Criminal (2016)

This film is a good example of someone having an intriguing concept and using it to make a safe, generic thriller that has some interesting bits, but is ultimately a little bland. It has an all star cast featuring Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones etc. So there's no real problems on the acting front and I really liked when Costner's character Jericho was an utter prick, but most of the movie feels like it's on autopilot with lots of cliche's thrown in. It's not terrible though and still somewhat enjoyable overall, just a an OK forgettable thriller. Though it does pose a great question 'Who punches someone in a patisserie?'**1/2

Midnight Special (2016)

Here's a decent bit of sc-fi from the director of Mud and Take Shelter. Featuring solid performances from a good cast, Midnight Special is a film that stays intriguing throughout but never manages to reach beyond its intrigue. It has some really good moments especially it's wonderful climax but I failed to fully connect with the movie overall, so while I enjoyed it all, it was mainly because of how intriguing it was and nothing more. Still it's not a bad film and is still really well made with some cool ideas and a somewhat worthwhile climax. So if your just looking for a small bit of enjoyable sc-fi I'd still recommend it. ***

Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)

So here it is, the much anticipated superhero film directed by Zack Snyder and I'm just gonna jump right in and say that the film is a bit of a mess, but I enjoyed the hell out of it.
First off, I really liked Ben Affleck's take on Batman and how he is much darker and grittier than before. I know a lot of people hated it when he was first cast, but I thought he'd do a good job and he certainly did, Jeremy Irons as Alfred was also a good choice too.
I also really liked Jesse Eisenberg's portrayal of Lex Luthor, being a much more energetic mad scientist version of the character, that I think is a good contrast to the much sterner heroes. Henry Cavill is also still fine as Superman and the rest of the cast is pretty good too.
The film unfolds at a good pace and is never boring despite it's 151 minute runtime and includes a few unexpected moments and interesting dream sequences. It has a lot of great visuals and really good action too though the final fight does admittedly go on a little too long. It does actually go a little over the top in it's last act which will probably put a few people off, but I was totally on board with it. Soundtrack is good too and I still love Zimmer's Superman theme.
In terms of detractors it is a little over saturated and messy, there were a few points that could have been focused on more and handled a little better and it could have used with more of an emotional core. But other than that, I really enjoyed this and thought it was an epic thrilling spectacle.****

High-Rise (2016)

The latest offering from Ben Wheatley is a strange and chaotic experience, I overheard a guy sat behind me at the cinema calling it "the weirdest movie he had ever seen". Now I wouldn't go that far but it is a film that is certain to confuse a lot of casual viewers and if you go purely because Tom Hiddleston is in it, then be warned. The film jumps around alot and seems to deliberately have a disorienting structure which I found to be a little messy and clunky(not in  a good way) and is ultimately the films biggest flaw. Despite this though, the film is still compelling and has a good performances from it's large cast of notable actors and has a lot of intriguing things going on, as well as a few funny moments. Production design is also great with it's distinct 70's mixed with postmodern look and cinematography is all in all quite nice too.
Overall  it's a rather solid and strange dark comedy, that is uneven but enjoyable.

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

The unexpected second film in the Cloverfield franchise, 10 Cloverfield Lane drops the frantic found footage of the first film and instead delivers a more refined, self contained thriller. It features solid performances from its minuscule cast, particularly Jon Goodman who is on top form here. It's also well paced and features a lot of tense moments, especially the climax that is incredibly tense and engrossing. It's all just really well crafted and enjoyable and is just a really solid thriller, that is definitely worth checking out. ****

Zootropolis (2016)

Zootropolis (aka Zootopia) is Walt Disney Animation Studio's latest offering and is one of their best in recent years. A fun, vibrant film that looks great, is well paced and very funny throughout. What really makes the film stand out though, is the depth of it's subject matter and how it implements very current topics and issues like 'prejudice' and 'stereotyping' in a superb way by utilising the predator/prey dynamic of animals. It's a smart and interesting idea that is effective and easily digestible for anyone watching without being forceful in approach.
Add in some really good voice acting and you got yourselves a fantastic animated movie that I highly recommend. ****

Kaiju Fever: Son Of Godzilla (1967)

The second Godzilla film in a row set purely on an island location, Son of Godzilla and is a light and fun entry aiming to be more kid friendly. The film introduces Godzilla's son Minilla a horrible grey lump of rubber, that is far from the ball of cuteness it's meant to be. The Kamaracuras' and Kumonga on the other hand look great and are one of the films best highlights.
It's a just simple fun kaiju movie, with some enjoyable monster action. Nuff said.
***