch it if: You can handle a fairly graphic surgery scene.

And if you liked: The Third Man, The Skin I Live In, Frankenstein

Check this out: Les Yeux Sans Visage

Phantasm II

Director: Don Coscarelli
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095863/

Review: A bit more coherent than the first film with decent special effects and a meandering plot.

Watch it if: You're looking into the Phantasm films like I am.

And if you liked: Phantasm, The Omen

Orphan

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1148204/

Review: Fairly by the numbers in some places and fairly insane in others but quite watchable and entertaining overall.

Watch it if: You can handle some wince-inducing scenes of violence.

And if you liked: We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Omen, Halloween

Phantasm

Director: Don Coscarelli
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079714/

Review: Strangely paced but a fair amount of good scares and a decent brooding atmosphere.

Watch it if: You're ok with a bit of gore and nudity.

And if you liked: Halloween, The Evil Dead

The Skin I Live In

Director: Pedro Almodóvar
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1189073/

Review: Absolutely bonkers but beautifully shot and scored with an exceptionally intriguing plot that keeps you guessing all the way through.

Watch it if: You can handle some very intimate creepiness.

And if you liked: Exotica, Dead Ringers
 
Check this out: Mygale

Street Trash

Director: Jim Muro
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094057/

Review: Very strange and meandering but full of great odd moments and icky special effects.

Watch it if: You're ok with gore and some uncomfortable gross-out scenes.

And if you liked: Bad Taste, Return of the Living Dead, Pink Flamingos

Resident Evil: Retribution

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1855325/

Review: Confused, stupid and far more interested in slow motion CG flying kicks than any sort of compelling sense of anything.

Watch it if: You're stupid like me.

And if you liked: Resident Evil: Afterlife, Aliens, Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Pin

Director: Sandor Stern
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095871/

Review: A good amount of tension and creepiness with a strong atmosphere and well played leads.
 
Watch it if: You can handle a fair amount of uncanny valley.

And if you liked: Psycho, Stoker, Re-Animator
 
Check this out: Pin

Night of the Creeps

Director: Fred Drekker
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091630/

Review: Enjoyable and daft with some good special effects and an immensely entertaining supporting performance.

Watch it if: You're comfortable with some violence and unnecessary nudity.

And if you liked: Return of the Living Dead, Shivers, Halloween 3: Season of the Witch

The Car

Director: Elliot Silverstein
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075809/

Review: Good over the top fun with some tense action and impressive stuntwork.

Watch it if: You're ok with a little bit of set wobbling.

And if you liked: Death Proof, Jaws, Death Race 2000

Antiviral

Director: Brandon Cronenberg
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2099556/

Review: Deeply unsettling and strongly original with some great prop design and a mesmerizing and weird central performance.

Watch it if: You can handle a fair amount of hypodermic needle scenes.

And if you liked: Looper, Pi, Primer, Black Mirror

Grabbers

Director: Jon Wright
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1525366/

Review: A little rushed in its character arcs but some good humour and great special effects.

Watch it if: You can handle a bit of silly fantasy violence.

And if you liked: Gremlins, Black Sheep, Piranha (2010), A Film with Me in It

Rosemary's Baby

Director: Roman Polanski
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063522/

Review: Shocking and unsettling even now, with a haunting score and a mesmerizing central performance full of pathos.

Watch it if: You've somehow never seen it like me.

And if you liked: The Sentinel, Don't Look Now, The Omen, The Wicker Man

Check this out: Rosemary's Baby

Leprechaun 2

Director: Rodman Flender
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110329/

Review: More entertaining than the first one but still pretty uneven and unengaging.

Watch it if: You're looking into the Leprechaun films like I am.

And if you liked: Leprechaun, Wishmaster

Curse of Chucky

Director: Don Mancini
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2230358/

Review: Pretty solid horror that loses its way a little when it starts going into backstory but still offers plenty to enjoy.

Watch it if: You're looking into the Chucky films like I am.

And if you liked: Child's Play, Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street

Silent Hill: Revelation

Director: Michael J. Bassett
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0938330/

Review: A few pieces of good design buried in a mess of exceptionally unconvincing CG and awkward mythology based plot pieces.

Watch it if: You're stupid like me.

