Movies

War for the Planet of the Apes

The cult Planet of the Apes movies of the late ’ 60s and early ’ 70s have become a major franchise and in this, the third instalment in the series, it’s down to the wire as the apes battle humankind for ultimate survival. Andy Serkis plays leader, Caesar, and Woody Harrelson is his nemesis, the brutal Colonel. But they aren’t the only stars of the show: huge kudos go to the technical wizards who integrated live action with computer-generated imagery to create a sci-fi epic.

Baby Driver

Crime-scene getaway driver Baby (Ansel Elgort) is determined to turn honest in order to impress his new love, Deborah (Lily James). But his best-laid plans go awry when gangster Doc (Kevin Spacey) enters the picture. Superb performances by Jamie Foxx and Jon Hamm, as well as a sizzling soundtrack make for a crime-action hit in the vein of Pulp Fiction.

The Circle

This dystopian thriller, based on the novel by Dave Eggers, is a sobering reality check in our age of social media and image above all else. Emma Watson plays Mae, a new recruit at The Circle, a powerful tech company with a sinister agenda. Tom Hanks puts in a great performance as her enigmatic boss, Bailey.

Girls Trip

Four university friends (Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tiffany Haddish) unite for a trip to New Orleans, complete with absinthe, embarrassing dance moves and old flames. Director Malcolm D Lee describes it as The Hangover meets Sex and the City – fun for a ‘good girls gone bad’ movie night with your BFFS.