War by the numbers

"Green Zone" is the latest in a crop of movies based on the war in Iraq, but unlike "The Hurt Locker", this by-the-numbers thriller won't be bothering Oscars voters. The movie sees Matt Damon reuniting with Paul Greengrass, director of the last two "Bourne" movies, but unfortunately the results are less than compelling.

Fresh spin on old classic

Tim Burton's films can be massively overhyped disappointments, but "Alice in Wonderland" thankfully isn't one of them: this is a dark, weird, mind-bending adventure. The cast is led by Mia Wasikowska, an actress who's Australian, a knock-out and destined for stardom; imagine a cross between Gwyneth Paltrow and Taylor Swift.

Slow burner

When you go to see an Oscar-nominated film, you expect quality all round: quality directing, quality performances, quality script. "Crazy Heart" is quality alright, but unfortunately it's still kind of boring.

Winning team-up

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorcese have worked together on "The Departed”, "The Aviator" and "Gangs of New York", and their winning team-up continues in the compelling and moody "Shutter Island". This is one of those films with a big twist at the end, one you'll probably see coming if you're familiar with cinema plot conventions.

An unforgettable experience

Produced by Oprah Winfrey and featuring a cast of the most unlikely stars, "Precious" is something of an 'anti-"Avatar"' - a humble, low budget film rich in character drama that rings true to life. Claireece 'Precious' Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) is a 16-year-old girl from Harlem, coping with the most excruciating circumstances.

Howlingly bad

When "New Moon" hit cinemas in late 2009, starring a well-muscled and frequently shirtless Taylor Lautner as werewolf Jacob Black, it was speculated that lupine beasties might wrest the title of Pop Culture's Favourite Monster from vampires.

Unhappily ever after

There's an old stereotype that women love rom-coms and men despise them. It doesn't apply to "Valentine's Day" — this is a movie that all genders will despise equally. Sure, the film has that much-talked-about all-star cast.

A captivating moral tale

Prison movies probably find it easier to tell complicated moral tales while generating empathy for their characters. I mean, what would you do if you were a skinny teenager and a bunch of homicidal bullies presented you with a murderous to-do list and you had time to kill (or be killed; it's cliche but let's face it)? That is Malik's (Tahar Rahim) dilemma.

This is no Twilight

"Daybreakers" is the sort of schlocky, over-the-top stuff that you get a kick out of even though you probably shouldn't. Despite its vampire-centric plot, this is no "Twilight": the bloodsuckers in "Daybreakers" have taken over the world, harvesting blood from an ever-dwindling number of humans.

Explosive thriller locks you in

From its nerve-shredding opening sequence, it's clear "The Hurt Locker" is no ordinary war movie. Wasting no time with posturing, director Kathryn Bigelow plunges us straight into the action with a special bomb disposal unit on the front line in Iraq.