Short Term 12

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2370248/

Review: Moves a little quickly but otherwise sensitive and honest with some excellent subtle performances.

Watch it if: You're ok with a film touching on some difficult subject matter.

And if you liked: On the Edge, Silver Linings Playbook, Nebraska

Check this out: Short Term 12

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

Director: George Miller and George Ogilvie

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089530/

Review: Adopts a lighter tone than what came before with an odd mix of good action set-pieces and shaky character work.

Watch it if: You're ok with a film that's not quite sure what it wants to be.

And if you liked: Planet of the Apes, Hook, Mad Max 2: Beyond Thunderdome

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Director: George Miller

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082694/

Review: Tight, fast and strong with unbelievable action and just the right about of melancholy to really make it stick.

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

And if you liked: Mad Max, Death Race 2000, Desperado, Fallout 3, Aliens

Battle for the Planet of the Apes

Director: J. Lee Thompson

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069768/

Review: Not offering a whole lot plot-wise but well built and enjoyable to watch.

Watch it if: You're willing to let the story play out as it tends to in a Planet of the Apes film.

And if you liked: Mad Max, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water

Director: Paul Tibbitt

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2279373/

Review: Not a lot more than a series of gags and ideas strung loosely together but they are good gags and fun ideas.

Watch it if: You're ok with the film having far fewer 3D scenes than the advertising suggests.

And if you liked: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

American Graffiti

Director: George Lucas

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069704/

Review: Builds at a nice slow pace with a strong period tone and engaging characters.

Watch it if: You want to see a well put together nostalgia piece.

And if you liked: Dazed and Confused, The Last Picture Show

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes

Director: J. Lee Thompson

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068408/

Review: A well measured and realised film that builds to a gripping and fascinating climax.

Watch it if: You're ok with the customarily grim approach to story from this series.

And if you liked: Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, District 9, Brazil

Empire Records

Director: Allan Moyle

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112950/

Review: Has enough going on to keep you interested as it goes but most of its ideas and emotion are fairly thin.

Watch it if: You enjoy some standard 90s teen fare.

And if you liked: Can’t Hardly Wait, 10 Things I Hate About You, High Fidelity

River's Edge

Director: Tim Hunter

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091860/

Review: Haunting and moody with some interesting tonal choices and nicely bizarre performances.

Watch it if: You want a slightly tilted coming of age kind of film.

And if you liked: Stand By Me, Twin Peaks, What Richard Did

Running Scared

Director: Wayne Kramer

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404390/

Review: Overcooked as hell but with a fairly consistently paced plot that keeps the interest up.

Watch it if: You're ok with a film going overboard at all times.

And if you liked: The Butterfly Effect, Smokin' Aces, Man on Fire (2004)