What's on the big screen this week
There is something for everyone at the movies this weekend, from an unexpectedly great comedic pairing in Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling to a Kiwi box office hit that will bring out your inner rebel.
Here are some of the highlights and why should you see them.
NEW RELEASES
Alice Through the Looking Glass (PG)
Aussie actress Mia Wasikowska returns as Underland heroine Alice, who is now on the cusp of adulthood. She must put her real-world problems aside to help her own friend the Mad Hatter, who is suffering a mysterious sickness only she can cure.
Why you should see it: This film is visually stunning, vibrant and certainly not dull. Alice's adventures will inspire young girls but this sequel isn't quite as strong story-wise as Tim Burton's original. Read the review.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (PG)
A defiant city kid goes on the run from the authorities with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues and the two must put aside their differences to survive.
Why you should see it: This hilarious and heartfelt adventure is Kiwi director Taika Waititi's best film yet. Quirky, yet beautifully shot, it celebrates the rebel spirit. Leading man Sam Neill also has great chemistry with his young co-star Julian Dennison. Read the review.
The Nice Guys (MA1 15+)
Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling play two investigators whose unlikely partnership uncovers a wide-reaching conspiracy in 1970s Los Angeles.
Why you should see it This film, directed by Lethal Weapon screenwriter Shane Black, doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. What it does instead is execute an action buddy comedy very well, paying homage to the genre Black himself helped to establish. Read the review.
STILL IN CINEMAS
X-Men: Apocalypse (M)
The younger cast of X-Men mutants is back with a few new additions including Australia's own Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nightcrawler, Game of Thrones Sophie Turner as Jean Grey and Alexandra Shipp as Storm.
The X-Men must unite against a new threat: the world's first mutant, Apocalypse.
Why you should see it: While the critics say it's not the strongest instalment in the franchise, this latest film still has strong performances from the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender plus plenty of action. Read the review.
Bad Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising (MA 15+)
Mac Radner (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) return and their life is fairly peaceful until the students of Kappa Nu arrive next door. What happens next require an alliance with a old enemy.
Why you should see it: The first one was quite funny. Let's see if there enough there to back it up with a sequel.
Captain America: Civil War (M)
Military poster boy Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, finds himself a loggerheads with Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, as the world's governments try to force regulatory oversight on the Avengers' globe-trotting activities.
Why you should see it: This is by far Marvel's best film yet, combining epic Avengers-style battles with well-timed humour and emotional gravitas. There's a reason it's still at the top of the box office three weeks after its release. Read the review.
