Maurice Compte and Gerard Butler star in a scene from the movie “Den of Thieves. Photo: CNS/STX Entertainment. By Kurt Jensen The hyper violent Den of Thieves is supposed to be a rollicking, quirky and farcical saga about a gang of bank robbers in dystopian and usually night-time Southern California led by Merrimen (Pablo Schreiber) and pursued by renegade, dyspeptic cop Nick Flanagan...

Animated characters Aunt Lucy, voiced by Imelda Statunton and Paddington, voiced by Ben Whishaw, appear in the movie ‘Paddington 2’. Photo: Warner Bros. By John Mulderig Unlikely as it seems, ‘Paddington 2’ (Warner Bros), an endearing blend of animation and live action, sends the much-loved bear of its title (voice of Ben Whishaw) to the slammer. More predictably, once imprisoned –...

Karen Gillan, Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart star in a scene from the movie ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’. Photo: Sony. By John Mulderig More than a few parents have, no doubt, had occasion to be alarmed at how easily – and how often – kids become absorbed by gadgetry these days. Perhaps they can take comfort in the fact that such preoccupation is nothing compared to what transpi...

The animated character Ferdinand appears in the movie “Ferdinand.” The Catholic News Service classification is A-I, general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG, parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. Photo: CNS/Blue Sky. By John Mulderig Generations of children have fallen in love with the peace-loving protagonist of ...

Animated characters appear in the movie “The Star.” Photo: CNS/Sony Pictures. By John Mulderig A holiday treat suitable for all but the tiniest, The Star (Sony) is a delightful animated version of the Christmas story told from the perspective of some of the animals present in the manger. Director Timothy Reckart and screenwriter Carlos Kotkin skilfully balance religious themes suc...

Denzel Washington and Colin Farrell star in star in a scene from the movie “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” Photo: CNS/Sony By John Mulderig Writer-director Dan Gilroy’s drama Roman J. Israel, Esq. is a generally intriguing character study pitting idealism against the hard realities of contemporary life and the allure of wealth and comfort. Though the film takes left-wing values for granted...

Hector and Miguel embark on an epic adventure in Disney Pixar’s Coco. Photo: Supplied. By Daniele Foti-Cuzzola For more than 20 years, Pixar have crafted stories that have taken viewers of all ages on unforgettable journeys, from the depths of the ocean, to outer space, to the Scottish highlands and Parisian kitchens. But Director Lee Unkrich’s (Toy Story 3) latest offering Coco takes...

Dan Stephens and Christopher Plummer in a scene from the film ‘The Man Who Invented Christmas’Photo: CNS Photo/Bleeker Street. By John Mulderig Its rather ill-chosen title notwithstanding, The Man Who Invented Christmas (Bleecker Street) involves no denial of the Nativity. Instead, this charming fact-based historical drama tells the origin story of Victorian author Charles Dickens’...

A holiday treat suitable for all but the tiniest, The Star (Sony) is an animated version of the Christmas story told from the perspective of animals in the manger. By John Mulderig. The Record Magazine has 10 tickets to The Star to give away. Simply tell us why Christmas is special for you and your family. Please include your name, postal address and a contact number. Winners announced Monday 18 December.

When it comes to repetitiously threatening the world with annihilation, Hollywood is almost as persistent as North Korean state media. So the global danger looming over Justice League (Warner Bros.) feels all-too-familiar. Set to bring on the apocalypse this time is Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), a giant alien who wants to reassemble a trio of energy-generating boxes collectively known as the Unity. By John Mulderig.