This Week's Cinema

HollywoodlandWhether you're a First Watch Friday or an Orange Wednesday's kinda person, let Tim Evans help you decide what to watch at the cinema this week.

He is, after all, an expert on such matters.

HOLLYWOODLAND

Certificate: 15     Running time: 126m

What's it about? The dramatised story of the events surrounding the untimely death of George Reeves, TV's Superman in the fifties. Ben Affleck, Adrien Brody and Diane Lane star in a sleaze-coated mystery.

What's good? The Man Of Steel is no match for booze, women and typecasting in a darkly witty script that gives everyone plenty to work with. The Oscar buzz around Ben Affleck is totally justified and Diane Lane is, as ever, terrific.

Pan's LabyrinthWhat's bad? It runs out of steam during an unnecessarily sentimental last half-hour. Bob Hoskins basically plays his Who Framed Roger Rabbit character gone bad.

Worth a look? Is it a bird? Is it a plane?? No, but after the daftness of The Black Dahlia, this is film noir at its most absorbing and effortlessly watchable.

Click for full skymovies.com HOLLYWOODLAND review

PAN'S LABYRINTH

Certificate: 15      Running time: 120m

Tenacious D In The Pick Of DestinyWhat's it about? A young girl find herself in a weird fantasyland when she comes up against her monstrous new father-in-law, a senior officer in Spanish General Franco's fascist forces.

What's good? Director Guillermo Del Toro has melded a fantastic fusion of harsh reality and surreal flights of fancy to forge one of the most visually arresting movies of the year.

What's bad? It's a dark, brutal affair - certainly not one for the kids - and demands rapt attention from the viewer.

Worth a look? Definitely. Clearly a labour of love, it's the sort of stunningly imaginative offering Tim Burton should be doing.

Click for full skymovies.com PAN'S LABYRINTH review

TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY

Certificate: 15      Running time: 94m

What's it about? Jack Black and Kyle Gass go in search of the Pick Of Destiny - a guitar pick fashioned from Satan's tooth - in their bid to win the open mic spot at their local bar.

What's good? Jack is always a likeably compelling player and his references to classic rock are a nice balance between mickey-take and respect for the, er, musical form.

What's bad? It's probably one for existing fans of Jack's band Tenacious D but there's enough belly-laughs to snare the unwary watcher.

Worth a look? Maybe. It's a cult offering that may just have some crossover appeal.

Click for full skymovies.com TENACIOUS D review