And if you liked: Silent Hill, Hellraiser: Revelations, S. Darko, House on Haunted Hill (1999)

Leprechaun

Director: Mark Jones
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107387

Review: Has some funny moments but fairly uneven and oddly paced.

Watch it if: You're looking into the Leprechaun films like I am.

And if you liked: Gremlins, Child's Play, Return of the Living Dead Part 2

Seed of Chucky

Director: Don Mancini
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387575/

Review: Completely unpredictable and bizarre with some unique twists and a lot of nods to horror throughout history.

Watch it if: You're looking into the Chucky films like I am.

And if you liked: Wes Craven's New Nightmare, Bride of Chucky, Idle Hands

Tales from the Crypt: Ritual

Director: Avi Nesher
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250698/
 
Review: Not particularly gripping, some very dodgy special effects and a very bad taste last second epilogue that kills any good will you could possibly have for the film.
 
Watch it if: You're ok with some uncomfortable ethnic tropes.
 
And if you liked: Zombie Flesh Eaters, Angel Heart
 
Check this out: I Walked with a Zombie

Bride of Chucky

Director: Ronny Yu
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144120/

Review: Good bloody fun with some enjoyably silly dialogue and creative death scenes.

Watch it if: You're looking into the Chucky films like I am.

And if you liked: Child's Play 2, Child's Play 3, Idle Hands

Child's Play 3

Director: Jack Bender
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103956/
 
Review: Well put together with a rolling plot and great tense action.
 
Watch it if: You're looking into the Child's Play films like I am.
 
And if you liked: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Child's Play, Child's Play 2

Child's Play 2

Director: John Lafia
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099253/

Review: Good silly fun with impressive puppetry and a wonderfully gruesome third act.

Watch it if: You're looking into the Child's Play films like I am.

And if you liked: Child's Play

Paranormal Activity 3

Director: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1778304/

Review: Less boring than the second one but not bringing anything new or interesting to the table.

Watch it if: You're stupid like me.

And if you liked: Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2

Texas Chainsaw

Director: John Luessenhop
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1572315/
 
Review: An exercise in missing the point riddled with ugly special effects, trite clichés and outdated gender tropes.

Watch it if: You're stupid like me.

And if you liked: Halloween II, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

Blue Jasmine

Director: Woody Allen
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2334873

Review: Flows really nicely with an intriguing story, strong characters and an excellent central performance.

Watch it if: You can handle some social awkwardness in a movie.

And if you liked: Silver Linings Playbook, Manhattan,

About Time

Director: Richard Curtis
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194499
 
Review: A little meandering and inconsistent but loaded with charm, wit and sweetness.
 
Watch it if: You like romantic comedies but would like some more realistic dialogue.
 
And if you liked: Groundhog Day, Bridget Jones's Diary

The Way Way Back

Director: Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727388/
 
Review: A little less offbeat than it needs to be but still moving and funny in all the right places.
 
Watch it if: You enjoy a good coming of age movie.
 
And if you liked: Adventureland, Camp Nowhere, Dazed and Confused, Radio Flyer

Elysium

Director: Neill Blomkamp
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535108

Review: Falls a little short of gripping and has a few logical leaps but it's refreshing to see an action sci-fi that tries something a bit new and interesting.

Watch it if: You're ok with some splattery violence.

And if you liked: Total Recall (2012), District 9, The Matrix

Kick-Ass 2

Director: Jeff Wadlow
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1650554

Review: A few moments and laughs but nowhere near as fresh or clever as the original and has a very messy and disjointed script.

Watch it if: You're ok with seeing Evan Peters being recast. Nope.

And if you liked: Kick-Ass, Mean Girls

Check this out: Kick-Ass 2

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa

Director: Declan Lowney
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469021/

Review: A little unfocused but has a great premise and is full of solid jokes.

Watch it if: You're a fan of Alan Partridge.

And if you liked: I'm Alan Partridge, Hot Fuzz, Four Lions

Major Payne

Director: Nick Castle
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110443
 
Review: One or two chuckles but mostly fairly grating and dull.
 
Watch it if: Super light family comedies are your thing.
 
And if you liked: Sgt. Bilko, Police Academy
 
Check this out: The Private War of Major Benson

Only God Forgives

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1602613

Review: A little vague towards the end but very powerful and engaging with genuinely beautiful photography.

Watch it if: You can handle seeing some very intense violence.

