BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (PG)
Released: March 23
Story: Live action redo of the 1991 animated musical romance. Village girl Belle (Emma Watson) is regarded as odd because she invents household gadgets to spend more time reading. When her father (Kevin Kline) is imprisoned in a cursed castle, Belle meets an unhappy man-beast (Dan Stevens).
TRAILER
Language: 'Shut up' is it.
Romance: Themes, a kiss.
Violence: Threats, blows, falls, death themes; scary wolf pack attack.
Ages: 3 – 6: Special effects make this more vivid than the cartoon.
7 – 12: Talking candlestick Lumière (voiced by Ewan McGregor), anxious clock Cogsworth (Ian McKellen) and affectionate tea-pot Mrs Potts (Emma Thompson) will delight. New and old ballads are performed by the cast and music stars Ariana Grande and John Legend.
13-plus: Yes, especially for fans who grew up with Harry Potter's Watson. She's a likable heroine although more reserved than vivacious cartoon Belle. While this film fails the Bechdel Test, bookish themes counter fairy-tale-princess clichés. Kudos for gorgeously costumed, Technicolor Gothic entertainment without sex and gratuitous violence.
Adult Compatibility: It's a pity computer effects tweaked Stevens' beast because the Downton Abbey star is genuinely melancholy-funny. Luke Evans amuses as pompous Gaston but that supposed gay subplot about sidekick LeFou is merely sly hints.
Critic's rating: 8/10
BEFORE I FALL (M)
Released: March 2
Story: American teen drama based on the book by Lauren Oliver. Sam (Zoey Deutch) is one of high school's popular girls. But when she and her friends bully another girl at a party, the consequences are weird: Sam begins living that day over and over again. When she tries to change her behaviour, she discovers what it's like to be the outsider. With Goosebumps' Halston Sage.
TRAILER
Language: Twenty-five swear words.
Romance: Kisses, brief sex scene, adult references.
Violence: Blows, threats, car crashes, bullying themes, deaths. Drinking themes.
Ages: 3 – 6: Way over their head.
7 – 12: A subplot about Sam's friends pressuring her to have sex with her boyfriend is too much even for mature tweens. A pity: this is a terrific exploration of how bullies are often driven by fear and shame.
13-plus: Clever, entertaining portrait of the often unintentionally cruel side of modern 'girlworld' is also a suspenseful drama-thriller variation on Mean Girls. Deutch is perfect as the privileged girl who realises – too late – how she has been treating others. Bonuses? Excellent songs from Grimes, Kurt Vile, Yeah Yeah Yeahs; classy production values.
Adult Compatibility: This Groundhog Day teenage redo packs a wallop. Parents should see it with or without their teen and discuss.
Critic's rating: 8/10
JASPER JONES (M)
Released: March 2
Story: Australian coming of age drama based on the book by Craig Silvey. In a small West Australian town in 1969, supposed troublemaker Jasper Jones (Aaron L McGrath) unexpectedly asks bookish fourteen year old Charlie (Levi Miller) for help. When Jasper is linked to a missing local girl, Charlie searches for the truth. With Hugo Weaving, Toni Collette. Directed by Rachel Perkins.
TRAILER
Language: Seven swear words.
Romance: Kisses, adult themes.
Violence: Threats, death themes, violent images. Smoking.
Ages: 3 – 6: No.
7 – 12: Doubtful, even for tweens: this teen detective tale focuses on family secrets not clue-tracking adventure. The only laughs come courtesy of Charlie's cricket-mad friend Jeffrey (Kevin Long, in a too-brief appearance).
13-plus: Best audience for a neatly made if unsurprising drama. Charlie is a likable hero for young teens, and the film scores (literally) with an exciting cricket match. However, there's little here for female viewers, with the character of fellow student Eliza (Angourie Rice) suffering from the usual dream girl clichés.
Adult Compatibility: Efficiently made version of a best-selling book has problems cramming everything in, including themes of small town racism. Collette does her best with the under-written role of discontented mum. Leave it for the teens.
