Riddick (out Sep 12) picks up where the last film left off 9 years ago and follows Vin Diesel's attempts to outsmart his adversaries on an alien planet. The dialogue is dreadful and you won't care about the characters but as an action film, it isn't too bad. There are some cool alien creatures and a few gory moments. Grade: B-.

Blue Jasmine (out Sep 12) is an engrossing black comedy about the wife of a multi-millionaire who goes from "riches to rags" after her husband is convicted of fraud. Jasmine is a fascinating character and writer-director Woody Allen is careful not to judge her. Cate Blanchett is superb in what may be her most memorable performance! Grade: A.

The Smurfs 2 (out Sep 12) might do enough to keep kids preoccupied for 105 minutes but it doesn't improve on the 2011 original. The Smurfs are again transported into the human world and have to stop the Gargamel from his fiendish plans. Grade: C+.

Salinger (out now) is a thoroughly researched documentary about the life of reclusive author J.D. Salinger (most known for Catcher In The Rye). It's well-paced, offers a few surprises and, for the most part, paints an intriguing picture of a highly secretive man. Grade: B+.

Paranoia (out now) is an overly simplistic thriller about a young IT guru (Liam Hemsworth) who is paid by one big company to spy on another. I kept thinking that something interesting might happen but alas, it did not. Grade: C+.

White House Down (out Sep 5) is another terrorist film set in Washington D.C. that has been packaged as "light entertainment". There are a few decent laughs but it's still a standard action film complete with Channing Tatum flying through the air in slow motion from every conceivable angle. A stronger plot was also needed. Grade: B-.

You're Next (out now) is about a family in a secluded holiday home who are attacked by masked assailants. The characters don't always act in a believable fashion... but this is still much better than the clichéd horror films to which I have become accustomed. There are some nice twists too! Grade: B+.

Stoker (out now) is a thriller from director Chan-wook Park (Oldboy) about an 18-year-old girl who is visited by her mysterious uncle after her father passes away. It's gloriously beautiful to watch and it held my attention but it was a battle to grasp its strange setting and characters. Grade: B+.

Jobs (out Aug 29) may be of interest to those unfamiliar with the founder of Apple Computers... but it's unlikely to amaze anyone else. By glazing over his personal life, this warm and fuzzy look at the early career of Steve Jobs doesn't offer anything that couldn't be gathered from a simple internet search. Ashton Kutcher isn't too bad in the lead role. Grade: B-.

The Rocket (out Aug 29) is one of the best Australian films in recent years... and it's not even set in this country! It centres on a mischievous 10-year-old boy from Laos who is trying to prove to his family that he doesn't always bring bad luck. Blending comedy with drama, the film brings together the country’s history, its curious traditions and its beautiful landscape. Grade: A-.