And if you liked: Drive, Lost Highway, Irreversible, Enter the Void

The Wolverine

Director: James Mangold
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430132
 
Review: A few good action sequences and moments buried in a pretty baffling and incomprehensible plot.
 
Watch it if: You're ok with a strangely large amount of bloodless death.
 
And if you liked: Resident Evil, X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand

The Heat

Director: Paul Feig
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404463

Review: Starts a little slow but soon builds some momentum and delivers some big laughs and good fun.

Watch it if: You can handle some swearing and violence.

And if you liked: 21 Jump Street, Hot Fuzz

The World's End

Director: Edgar Wright
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213663

Review: More successful as a science fiction than it is as a comedy but still has a few good laugh out loud moments and a good plot.

Watch it if: You've already got a decent interest in the trilogy it's a part of.

And if you liked: Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Return of the Jedi

Pacific Rim

Director: Guillermo del Toro
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663662/

Review: An unbelievably gripping roller-coaster ride with seriously effecting action and a strong story that keeps you guessing all the way through.

Watch it if: You enjoy life and positive experiences.

And if you liked: Star Wars, The Avengers, Godzilla

Upstream Color

Director: Shane Carruth
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084989

Review: Gripping and fascinating all the way through with a strong tangible texture a strangely easy to follow plot.

Watch it if: You're ok with a certain bizarre earnestness.

And if you liked: Primer, After Earth, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This Is the End

Director: Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogen
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245492/

Review: A bit too daft at some points but mostly stays funny throughout with a decent plot thread and well executed ideas.

Watch it if: You're ok with some violence and humour entering some uncomfortable areas.

And if you liked: Pineapple Express, The Mist, Ghostbusters, Zombieland

Check this out: Jay and Seth Versus the Apocalypse

Behind the Candelabra

Director: Steven Soderbergh
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1291580

Review: Drags a little towards the end but holds up as a bizarre, funny and open portrait of a superstar.

Watch it if: You can handle the sight of constant glittering rhinestones.

And if you liked: Milk, The Social Network

Check this out: Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace

Man of Steel

Director: Zack Snyder
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770828/

Review: A pretty solid and entertaining film that takes its tone a little seriously and humourlessly considering how bonkers and fun its action sequences are.

Watch it if: You can handle seeing 9/11 imagery everywhere.

And if you liked: The Dark Knight Rises, Superman II, Thor

The Iceman

Director: Ariel Vromen
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1491044/

Review: A little repetitive in places but holds up as a pretty strong thriller with some really good performances.

Watch it if: You can handle some cold violence.

And if you liked: The Killer Inside Me, Alpha Dog,

Check this out: Richard Kuklinski

Galaxy Quest

Director: Dean Parisot
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177789/

Review: A good idea well executed with a bit of an odd pace but a great strong cast.

Watch it if: You like a bit of meta humour and a Star Trek joke or two.

And if you liked: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Men in Black, Star Trek, Coneheads

Hot Rod

Director: Akiva Schaffer

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787475/

Review: Daft, ridiculous and lots of fun with a great silly tone.

Watch it if: You enjoy some really good slapstick.

And if you liked: Napoleon Dynamite, Wet Hot American Summer, Rushmore

Mud

Director: Jeff Nichols

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1935179/

Review: A little long but holds together pretty well as an engaging comking of age story with excellent performances throughout.

Watch it if: You're ok with a patient story pace.

And if you liked: Stand by Me, Beasts of the Southern Wild, True Grit (2010)

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Director: Baz Luhrmann

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343092

Review: After a truly irritating first hour it settles into a fairly watchable take on the story.

Watch it if: You can get through some seriously over saturated hamminess and anachronistic music.

And if you liked: Moulin Rouge, The Black Dahlia

Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon

Director: Stephen C. Mitchell
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1884431

Review: Pretty honest and immersive film with some very strange characters that meanders a fair amount in the middle.

Watch it if: You enjoy a good music documentary.

And if you liked: End of the Century, Meeting People is Easy, The Last Exorcism

Star Trek Into Darkness

Director: J.J. Abrams
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1408101/

Review: A few improbabilities here and there but otherwise holds up as a strong action movie with clever uses and subversions of expectations.

Watch it if: You like... Star... Trek?

