28 Years Later (out Jun 19) serves as a sequel to the 2002 original and sees director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland craft another worthy chapter. Shot almost entirely on iPhones (impressive), it's got zombies and gore but, most importantly, a strong family tale at its core. English actor Alfie Williams is outstanding in depicting the emotional rollercoaster of 12-year-old Spike. Grade: A-.

Elio (out Jun 19) is the tale of an orphaned 11-year-old boy who, at his own request, is abducted by aliens and sucked up into outer space. Mature children will tap into the film’s heavier, emotional material. Those younger can still have fun with the vibrant aliens and the four-eyed villain, distinctively voiced by Emmy winner Brad Garrett. Grade: B.

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (out Jun 19) is an offbeat French comedy about an insecure writer, with a love for Jane Austen, who attends a writer's camp and meets an eclectic group. I admire its quirkiness but I grew tired of the lead character. Grade: B-.

How to Train Your Dragon (out Jun 12) is a live action remake of the 2010 animated feature. While I adored the original, I wasn't as passionate here. Live action works against the film given heavy CGI is still required (for the dragons), the action scenes are too choppy/chaotic, and the dialogue delivery from the human characters is stiff. Grade: C+.

Materialists (out Jun 12) is a romantic comedy for those who are a little sceptical of romantic comedies. It's about a not-always-likeable New York matchmaker (Dakota Johnson) who finds herself pursued by two worthy suitors (Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans). A few subplots don't work but the dialogue is well crafted, the cinematography impresses, and the use of continuous takes adds weight to key conversations. Grade: B+.

Dangerous Animals (out Jun 12) is an Aussie horror flick about a psychopath boat operator who kidnaps young tourists to feed to sharks. There are a few too many corny/contrived moments but when the film is good, it's very good. Writer Nick Lepard has crafted a workable script filled with tense moments while Jai Courtney enhances the material with his unsettling performance. Grade: B.

Ballerina (out Jun 5) is a decent action movie which serves as a spin-off from the successful John Wick franchise. It stars Ana de Armas as a ruthless assassin seeking revenge against those who murdered her father many years ago. Strong fight scenes and a nasty villain (played by Gabriel Byrne) make it worthwhile. Grade: B+.

Beating Hearts (out May 29) is a 160-minute French drama which covers 20 years in the life of two lovers who meet as teenagers. Liked the first half but, in keeping the characters apart for the film's second half, my attention waned. Grade: B-.

Karate Kid: Legends (out Jun 5) has a script as clichéd and cheesy as anything we've seen all year. It's garbage but the film is (kind of) redeemed by a fun lead performance from newcomer Ben Wang who creates a likeable character easy to applaud. Saving the best scene for last (on the rooftop) also works in the movie's favour. Grade: B-.

The Great Lillian Hall (out Jun 5) is a fictional drama about an accomplished Broadway actress who finds decades of hard work unravelling when diagnosed with a form of dementia. A few plot performances are superfluous but the performances, headlined by Jessica Lange, are terrific. Grade: B+.