Black Dog (out Dec 12) won the Un Certain Regard competition at Cannes this year and is an excellent Chinese film set in 2008 about a small township about to be bulldozed at the direction of the government, and a softly spoken young man who befriends a wild dog. It showcases a part of the world we rarely see on screen. Great performances (the dog included)! Grade: A-.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (out Dec 12) is set roughly 200 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings and is largely a standalone adventure with new characters. I liked the anime-style animation but it's a simple story with a one-note, power-hungry villain. Grade: B.

Out of Season (out Dec 5) is a tiring French romantic drama that features two uninteresting people having long, uninteresting conversations. Grade: C.

My Favourite Cake (out Dec 5) is a beautiful Iranian film about an elderly widowed woman who has a simple romantic encounter with a kind-hearted taxi driver.  It’s the wonderful performance which reel you in. Grade: A-.

The Dead Don't Hurt (out Dec 5) is a slow-ish Western set in 1860s America about an abused woman trying to survive in a male-dominated world. The emotions don't resonate strongly enough but liked the production values. Grade: B-.

Rumours (out Dec 5) is a dismal political comedy about G7 leaders who must fend for themselves after an apocalyptic event. It's the same joke for 90 minutes (i.e. politicians are dumb and selfish) and I didn't laugh once. Grade: C-.

Piece by Piece (out Dec 5) won’t shake any foundations but it’s there to be enjoyed for people who want it. It's a puff-piece style documentary about musician Pharrell Williams with a focus on his strengths, achievements, and collaborations with other famous artists. I’ll say this though – I liked the Lego animation approach and it creates an interesting point of difference. Grade: B.

Moana 2 (out Nov 28) isn't up to scratch compared to the 2016 original. Our heroine goes in search of other civilisations and cursed islands. Not the most exciting story and the themes are heavy-handed. Liked the animation. Grade: B-.

Your Monster (out Nov 28) is a weird but not-too-bad comedy about a theatre performer who busts up with her boyfriend but then finds comfort in the arms of a "monster" who lives in her home. Grade: B.

Heretic (out Nov 28) is a horror-thriller about two religious women who, in trying to convert folk to their religion, arrive on the doorstep of a man in the middle of a pelting rainstorm. It’s not a bad idea for a movie but the execution is subpar. The biggest frustration is the topsy-turvy nature to the characters and how they don’t stay true to themselves. Grade: C+.