And if you liked: Star Trek, The Empire Strikes Back

Sound City

Director: Dave Grohl
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2306745/

Review: Loses its way a little towards the end but otherwise presents a good story that's full of interesting material.

Watch it if: You have any kind of interest in music production.

And if you liked: Side by Side, End of the Century

Taken 2

Director: Olivier Megaton
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1397280/

Review: Even after removing the difficult subject matter it's not nearly as fun or straight forward as the first film.

Watch it if: You can't resist a sequel.

And if you liked: Mission: Impossible, Pusher (2012)

Taken

Director: Pierre Morel
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/

Review: Has a little mood whiplash when it focuses on the villains' enterprise but otherwise holds up as a refreshingly straight forward and stripped down piece of action.

Watch it if: You can handle Liam Neeson's confusing American accent.

And if you liked: The Raid, Ronin

Pitch Perfect

Director: Jason Moore
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1981677

Review: Has a few small pacing issues but otherwise holds up as a fun movie that pulls you in and makes you care about its world.

Watch it if: You're not put off by a certain TV show's take on the subject matter.

And if you liked: Drop Dead Gorgeous, Best in Show, Mean Girls, Easy A

Check this out: Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory

The Sessions

Director: Ben Lewin
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1866249/

Review: A beautiful portrayal of an unusual subject with heaps of wit and honesty.

Watch it if: You're comfortable with a fair amount of nudity and sexuality.

And if you liked: The Singing Detective

Check this out: On Seeing a Sex Surrogate

Silver Linings Playbook

Director: David O. Russell
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045658

Review: Some strange camerawork choices but otherwise disarming with its humour and moving in a very genuine and honest way.

Watch it if: You can get past the sickening trailer. It doesn't represent the film well.

And if you liked: The Fighter, Side Effects, As Good as It Gets

Check this out: The Silver Linings Playbook

Iron Man 3

Director: Shane Black
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1300854/

Review: A strong and original character based movie with genuine humour and inventive action.

Watch it if: You're interested in these comic book action movies.

And if you liked: Iron Man, The Avengers, Terminator 2: Judgment Day

The Other Guys

Director: Adam McKay
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1386588

Review: A few individual funny moments but mostly bogged down by an unsteady pace and a disjointed narrative.

Watch it if: You've already watched all the decent Will Ferrell films.

And if you liked: 21 Jump Street, Step Brothers

Evil Dead (2013)

Director: Fede Alvarez
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1288558/

Review: Difficult to engage with for a while but really comes back with a hugely violent and original climactic third act.

Watch it if: You can handle large amounts of gore and violence.

And if you liked: The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Drag Me to Hell, The Exorcist

Spring Breakers

Director: Harmony Korine
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2101441/

Review: Fairly aimless and meandering but holds up as a pretty bizarre and gorgeous looking exercise in dissonance.

Watch it if: You can handle a lot of nudity and some uncomfortable violence.

And if you liked: Drive, Lost Highway, Saints Row: The Third

Slacker

Director: Richard Linklater
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102943

Review: Drags a little in places but mostly holds up as an interesting idea that manages to engage and experiment.

Watch it if: You're happy enough watching a film without a central plot running through it.

And if you liked: Waking Life, My Dinner with Andre, Dazed & Confused

Oblivion

Director: Joseph Kosinski
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1483013/
 
Review: Drags a little bit in a few places but otherwise holds up as solid science-fiction with gorgeous and excellently executed production and sound design.
 
Watch it if: You're interested in serious science-fiction driven by ideas.
 
And if you liked: Moon, Silent Running, Prometheus

Trance

Director: Danny Boyle
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924429

Review: Has some interesting visuals and music but is rife with logical fallacies and empty profundity.

Watch it if: You really feel the need to. I think it will only get less interesting once its outside of a cinema setting.

And if you liked: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Memento, 127 Hours

Check this out: Trance

The Inbetweeners Movie

Director: Ben Palmer
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1716772

Review: Not quite as clever or witty as the tv show but still quite funny and enjoyable.

Watch it if: You've already enjoyed The Inbetweeners.

And if you liked: Superbad, American Pie, The Hangover

Side Effects

Director: Steven Soderbergh
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2053463/

Review: A few small leaps in logic but otherwise remains engaging and focused with some lovely visuals and superb editing.

Watch it if: You enjoy watching a good story just play out.

