Insidious: Chapter 2 (out Nov 7) was a battle. Having not seen the first film in a while, I struggled to get up to speed with the story (there's no background info provided). The comedic elements don't work (again)... but this horror-thriller does offer a few intriguing developments in its final half-hour. Grade: B-.

Mr Pip (out Nov 7) is based on the novel by Lloyd Jones and follows a British teacher living on the war-torn Bougainville Island in the early 1990s. The film's dramatic moments will stir your emotions but it's hard to embrace this film given he's such an odd character who keeps making odd choices. Grade: B-.

Fruitvale Station (out Nov 7) won both the critics and audience prizes at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. It chronicles 24 hours in the life of Oscar Grant (played by Michael B. Jordan) – a 22-year-old ex-con living in California. The early scenes are too manipulative, too formulaic but the film still manages to deliver a gripping, emotional finale. Grade: B.

Fly Me To The Moon (out now) is as bad as romantic comedies get. A French woman tries to seduce and marry a nerdish guy with the intent of divorcing him immediately. Why? Because she wants to rid herself of a family curse (where every first marriage ends in failure) before marrying her "dream" guy. It's pretty hard to feel sympathy (which the film wants) for such a nasty character. Grade: C-.

Sister (out now) is an interesting drama about two orphaned siblings who, with next-to-no money, are trying to survive in a small Swiss town. It starts a little slowly but the film sneaks up on you thanks to a few curious developments in the second half. Grade: B+.

Thor: The Dark World (out Oct 31) isn't the most exhilarating of stories (particularly in the first hour) but there are enough laughs to make it worthwhile. Tom Hiddleston stands out as the villainous Loki. Grade: B.

The Butler (out Oct 31) has a few nice scenes but it's trying to squeeze too many subplots into 2 hours. As the closing credits rolled, I felt I'd watched a rushed chronology of events than an engaging, character-driven story (such as The Help). Thumbs up to make-up artists though - they did an outstanding job. Grade: B-.

Machete Kills (out now) doesn't have quite as many laughs as the original but it's still a fun, bat-shit crazy action film with a huge body count and a few surprises. Danny Trejo is great and you'll be smiling when you see the likes of Mel Gibson and Lady Gaga among the supporting cast. Grade: B+.

Captain Phillips (out Oct 24) recounts the true story of a freighter ship that was attacked by Somali pirates in 2009. As he has done many times before, director Paul Greengrass (United 93) has created a suspenseful, fast-paced thriller with credible dialogue. Tom Hanks also deserves praise for a strong performance (particularly during the later scenes). Grade: A-.

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (out Oct 24) left many laughing loudly at my preview screening... but as someone unfamiliar with the character (which Steve Coogan has been playing for decades), I don't know what the fuss is about. This film sees the radio DJ Alan Partridge humorously try to defuse a hostage situation at his struggling radio station. A few laughs at best. Grade: B-.