Release Year: 2011

‘Love In Space’ doesn’t quite perform with the same surprising wit of ‘Hot Summer Days’, but is remarkably successful given the elements of deja-vu that pop up throughout.

Despite being obsessively devoted to the rom-com rule book – so much so that you can almost pinpoint the exact minute of each expected twist – this is something of a refreshing surprise.

‘Mr & Mrs Single’ still retains a certain freshness that is surprising considering how well-worn the themes are.

It’s just so generic, so riddled with the current Chinese cinematic pox that it is impossible to care about.

Blessed with the presence of Aoi Miyazaki – possibly the cutest actress in the universe – the story of two ordinary people dealing with life-changing illness is uplifting without being glib.

‘My Way’ is a based-on-true-events film with significant embellishments and dramatic orchestration. Of course, that’s not to say it isn’t very affecting overall though.

A fiercely independent feature, sometimes to its own detriment, ‘New World’ is still a fascinating travelogue and fish-out-of-water escapade that is oddly charming.

This particular hybrid is a healthy beast rather than a corrupted mutant and works surprisingly well as a police procedural thriller.

The new animation style makes it feel very unique and there’s a real larger-than-life approach to the whole production.

While ‘Overheard’ was an excellent homage to the great American conspiracy films of the 70s, the in-name-only sequel is a more routine two hours with a far less incisive denouement.

For a romantic comedy to have a pair of protagonists who prove so completely dislikeable means the film shoots hits itself in the foot with the very first bullet.

‘Punch’ is hamstrung by its chronic lack of focus or intent. It verges on being episodic such is the fractured nature of the narrative and the 120 minutes that are lavished on it just compounds the problem.