And if you liked: Headhunters, The Social Network

Oz the Great and Powerful

Director: Sam Raimi
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1623205
 
Review: Has a few nice moments but falls flat for the most part despite some enjoyable performances.
 
Watch it if: You like Sam Raimi and Oz stuff I guess.
 
And if you liked: The Wizard of Oz, Army of Darkness, Return of the Jedi

Stoker

Director: Chan-wook Park
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1682180

Review: A little uneven but that doesn't stop it from being subtly performed and richly shot with a deep sense of foreboding tension throughout.

Watch it if: You're not too sensitive to a few scenes of rough violence.

And if you liked: Psycho, Mulholland Drive, Rope, Old Boy

Adventureland

Director: Greg Mottola
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1091722

Review: A disarmingly sweet and charming film with a a nice visual style and enjoyable soundtrack.

Watch it if: You're not in a cynical mood.

And if you liked: Camp Nowhere, Dazed and Confused

Much Ado About Nothing (2012)

Director: Joss Whedon
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2094064
 
Review: A surprisingly engaging film with a lovely visual style and a strong sense of humour.

Watch it if: You're able to embrace Shakespearean text if presented well.

And if you liked: Festen, Romeo + Juliet, 10 Things I Hate About You

The French Connection

Director: William Friedkin
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067116

Review: Strong story with great attention to detail, believable characters and impressive action that still holds up today.

Watch it if: You've somehow never seen it like me.

And if you liked: Dirty Harry, American Gangster

Check this out: The French Connection

Side by Side

Director: Christopher Kenneally
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2014338

Review: Fascinating, engaging and informative with a lot of interesting insights and entertaining people.

Watch it if: You have some sort of interest in film-making.

And if you liked: Indie Game: The Movie, Exit Through the Gift Shop

Lincoln

Director: Steven Spielberg
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443272

Review: Runs too long but otherwise sits as an impressive piece of work that manages to build cinematic tension despite prior historical knowledge.

Watch it if: You have some sort of interest in American political history.

And if you liked: A Man for All Seasons, Paths of Glory

Check this out: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

L.A. Confidential

Director: Curtis Hanson
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119488

Review: Gripping story with beautiful cinematography and a strong cast.

Watch it if: You want a good noir thriller.

And if you liked: The Black Dahlia, Miller's Crossing, Good Night, and Good Luck.

Check this out: L.A. Confidential

Wreck-It Ralph

Director: Rich Moore
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772341/

Review: Very well written and enjoyable with a strong story and plenty of genuinely funny gags.

Watch it if: You have ever enjoyed a video game.

And if you liked: Toy Story, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Bolt, How to Train Your Dragon

Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie

Director: Tim Heidecker & Eric Wareheim
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1855401

Review: Some great moments and bizarre scenes but not nearly as laugh out loud funny as their tv show.

Watch it if: You're a fan of Tim and Eric and have a strong stomach.

And if you liked: Step Brothers, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!

Zero Dark Thirty

Director: Kathryn Bigelow
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt179088

Review: Intriguing and complex with a lot to think on and a gripping third act.

Watch it if: You can handle a few very uncomfortable scenes of torture.

And if you liked: Argo, Michael Clayton, Moneyball

Indie Game: The Movie

Director: Lisanne Pajot & James Swirsky
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1942884

Review: A beautifully put together and fascinating insight into the minds of indie game developers.

Watch it if: You're interested in seeing a different kind of passion in people.

And if you liked: Project Nim, Man on Wire, King of Kong

Mad Max

Director: George Miller
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079501/

Review: Just a lot of fun action with great chase sequences and impressive stuntwork.

Watch it if: You somehow have never seen it like me.

And if you liked: Death Race 2000, Dirty Harry, Death Proof, Dredd, Death Wish

Porco Rosso

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104652/

Review: Bizarre and charming movie with a gorgeous score and lots of great little moments.

Watch it if: You want a movie that can be fun and simple even with a political backdrop.

And if you liked: Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo

Django Unchained

Director: Quentin Tarantino
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1853728/

Review: Difficult to watch in some places & extremely funny in others with a very fun pace that never feels long.

Watch it if: You're ok with some very uncomfortable and very bloody violence.

And if you liked: Inglourious Basterds, From Dusk Til Dawn, O Brother Where Art Thou?

Check this out: Django