Critic's rating: 7/10
KONG: SKULL ISLAND (M)
Released: March 9
Story: Hollywood monster movie. In 1973, an American-led expedition investigates a mysterious South Pacific island. The group includes an expert tracker (Tom Hiddleston), a photo-journalist (Brie Larson) and a ruthless soldier (Samuel L Jackson). After a disastrous encounter with a giant ape, the survivors discover a stranded WW2 pilot (John C Reilly) who reveals disturbing secrets about the island.
TRAILER
Language: Twenty swear words.
Romance: Discreet adult themes.
Violence: Shootings, crashes, explosions, severed limbs, deaths.
Ages: 3 – 6: No way!
7 – 12: Only for tweens untroubled by the Jurassic Park movies. Parents should note that expert special effects make this battling-monsters flick extremely vivid in places.
13-plus: Target audience for a brisk, hardworking, action adventure. The often jokey approach, led by charming Reilly, nods to monster classics and lightens the mood but sometimes trivializes the violence. The second half is mostly a guessing game to see who will be eaten next. Stay for another scene after the credits.
Adult Compatibility: The latest version of 1933's King Kong is more extravagant eye-candy than involving story-telling. Luckily, Jackson excels at this kind of scenery-chewing role; Thor star Hiddleston and Room Oscar-winner Larson sensibly under-play. The soundtrack includes obligatory period rock songs from Creedence Clearwater Revival and Black Sabbath.
Critic's rating: 7/10
LOGAN (MA)
Released: March 2
Story: Sequel to the Wolverine series. It's 2029: former X-Men member Logan (Hugh Jackman) works as a chauffeur on the American Tex-Mex border while caring for ailing Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart). When Logan meets an unusual little girl (Dafne Keen), he and the Professor find themselves hunted by killers.
TRAILER
Language: Fifty-eight swear words.
Romance: Nudity.
Violence: Frequent stabbing, shooting, beatings, deaths. Decapitation.
Ages: 3 – 6: Absolutely not: Logan/Wolverine's finger-blades feel borrowed from A Nightmare On Elm Street horror flick villain Freddy Krueger.
7 – 12: Ditto: This doesn't offer the breezy comic book action of the early X-Men flicks but increasingly grim violence. Scenes of killer children are also too much.
13-plus: Older teens are the best audience for a classic reluctant-hero chase movie with often ominous suspense, and terrific performances from Jackman and young Keen. The finale isn't as memorable as it should be, maybe because the film is over-long. But key confrontations are finessed by Cop Land director James Mangold, backed by another memorable music score. Downsides? Pursuing thugs look like Mad Max rejects.
Adult Compatibility: Jackman is likable enough to maintain interest despite gratuitous violence. If you avoid the annoyingly blabby trailers, the story expertly doles out plot surprises.
Critic's rating: 7/10
MISS SLOANE (M)
Released: March 2 (selected cinemas)
Story: American drama about a Washington power-player. Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is renowned for creating political campaigns that influence government and public opinion. But when she takes on a project involving America's powerful gun lobby, Sloane discovers she is the one being targeted. With Mark Strong, John Lithgow. Directed by John Madden (The Debt; Shakespeare In Love).
TRAILER
Language: Forty-one swear words.
Romance: Kisses, sex scene, adult themes.
Violence: Threats, a shooting. Death themes.
Ages: 3 – 6: No.
7 – 12: No.
13-plus: This smart talky slow-boil suspense drama will only suit mature teens. However, for the budding activist, lawyer or anyone interested in politics, this delivers an insider's look at American deal-making, ethics and corruption. It's also a rare film portrait of female lobbyists in modern Washington. The professional jargon in early scenes is hard to follow but the 132 minute film gets better as it goes; even a seemingly melodramatic subplot makes an impact. A detour into surveillance gadgets amps up the thrills.
Adult Compatibility: The emotionally isolated, seemingly friendless manipulator is nothing new – but Chastain makes the role her own. Too many boxy interiors are dull to watch but do maintain the claustrophobic atmosphere.
Critic's rating: 7/10