Roobla

If it’s beginning to look a bit too early for Christmas, or you’ve already had a gutful of festive flicks, then how about a Nazi war trial thriller to change the mood? Ironically enough, this one’s set in the city with supposedly one of the best Christmas markets going – well come on, it is but once a year, after all. But is the movie also up to scratch?

You’ve got to hand it to the Greeks. Over the years they’ve given the world culture, kebabs and cracking summer getaways. In return, Britain spirited away the priceless Parthenon Marbles from the Acropolis in Athens some 200 years ago, and they’ve been housed in the British Museum ever since. Or perhaps it’s just a case of finders keepers when it comes to the Elgin Marbles, to give them their more famous title.

If there’s one genre that can stir the imagination like no other, it’s time travel. Whatever the medium, there’s almost limitless potential to tap into, which in turn brings you along for the ride and transports you to some weird and wonderful places. Here we have a mockumentary that has the opportunity to do just that, but in its own tongue-in-cheek way. Sadly – and this is a genuine sentiment – Time Travel is Dangerous misses the mark by a good few light years.

They say life begins at 50, although for a film giant like Jaws, this special screening to mark a half-century since its release was more for people to see what they’d missed, rather than some kind of revival. But if any movie can demonstrate to today’s studio bosses why it’s cool to take risks, it’s surely Steven Spielberg‘s masterpiece. I’ve chalked up a few of these retro-screenings, and while it’s a little sad in a way that they’re saving the cinematic bacon right now, they’re always a blast.

Be honest, some of you out there were expecting to be disappointed, weren’t you? If that includes you, then don’t fret, because surely it’s never been nicer to be wrong. The Naked Gun, although far from flawless, should even go down well with the biggest detractors of deadpan humour. And what would the franchise be without that? It’s a brand of comedy that never goes out of fashion, which means audiences of all generations can sit back and enjoy this reloaded 2025 version. Maybe that’s bold talk.

Verona, 1301. You know the rest. Most of it, anyway. Juliet & Romeo, Romeo & Juliet: it doesn’t really matter here. What does matter is that this is Shakespeare as you’ve never seen it before – and you’ll be left wondering why. As a musical, and a pop musical at that, it won’t suit all tastes, but the way it’s acted, choreographed, and just generally put together, means that those involved probably don’t give a shiny sonnet.

First, the good news. If you’re an aspiring chef then this portrait of a genuine gastronomic trailblazer will inspire you even further to chase your dreams. The bad? If you’re an aspiring chef then this could put you off altogether. This might sound like a back-handed compliment to the late Charlie Trotter, but in truth it’s an indicator of how much of a one-off a person can be. This docu-biopic takes an intimate look at someone who was at the very top of his game and how he got there.

If you’re still fresh from a screening of The Terminator, you’ll appreciate the irony of the latest AI-genre offering that’s about to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. And if you take the time to give Surveillance a go, you may be pleasantly surprised as well. Not least because it’s also something of a return to form for Megan Fox, who’s right at home in this sci-fi that will shock you, thrill you, and even make you smirk through a smattering of dark humour.

Since Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley (and Jonesy of course!) emerged as the last remaining survivors of the ill-fated Nostromo crew in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi game changer, the Alien series has grasped pop culture tighter than a facehugger. The franchise and its monster(s) have become among the most important in the history of cinema, and through its constantly transforming and widening mythos, there seems to be more of an appetite than ever to see the series return to its origins.

The heady year of 1984 served film fans a raft of classics: Amadeus, Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, the list goes on. Unfortunately it was way before my time, but I’ve been reliably informed that the queues from my local cinema (now a Savoy) used to back all the way up to the Co-op (now a Wetherspoons), and trust me, that’s one very long line.