[4.25/10] Cub (2014)

Cub (2014)

Quick Review: Unfortunately, far from being 'European horror at its finest', despite its big potential on paper, considering the film's rather interesting premise, "Cub" has too many flaws and shortcomings to be considered any successful, or even mildly effective -- from the below-par execution and way underdeveloped characters, to the hackneyed wood setting and semi-entertaining story, everything about this Belgian horror is half-baked, plus, it lacks bite and sheer intensity big time.

[3.50/10] The Pyramid (2014)

The Pyramid (2014)

Quick Review: Taking place in an underground pyramid filled with dark tunnels and creepy chambers, the film is inevitably claustrophobic, but that is "The Pyramid" one and only strength, as everything else is lame beyond believe, from the ludicrous plot, irritating characters and pretty awful camera work, to the absolutely cheesy special effects and utter lack of quality scares. Also, if you expect to see the ominous-looking mummy from the poster, you'll probably end up deeply disappointed.

[8.00/10] The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2014)

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2014)

Quick Review: Wise, gentle, and beautiful in its simplicity "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" is a breath of fresh air in the sea of CGI features, as its superbly-crafted hand-drawn animation is not only mesmerizing to look at and experience, but it also showcases the amount of talent and hard work involved in its execution. Portraying a story as enchanting as heartfelt, this film will not only feast your eyes, but also touch your heart and teach you lessons.

[6.25/10] Love, Rosie (2014)

Love, Rosie (2014)

Quick Review: Lively, vividly-shot, and probably too much fun to be a proper romance "Love, Rosie" tends to get silly quite often, but at least it's not your typical, straightforward, formulaic chick flick, you'll get bored by after the first 15 minutes. It's also frustrating to watch at times, and not all of the character's actions make sense, but that's well compensated by the plot's unpredictability and the fascinating performances by Collins and Claflin, who share an enviably hot chemistry on screen.

[7.00/10] St. Vincent (2014)

St. Vincent (2014)

Quick Review: A pure example of a dramedy done right, "St. Vincent" alternates from thoroughly hilarious to genuinely heartfelt, blending the the two main elements of this genre hybrid smoothly enough to call itself well-balanced. Featuring a bunch of flawed yet candid characters, smart and witty dialogues, tons of amusing situations, and last but not least, an endearing younger/older on-screen friendship that's its biggest strength, "St. Vincent" is a funny, often heart- warming crowd-pleaser.

[7.25/10] Beyond the Lights (2014)

Beyond the Lights (2014)

Quick Review: It has some cheesy moments here and there, and not really the entire thing is thoroughly believable, but the film successfully blends an often delightful romance, and a juicy behind-the-scenes story of one rising pop star's struggles to achieve her real dreams, because of her obsessive mother-manager. More entertaining, rather than truly soul-stirring and relevant to modern audiences, "Beyond the Lights" is a well-crafted and solidly-acted piece, you will certainly enjoy.

[3.75/10] V/H/S: Viral (2014)

V/H/S: Viral (2014)

Quick Review: Without a doubt the weakest of the franchise, ironically, "Viral" has very small chances to go cinematically viral, as neither of the three shorts or the wraparound are any good. There are some creative ideas, but the delivery of them is so poor, and the execution so hideous, those are never fully realized. Not to mention there's not a single scare in any of the segments, with all of the directors trying to make up for that with gore, grossness, and tiresome 'corrupt video' effects.

[6.75/10] Brotherhood of Blades (2014)

Brotherhood of Blades (2014)

Quick Review: Offering a gripping, if convoluted story, full of twists and turns to keep you involved, and top- notch acting to complement its well-executed and choreographed fight sequences, "Brotherhood of Blades" may have its flaws, like the lack of fluent pacing and the heavy-handed direction, but it remains one of the better wuxia flicks in recent memory, worth-seeing for its moral lessons, sweeping visuals, superb costumes, and thrilling swordplay.

[5.00/10] The Giver (2014)

The Giver (2014)

Quick Review: It tries real hard to be deep and affecting as its source material, but sadly the entire power of its story got lost in translation, as the movie feels emotionally cold and somewhat fabricated, because of its poorly-interpreted script. Not even Noyce's airy direction, the inventive way he plays with the color palette of the cinematography, or the sleek, often impressive production design, are doing wonders for "The Giver". The otherwise great cast struggle to make us care for it, too.

[5.50/10] What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

Quick Review: Being one-of-a-kind vampire mockumentary, the playfully titled "What We Do in the Shadows" definitely wins points for originality, the script is reasonably witty, having some clever lines and bloody funny jokes and the quirky vampires mash well together, but execution-wise it's lacking so much, its ugliness pretty much sucks the whole fun out of it. Also in comparison to "Housebound" another '14 Kiwi horror comedy, this one is simply mediocre.

[7.50/10] The Book of Life (2014)

The Book of Life (2014)

Quick Review: Essentially a love story with a subtly obscure afterlife twist, but also with a great sense of humor, flavored with goofiness, this vivacious Latin-zested extravaganza of an animated flick is an absolute feast for the eyes and arguably the best-looking feature of 2014, thanks to its uniquely-designed characters and imaginative graphics, exploding in color. The okay storyline does not really match the striking visuals, but thankfully there's still something for audiences from all ages.

[6.00/10] Automata (2014)

Autómata (2014)

Quick Review: Made in the same vein as "I, Robot" from 2006, but less action-packed and much more philosophical, "Automata" is a wise, mature, refined and mesmerizing, if underdeveloped sci-fi drama crafted with clean elegance and precision, featuring some beautifully desolated post-apocalyptic visuals that create an appropriate tone. Banderas does not disappoint, carrying the movie beyond convincingly and the robots themselves, while ordinary-looking, are perfectly executed.

[7.00/10] Paddington (2014)

Paddington (2014)

Quick Review: Featuring a story as sweet and enjoyable as heartfelt, genuinely lovely characters, vibrant indoor and outdoor settings as well as without a doubt one of the cutest, most adorable CGI creatures ever put on celluloid, "Paddington" is not your ordinary kids feature, even if it seem a bit juvenile at times, as it not only teaches some moral lessons in a non-preachy way, but at the same time delivers joyful entertainment for both kids and adults alike, without a single dull moment in it.

[5.00/10] Top Five (2014)

Top Five (2014)

Quick Review: More dramatic than funny, and not in a good way, this 'all Chris Rock' comedy is every bit as self-centered as its protagonist, telling a semi-interesting story of a cocky stand-up comedian presented as one long, but thankfully energetic interview, that provides far to little laughs, and causes way too many yawns. Rosario Dawson is alluring, and Rock's direction is delightfully restless, but despite all that and its promising title, "Top Five" is far from a top five movie material.

[6.50/10] Mr. Turner (2014)

Mr. Turner (2014)

Quick Review: It is muddled, and there are some tedious scenes in it that, ironically enough, will probably make you feel like you are watching paint dry, but it's a paint on a really beautiful painting... In other words, "Mr. Turner" is a true work of art in terms of visuals, boasting a sublime cinematography and an astounding period production design. Timothy Spall deserves kudos for breathing life in his peculiar title character in a thoroughly magnetizing way, leading the film with confidence.

[6.25/10] Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)

Quick Review: What to anticipate from a live-action Disney film with a ridiculously overlong, yet humorous title? Nothing but fun... goofy, dorky, crazy silly family fun! Sure you won't remember a thing from it in a week, but there's a lot to enjoy and laugh at during watching. Garner & Carell are a comic match made in heaven, and the youngsters rule!

[7.00/10] The Normal Heart (2014)

The Normal Heart (2014)

Quick Review: Well-produced, well shot, but above all well-acted, "The Normal Heart" is an enlightening representation of the real-life scary events around the AIDS epidemic in the early 80s and the struggles of NY gay society, and an affecting, and often devastating intimate story about love, loss, determination and mutual support, led by the brilliant performances from Ruffalo, Bomer, Kitsch, Molina, Parsons & Roberts, whose passionate acting adds even more power to the story.

[6.25/10] Selma (2014)

Selma (2014)

Quick Review: Considering the big importance of the subject it refers to "Selma" is a substantial film, indeed, and one accurately-representing an impactful story about equal voting rights with a true passion, but based purely on entertainment value, Ava DuVernay's latest somewhat fails at being consistently engaging as well as emotionally involving enough due to its dramatic inconsistency. David Oyelowo's outstanding performance and the finely subdued photography basically save the movie.

[7.25/10] Rise of the Legend (2014)

Rise of the Legend (2014)

Quick Review: A notch below Tsui Hark's Wong Fei Hung series "Once Upon a Time in China" 1 & 2, yet still a solid effort, "Rise of Legend" may be a bit too demanding in terms of storytelling, as it often gets lost in its many flashbacks and back stories, but it more than makes up for all its messiness with some strong acting, highly polished visuals and stunning sets, but above all, with its first-rate fight scenes and inventive shooting techniques, leading to great results and perfect satisfaction.

[6.50/10] Unbroken (2014)

Unbroken (2014)

Quick Review:With the second half being much superior to the mostly repetitive and mildly interesting first half, Jolie's second feature, inspired by a powerful true story, is vividly- shot and technically accomplished, but the whole thing feels somewhat familiar, despite the authenticity of it, and at the end, "Unbroken" doesn't pack the emotional punch it's aiming for, leaving the viewer begging for more. Luckily for us, Jack O'Connell and the rest of the cast add a lot to the film's overall impact.